How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet Quieter-11 Steps to Follow
There is almost no biker who has not been bothered by noises during the rides on motorcycles. If you are also facing such a situation, make sure to follow along with the entire write-up.
The airflows, busy roads, and engines are the main sources of noise while riding which can create serious hearing issues in the long run.
As a result, how to make a motorcycle helmet quieter has always remained a big concern for riders. Luckily, you can now easily control this problem by following some effective ways.
Let’s go over the following part and explore some of those best ways with necessary explanations.
11 Easy Steps on How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet Quieter
Pick the Right Helmet Type
As, this time, your main focus is noise reduction, you have to choose a helmet that works best to reduce noise.
As we stated before, airflow contributes to increased noises.
That means you have to stop the air from penetrating the helmet if you want to reduce noises.
In that case, full-face helmets would be a nice pick for you because they can impede wind by covering your whole face.
Besides, make sure the helmet you are choosing, features aerodynamic technologies and special noise reduction designs.
Get a Well-fitting Helmet
Not every helmet fits well to everyone. This is why you should get a helmet that properly fits in your head as well as around your neck.
A well-fitting helmet prevents the wind from entering into the helmet and in a way removes the turbulence of wind.
Besides, it increases the safety and comfort of rides during the rides.
So, don’t overlook the importance of perfect size and shape for quieter, trouble-free journeys.
However, many of us often find the fitting of the neck area less important and choose a helmet that fits only to our head.
But this is not an appropriate approach at all. So, while sizing up your helmet, make sure to observe both ends.
Using a Winder Blocker
You already know that most of the noise comes from the wind sneaking under the helmet during the rides.
So, you will need a helmet that features compact padding around the neck area to prevent the noise of air turbulence.
However, if your helmet doesn’t offer that feature, you have to get the help of a wind blocker.
It will cover the naked space under the helmet and reduce wind noise to some extent.
Besides, it can keep your neck safe at the time of crashes.
However, you can even choose a helmet with neck rolls instead of a wind blocker.
Adjust Your Riding Position
Your sitting or riding position always has a big influence on the quietness and smoothness of your overall journey.
So, make sure to check out your riding position to avoid anybody conducting noise.
Sometimes, you may notice vibrating sounds while riding your motorcycle.
It is actually generated from the roaring engine and gets transmitted to your ears through your body when you sit on the metallic part of the bike.
Therefore, it’s highly recommended to sit on the cushioned part of your motorcycle and enjoy a noise-free smooth journey.
Purchase a Scarf or Balaclava
Like a wind blocker or neck roll, scarves can reduce the noise of turbulence to some extent.
But to get maximum noise prevention, you must get a scarf that leaves no space between your neck and helmet.
Basically, large scarfs can do well in that case.
However, balaclava also meets the same purpose of blocking the wind noise to penetrate your ear.
For this, you have to select one that sticks to your face tightly plus gives the flexibility to stretch whenever you need.
Besides, to get warmth during cold days, you may also choose a type of balaclava that covers up to your jacket’s collar line.
Take an Earplug
If you are searching for a way to keep your ears away from noise pollution during hot days, earplugs will be the most appropriate option for you.
They are made in such a special way that don’t cut off all noises.
They just prevent unnecessary sounds that annoy you during your travels.
However, you can receive all the significant alerts like horns from other vehicles as usual.
One thing you need to consider here that every state doesn’t allow for using noise-blocking devices on the roads.
So, don’t forget to check out the local jurisdiction to avoid any lawsuit.
Adjust the Height of the Windscreen
What benefits will you get from the use of windscreens in your motorbike?
It’ll actually direct the winds to move up and away from your head during the rides.
And you will be able to enjoy a noise-free journey.
But due to the poor combination of the helmet, windscreen, and height, you may experience excessive noises during the rides.
So, make sure the height of the windscreen is sufficient enough to drive all the wind-up and over your head.
To adjust the windscreen with your exceptional height, you can also attach a windshield spoiler to your bike’s windscreen.
It will help to serve the same purpose even more easily.
Get a Helmet With a High-quality Visor
You have already known that a full-face helmet can minimize the turbulence noise. But it can be a source of increased noise
if it had a loose visor.
Loose visors create rattling noises when you ride at a high speed.
Again, when the visor can’t seal your face tightly, you hear some annoying noise of winds.
Basically, poor-quality helmets create these types of situations.
So, you must have a helmet with a high-quality visor to avoid these situations.
And never hit the roads without shutting the visor completely.
Use Quiet Ride Earmuffs
Like earplugs, earmuffs are also an amazing device to reduce “at-ear” wind noise.
But unlike earplugs, you will get a switch in these earmuffs that lets you turn them on and off according to your needs.
Consequently, you can effectively observe your surroundings.
However, they are not an efficient choice for hot weather as they seal around the ears to prevent noises.
But in colder climates, you will get ultimate comfort by using these earmuffs.
Remove Unnecessary Accessories of Your Motorcycle
It’s proven that riding a motorbike with lots of accessories produces more wind noise as they clash against the winds. So, our recommendation is…
- remove all the unnecessary accessories
- make your bike as clean as possible.
By doing so, you will be able to minimize turbulence which can help you to enjoy less noisy travel.
Wearing a Face Mask
Just like scarves, wearing face masks is also a convenient way to make a motorcycle helmet quieter.
There are a lot of face masks in the market specially made for motorcycles.
They can give you top-class protection from bugs, dust, debris and help to enjoy less noisy rides.
In fact, it will work as a chin skirt during your bike rides.
Apart from all these, you can also install some fleece behind your helmet’s cheek pads or stuff memory foam in the earholes to shorten the disturbance of noises.
FAQ on How to Soundproof a Motorcycle Helmet
What does it mean by wind noise?
The noise caused by a collision between air and a solid object is called wind noise.
When you ride a motorcycle at a high speed, it creates a strong air force that hits the helmet.
As a result, you can hear a loud vibrating sound or booming noise which in other words, can be termed as “wind noise”.
Is wind noise harmful to hearing?
Yeah, wind noise is too harmful to the hearing in the long run.
That means, you may not find it troublesome at first but after long-term exposure to the wind noise, you can lose your hearing power.
You may even experience tinnitus or fatigue as the side effect of consistent wind noise.
Do air vents create noises?
You might already be familiar with air vents that ensure continuous air circulation inside the helmet.
It’s quite necessary when you set out for a long journey during the dog days.
However, they can produce wind noise if they are excessive in number.
So, choose a helmet that has a quieter ventilation system.
How many types of helmets are available in the market?
There are almost six types of helmets available in the market.
- Full Face Helmets.
- Modular Helmets (stands between the full face and half face helmets).
- Half Face Helmets.
- Dirt Bike or Off-road Helmets.
- Dual Support Helmets.
- Half Shell Helmets.
Final Thoughts
You just went through a complete guide on how to make a motorcycle helmet quieter.
Now, you have complete knowledge of noise reduction while driving.
By adopting any of these prescribed methods, you can enjoy a smooth and pleasant ride.
However, it’s a matter of research. So, you had better pursue your research and find out new ways to reduce noises.
