12-04-2017, 04:52 AM
I like a Bell open face helmet because I am claustrophobic, and in my first 23 years of riding that is what I wore. So when I returned to motorcycling 5 years ago I bought a Bell MAG-9. It had some nice features, but it was so noisy I could not ride on the highway with it. The visor ends at my chin and there is a large space behind it for the wind noise to enter. 
I bought a Shoei RF1200 full face helmet. It tore my ears off putting it on and squashed my cheeks while riding. I hated it, but it was quiet enough to allow highway speeds.
After trying several types of ear plugs that summer, I finally found 3M E-A-Rsoft Yellow Neons. They allowed me to wear my Bell MAG-9 again, so the face crusher was put back in its box.
Fast forward 2 years. I saw thinner cheek pads were available for the Shoei for US$49 (CDN$65). $65 DOLLARS! I have bought helmets for less than that. But rather than letting a $570 dollar helmet sit in the basement, I bought them as a Christmas present.
Problem solved. Now I could don the Shoei without losing my ears, and it did not crush my face. With ear plugs it was also pleasantly quiet. So now I wear it except on hot summer days.
In the fall I found that cold air was coming in under the chin bar of the Shoei. It comes with an accessory mesh chin guard, so I decided to try it. Not only did stop the cold air, the helmet became even quieter.
I bought a Shoei RF1200 full face helmet. It tore my ears off putting it on and squashed my cheeks while riding. I hated it, but it was quiet enough to allow highway speeds.
After trying several types of ear plugs that summer, I finally found 3M E-A-Rsoft Yellow Neons. They allowed me to wear my Bell MAG-9 again, so the face crusher was put back in its box.
Fast forward 2 years. I saw thinner cheek pads were available for the Shoei for US$49 (CDN$65). $65 DOLLARS! I have bought helmets for less than that. But rather than letting a $570 dollar helmet sit in the basement, I bought them as a Christmas present.
Problem solved. Now I could don the Shoei without losing my ears, and it did not crush my face. With ear plugs it was also pleasantly quiet. So now I wear it except on hot summer days.
In the fall I found that cold air was coming in under the chin bar of the Shoei. It comes with an accessory mesh chin guard, so I decided to try it. Not only did stop the cold air, the helmet became even quieter.