Hearing Protection on a budget

[Cormanus]

That looks a really interesting option, Rboe, but I suspect it would reduce cooling in warmer weather, would it not?

[Lord Popgun]

I’m thinking it will Cormanus. I’ll let you know when it comes. Usually I ride my bike 12 miles a day to my friend’s outboard shop and 12 miles home. I think it will be good for that.

On a trip I’d just as soon use the foamies and no helmet windbreaker.

[Cormanus]

Yeah ... let me know, popgun. Thanks.

[memphismike_imp]

http://www.earpeace.com

[4 Paws_imp]

Hearing loss is real, and it sucks.
If you got a five dollar head wear a five dollar helmet, same with hearing protection.

Like the looks of the earpeace products. I wear custom ear plugs from an audiologist, nice but definitely not perfect.

If it wasn’t for saying “huh?” So frequently my wife and I wouldn’t talk very much.

[TCinNC_imp]

http://www.earpeace.com

+1 on earpeace, effective and comfortable.

[tommymck_imp]

I'm curious with you fellow CB1100 riders... Is it airflow noise that you are most concerned about? The CB1100 is so quiet, for me at least, the engine noise is pretty much a gentle hum.

Regarding airflow, expensive though they are, I've been wearing Arai cruiser helmets (Defiant most recently....) and love them. Under 70MPH anyway, airflow noise just isn't much of an issue unless I turn my head sideways to check on traffic.

My hearing checks out great, and I've been riding without protection from the beginning (though spent the last 20 years on a BMW that has the SPL of a sewing machine...). Not saying it's not useful (or not necessary)... Just wondering if you guys think it's wind noise or bike noise that's the primary contributor to the risk.

[Stichill_imp]

tommymck, for me and I think most people it's the wind noise. It's very helmet-dependent and also dependent on the wind management of the bike. Both of my current faired bikes direct a wind stream right at my visor. If I stand up in clean air, the ride is noticeably quieter. I'm currently riding with an Arai Vector 2. The Defiant wasn't available when I bought the Vector 2 but I just looked at the [url=https://youtu.be/3ZP5ej4i1gQ]Revzilla video and it looks like a good helmet for upright unfaired riding.

My hearing protection is provided by [url=https://www.amazon.com/Nonoise-Motor-Generation-Ceramic-Filter/dp/B00EDHWELY]NoNoise Motorsport ear plugs.

[Townie_imp]

Rboe, thanks for that link. Just ordered one. Although I like foamies for long rides, my short rides I have found to be noisy even though I have a “quiet” Shoei Quest. When I put my hand in the back, under the helmet by my neck it get quiet. So this may be the thing!

Popgun, how well did the Windjammer helmet skirt work for you?

[Lord Popgun]

I’ve been using it during a big heat wave that ended this weekend.

Its made of a thin neoprene and has a silicone band to grip the helmet. Except the band is more of a gorilla snot like glue. The skirt is removable for adjustment, but is hard as the snot stuff really grips. The box says removable in seconds, but for me it is minutes.

It does not seem to be any hotter with it than without. But my Shoei Quest is pretty well ventilated. The skirt does have some holes too.

It does make the helmet quieter, but not enough to forgo ear plugs. YYMV with a different helmet and neck size. I like it though as it seals around my neck and will keeps bugs or stinging insects from getting in. And that can be a concern in the South.