Motorcycle helmets are designed to keep the rider’s comfort to the max. However, prolonged use can lead to some complications.
Hearing loss is a common occurrence for long-term users. This can be reduced through the use of some tricks and tips.
Let’s take a look at them.
Quick Summary
By the end of this article, we will go through:
- How you can make a motorcycle helmet quieter?
- Tips and tricks you can use
Let’s take a look into it.
How Do I Make My Motorcycle Helmet Quieter?
As discussed earlier, motorcycle helmets can lead to hearing issues. This is most common among professional and long-term motorcycle users.
There are different reasons behind this. Motorcycles can get loud and noise can reach upwards of 70 decibels. For reference. The WHO and EPA recommend noise levels below 70 decibels sustained for 24 hours.
When you travel on a bike, there is constant wind and vibrations. The engine also gets quite noisy at times. Luckily, you can make your headgear quieter and also protect your hearing. You can do the following:
Get a Helmet that Fits
A helmet that fits you perfectly is the quickest way to reduce the risk of hearing loss. A fitting helmet reduces the amount of noise that gets into your ears.
Firm helmets also protect your head from the risk of serious injury in case of a crash. You can check if your helmet has the same size as your head.
As a rider, you cannot compromise on your safety. Like other headgear, motorcycle helmets are available in different sizes. You can easily measure your head size and then get a suitable helmet for yourself.
A loose helmet generates a lot of unnecessary rustling noise. This is due to the presence of gaps around the neck. These noises not only lead to loss of hearing but also disturb your focus.
Use Earplugs
This is another method you can use to reduce noise. Earplugs are available almost anywhere and you can easily insert them into your ears. Even if your helmet is quiet, you can use them to keep external sounds to a minimum.
Earplugs are made of rubber or silicon and you can get different ones according to your ear. They are designed to let some frequencies in so that you know what is happening around you. You can also get earmuffs.
If you are on a long journey, we recommend that you wear earmuffs and earplugs. These will keep out most of the harmful frequencies and also help your hearing.
You can also clean them easily and prevent any kind of bacteria buildup.
Use a Wind Blocker
As we discussed earlier, most wind enters your helmet through the gaps around your neck. There are different ways you can take care of it. One way is to get a wind blocker.
The padding of the wind blocker seals any gaps around your neck and the helmet. It also provides extra warmth for your neck which is a plus in cold weather.
Windblockers also serve as protection for your neck against debris. Some also have an adhesive that attaches to the bottom of the helmet. This gives you an opening to insert your head into the helmet. The adhesive is waterproof, so you can wash your wind blocker.
Wear a Scarf or a Balaclava
Scarfs and balaclavas do the same job as wind blockers. You can get them at any clothing store and they are also surprisingly cheap.
If you wear a scarf, you need to be sure that you wear it around your neck. Make sure that it stretches down enough to create a seal around the helmet. You can also pair it up with a balaclava.
Most balaclavas come with a breath deflector. This prevents your goggles from fogging up. Another advantage is that balaclavas also work in the most extreme weather. It protects you from debris and mud and also helps you make a quieter helmet.
Keep the Visor Closed
Whenever you ride on your bike, you need to make sure that the visor is closed. The visor keeps the helmet sealed which keeps the wind noise away from you.
Visors are designed to be both aerodynamic and also keep the debris away from you. As such, they keep all the wind turbulence away from you. We recommend that you always get a helmet that has a visor.
Change Your Riding Position
In the wrong riding position, you will have a lot of unnecessary noise. This is due to the added wind resistance from the wrong position. Also, your bones will vibrate a lot, which interferes with your hearing.
How can I reduce the noise this way?
You can reduce this with the right position. We also recommend that you sit on the cushioned part of your seat. You can also keep an additional cushion with you if that doesn’t work.
You need to sit in such a way that your body produces the least amount of resistance. It is a bit like the professional motorbike riders on TV. However, you also have to consider the type of seat your bike has.
Get a Wind Blocker
A wind blocker is an interchangeable part that is designed to protect you from the wind. It also protects you from any kind of debris as well as reduced wind resistance. Windblockers are also elevated to the rider’s height.
This feature helps you reduce the amount of helmet buffeting. Helmet buffeting is vibrations around your head and neck. These are a cause of fatigue and also lead to neck and shoulder pain.
A wind blocker reduces these vibrations, so you won’t feel a lot of pain around your shoulders. But, it has a downside. The taller your wind blocker gets, the more air resistance it produces.
That’s why you would have to consider if you want to get a wind blocker or not. It will slow your speed by a considerable amount.
Invest in a Quieter Helmet
If it gets hard to follow or incorporate the tricks mentioned above, you can also get a new helmet. There are different designs out there in the market which you can choose from.
When you buy a new helmet, you have to consider some factors. These are
- The shape of the helmet
- Ventilation of the helmet
- The material used in construction
- Type of helmet
You can check these for any model of a helmet. Some helmets also have a noise cancellation system which you can use to reduce the noise.
Wrapping Things Up…
Motorcycle helmets can generate a lot of noise for you. This can lead to significant hearing loss and also lead to fatigue for you. Luckily, you can reduce the noise through some simple-to-follow tips and tricks.
These have been discussed in detail up above. You can easily incorporate them. With this, we reach the end of our article on “How to make a motorcycle helmet quieter?”.
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