Tinnitus
Novice
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
I've been wearing Shoei helmets for years. I'm currently wearing an RF-1200, probably the best (and certainly the most expensive) helmet I've ever owned. IMHO, the helmet does nothing to protect hearing, and the turbulence created around the bottom actually makes noise worse.
The only gear I wear every time is earplugs. I like the bulk bags they sell at Home Depot -- orange, about 50 pairs in a bag. One use and throw them away. Everyone makes fun of my procedure: reach arm over top of head and pull up on opposite ear, push the earplug all the way until it stops. Sure, they laugh, but I've been riding 30 years and no tinnitus.
The only gear I wear every time is earplugs. I like the bulk bags they sell at Home Depot -- orange, about 50 pairs in a bag. One use and throw them away. Everyone makes fun of my procedure: reach arm over top of head and pull up on opposite ear, push the earplug all the way until it stops. Sure, they laugh, but I've been riding 30 years and no tinnitus.
Some good choices for noise reduction:
SHOEI GT-Air is among the quietest, and relatively new on the market.
Arai Signet Q
Schuberth C3 Pro, could be the quietest on the market, but haven't seen a comparison between this and the new SHOEI.
HJC RPHA Max
Schuberth S2
Shoei RF1200
Everyone's head is shaped different, so finding one that fits, and is comfortable, can be done with the above choices...
Some info on the new SHOEI... This is the one I have, and love it. At 80MPH on the interstate, nobody can believe I'm on the bike with the HD headset...
http://www.shoei-helmets.com/Helmet....T-Air&h=22&t=1
From their site:
Thanks to time well spent in SHOEI’s in-house wind tunnel, GT-Air owners will enjoy a reduction of wind noise without blocking the road’s “informative sounds.” In addition to optimal shell aerodynamics and liner components designed to prevent unwanted road noises from entering through the bottom of the helmet, a dual-ridge window bead helps to reduce noise while providing a wind and waterproof seal.
SHOEI GT-Air is among the quietest, and relatively new on the market.
Arai Signet Q
Schuberth C3 Pro, could be the quietest on the market, but haven't seen a comparison between this and the new SHOEI.
HJC RPHA Max
Schuberth S2
Shoei RF1200
Everyone's head is shaped different, so finding one that fits, and is comfortable, can be done with the above choices...
Some info on the new SHOEI... This is the one I have, and love it. At 80MPH on the interstate, nobody can believe I'm on the bike with the HD headset...
http://www.shoei-helmets.com/Helmet....T-Air&h=22&t=1
From their site:
Thanks to time well spent in SHOEI’s in-house wind tunnel, GT-Air owners will enjoy a reduction of wind noise without blocking the road’s “informative sounds.” In addition to optimal shell aerodynamics and liner components designed to prevent unwanted road noises from entering through the bottom of the helmet, a dual-ridge window bead helps to reduce noise while providing a wind and waterproof seal.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
My experience is that Full Face helmets are the worst for noice because the sound is trapped and bounces around. Carbon fibers are even worse because carbon fiber is a harder material. So ear protection is required even with the quietiest FF helmets. I presently wear a FF Shoei.
Beary
Beary
Tinnitus - Sorry my ears ring so bad I could barely read this. Motorcycles, cars, boilers, compressors, firearms, power tools, Rock & Roll, ------
I don't wear a helmet, but wind noise has been killing me for 20 years. I started wearing ear plugs 15 years ago with a bandanna vatos style (over the ears) and that has solved the wind noise. I also wear them for almost any kind of work I do now, even at home. The ringing sucks, but the worst is the loss of certain ranges do to nerve damage - I have a hard time hearing and understanding my little granddaughter when they are talking. So today, I tell everyone I can to go with plugs while riding.
I don't wear a helmet, but wind noise has been killing me for 20 years. I started wearing ear plugs 15 years ago with a bandanna vatos style (over the ears) and that has solved the wind noise. I also wear them for almost any kind of work I do now, even at home. The ringing sucks, but the worst is the loss of certain ranges do to nerve damage - I have a hard time hearing and understanding my little granddaughter when they are talking. So today, I tell everyone I can to go with plugs while riding.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
From: Hot Springs, AR
First of all to the OP, tinnitus sucks because it's permanent. You'll never have true peace and quiet again once you slip over the edge and get tinnitus.
I have an HJC 3/4 helmet an HJC 1/2 and an HJC full face. The 3/4 helmet ear cups somehow seem to amplify certain kinds of sounds. I can't stand mine anymore and never use it. The half helmet is actually better than the 3/4.
What I found is the full face has the same ear cup issue as the 3/4 but there is a fix. You can remove the cheek pad/ear cup from the HJC full face. It sort of disconnects the direct path of the sound between the outside of the helmet and your ear. You still need to wear ear plugs with any of the helmets but the HJC full face with the ear cups removed works the best for me.
Another thing I found out is that making the bike as quiet as possible helps a lot. On my 2010 Road King I found out that using 2009 mufflers is much quieter than the 2010+ mufflers. I think I would have had to sell my bike if I hadn't found how well the muffler swap and helmet mod work.
I have an HJC 3/4 helmet an HJC 1/2 and an HJC full face. The 3/4 helmet ear cups somehow seem to amplify certain kinds of sounds. I can't stand mine anymore and never use it. The half helmet is actually better than the 3/4.
What I found is the full face has the same ear cup issue as the 3/4 but there is a fix. You can remove the cheek pad/ear cup from the HJC full face. It sort of disconnects the direct path of the sound between the outside of the helmet and your ear. You still need to wear ear plugs with any of the helmets but the HJC full face with the ear cups removed works the best for me.
Another thing I found out is that making the bike as quiet as possible helps a lot. On my 2010 Road King I found out that using 2009 mufflers is much quieter than the 2010+ mufflers. I think I would have had to sell my bike if I hadn't found how well the muffler swap and helmet mod work.
Supporter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 587
Likes: 1
From: Ga.
If buying a helmet does become part of your process to help with the tinnitus, I would at least look at the Gmax GM54S, you can see one HERE, while it is not an expensive helmet, it does have a lot of the features of some of the expensive helmets. I bought a couple of them a few years ago, for the wife and I, and was actually surprised at the quality of the helmet (at the price I thought it may end up in the trash). You can buy cheek pads to custom fit it to your head (I had to do this for the wife), it has a wind mesh that goes under you chin when the face is pulled down, tons of ventilation that can be closed or opened, light on the back that flashes or stays on constant or just stays off (off is my preference, but some like the flashing light), it also has the sun shield built in that can be lowered at anytime, the face can be removed, and several over things that I haven't mentioned. It can be found for $20 or so cheaper than the link I gave, but they usually have a better description, the cheek pads and sometimes videos, and may match the price of another. I hope you find a solution that works well for you.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Saint Cloud Florida
I have hearing loss and severe tinnitus that resulted from RVN. I have found the hearing plugs you get at Wally World to be the most effective. I also want to let everyone know that they now have hearing aids with Tinnitus Suppression. I currently wear ReSound Verso TS aids. They have a built in sound generator that can greatly reduce the tinnitus. I get about 50% reduction which allows me to maintain my sanity...Check with the VA if you are a vet or any competent Audiologist and ask about the Tinnitus Suppression. By the way, these aids are expensive so don't wear them while riding. It would be a shame to have a few thousand dollars laying on the road somewhere..
Last edited by OldSarge; Mar 18, 2015 at 05:16 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 380
Likes: 203
From: Toronto
I find my 3/4 helmet (Torc) somehow amplifies the noise - it's worse than my 1/2 helmet. I usually also use disposable foam plugs and have found that these do actually have a lifespan and the noise reduction ceases after a few uses.