In this blog, we will cover all the possible solutions to make a helmet soundproof efficiently.
Do you wish to be able to ride your motorcycle in comfort? Then you must ensure that the sound of traffic and other vehicles does not disrupt your day. One of the most irritating aspects of riding a motorcycle is having to deal with traffic noise. This type of noise is loud and irritating because it leads you to lose focus on what is going on around you. Also, if you enjoy riding your motorcycle for long distances, be aware that your engine will continue to be noisy, which can be bothersome after a while.
Another thing to consider is that if your helmet does not have adequate soundproofing, wind noise on the road can become highly irritating.
If you don’t want your eardrums to be blown out by loud noises, then protecting them is essential! This can be done while wearing a motorbike helmet with built-in soundproofing technology. Let’s have a look at some soundproofing techniques for your motorbike helmet so you may reduce noise and enjoy a more pleasant ride.
How to soundproof a helmet?
There are a variety of materials and procedures that can be used to soundproof your helmet without affecting its safety features or how it fits on your head. Let’s look at the best methods for soundproofing your motorbike helmet.
- Select the Right Size Helmet
- Use Helmet Wind Blocker
- Use Helmet Earmuffs
- Use Noise-Cancelling Earplugs
- Stuff Helmet with Fleece
- Use a Scarf
- Use Memory Foam In Your Ear
- Adjust Windscreen
- Close Helmet Visor
Select Right Size Helmet
One of the biggest reasons your helmet makes a lot of noise while riding is because it doesn’t fit properly on your head. When the wind blows on the sides and bottom of the helmet, generating vibration, it will generate noise if the padding within it has shifted or gotten compressed after a lengthy drive.
Motorcycle helmets should fit snugly on your head, with no gaps between you and the helmet, to reduce turbulence and provide further soundproofing benefits. For safety, it should sit parallel to both cheeks, with even pressure around both edges and about two fingers’ breadth away from the brows. There should be no twists in the material, only smooth curves that fit the face features without holes where air can enter, resulting in less noise entering the ears through open spaces. A secure helmet will also prevent your head from bobbing around and your neck muscles from tensing up, both of which can cause tiredness.
This way, even if you don’t have any soundproofing, the helmet will absorb some of the noise and you won’t have to worry.
Use Helmet Wind Blocker
It’s time to start looking for a wind blocker if your helmet doesn’t have one. Wind blockers are normally constructed of a flexible material that feels similar to regular padding, but it is thicker and meant to prevent air from passing through readily at high speeds. This technology can significantly reduce noise levels by reducing turbulence that would otherwise enter an open helmet space or ear area.
If it is not already included in the package, you can add a wind blocker to your helmet. They’re simple to put together; simply set them on top of your existing cushioning and secure them with adhesive straps or glue from the inside out (depending on what model you purchase). The most common material used to make these devices is felt, however, some riders prefer other materials that absorb sound better than ordinary foam, such as denim and cork.
| Material Needed |
| wind blocker |
Use Helmet Earmuffs
Wearing earmuffs is one of the greatest ways to soundproof a motorbike helmet. Earmuffs are padded cups that wrap around your ears and completely cover them, reducing noise entering your head through open gaps between the outer shell and inside padding as well as preventing any sounds from directly reaching your eardrums through vibrations.
Earmuffs for motorcycle helmets will not only help reduce overall noise levels while increasing comfort, but they will also protect eardrums from long-term damage caused by winds blowing directly into them with no protection against vibrations or too little padding absorbing some sounds naturally so hearing does not feel under attack.
| Material Needed |
| earmuffs |
Use Noise Cancelling Earplugs
Some bikers choose to ride with noise-cancelling earplugs. They are made of a special material that is similar to mufflers used for silencing vehicles and devices, and they allow sounds into your ears but at lower decibel levels thanks to the technology built-in to them, so you can hear sirens blaring or horns honking without risking damage from constant exposure to loud background noises all around you for long periods.
| Material Needed |
| noise-cancelling earplugs. |
Stuff Helmet with Fleece
If you don’t want to spend money on earmuffs or wind blockers for your motorbike helmet, look for alternate materials that will assist soundproof it. Fleece is one of the greatest solutions since it does not compress with time, meaning it will retain its ability to absorb sound even after being compressed for months, eliminating the need to change them frequently. It also works well when stuffed inside helmets; simply lay a couple of handfuls in vacant places between padding and shell, making sure to cover the areas around the ears and cheeks with the material.
If you don’t have enough fleece at home, you may substitute cotton balls, but keep in mind that they won’t perform as well because they lose their fluffiness rapidly.
| Material Needed |
| Fleece |
Use a Scarf
Scarves can be used as an extra layer of noise pollution protection while riding on the road; simply drape them over your head so the wind doesn’t catch under it and drive it higher into open helmet area or ears, where they won’t be of any benefit.
Some riders prefer to wear leather scarves around their necks, but if that’s too much trouble, regular cotton scarves will work almost as well as fleece, but without the need to stuff helmets with handfuls of fleece every time you get on the bike because one helmet scarf is usually enough, regardless of how big or small the padding on your motorcycle helmet is.
| Material Needed |
| Helmet Scarf |
Use Memory Foam In Your Ears
Another option to soundproof your motorbike helmet is to fill the ear space with memory foam. When exposed to heat, memory foam moulds itself into circular shapes, allowing it to fit any shape of inner padding perfectly. Simply heat the pieces for about ten seconds before carefully sticking them inside helmets between the inner lining and the exterior covering if needed, or simply stuff them into open spaces around the ears.
| Material Needed |
| memory foam |
Adjust Windscreen
Another option to soundproof your helmet is to adjust the windscreen of your motorcycle. Place the screen as high as possible on windshields and fairings to prevent air from blowing directly into helmets; this will greatly reduce overall noise levels when riding due to reduced airflow inside the gap between face masks and the motorcycle’s exterior.
Some riders choose to remove their windscreens completely during the summer when they aren’t needed, but if you don’t want all that noise coming in, adjust them properly until they cover enough area around the headspace without obstructing visibility too much, as some types of masks may slightly obstruct view depending on size and shape.
Close Helmet Visor
Another option for soundproofing your motorbike helmet is to completely close the visor. Because the wind won’t be able to blow through open spaces, completely closing helmets will assist reduce noise levels. However, the design of your helmet may play a role. Because a flip-up design does not cover the entire face, it makes it obvious that such a helmet would not decrease noise as effectively. Additionally, while riding at higher speeds, you must pay close attention to how the helmets handle extra pressure from airflow.
Remember that no matter how good your helmet design is, there’s no way to eliminate wind noise, so riding at high speeds with visors closed isn’t a good idea, but if you’re just commuting, closing helmets all the way can help keep sound levels down even when going slightly faster than usual.
Conclusion
Finally, you can get a motorbike helmet intended to lower noise levels. Some firms specialize in making helmets for this purpose, as well as providing other beneficial features such as Bluetooth speakers and intercom systems that allow riders to communicate with one another at high speeds when travelling in groups.
Some of these special soundproofed helmets even have adjustable visors so that they aren’t completely sealed shut while keeping face masks open enough to allow airflow to pass through, but wind noise is significantly reduced without being an issue because the whole point is to allow air into the space between the inner padding and the outer covering on your headgear.
In any event, you should not consider wearing a motorbike helmet to lessen noise. It’s important to remember that wearing a helmet when biking can save your life. To have a comfortable ride, it must also fit perfectly. If you’re confident in these two aspects, you can consider soundproofing your motorbike helmet if it’s practicable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can we soundproof a helmet?
Although practically it’s not possible to 100% soundproof a helmet, still we have somehow discussed all the possible solutions in this blog, to reduce the noise effect while using a helmet. You can follow the instructions given in this blog.
How do you get rid of wind noise on a motorcycle helmet?
Balaclavas that roll down below your jacket’s collar line will keep you warm and reduce the volume. Noise can be significantly reduced by wrapping a scarf over your neck and tucking it securely inside your helmet. If you wear it with a balaclava, things will be a lot quieter.
Why are motorcycle helmets so loud?
This is the sound that the wind makes when it comes into touch with something substantial. When riding a motorbike, you often move at high speeds, creating a significant wind force that impacts your helmet. This produces a loud noise that may cause eardrum damage. While riding, you may hear a “booming” sound.
How loud is wind noise on a motorcycle?
When riding at around 100 km/h, the wind noise level in most motorcycle helmets may average around 95dB to 105dB, and it becomes much higher as you go faster, which is not good for your eardrums!
Do noise Cancelling headphones work on a motorcycle?
If you want to use your helmet’s communication system or listen to music, you must first put on Noise Canceling Motorcycle Hearing Protection equipment, such as earplugs, and then lower the volume down. If you simply try to amplify the sound to compensate for the wind, you will only hasten the onset of hearing loss.
Why do my ears ring after riding a motorcycle?
Long-term exposure to loud noise from the wind and/or the motorbike engine has been linked to hearing loss and tinnitus among motorcycle riders. A long ride might last hours, and depending on the exposure period, any rider’s hearing loss is considerably increased.
