Aaaaagh, Wind noise

[pale rider]

it seems like there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to this phil, as everybody uses different ways to combat this problem.. and has varying success but it is advisable to wear ear-protection regardless....

i have one of them MRSA screens but i think that adds to the problem by throwing the wind at my head but protects the rest of my upper body..

i always wear the rhubarb and custard type squishy plugs as yeti acurately describes them and i think they do a great job of reducing if not curing the problem.

for a while i've wanted to try the ultimate(custom moulded) approach especially the ones with a in-built speaker set up to tie in with the autocom/mp3 stuff but if they dont work it's an expensive thing to get wrong.......

[StumpyFingers]

for a while i've wanted to try the ultimate(custom moulded) approach especially the ones with a in-built speaker set up to tie in with the autocom/mp3 stuff but if they dont work it's an expensive thing to get wrong.......

I spent the money on some last year and they are really excellent, They do work.

[edteamslr]

Custom moulded 'monitors' are nice because you can swap them between helmets whereas Autocom speakers would require one set per helmet. They are very expensive however and while they always stop noise perfectly without your helmet, I found that as soon as I put my helmet on it pushed back my ears and the plugs didn't fit as well and let in some noise. Sadly I have gone back to soft plugs - I really wanted them to work though because they are so hasslefree, easy to clean and quick to insert.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Wow, thanks to the replies all

It sounds like most of us have suffered problems to some degree.

I have baulked at Ultimate ear plugs, maybe its time to invest. I don't have an issue with blocking out too much noise - quieter the better for motorway runs.

Changing helmet is not an option, I like the Arais as they fit me perfectly albeit a bit noisy.

I have experimented with various screens & chopping my tall flip screen down to somewhere near the original one...... and thought was that a good compromise.

As time has gone on & more longer trips & motorway miles have passed, the noise really is becoming more noticable/annoying.

Austin, any chance of trying your chopped screen for a while (I'll be back in Leigh next Friday for the weekend (when V collects her new bike ))?

Cheers all, Phil

[Dee Duble Yuh]

I'll try not to repeat what's been said above too much.

1. Screen: You really must try a cut-down screen or no screen at all. You knew this already from your experience with the unfaired bike. Big screens seldom reduce wind noise as much because they cause turbulence - the real enemy.

2. Crash helmet: If this is a REALLY serious problem then you can't afford to dismiss makes other than Arai. Can you cast your net wider? For example, most BMW-branded helmets are good for noise protection. If you MUST have an Arai regardless of how they damage you hearing then maybe your hearing isn't so important to you. All full-face Arais appear to be covered in vents and doo-dads.

Equally important is that to have a helmet that has a REALLY snug fit. If you can wear a scarf or buff inside then the helmet is too big. (After 10 years the lining will have compressed a lot and will allow noise in.)

3. Ear plugs: They only reduce a proportion of the noise reaching your ear drums; it's no good wearing a noisy helmet in the belief that ear plugs will cure the problem. My personal experience is that disposable ear plugs don't fit consistently. That is, they are fine some days but hopeless other days. I've found custom-made plugs to be more consistent and they should last for years. (I've heard that the shape of your ear changes so they should be replaced now and again.)

HTH

[ogri]

a close fitting cotton balaclava has deffo helped reduce noise for me.whisper strip too.if you are really concerned then the brand will be unimportant,comfort aside.i heard the reduction in noise when you fill in that space between shoulders and base of helmet so perhaps try a scarf wrapped around the area and secured well.tuck the ends into jacket to stop them flapping about....might work.

[Nevermore]

My solution is a bit expensive but it works as a charm.
1. Silent helmet: Schubert C3.
If you close all the air vents exposed directly to the wind flow it is pretty silent.
Shoei helmets also have whisper strip.
2. WINDSTOPER face cover that goes inside the jacket. I use this one http://tiny.cc/zuWto
3. Givi touring screen.

After 100 - 120 km/h I must lean on the tank with due to the wind I get in my chest.

[jarl]

I have a givi tall screen. After the first journey I removed it from my bike and rode with no screen until I could get a smaller screen! I found that the tall screen caused so much buffeting to my helmet it was unsafe as I was unable to see properly because my head was being shaken around so much.

Personally, I'd say a small screen and just grin and bear it when the weather goes nasty. I can't do 80mph+ without getting major wind (lol) with the stock screen, but the answer to that is to find some back roads and pootle