Helmets ARAI: noisey, no chin skirt?

ksievers

Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
201
Location
Norman, OK
Bike
ST1300 '08
finally got an Arai Signet Q to fit my long oval noggin

just got back from my annual two week safari, rode 13 hours yesterday in WIND in Kansas..jeez, what a pain in the a--... I always wear ear plugs (foam). today I feel like my ears got battered inside a garbage can for 13 hours. not good. My old HJC was quieter, but it has a chin skirt. I'm usually confident that my foam ear plugs do the trick just fine too.

anyway - a) it's just what happens when you ride that long and it's THAT windy, or b) is there an aftermarket chin skirt that would make a difference? c) better ear plugs? but if so, what?

looking for ARAI specific advice/experience

thanks in advance -
 
sorry to answer my own post, but was just reading up on the PR3's. I have PR2's front and rear and the front one, while still having tons of tread, is BADLY scalloped... maybe that's part of the noise culprit? I guess the PR3's done wear so weirdly -
 
It seems a lot of helmet noise comes from the opening around the bottom. Some helmet manufacturers (Arai claims to be one) work on neck roll designs to minimize this noise, with varying degrees of success. Chin curtains can help. A couple of Arai lids have had pull down chin spoilers but I didn't find mine to be worthwhile. Since the long-oval Signet fits more snuggly along the sides, you'd think it would be quieter. My RXQ Arai is the rounder shape that fits my basketball head and I have found it to be quieter than my previous Vector, so maybe they are making some progress.

My suggestion, which works for me: try a bandana around your neck, pulled up and tucked under the chin strap, and tucked under your ears, too, if that helps. It helps seal-off the neck opening. The side effects of wearing a bandana are that it keeps dirt and bugs off your neck, keeps you warmer in cold weather, and cooler in hot weather, when it's wet. It also makes me look like Steve McQueen and Dave Ekins (in my fantasy)

I wear Howard Leight MAX foam earplugs which work great when properly installed. Lick 'em before you stick 'em in for best results. And yes, tire noise can be a factor but surely not as big an issue as you seem to have.

pete
 
I have a Signet Q and a Quantum. Neither are exceptionally quiet helmets, but I don't have any noise complaints either. Both work fine with Sena SMH10 speakers and mic. I don't usually wear earplugs. I have found that wind direction can make a big difference in helmet noise. :wind1:
In conditions like you just experienced, I have occasionally stuffed a spare headsock in the chin area to reduce the noise. It's a PITA, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
The quietest helmet I ever tried was a Shuberth, but it didn't fit my head well. I've also had a Shoei XS-11, which seemed to me roughly comparable to the Arai's in terms of noise. Interestingly, my Signet seems quieter when I ride my VFR than it is on the ST. :shrug2:

Garry
 
Thanks so much. Love the bandanna idea. Low tech!

My ARAI has pull down skirt. Useless. Odd for such a $$ lid
 
I also have the problem with head shape that you described and Arai is the only manufacturer I have had success with in terms of comfort. Every other helmet causes uncomfortable pain on the front of my head. I also had a problem with noise after I bought this latest helmet. I have routinely used ear-plugs (foam plugs mostly). I figured out that my ear plugs were not inserted far enough and the outside of the plug was contacting the liner inside the helmet. Installed this way, the ear plugs effectively transmitted noise directly into my ear it sometimes seemed like the helmet was noisier with plugs installed than without! My solution was to get a set of plugs that are shorter so that they don't touch the helmet liner (I bought a set of rubber plugs marketed to target shooters). It made a big difference in noise.

I like the helmet but have also found it curious that Arai doesn't do anything more sophisticated with the chin area.
 
I sure don't have all the answers about ear plugs, but as a guy who makes his living as a professional musician, and in loud, live venues, recording studios, etc... I've tried a bunch of earplugs both cheap and expensive. The cylindrical foam type, cut in half across the equator of the ear plug, go in far and don't touch the outside and usually do the trick.. but, as you say, the ARAI works for my weird dome but the price is all that racket around where the chin skirt should/could be. I really like the (duh) low tech bandanna advice.. I'm going to try it.

if anyone knows about aftermarket chin skirts that would work, I'd love to check that out too.

thanks all -
 
Last edited:
ksievers said:
Thanks so much. Love the bandanna idea. Low tech!

My ARAI has pull down skirt. Useless. Odd for such a $$ lid
Click to expand...

I have the older Arai Quantum 2 and it too has the pull down chin skirt. You may find that it doesn't do much for noise, but it's a big help when it's cold.
 
When certain wind directions caused too much noise, I used a clean sock stuffed on the windy side.
The noise was never bad enough that I'd use a dirty sock. ;)
 
I have the Shoei Qwest, an old Arai Astral X and am looking at the Signet Q. They all have the long oval shape. The Qwest fits great if you have the head type, more comfortable than the Arai. It's quieter, well built but has less air flow. It's my winter helmet because it's a sweat box in summer (bummer!).

Bill
 
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