Nothing is more annoying than riding at highway speeds with so much noise. Do you know that the noise isn’t coming from the road but the wind? Provided that hearing loss can happen beginning at 85 decibels, noise is a major concern for a lot of bikers.
This is where motorcycle helmets come into play.
Motorcycle helmets won’t only make your ride safer but they also can minimize the wind noise around you. With the proper fit of motorcycle helmet design, you can significantly minimize the wind noise to 86 decibels or even less. Here are our complete reviews and guide for the best quiet motorcycle helmet.
Comparison Table For The Quietest Motorcycle Helmets
Helmet | Image | Shell Construction | Shield System | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Advanced Polycarbonate Composite | One-touch Smoke-tinted Sunshield with locking mechanism | ||
 | Lightweight Fiberglass | Dual visor system: Drop-down Iridium Red Visor and Inner Sun Shield | ||
 | Lightweight polycarbonate/ABS | Transitions Adaptive Clickrelease | ||
 | Advanced LG Polycarbonate | Dual visor system: Drop-down Dark Smoke Sunshield and clear visor | ||
 | High Resistance ABS | Dual visor system: Drop-down Black visor and clear visor | ||
 | Lightweight Kinetic Polymer Alloy(KPA) | Twin Shield System Drop Down Sun Shield | ||
 | Thermoplastic Alloy | Dual visor system: Drop-down Shield and additional clear visor |
Top 7 Quietest Motorcycle Helmet Reviews
Get the HJC IS-MAX II if you want a quieter ride at highway speeds. Its aerodynamic shape makes your ride quiet even at highway speeds. This DOT certified helmet is comfortable as it keeps you well ventilated and it gives room for your favorite earbuds.
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The Quietest Full Face Motorcycle Helmet
The NK-856 is a motorcycle helmet that boasts a striking design with bold graphics and colors. As a full-face helmet, it brings extra security to the head and helps keep lower the road noise while riding. This DOT certified helmet is a good choice if you’re a fair-weather rider.
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The Quietest Motorcycle Helmet With Bluetooth
If you want a Bluetooth-ready motorcycle helmet, then the Qualifier might be what you’ll need. This sleek motorcycle helmet is built with a communications port that works with popular stereo communication brands, like Sena and Cardo. It’s also safe to use because it has been certified by DOT and ECE to absorb heavy impacts.
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The Best Quiet Motorcycle For A Bad Ass Look
If you want a tough-looking motorcycle helmet for your highway rides, then the Scorpion Covert Helmet might delight your taste. This DOT-approved helmet is a half helmet that comes with a removable mask to cover the chin area. Seemingly, this covert helmet suits best for people with oval-shaped heads.
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The Best Quiet Motorcycle Helmet For The Budget
If money is an issue, then you can try the ILM 920 Modular Helmet which only costs around $59.49. This DOT approved modular helmet is aerodynamic and boldly shaped to complement the cool styles of motorbikes and reduce wind noise. It’s available in 10 colors, including matte black, white, and yellow.
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The Quietest Open Face Motorcycle Helmet
The LS2 Track 569 is a great option for those who feel too constricted with a full-face helmet. This particular helmet has an open face design to provide better peripheral vision and ventilation. It makes a good helmet for touring, commute, scooter, and any type of motorcycle.
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The Quietest Motorcycle Helmet With Noise Canceling Feature
The T27 is a great mid-range helmet with Bluetooth connectivity and a noise-canceling feature for seamless communication. From styling to a comfortable fit, the T27 has all you need from a modular helmet. It may look smaller than other helmets in this list but it provides the same protection from impact and wind noise.
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Buying Guide For The Best Quiet Motorcycle Helmet
Now, that you have read our reviews above, let’s get to know about motorcycle helmets better. What determines a quiet helmet and what to look for when buying your quiet motorcycle helmet? Here ‘s our guide below.
It’s All About Aerodynamics!
Aerodynamics determines the quietness of a helmet. The wind slides over the surface easier when the helmet has less resistance. Motorcycle helmet manufacturers invest a lot of time and effort in creating the perfect design to make a helmet quiet.
The research on aerodynamics is mainly performed to identify the causes of turbulence on the helmet’s surface. Anything that distorts the airflow over the helmet can result to turbulence. Any gaps in the helmet where air can enter all cause different levels of turbulence. More turbulence can generate more noise.
2 Common Types Of Motorcycle Helmets
1. Full-Face Motorcycle Helmet
As its name implies, the full-face helmet has your entire head completely covered. The eye area is covered with a visor to protect your eyes from sunlight and other debris on the road. Consider choosing a helmet with an anti-fogging visor to have no distortions on your vision.
A unique feature of this helmet is a chin guard or bar that provides extra protection. This type of helmet tends to be quieter than modular because it shuts off all unnecessary wind noise from outside. Among the quietest full-face motorcycle helmets are NENKI Helmets NK-856 and TORC T27.
2. Modular Motorcycle Helmet
A modular motorcycle helmet, on the other hand, is designed with removable chin guards. With the chin guard gone, the helmet turns into an open face helmet. Quite a delight for claustrophobic and adventure-seeking riders.
Of course, you need to install the chin guard when riding because you need to shut off the wind noise outside. Among the quietest modular motorcycle helmets are HJC 980-614 IS-MAX II Modular Motorcycle Helmet and ILM 902 Modular Helmet.
What To Look For
1. Size
The right fit is crucial in the selection of a quiet motorcycle helmet. You’ll want the interior liners to sit comfortably on your cheeks and ears. Having a gap around the neck and the ear areas will let the wind noise get in and create a bothersome noise.
To get the right size, measure the circumference of your cranium and refer it to the sizing chart. If you have the privilege to visit a physical store, try the helmet yourself.
2. Ventilation
Nothing is more cumbersome than to feel suffocated while riding. While you want the helmet to be as quiet as possible, you need to be comfortable too . Look for multiple vents to flush out the hot air inside the helmet. Make sure that some vents can be closed so you can shut off some wind noise when riding at highway speeds.
3. Safety Rating
Above everything else, your motorcycle helmet should be DOT-approved to be safe for road use. Helmets that are approved of this standard have high impact attenuation and a peripheral vision of at least 105 degrees. ECE is another safety standard that you should look for as it ensures high abrasion resistance and shell rigidity.
4. Shell Material
Motorcycle helmets are usually made of thermoplastic or fiberglass. Thermoplastic is a type of polycarbonate that needs more foam padding to comply with safety standards. These helmets tend to be heavier and bigger but they’re more affordable than more advanced lids.
Fiberglass shells are expensive because they’re very complex to make. They tend to be more lightweight and harder than thermoplastic but they’re prone to cracking. Between fiberglass and thermoplastic, the latter seems to be quieter because of the additional padding that can seal all the gaps inside the helmet.
Tips For Making A Helmet Quieter
Conclusion
Based on the reviews above, the best quiet motorcycle helmet is the HJC IS-MAX II because it’s comfortable and well-made. Its best feature is its built-in SunShield which you can retract in a simple press of a button. Unlike other helmets in this list, the IS-MAX II doesn’t fog up.
The aerodynamic design of HJC IS-MAX II makes this motorcycle helmet quiet. Even if you’re riding at superspeed, the wind won’t bother your ears. The liners also do a good job of absorbing the noise from your surroundings giving you a quiet ride that you’ll always wanted.