For many riders, a quiet motorcycle helmet is absolutely essential—whether you’re a casual road rider or someone who takes frequent extended trips on your bike. The wind noise alone can be the equivalent of attending a rock concert with regard to sound levels.
Loud road noise, wind noise, and helmet whistling can cause you not to hear important sounds around you. And not only is it distracting, but loud wind noise can also cause permanent hearing damage.
Some riders take preventive measures and wear earplugs, thus reducing the wind noise. Others take it a step further, opting to wear thick scarves around their necks, limiting the amount of wind that can slip underneath the chin bar and the helmet itself.
Contents
- 1 Best Quiet Motorcycle Helmets List March 2021
- 2 Top 5 Quietest Motorcycle Helmets
- 3 Shoei RF-1200 Helmet Review – Top Rated, Most Popular
- 4 Schuberth C3 Pro Helmet Review – Best Motorcycle Helmet for Wind Noise
- 5 Shoei RF-SR Helmet Review
- 6 HJC RPHA 70 ST Grandal Helmet Review
- 7 My Vote – Which Motorcycle Helmet is the Quietest?
Best Quiet Motorcycle Helmets List March 2021
Having a quiet motorcycle helmet from the start is obviously the best alternative to any of these problems. You can only make a noisy helmet so quiet with earplugs, scarves, caps, etc. It’s best to start with the quietest helmet you can find from the start.
This is especially true if you want to listen to music with any kind of audio clarity.
Top 5 Quietest Motorcycle Helmets
If you’re looking to listen to music in your helmet or simply want a quieter ride, here are the best quiet motorcycle helmets out today.
- Shoei RF-1200 – Quietest Full Face Helmet
- Schuberth C3 Pro – Quietest Modular Motorcycle Helmet
- Shoei RF-SR
- HJC RPHA 70 ST Grandal Helmet
Shoei RF-1200 Helmet Review – Top Rated, Most Popular
The Shoei RF-1200 kept what worked from the RF-1100 and added enough new features to make it look and feel like a brand new piece of equipment. In fact, the aerodynamics is part of what makes this helmet so much quieter. A better ventilation system means that instead of bouncing around inside the helmet, air is routed over and through in a way that not only cools and comforts but creates a quieter environment as well.
A newly designed shell offers a slimmer and lighter weight design that is just more comfortable to wear. At the same time, a wider helmet bottom offers more ease in putting the helmet on and taking it off while four shell sizes make it a better fit all the way around.
Pros Include:
- EPS liner that features dual density
- Q.R.S. SWR-1 Shield System
- Secure chin strap
- Pinlock pins included along with a lens insert.
Cons Include:
- Noisier than it should be
- No screens on vents
- Cheek pads fit differently than on previous models
- Shell sizes get too large
Schuberth C3 Pro Helmet Review – Best Motorcycle Helmet for Wind Noise
In the Schuberth C3 Pro, the company gathered feedback from riders around the world, added improvements to the already outstanding prior Schuberth model, and put it all together in a new helmet.
The aerodynamics of the C3 Pro means less down force and buffeting. You will also appreciate that Bluetooth and radio range have both been improved, thanks to integrated antennas and a better EPS.
At the same time, comfort isn’t lacking, with a COOLMAX pad system that is removable and can be washed by hand. It can also be adjusted for both winter and summer riding, it’s allergen free and the ventilation system offers more than half again as much fresh air as any other helmet.
You’ll also find more room in the forehead area, even with better padding, as well as more clearance in the chin area. The easy speed ratchet chin removal is easy to operate with one gloved hand, but the mounts have been moved forward, allowing for more room if your neck is a little thicker than normal.
Additionally, two more decibels have been removed, so what was once an 84 dB(A), thanks to aerodynamics and styling, is now an 82 dB(A). It contains an entire acoustics package, a wind deflector, and the quietest ride possible at 100 hm/hr, even on a naked bike.
Finally, with less tilt, there’s not much of a chance of contact between the helmet’s chin area and your own throat or chin.
Pros Include:
- EasyChange visor
- Multi-path ventilation for more fresh air
- Removable inner lining
- Reflective panels on neckroll
Cons Include:
- Helmet “sinks” on the head for some riders
- Face shield fogs up in heavy rain
- Modular clasps don’t always grab when closing
Schuberth really stepped it up with the C3 Pro, and it is probably the quietest motorcycle helmet in the world today.
Shoei RF-SR Helmet Review
With a more conservative look and a better design for an upright riding position, the Shoei RF-SR is a great piece for the money. As an intermediate-oval shape, most riders will find this helmet fits well, but those with a wider forehead might have some trouble with a tighter fit.
The design also caters to riders who use a more upright position and make use of their mirrors as in a touring setup. Turning your head can create extra wind noise and whistling, but the vents remain solid.
Pros Include:
- Four shell sizes and six EPS liner sizes
- All interior pieces are removable
- Pinlock pins and EVO fog resistance
- Spring loaded base plate
Cons Include:
- Bottom vent vents to the face shield instead of the face
- Front to back is a tight fit, even as intermediate-oval
- Helmet fogs badly in cold weather
- No positive lock in the face shield
HJC RPHA 70 ST Grandal Helmet Review
Moving up a notch from the previous model, the RPHA ST, the HJC RPHA 70 ST breaks new ground with some features you’re going to appreciate for a quiet ride.
A top of the line helmet, the ventilation has been increased and so has the safety rating with only a few extra ounces. Along with airflow improvements, aerodynamics are also improved with a more functional design.
A flatter face shield offers less distortion in your line of sight with jawline actuation gives you one-handed control. An emergency cheek pad removal system allows the cheek pads to pop right out, and you also get a removable chin spoiler. Overall, you get an excellent combination of a race helmet and a touring helmet.
Pros Include:
- Vents offer maximum circulating of air
- Anti-fog shield is smoke tinted and quickly deployed
- Completely glasses friendly
- Moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial interior components
Cons Include:
- Goggle switch sometimes drops unexpectedly
- Sun visor mechanism interferes with com system placement
- Tight around the jaw for some riders
- Inner speaker placement is not optimal
My Vote – Which Motorcycle Helmet is the Quietest?
Best motorcycle helmet for noise reduction: Even though the Schuberth C3 Pro is bit more costly, it’s true that sometimes you really do get what you pay for, and that’s why it walks away with my vote for the best and quietest motorcycle helmet.
The impressive feature is that the aerodynamics only bring out 82 decibels at 100 km/hr (60 mph), even on a naked bike. Most companies won’t even list their decibel ratings at speed, so it shows just how ahead of the curve the Schuberth really is. Just as its predecessor, the C3 Pro remains one of the quietest motorcycle helmets available on the global market.