Full Face VS. Half Helm - Engine Noise

Randum77 · #1 13th April 2006

I just got some new sunglasses so I can ride around town w/ my half helm. So, i'm driving around and notice the engine noise is insanely loud. It's not deadly or world coming to an end. Question I post to everone...

When you went form a full face to a half helm, did you notice ALOT of new noises coming from everywhere? I hear valve clacks, all sorts of metal vibratings and I can hear the chain in the primary.

-marshall

fgrejdus · #2 13th April 2006

I went from not wearing helmet to a Full Face. I moved from Connecticut to California. Now I don't hear half the noises I used to. But I do hear a few different noises from the engine I never heard without a helmet.

Sportster1200 · #3 13th April 2006

First time I rode with my half helmet was after I changed my oil. I almost thought I forgot to put the oil in after draining it.

Very loud but you get used to it. If you have a windshield it is even scarier the first time.

Now it sounds like music to me!

Kong

Vegas1200C · #4 13th April 2006

I was used to not wearing a helmet till I moved to Vegas and had to. I tried a full face and it was more like riding in a car than bike. Scared me too cause I could hear the voices in my head clearly and they weren't saying good things.

I tried a DOT half and the wind noise was too loud and at highway speed it tried to rip my head off so I got a carbon fiber non-DOT that fits closer to my head. Its a nice balance between not being pulled over and still getting the wind in my face but keeping the voices at bay.

CBAS5 · #5 13th April 2006

Very normal. I started riding the bike with a full face helmet and then rode it a few times without a helmet and the new noises I heard scared me.

Moved On · #6 13th April 2006

Another normal vote...

I prefer to hear the engine clatter to the amplified bass from my exhaust that I hear with a full face. But from November until May I'll wear the fullface when I get to ride for the warmth.

Gazza

Randum77 · #7 13th April 2006

ok, cool. I was hoping that was the case. That was the first time i actually rode w/o a full face so there some adjusting that must take place. Thanks for the info. I wear my full face to work because they are safety freaks, and the half helm around town and short rides.

HuggyBear · #8 13th April 2006

When I first changed from a full face to a half helmet I was amazed/startled at the amount of clatter that comes from the engine. However, being a true engine afficianado I like to be able to hear the engine and exhaust tones/sounds. There is a whole thread on wearing ear plugs and I tried it and didnt like it at all...cut out too much of the sounds I enjoy and also the sounds I dont (screeching tires, sirens, some idiot yelling at me before he launches a soda bottle, etc), I just didnt feel comfortable with that level of sound reduction.

xl1200r · #9 13th April 2006

Yup - much louder without the full-face. I did notice with mine that if you crack the facesheild to the vent position, you loose a lot of the reversion in the helmet and the sound is much more pleasing.

ken01976 · #10 13th April 2006

Some helmets like shoei and arai will reduce the noise level even more.