Helmet - safe, light, quiet? (+ hearing protection & music?)
Discussion
I have had a cheap AGV and two nice well fitting HJC RPHA 10+ since I started biking. First HJC did its job in a crash where I broke my neck so I bought another - in 2014. Unfortunately, dug it out since I started riding regularly again a few months ago, pleased to find numerous visors, pinlocks etc. but then last night the wind blew it off of the roof of the log store I placed it on as I always have as I parked the bike and covered it… 3ft drop and bounce 
It was 9 years old anyhow…
Because I’m less drawn to nice colours and a good deal these days, I’m seeking something with a good Sharp rating, ECE 22.06 approved, light (HJC is 1350g) and ideally quiet. What would you recommend? Currently thinking the Shoei NXR2 ticks all boxes - if it fits well, will try one on tomorrow. Had considered a HJC RPHA11 carbon but the Sharp rating puts me off a little, and it’s not the quietest (but, does it matter? See below). Same with the X-Lite 903s.
Now, a quiet helmet or not, I need to protect my ears from more tinnitus. But I quite enjoy low volume music when riding. AirPods Pro offer little (real) hearing protection, and always fall out when I take my helmet off. An intercom system streaming music without earplugs, or with earplugs and very loud, is only going to add to the noise level surely?
What are you guys using these days? I used to use wired in-ear monitors that sealed the external noise very well to my phone in my jacket pocket years ago, but my phone lives on a Quadlock on my handlebars now… maybe similar earphones and a Bluetooth receiver? All seems a bit too much faff!
It was 9 years old anyhow…Because I’m less drawn to nice colours and a good deal these days, I’m seeking something with a good Sharp rating, ECE 22.06 approved, light (HJC is 1350g) and ideally quiet. What would you recommend? Currently thinking the Shoei NXR2 ticks all boxes - if it fits well, will try one on tomorrow. Had considered a HJC RPHA11 carbon but the Sharp rating puts me off a little, and it’s not the quietest (but, does it matter? See below). Same with the X-Lite 903s.
Now, a quiet helmet or not, I need to protect my ears from more tinnitus. But I quite enjoy low volume music when riding. AirPods Pro offer little (real) hearing protection, and always fall out when I take my helmet off. An intercom system streaming music without earplugs, or with earplugs and very loud, is only going to add to the noise level surely?
What are you guys using these days? I used to use wired in-ear monitors that sealed the external noise very well to my phone in my jacket pocket years ago, but my phone lives on a Quadlock on my handlebars now… maybe similar earphones and a Bluetooth receiver? All seems a bit too much faff!
Edited by 13aines on Wednesday 20th September 18:35
I have a Shoei Neotec II coupled with a set of these:
https://ultimateear.com/product/soundear-pro-bluet...
Not cheap but excellent, the do lower grade versions, pick your poison.
https://ultimateear.com/product/soundear-pro-bluet...
Not cheap but excellent, the do lower grade versions, pick your poison.
I’ve had AGV helmets in the past and have a few various Shoei helmets now, including NXR’s.
I’ve also tried on HJC’s in the past and found that they fit me well like the AGV and Shoei helmets.
I’ve always fancied an X-Lite helmet and also a Bell, but neither of them fit my head shape, i seem to get huge pressure points across the top of my forehead which unfortunately rules them and Arai for that matter out.
As you mention your current helmet being well fitting it may be a consideration for your future purpose.
As far as the music and earplugs go.
I have a Cardo pack talk Bold fitted to one of my NXRs and which I use when I’m out with my Mrs or going somewhere where I need navigation.
I always wear 3M orange earplugs which seem to be the most noise filtering earplugs I’ve ever tried and I can hear the intercom, music and navigation perfectly while wearing them.
I’ve also tried on HJC’s in the past and found that they fit me well like the AGV and Shoei helmets.
I’ve always fancied an X-Lite helmet and also a Bell, but neither of them fit my head shape, i seem to get huge pressure points across the top of my forehead which unfortunately rules them and Arai for that matter out.
As you mention your current helmet being well fitting it may be a consideration for your future purpose.
As far as the music and earplugs go.
I have a Cardo pack talk Bold fitted to one of my NXRs and which I use when I’m out with my Mrs or going somewhere where I need navigation.
I always wear 3M orange earplugs which seem to be the most noise filtering earplugs I’ve ever tried and I can hear the intercom, music and navigation perfectly while wearing them.
dibblecorse said:
https://ultimateear.com/product/soundear-pro-bluet...
Not cheap but excellent, the do lower grade versions, pick your poison.
Another vote for this. It's a faff getting the ear impressions done but they do work really well so it's worth the hassle and cost.Not cheap but excellent, the do lower grade versions, pick your poison.
Schuberth have been making "quiet" helmets the longest of any mainstream manufacturer. Definitely worth trying one of those.
I have a Schuberth C3 Pro with a Cardo PackTalk intercom. I use disposal ear plugs and listen to music via the PackTalk.
I've got tinnitus from years of riding without hearing protection but the above has stopped deterioration in my hearing.
I have a Schuberth C3 Pro with a Cardo PackTalk intercom. I use disposal ear plugs and listen to music via the PackTalk.
I've got tinnitus from years of riding without hearing protection but the above has stopped deterioration in my hearing.
I went neotec 11 as well, it’s a very quiet helmet compared to my HJC and I was looking for a quiet helmet.
I also had ear impressions done as I have hearing loss and wanted to protect my ears, they have tiny but high quality speakers In so I can hear my satnav via the phone. I went corded but you can do Bluetooth too.
I went with snugz
I also had ear impressions done as I have hearing loss and wanted to protect my ears, they have tiny but high quality speakers In so I can hear my satnav via the phone. I went corded but you can do Bluetooth too.
I went with snugz
For what it's worth, earplugs and intercom/speaker system need not be mutually exclusive.
The Sena in my Neotec II sounds significantly better with basic 3M E-A-R foam plugs, and I rarely have it near full volume.
It sounds atrocious without them - tinny, undersized speakers that can accidentally go to painful volumes.
The Sena in my Neotec II sounds significantly better with basic 3M E-A-R foam plugs, and I rarely have it near full volume.
It sounds atrocious without them - tinny, undersized speakers that can accidentally go to painful volumes.
dibblecorse said:
I have a Shoei Neotec II coupled with a set of these:
https://ultimateear.com/product/soundear-pro-bluet...
Not cheap but excellent, the do lower grade versions, pick your poison.
22.05 and OP asked for 06. https://ultimateear.com/product/soundear-pro-bluet...
Not cheap but excellent, the do lower grade versions, pick your poison.
Some good prices now though as the Neotec 3 has been announced, and all 22.05 needs to be sold this year
Thanks for the help and advice all.
I tried on a Shoei NXR2 at Infinity tonight. The visor mechanism felt a little weaker and more clunky than my HJC RPHA 10 unfortunately but the HJCs just don’t do it for me now I’ve become more aware of the Sharp test results. I couldn’t quite justify the extra £150 for an Arai Quantum (which too fit my intermediate to long oval head well) on top of the Shoei so went for the NXR2 in plain white
But, these days visibility matters to me more than cool paintjobs
(he says in a black jacket on a black bike…) but also Shoei charge more than any other manufacturer I’ve seen for non-plain versions too 
A medium felt slightly tight on the forehead, close to my very snug medium HJC tbh. The large was better and gave a smidge more room for my chin too, and they advised the large. Both, like the HJC (since I filled out a little) had me attempting to bite my cheeks very slightly so they agreed to order in and swap thinner cheek pads in and fit the pinlock. Being delivered next week 
Need to order a dark visor to make it look a little less ROSPA/IAM and a little cooler hehe.
Just ordered a Cardo Spirit HD. Seems like a good middle ground with decent audio quality. Grabbed a load more Sparkplugs earplugs for now too - I’ll go Ultimate custom softies in the future probably.
I tried on a Shoei NXR2 at Infinity tonight. The visor mechanism felt a little weaker and more clunky than my HJC RPHA 10 unfortunately but the HJCs just don’t do it for me now I’ve become more aware of the Sharp test results. I couldn’t quite justify the extra £150 for an Arai Quantum (which too fit my intermediate to long oval head well) on top of the Shoei so went for the NXR2 in plain white
But, these days visibility matters to me more than cool paintjobs
(he says in a black jacket on a black bike…) but also Shoei charge more than any other manufacturer I’ve seen for non-plain versions too A medium felt slightly tight on the forehead, close to my very snug medium HJC tbh. The large was better and gave a smidge more room for my chin too, and they advised the large. Both, like the HJC (since I filled out a little
) had me attempting to bite my cheeks very slightly so they agreed to order in and swap thinner cheek pads in and fit the pinlock. Being delivered next week Need to order a dark visor to make it look a little less ROSPA/IAM and a little cooler hehe.
Just ordered a Cardo Spirit HD. Seems like a good middle ground with decent audio quality. Grabbed a load more Sparkplugs earplugs for now too - I’ll go Ultimate custom softies in the future probably.
Edited by 13aines on Thursday 21st September 22:04
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