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WheelsOfGrace.com | Volume 11 Issue 6 | 21 as grooves and wings might reduce drag and resistance, but they have very li le impact on how noisy the helmet is. Based on the data, the fi ng at the neck seems to be the main source of helmet noise. "The third poten al noise source inves gated was the cavity under the helmet at the chin bar. Inves ga ons in this area were conducted using a microphone placed at the center of the mannequin chin. A er condi onally removing the contribu on of tunnel noise a high coherence was achieved between this region and the at-ear sound between 0 and 1000 Hz. Helmet angle and flow speed were iden fied as key factors governing the produc on of sound from this region." Snug Comfort For Men On Long Motorcycle Rides While quite revealing, the study didn't consider several factors. For instance, the researchers acknowledge that their study did not take the rider's body and the motorcycle structure (fairing) into considera on. Keep in mind that the size of the windscreen and the type of fairing affect how much wind reaches your helmet and influence how much noise you perceive. They also recognize that the sound levels vary with how the helmet fits the rider's head—the opening under the chin will incidentally vary in size and shape. The research also didn't take helmet features such as visors, seals, vents, and modular chin pieces into considera on. Any opening or ill-fi ng component can cause addi onal noise. If you've ever had to deal with a whistling visor, you can vouch for this. That being said, by knowing that causes the noise, it becomes easier to counteract it. What Features Should You Look For? We have a long way to go before we see helmets that efficiently protect our hearing hit the market, and chances are that when the technology reaches that coveted level, we'll have to pay the price of innova on. In the mean me, what can we do to protect our ears? As Promotor's study proved, there is no perfectly sound-proofed helmet so what are the op ons? The good news is that there are a few things we can look for in a helmet that will help block out the noise. Keep in mind that none of those features alone will save your ears; a combina on of several will provide you with the op mal protec on. The Tight Racing Helmet Based on the University of Bath's results, a thick, well-fi ed neck roll and the presence of a chin guard and/or a windjammer should help block out some of the noise by reducing the flow of air that enters the lid. You will, of course, want to try the helmet on to determine how well it fits on your head and around your chin and neck. The be er the lining and padding around the head and neck fit your head, the be er impact and noise protec on the helmet will provide. Look at helmets with a good-quality shield as well. Test the shield and its mechanism to see that it seals properly when closed. Is the visor's material thick and sturdy or flimsy and easy to distort? Does the mechanism press the visor against the rubber seal or does the closure feel light and ill-fi ed? A ght-fi ng visor will help reduce the risks of dealing with avoidable noises like whistling. The same applies to the air ducts and vents: if the materials and closure systems are flimsy and low quality, chances are they might get caught in the wind and increase the noise level. Consider that a single- piece, full-face helmet is also quieter than a modular or a 3/4 model designed with addi onal opening and seals. Pull-down retractable sun shield features 95% UV protection and anti-scratch coating If your budget allows it, premium helmets such as Schuberth and Shoei are widely recognized as some of the quietest products on the market. Schuberth claims that its C4 full-face model limits the noise to 85 dB. You can also shop for smart helmets like those in Sena's Momentum lineup that feature integrated headphones and use ac ve noise cancella on to help cut down on the exterior decibels. Ul mately, the most popular, efficient, and inexpensive ear protector you can buy is a pair of earplugs. Sadly, while they're generally socially accepted, they are considered illegal in a few States. According to AAA, the use of earbuds while opera ng a vehicle is forbidden in Alaska, California, and Maryland. Ohio appeared on the list as well un l recently, when the use of earplugs by motorcyclists was legalized earlier in January 2020. Good helmet designs will help more than they will harm but you might want to double down on your ear protec on and make sure your new lid checks as many boxes as possible. Good materials and a good fit can go a long way. Most retailers won't let us take a demo helmet out for a test ride to figure out if it