Of course, barely anyone tries out all the motorcycle helmets available on the helmet market to figure out the quietest ones. So, choosing the quietest motorcycle helmet can be a real challenge. Moreover, things get more complicated as every rider has very different opinions on how much noise will be called as loud.
We aren’t allowed to test the helmets on the road, and the retailers will not let us test ride with the helmet to see if it works. Besides, most manufacturers do not often publish or even test the decibel measurements of the products.
Therefore, to compensate for lacking information, we have researched a lot by reading users’ opinions and professional reviews in many places. We have come up with this review and a buying guide to determine what affects the helmet’s noise and gives you some suggestions to help maintain the minimum decibels level.
Table of Contents
Best Quietest Motorcycle Helmet Reviews & Comparison 2021
** Below, you will find our detailed reviews of the quietest motorcycle helmet, but you can also click these following links to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
- Helmet shown with optional tinted shield. (Ships with clear shield only)
- Lightweight Polycarbonate/ABS shell Construction. Padded wind collar drastically reduces wind and road noise
- [ 3.0 Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmets ] : Equipped with Bluetooth 3.0 version ,keep you connected with cellphone, music player and GPS system easily and stably. Up to 9 hours intercom time, 12 hours phone time,120 hours standby time,makes team motorbike communication more convenient and efficient. What's more we had meets and exceeds both ECE & DOT safety standards.
- [ Easy Control Motorbike Bluetooth helmet ]: The motorcycle bluetooth helmet supports one button control for calling, answering, rejecting incoming calls and redialing. Incoming phone call overrides intercom, music, FM and GPS navigation audio. You can trigger Siri or Android voice command by long press the MFB button for 2 seconds. Away, make your communication more convenient.
- SHOEI NEOTEC II - Experience the Versatility.
- When SHOEI first introduced the NEOTEC in 2011, riders worldwide realized not all modular helmets were created equal.
- DOT approved. Meets the FMVSS 218 Standard
- Kinetic Polymer Alloy (KPA) shell
- K-1 is the brand new AGV sport helmet for everyday riding challenges
- Born from the AGV racing technology, ready for every road experience
- PERFECT FIT - One Size fits Most (Adults/Women/Men), it can also be the lovely and funny crown for your pet, elastic straps can be adjusted to suit different sizes. This LK crown was surprisingly comfortable and not cumbersome, so it wasn't heavy when wearing on your head. Available in LK Crown and For President Sticker and Pin
- UPGRADED MATERIAL - Compared with other bulky and rough materials, Our design team chose high quality SOFT latex material, which is comfortable, portable, foldable, soft, sturdy and safety for your little. The soft material ensures that the wearer will not be injured in the crowd. Well made and decorated with a bright color which has high similarity for the original character.
- Advanced Modular/Flip up and Dual Lens Design (inner smoked lens/outer clear shield);
- Ultra light weight durable aerodynamic thermoplastic alloy shell;
- Advanced Modular/Flip up and Dual Lens Design (inner smoked lens/outer clear shield);
- Light Weight Durable Aerodynamic Thermoplastic Alloy Shell;
- High Resistance ABS Shell With Micrometrically Adjustable Strap
- Meets or Exceeds FMVSS-218 and DOT Safety Standards
- Air intake and exhaust scoops for controlled air flow, Subtly Integrated Forehead Vent Intakes
- EPS Provides Superior Energy Absorption And Channels For Increased Airflow
Top 10 Quietest Motorcycle Helmet: Reviews 2021
Shoei Neotec II Modular Flip-up Helmet
- SHOEI NEOTEC II - Experience the Versatility.
- When SHOEI first introduced the NEOTEC in 2011, riders worldwide realized not all modular helmets were created equal.
The Shoei Neotec II Modular Flip-up Helmet has been listed in this review as the best quietest motorcycle helmet thanks to the wide viewing port and the advanced noise reduction design.
It is lightweight at 5 pounds and has a shell made of multi-ply fiberglass, and is DOT certified. Moreover, to better control noise and improve comfort, the brand has offered you five liner sizes and four different shells that you can custom to fit your head’s size best.
This helmet has also been tested carefully for wind noise control and aerodynamics. The dual EPS layers that are multi pieces can enhance impact absorption and ventilation effectively, removing moisture, heat and circulating the air.
Pros:
- Excellent interior comfort system
- Good sound levels while riding
- Great build quality
Cons:
- Not very comfortable micro-ratchet strap
Shoei GT-Air 2 Helmet
- GT-Air II Design Concept.Released in 2013, as SHOEI's premium touring full-face helmet with an internal sun shield, the original SHOEI GT-Air established this type of helmet as a functional and stylish alternative appreciated by many riders, owing to
- SHOEI has now released the all-new GT-Air II, a helmet that evolves the GT-Air's functionality, performance, and design primarily for touring use to a new, higher level of experience.The SHOEI GT-Air II integrates the optional SENA SRL 2 Bluetooth com
This helmet is another recommendation for the quietest motorcycle helmet that you should take a look at. It is a full-face helmet with an AIM fiberglass aerodynamic shell and is DOT certified with effective noise reduction technology. It is also constructed with the EPS liner that helps a lot in impact protection and maximizes airflow.
Moreover, to block the wind noise and improve comfort, it is also designed to have multi-layered cheek pads to stabilize the helmet effectively.
Pros:
- Durable
- Five-year warranty
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Fairly expensive
HJC 980-614 IS-MAX II Modular Motorcycle Helmet
- Meets DOT Safety Standard FMVSS 218
This HJC 980-614 IS-MAX II Modular Motorcycle Helmet impresses us with the polycarbonate chin bar design that can adjustable and has only a single-button release. This design makes the operation very easy, just by one hand and even possible when you wear gloves.
The visor design helps a lot to reduce fogging with the pin-lock ready. However, the pins are not included. We also enjoy the face shield design that can release fast for replacement and cleaning with ease.
This Max II motorcycle helmet is approved with DOT standards. It also has an advanced ventilation system called the ACS channeling system that controls the wind noise and the shell’s airflow. Thanks to the adjustable back and front vents, the inside of the helmet becomes cool and dry with the ventilation flow of air provided.
Pros:
- Friendly price
- Not fog up
- Includes the flip-down internal sun shield
Cons:
- Quite large
Bell Bullitt Full-Face Motorcycle Helmet
- 3 low-profile carbon composite shells and EPS sizes that are DOT certified and backed with an industry-leading five-year warranty
- Contoured cheek pads with integrated speaker pockets, genuine leather, removable/washable interior
This Bell Bullitt Full-Face Motorcycle Helmet has quite vintage looking with a full-face style that weighs nearly 4 pounds and is DOT certified.
It is secured stably with a padded strap and a double-D closure to add more to the comfortable experience when driving for long hours. A flat face shield is included but not equipped with any rubber seal, which produces a good airflow over your face while blocking most wind noise.
About the design, this helmet has thick foam padding and a genuine leather liner. All the interior inside the helmet can be washable and removable easily. Moreover, you can receive so many different options in the size of contoured cheek pads to make sure it fits your head well and reduces the wind noise more effectively.
Pros:
- DOT certified
- Good warranty
- Reasonable price points
Cons:
- Quite discomfort seams and stitching
Bell Qualifier Full-Face Motorcycle Helmet
- Helmet shown with optional tinted shield. (Ships with clear shield only)
- Lightweight Polycarbonate/ABS shell Construction. Padded wind collar drastically reduces wind and road noise
This Bell Qualifier is a full-face motorcycle helmet that is DOT certified. It offers you three different sizes for the shell that is designed with the EPS liner to most fit you. Additionally, replacing and cleaning the face shield is also an easy job thanks to its quick click release system and the no-fogging NutraFog II system it is equipped with.
What makes me enjoy the most about this helmet is controlling sound effectively at an amicable price. Most inner parts are removable and easy to wash or replace.
Pros:
- Five years warranty
- DOT approved
- It is designed with EPS and three shells
Cons:
- Quite heavy
Arai Solid Signet-X Adult Street Helmet
- Long Oval Shell For Head Shapes With Pronounced Length, But A Reduced Width
- Quick-release Lever For Side Pod And Faceshield
This Arai Signet-Q helmet has an elongated front aerodynamic shell that meets all SNELL and DOT standards. The visor has a fog-free view with the pin lock ready and a large eye-port to expand the peripheral viewing. Moreover, the integrated chin spoiler designed to improve stability and channel wind also works well.
About the quiet feature, the helmet is designed with the visor’s brow vents and the FCS cheek pads that help provide a much better fit to your head and minimize wind noise and keep it away from your ears.
Pros:
- Include the chin wind deflector works perfectly
- Comfortable and lightweight
- High-quality materials
Cons:
- The frustrating sound made by the visor
SHARK Helmets EVO-ONE 2 Blank Matte Modular Helmet
- DOT Approved Modular Helmet
- The ultimate evolution of SHARK modular helmet with double full-face / open certification.
This SHARK EVO-ONE 2 helmet is a 4 pounds weight, compact profile thermoplastic modular helmet. What makes this product the best quietest motorcycle helmet is it is a versatile one with two uses in one: open-face and full-face. It is ECE, DOT certified and is best ideal to use for a long drive or touring.
The rear spoiler and the round small aerodynamic design help a lot in decreasing the wind noise. Moreover, in the full-face position, the magnetic chin curtain also helps block most of the wind noise that comes through under your helmet.
Pros:
- Good ventilation
- Integrated sun visor
- Effortless configuration changes thanks to the chin guard design
Cons:
- The included Bluetooth speaker recesses aren’t dit speakers with larger sizes
1Storm Motorcycle Street Bike Full Face Helmet
- DOT Approved; Size XL (59-60 CM,23.2/23.6 Inch)
- Advanced Modular/Flip up and Dual Lens Design (inner smoked lens/outer clear shield);
This 1Storm Motorcycle Street Bike Full Face Helmet is DOT approved with the shell that is thermoplastic alloy aerodynamic and has a weight of 5 pounds, which is relatively lightweight. Also, under the chin bar, it has a lift-up switch to function the modular flip-up that works even when wearing gloves.
We are also impressed with the quick-release mechanism of the visor. Moreover, the removable padded liner is washable and offers adequate protection from most noises across the street.
Pros:
- Functional and versatile
- Offers numerous color, styles, and sizes
- Extremely affordable price
Cons:
- Inefficient and poorly designed inner visor
Shoei RF-1200 Helmet
- Compact lightweight aerodynamic design
- Ventilation performance
The Shoei RF-1200 Helmet is tested for wind-tunnel aerodynamics. It has a low-profile lightweight full-face design that is both SNELL and DOT certified. It also has a shell that can disperse and absorb energy very strongly.
We are impressed with the rear spoiler that helps add centrifugal force when you are riding at high speed, whether in angled or upright positions. The helmet does very well its job to allow you to hear the road event sounds while filtering the wind noise down to a minimum. This Shoei RF-1200 Helmet has well-positioned vents that produce good airflow and is comfortable wearing nearly 4 pounds weight.
Pros:
- Comfortable and super absorbent lining interior
- Well-ventilated airflow system
- Many options of models and sizes
Cons:
- High price
Schuberth C3 Pro
Schuberth C3 Pro impresses us with a special resin fiberglass modular flip-up shell that is DOT certified and is very durable. This helmet can create zero oscillatory tendencies, buffeting, or lift thanks to the aerodynamic design when driving at high speeds.
This Schuberth C3 Pro helmet will offer you an internal sound level at 60 mph of 82 dB, which is quiet. Plus, to minimize wind noise that can penetrate under your helmet, it also has ergonomic neck padding that works very well with the chin skirt.
The inner shell is designed to be integrated with the helmet’s cooling vents and has multipart EPS foam to protect you better. To make the user’s experience more comfortable, it is also produced to have the liner made of COOLMAX material and is washable, removable.
Pros:
- Efficiently block noise
- Glossy color
- It offers many options of sizes
Cons:
- On the cheek area, the helmet may fit a little too tight.
- Quite expensive
Things You Should Know To Choose The Quietest Motorcycle Helmet
We still have a very long way ahead to see the genuinely efficient helmet that can protect our hearing completely. As some studies have proved that there are no helmets that can perfectly sound-proof. But in the meantime waiting for the technology to improve, what options are we having now? Fortunately, there are still some features we can find in a helmet that helps block the noise. Please pay attention here because these features alone will not save your ears, but a combination of many of them will help protect your ears optimally.
Strap
Do you know that the strap of your helmet can cause noise? It is! When your strap is not adjusted correctly, it will quickly flap and cause noise. And of course, it’s also hazardous as you will not receive complete protection when there is an accident happening. Therefore, please, remember to check it as often as possible.
Overall, if your helmet isn’t designed to have many straps outside the buckle, then the single strap itself can not produce much noise that can affect your hearing. But it still can make you annoyed with its flapping noise. You can use a lighter to burn it or trim it with shears. Fortunately, the toothed modern straps in the latest helmets will not have this problem.
Visor Seal And Design
It is best to have helmets that can drive the air out from the bottom opening. The helmet design that you should look for is the chin piece design. You need to see if it is designed to be more open and flat to airflow or wrap around your jaw.
The visor seal design is also an essential factor that you need to pay attention to when looking for the quietest motorcycle helmet. Because a visor seal that is designed poorly will start to loosen over time or vibrate when you’re on the way, and then it begins to make noise.
Generally, a full-closed visor helmet will always be the quietest. And it can be even quieter with the snug-fitting pads that are designed to place around the visor. Moreover, the face shield is best to be as clear as possible and meet all the safety standards. You will never want to experience extreme fogging or any type of distortion in your long drives as your vision is significant.
Snug Fit
The crucial factor that affects the noise is the snug fit. Your helmet needs to be fit in the lining’s lower part and in the neck roll to reduce noise effectively. A helmet with foam and pads that are well-placed will help minimize noise from your ears and dampen vibration.
The key is a snug fit. The visor will be in the open position when your helmet is not correct to your head’s size. It also creates vibration and noise through the front.
Price
It is often a fact that helmets that have excellent quality don’t have low prices. Risking your life to save some dollars is not worthy, so always be sure to have a decent budget to afford a helmet with outstanding quality because your helmet is the crucial deciding factor in your life if there are any crashes.
Protection
Always check the amount of protection of any helmet that you will buy. It is the top important, and never choose a helmet just because it looks most excellent to you. Between a beautiful helmet from a manufacturer that you have never heard of and a simple plain color helmet from a famous brand like Shoei, you would probably choose a more reputable manufacturer to protect your life.
Features And Convenience
We know that you are already fed up with all of the previous features we listed above. But hold on, you will want to spend some time checking out some extra features that a helmet can bring. There is communication technology, Bluetooth audio, sun shields, anti-fog systems, noise reduction technology, removable padding, breath guards, strap securing, and quick-change face shields.
These additional features may not be as important as protection. But trust us in this; they are still essential for you to wear your helmet comfortably over the years. Our little advice is you should not pay too much attention to all these features as one or two of them will be enough.
Comfort
How comfortable a motorcycle helmet is also a factor you need to note when choosing the quietest motorcycle helmet. Your goal here is to purchase a helmet as comfortable as possible because we know you will hardly find a perfectly comfortable one on the market nowadays. Always remember that you need to enjoy your rides with comfort, not torturing your head in too-tight helmets. Some features you can take a look at when it comes to comfort are a well-positioned neck roll, solid ear seals, comfort padding, and not any discomfort protrusions.
Our best tip here is you should always choose the most popular and well-known manufacturers. They are famous for a reason: their helmets are always designed most comfortably after many types of research, and sometimes, they can even have features such as swappable cheek pads. However, some individuals can find some specific brands that are better than the rest. Therefore, this factor depends on each personal preference.
Brand
You should buy only helmets from good reputation brands, or you can choose any brand to buy from our reviews above. Reputable manufacturers have tested their products carefully on many aspects to ensure they are produced with the best quality.
On the opposite, some cheaper brands will not do the same, and they just care about the profit selling as much as they can without really caring about quality. It can also explain why big-name brands’ helmets are more expensive because they include many testing in the production process. Helmets from reputation manufacturers can save your life!
Ventilation
Ventilation in the right way is not solely to bring you comfort. A ventilation system that works effectively will be helpful in toxic fumes situations coming into your helmet. A helmet that is well ventilated will prevent sweating too much while at the same time minimize any toxic exhaust by flowing air properly around your head.
On some high-end models, helmets are even equipped with an adjustable ventilation system, and from then, you can reduce or increase the airflow in the amount you desire.
Coverage
The more coverage, the better. Full-face helmets will indeed offer more amount of protection to your head when compared to any half helmets.
We want you to look for the helmet interior that has the EPS liner coverage. You will find the difference in the higher-priced with the cheaper ones on EPS. The higher-priced helmets have EPS covering into the chin bar and most of the shell, while the cheaper models will skimp on it.
Materials
You also need to know what materials your helmet is made of to maximize your comfort and performance. On the first line of defense of a helmet, you will need the outer material to be lightweight and robust at the same time.
You can search for the use of carbon fiber and Kevlar, fiberglass composites, or lightweight plastic in high-end models. EPS foam is also a great feature on the inside that helps a lot with high-impact dispersion and energy absorption. Moreover, a helmet with an aerodynamics amount will be better for dragging and reducing lifting at high speeds.
Tested And Certified
Safety is always the most important criteria when purchasing any motorcycle helmet. Luckily, there are many specific safety standards in the US to ensure the helmets are produced with high-quality.
First, the SNELL standard requires stringent standards and is administered privately. You will find the “SNELL Approved” on helmets that meet these standards. Second is the USDOT standard that all helmets in the US must have to define their performance’s minimum levels. Helmets meeting these criteria will bear the sticker “DOT.”
These standards are, of course, essential. But do not assume that all helmets in the market will meet these criteria. Always remember to check carefully before you purchase.
Bottom Line: Our Top Picks Of The Quietest Motorcycle Helmet
Please note in mind that prolonged or repeated exposure to sound more than 85db can end up damaging your hearing. And these volumes will be reached easily inside your motorcycle helmet when driving at high speeds on wide roads. A set of earplugs will be the easiest and quickest solution here. But if you want to still hear surrounding noise from the environment and just isolate the wind noise only, then a snug-fitting neck liner and roll modular helmet is a perfect key.
Check out our top 5 picks of the quietest motorcycle helmet below: