Shoei GT-Air Helmet Noise

I fixed my noisy Shoei...by purchasing an Arai!

Once I started wearing earplugs, helmet noise wasn't much of an issue any more for me. Given the tinnitus in my left ear that never goes away, I wish I'd started wearing them sooner!

Helmet fit is usually the biggest factor in things like this, though. I've found that, for me, a Shoei that fits my head front to back properly is too wide in the cheek/ear area....leaving lots of room for noise to build. Arai (the Signet Q series) is much narrower side-to-side, and is therefore much quieter for me. Proper fit is a very subtle thing....and one that it took me many years to finally get a handle on...which is why, for a while, I sold more Arai helmets than anyone in the Southeast.

WERA689 said:

Helmet fit is usually the biggest factor in things like this, though. I've found that, for me, a Shoei that fits my head front to back properly is too wide in the cheek/ear area....leaving lots of room for noise to build. Arai (the Signet Q series) is much narrower side-to-side, and is therefore much quieter for me. Proper fit is a very subtle thing....and one that it took me many years to finally get a handle on...which is why, for a while, I sold more Arai helmets than anyone in the Southeast.

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Same for myself.. Though it ended up being the AGV that was the best fit in the end. Aria used to be my lid, when I had hair..
I also find that a helmet that has a strong design sense towards the track, can end up being a little noisier on the street.. Almost like the shells are designed to take and vent the wind only in certain directions?
Down behind the bubble? Fine.. Up in the air while on a spirited non-tucked ride? Even with ear plugs in.. I noticed a difference.
These things are hard to sort out while not in motion..
My $.02

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Arai will flat out tell you that the Corsair series will be noisier than any of their other helmets. The overriding consideration on a balls-out racing helmet like the Corsair is airflow. Noise fatigue is not an issue, even in a 25 lap race. Doing a 400 mile day, on the other hand....wind noise can be a surprising factor in fatigue!

WERA689 said:

Arai will flat out tell you that the Corsair series will be noisier than any of their other helmets. The overriding consideration on a balls-out racing helmet like the Corsair is airflow. Noise fatigue is not an issue, even in a 25 lap race. Doing a 400 mile day, on the other hand....wind noise can be a surprising factor in fatigue!

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any thoughts on the RX-Q ? I have a Vector now and it's pretty nice.

The RX-Q is a rounder head shape than the Signet Q. Rounder even than the Vector, in fact. The Vector is called an "intermediate oval"; the Signets are "long oval", and the RX-Q and Corsair (or at t least the last Corsair I tried on) are "round oval" head shape.

One of the things I love about Arai is that they make different lines for different shaped heads; but also that every single shell, regardless of shape, is laid up by hand. Every. Single. One. And once the helmet is fitted with impact liner, painted, decaled, and trimmed, the interior padding is fitted AND can be changed to customize the fit to the customer, by the customer! The point is, there are no "tiers" in the Arai helmet lineup. Every helmet is built to the same standards, with the same techniques and materials. You won't find a $100 thermoplastic Arai. Ever.

I've tried Shoei and Aria helmets but my favourite is Schuberth! Top notch German engineering and the quietest helmet I've used.

Thanks guys for your response. The fit of the helmet feels great and is tight to get on initially, although once it's on it does feel like there is a bit of room around the ears (cheeks and front to back feel fine). I'll just stick to ear plugs for the moment & work it out from there. I have found two possible solutions which would help in the cooler months, but would probably be too much during summer etc.

1) Windjammer II (link: )

2) NOJ Quiet Rider (link: )

I have also heard about Shoei offering a whisper kit, but have not really had the opportunity to see if they offer it for the GT Air - Let's wait and see!

Cheers.