If you want a quiet helmet... Buy this: Schuberth R1

[alex]

After 7 years, it was time to say goodbye to my old Shoei TZ-1.

I have concluded an extensive worldwide (literally) search to find the world's quietest helmet. I found that there is only one company that even makes an attempt to create quiet helmets: Schuberth of Germany. And by "of Germany," I mean you cannot buy these in the USA any more. I couldn't afford their quietest helmet, the S1 Pro (brand new model, so full price still), so I got their second quietest, the R1, which was on sale from last year. The key is that Schuberth helmets have much better fitment around the base of the neck, so less wind rush gets in.

Here's a review you can read, which even includes a video: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motor.../schuberth-r1/



In short, they say that the helmet is feature-packed, light weight, quiet, and well made. They actually use the words "It doesn't get much better than this," at the end.

I agree with their review, and recommend this helmet myself.

Regarding the all-important value, I'd add that the R1 is on sale at one website that I also highly recommend: FC-MOTO.de It's full price is about 600+ bucks (thank the economy and the weak dollar for that!), but when you subtract 30% for the sale it's on (only applies to the "fire" color scheme), and then subtract another 19% since we don't pay their european VAT tax, it all ends up at about $450 after shipping to the USA. Overseas shipping was 25 euro, or about 40 bucks. But...

Here is the most incredible part: I ordered this helmet at midnight on Tuesday, and it arrived at my door at noon today!!!!!!

36 hours from Germany to a small town in central washington state?!!?!?!?!?!?!?! It's a Thursday Miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Truly, the motorcycle gods have smiled upon this helmet...

Some more notes I have on this helmet:

-The fit is comfortable for me. Like the review says, very similar to Shoei's X-11. I can attest to the fact that this is a great improvement over the original Shuberth sold in the USA, the S1 (before they updated it to the S1 Pro). The S1 feels like someone is digging a screwdriver into your temples, whereas the R1 feels like someone is caressing your temple with a pillow.

-Overall it is well made

-Awesome reflectors built in

-The ventilation is good

-I love the drop down sun visor

-The quietness is great! Although, it's not as good as I'd hoped. To be honest, I notice my pipes boom a lot more now that the wind rush is gone. You fix one problem and there's another waiting right behind it. I'm guessing the pipes at 80mph are like 100 Db, and the wind noise on my old helmet used to be 102. Now that the wind is only 92, the pipes are all I can hear. It kind of drives me crazy :-\

-I noticed a gap in the seal around the visor. This is a dissappointment, since I expected more quality in little things like that. It whistles a little bit at speed as a result.

-technically it's illegal to use, since it's not DOT tested. Realistically this is not an issue, since it is probably quite a bit safer than it would need to be to pass DOT. Cops aren't going to hassle you if you're wearing a full-face lid.

-accessories are ridiculously priced. I think it's like $150 for a new visor... Also, they are incredibly difficult to find. The site I bought my helmet from does not carry many of the accessories, such as the "wind deflector with integrated anti-noise pad," that all the item descriptions reference. I don't even know what an anti-noise pad is, but I wish I had one.


Overall I was surprised with how well this whole process went. Everyone interested in preserving their hearing or riding in increased comfort should consider buying this helmet, or if you can afford it, the S1 Pro (claimed to be ~6Db quieter!). It'll be at your door 36 hours after you order it!

[alex]

Oh, and I ordered a pair of Dainese gloves from Kneedraggers.com at the exact same time, expecting they would arrive first. They haven't gotten around to shipping them yet.

FC-MOTO must have magic elves working there to ship so fast.

[deweey]

Doh.. i just bought my arai last week for more than that.

[flsurfdog]

i've read quite a lot of webbikeworld reviews and the one thing i don't like about them is how they usually talk about how helmet vents usually make noise.....the first thing they point out here is that the vents don't make noise

I've never noticed a difference on my shoei rf1000 with the vents opened or closed, but i notice a HUGE...and i mean HUGE difference in noise level if i'm going along say anything about 40 and shrug my shoulders up so that they press up against the bottom of my helmet.....all the wind noise magically disappears and it sounds like i'm in a friggin car.

so what you say about it fitting lower and snuger around the base sounds like a great concept. I have an accessory on my shoei....can't even remember what it's called now, that fits all the way around the base that cut the noise down, but only makes it sound like i'm going 10-15 mph slower

oh well.....another thing to put on the list when i can afford it :'(

[Triangleforge]

Sierra Trading Post has the Schuberth S1 on sale at $419, but just white, black & gray, no graphics:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/4...S1-Helmet.html

Found this WebBike review of this model:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motor...uberth-helmet/

For the slight difference in price & much nicer graphics, I'd be inclined to get the R1 straight from Germany, but STP's another option, and might be a good one if you think you might want to try a couple of different sizes; Sierra Trading Post has always been great for me with returns & exchanges.

[deweey]

"-technically it's illegal to use, since it's not DOT tested. Realistically this is not an issue, since it is probably quite a bit safer than it would need to be to pass DOT. Cops aren't going to hassle you if you're wearing a full-face lid."

Hmm... under the description on the STP page, it says "Conforms to DOT 218 Standard and ECE r 22.05 Standard" Doesn't that make it street legal?

[alex]

Dont ignore the difference between the s1 and r1. STP has the s1, which was sold in the USA. I don't like it, and if you read webbikeworlds review youll see they didn't either. You should get the r1, or the new s1 pro. The original s1 was dot approved, but I am telling you, its heavier and the fit is crazy. It hurt me to wear. If you want an s1, they are available for even less if you look around online.

Regarding the noise issue: The fit around the base really is the key. They use like twice as much padding, gripping the lower part of the back of your head and jaw. Its exactly the right way to make helmets.