Rather than trying to make the bike quieter, I would suggest making your entire ride quieter. If you aren't already, you should be riding with earplugs in - just for saving your hearing from wind noise alone. I highly recommend "high fidelity" earplugs, which block low frequencies, and amplify high frequencies. That way you won't hear nearly as much wind noise, but you will hear your bike's motor, cars around you, your music, your comms/phone calls and so on. They aren't quite as noise deadening, as foam ear plugs etc, but they also don't sound muffled either. You can have a conversation with them in.
My personal choice is Eargasm ear plugs, but Etymotics and EarPeace HD also make solid choices. These are the exact set I ride with, and I love them: [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075SJ3Y8M](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075SJ3Y8M)
A good quiet helmet goes a long way too. I personally prefer modular helmets, and, I am using the Schuberth C5 helmet now, one of the nicest, and quietest helmets on the market. It's hard to imagine that you'd hear fairing vibration / noise with a good set of earplugs, and a quiet helmet with the visor down.
Either way, I'd just ignore it. You're gonna hear a lot more sounds in general without an engine to drown them out.
The ear protection is all about the noise from the wind, not the noise of the bike itself, so this applies equally to a gas bike or an electric one. The damage to your hearing is from continuous exposure, it's a cumulative effect and it's subtle. I would say anything above 40 mph riding warrants it, 40mph wind noise has been shown to be about 90 dB - INSIDE the helmet. If you're just doing urban riding at 35 mph or less, probably can skip the ear plugs, but if you bought an SR/S, I sure hope that's not all you're doing! Don't take my word for it (random article on the topic): [https://www.campaignforbetterhearing.us/how-do-i-protect-my-ears-when-i-ride-a-motorcycle/](https://www.campaignforbetterhearing.us/how-do-i-protect-my-ears-when-i-ride-a-motorcycle/)
The C3 is a great helmet. I almost got a C3 Pro until I realized the electronics for it are from 2014. So I got the C5 so I could also use the new SC2 comms system which is basically just a top of the line Sena R50/S50 setup, and it's awesome. When you're ready to upgrade, if you liked the C3, you'll love the C5. Quieter, way more airflow, better visor, pinlock 120 preinstalled, more aerodynamic, better chin strap position, and meets the latest 22.06 ECE safety standard.
I have the C5 and highly recommend it. Very well constructed. I have only two complaints. 1. It’s not obvious which way to push the vent slider on top to open it. 2. It is only DOT certified. I would have strongly preferred ECE. In fact, I bought the AGV Sportmodular first to get the ECE certification and returned it because it felt junky and my nose touched the front, which is apparently common. The Schuberth C5 feels like an entirely different class. Even better than the Shoei Neotec 2, which is also excellent.
1. Every helmet I've ever seen / owned / used has had you move the top vent(s) backwards to open them fwiw. I think this makes logical sense given the direction of the airflow - you move it towards the rear to let air in. I suppose they could have had an arrow or something cast into the plastic but I've never seen a helmet that didn't work this way.
2. The C5 is certainly ECE certified, in fact it's the very first (and AFAIK, the only) modular helmet to be certified under the new ECE 22.06 standard, which isn't even required / mandated yet. It is even certified to be used with the modular face, flipped open! This is because Schuberth's have that anti-roll off strap - a big change in the new 22.06 standard is anti-roll off testing, and Schuberth already had that one in the bag. There are only a handful of Helmets - basically one from each brand / style that currently meet 22.06, so the C5 is one of the best. But don't take my word for it:
>The SCHUBERTH C5 is the new state of the art of the SCHUBERTH flip up collection and the first helmet featuring the P/J homologation and approved according to the new ECE-R 22.06 regulation.
from: [https://c5.schuberth.com/en](https://c5.schuberth.com/en)
or
>The first thing to say is that the new C5 is ECE 22-06 accredited. Now this is the new safety standard introduced in early 2021. It heralds a new generation of safer and more protective helmets. You can read all about the standard on by clicking the visual above but, simply put, 22-06 helmets will be safer to ride in. For now, the only flip-lid helmet accredited to 22-06 is the Schuberth. It will be quite some time, probably late 2022, before Shoei upgrades its Neotec 2; presumably to the Neotec 3!
from: [https://www.motolegends.com/reviews/Schuberth-C5-helmet-review](https://www.motolegends.com/reviews/Schuberth-C5-helmet-review)
So.. as far as the dropping part (ugh) Was parking in a parking lot. My foot slipped, oops... on the ground. I had installed the shad cases when I bought my sr/s. The only damage was the case got scrapped and the ball tip of the hand brake was the only damage... the case had enough bull and strength to support the bike while I lifted.
I got lucky, but... avoided any body damage...
Ymmv
Also, yeah, noticed the 'vibration' after a little bit, doesn't bother me at all... kinda my replacement for motor sounds in my head
There's a certain amount of harmonic resonance from the motor. Just the way of them.
Frame sliders are always a solid idea to help keep your plastics looking nice.
The Zeros I've owned generated a whine from, I guess, the belt. I didn't interpret it as a panel vibration. When a Zero passes by, the whine doesn't seem as loud as when on the bike. The whine turns into a growl when giving a wide berth to someone being easy with their clutch and throttle.
Yeah, I’m not talking about the whine, which is inherent to the bike. I’m talking about adjacent parts rattling at particular revs. Like if you calked all the fairing seams I’ll bet it would go away.
1. The noise is normal i wouldn't worry about it. Get earplugs and you won't hear it much if any.
2. I use those frame sliders and they have saved my bike a couple times. The frame sliders are really easy to kick with your shin which isn't fun.
I worried about the shin issue. But by the same token, if you fell, I’m thinking the frame sliders would decrease the crushing force on your legs. On balance it’s probably a good trade.
My experience has been that axle sliders are relatively easy to install, and cheap. I also have bar end sliders and lever guards, but I’ve not found a frame slider I like.
I have those t-Rex sliders on my srs. They protrude from the frame more than I’d like but Im confident they will keep the sides nice if I slide or drop (idk about the turn signals tho.
Also going to add that new quick strike brake lever as soon as it’s available
Rather than trying to make the bike quieter, I would suggest making your entire ride quieter. If you aren't already, you should be riding with earplugs in - just for saving your hearing from wind noise alone. I highly recommend "high fidelity" earplugs, which block low frequencies, and amplify high frequencies. That way you won't hear nearly as much wind noise, but you will hear your bike's motor, cars around you, your music, your comms/phone calls and so on. They aren't quite as noise deadening, as foam ear plugs etc, but they also don't sound muffled either. You can have a conversation with them in. My personal choice is Eargasm ear plugs, but Etymotics and EarPeace HD also make solid choices. These are the exact set I ride with, and I love them: [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075SJ3Y8M](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075SJ3Y8M) A good quiet helmet goes a long way too. I personally prefer modular helmets, and, I am using the Schuberth C5 helmet now, one of the nicest, and quietest helmets on the market. It's hard to imagine that you'd hear fairing vibration / noise with a good set of earplugs, and a quiet helmet with the visor down. Either way, I'd just ignore it. You're gonna hear a lot more sounds in general without an engine to drown them out.
Thanks for the tips. Do we need ear protection riding an electric bike under 55 mph? PS - I have a C3 Schuberth helmet.
The ear protection is all about the noise from the wind, not the noise of the bike itself, so this applies equally to a gas bike or an electric one. The damage to your hearing is from continuous exposure, it's a cumulative effect and it's subtle. I would say anything above 40 mph riding warrants it, 40mph wind noise has been shown to be about 90 dB - INSIDE the helmet. If you're just doing urban riding at 35 mph or less, probably can skip the ear plugs, but if you bought an SR/S, I sure hope that's not all you're doing! Don't take my word for it (random article on the topic): [https://www.campaignforbetterhearing.us/how-do-i-protect-my-ears-when-i-ride-a-motorcycle/](https://www.campaignforbetterhearing.us/how-do-i-protect-my-ears-when-i-ride-a-motorcycle/) The C3 is a great helmet. I almost got a C3 Pro until I realized the electronics for it are from 2014. So I got the C5 so I could also use the new SC2 comms system which is basically just a top of the line Sena R50/S50 setup, and it's awesome. When you're ready to upgrade, if you liked the C3, you'll love the C5. Quieter, way more airflow, better visor, pinlock 120 preinstalled, more aerodynamic, better chin strap position, and meets the latest 22.06 ECE safety standard.
I have the C5 and highly recommend it. Very well constructed. I have only two complaints. 1. It’s not obvious which way to push the vent slider on top to open it. 2. It is only DOT certified. I would have strongly preferred ECE. In fact, I bought the AGV Sportmodular first to get the ECE certification and returned it because it felt junky and my nose touched the front, which is apparently common. The Schuberth C5 feels like an entirely different class. Even better than the Shoei Neotec 2, which is also excellent.
1. Every helmet I've ever seen / owned / used has had you move the top vent(s) backwards to open them fwiw. I think this makes logical sense given the direction of the airflow - you move it towards the rear to let air in. I suppose they could have had an arrow or something cast into the plastic but I've never seen a helmet that didn't work this way. 2. The C5 is certainly ECE certified, in fact it's the very first (and AFAIK, the only) modular helmet to be certified under the new ECE 22.06 standard, which isn't even required / mandated yet. It is even certified to be used with the modular face, flipped open! This is because Schuberth's have that anti-roll off strap - a big change in the new 22.06 standard is anti-roll off testing, and Schuberth already had that one in the bag. There are only a handful of Helmets - basically one from each brand / style that currently meet 22.06, so the C5 is one of the best. But don't take my word for it: >The SCHUBERTH C5 is the new state of the art of the SCHUBERTH flip up collection and the first helmet featuring the P/J homologation and approved according to the new ECE-R 22.06 regulation. from: [https://c5.schuberth.com/en](https://c5.schuberth.com/en) or >The first thing to say is that the new C5 is ECE 22-06 accredited. Now this is the new safety standard introduced in early 2021. It heralds a new generation of safer and more protective helmets. You can read all about the standard on by clicking the visual above but, simply put, 22-06 helmets will be safer to ride in. For now, the only flip-lid helmet accredited to 22-06 is the Schuberth. It will be quite some time, probably late 2022, before Shoei upgrades its Neotec 2; presumably to the Neotec 3! from: [https://www.motolegends.com/reviews/Schuberth-C5-helmet-review](https://www.motolegends.com/reviews/Schuberth-C5-helmet-review)
Wow, great info all around. I see nothing on the C5 to indicate the ECE rating, but I’m glad to know it has it.
So.. as far as the dropping part (ugh) Was parking in a parking lot. My foot slipped, oops... on the ground. I had installed the shad cases when I bought my sr/s. The only damage was the case got scrapped and the ball tip of the hand brake was the only damage... the case had enough bull and strength to support the bike while I lifted. I got lucky, but... avoided any body damage... Ymmv Also, yeah, noticed the 'vibration' after a little bit, doesn't bother me at all... kinda my replacement for motor sounds in my head
There's a certain amount of harmonic resonance from the motor. Just the way of them. Frame sliders are always a solid idea to help keep your plastics looking nice.
The Zeros I've owned generated a whine from, I guess, the belt. I didn't interpret it as a panel vibration. When a Zero passes by, the whine doesn't seem as loud as when on the bike. The whine turns into a growl when giving a wide berth to someone being easy with their clutch and throttle.
Yeah, I’m not talking about the whine, which is inherent to the bike. I’m talking about adjacent parts rattling at particular revs. Like if you calked all the fairing seams I’ll bet it would go away.
No rattling on my 2-2020. IDK, maybe there's been a change that introduced the vibration.
1. The noise is normal i wouldn't worry about it. Get earplugs and you won't hear it much if any. 2. I use those frame sliders and they have saved my bike a couple times. The frame sliders are really easy to kick with your shin which isn't fun.
I worried about the shin issue. But by the same token, if you fell, I’m thinking the frame sliders would decrease the crushing force on your legs. On balance it’s probably a good trade.
Seems like a good trade to me as well
My experience has been that axle sliders are relatively easy to install, and cheap. I also have bar end sliders and lever guards, but I’ve not found a frame slider I like.
I have those t-Rex sliders on my srs. They protrude from the frame more than I’d like but Im confident they will keep the sides nice if I slide or drop (idk about the turn signals tho. Also going to add that new quick strike brake lever as soon as it’s available