[Paul Norton]

Today was another nice spring day, so I decided to go for a ride. This time I remembered to try my new Surefire EP4 Sonic Defender ear plugs.

They were easy to install, comfortable, did not pop out, and best of all they worked! The picture shows the little white plugs not inserted, but I chose to plug them in. I did not use the lanyard as these would be under my helmet.

My California Scientific windscreen keeps my jacket bug free and out of the windblast. My Shoei RF1200 helmet is in clean air with no buffeting. But it was subjected to wind noise. These ear plugs eliminate almost all of it, and make riding much more enjoyable.

With my windshield, Shoei helmet and these ear plugs; I finally resolved my problem with wind noise.

UPDATE: I do not like full face helmets as I am somewhat claustrophobic. So I tried my Bell MAG-9 open face helmet using my new ear plugs. Although not as quiet as my Shoei RF-1200, the ear plugs made the ride comfortable. Now I can take advantage of the large flip up visor, flip down sun visor, and enjoy a wider field of vision and fresh air.
This is motorcycling as I remember it! :grin:

 

[rooty]

Just a bit of an update here.

So I did find something unexpected that worked great for killing off the noise in my helmet. Drum roll... I found that an old Joe Rocket jacket of mine did the trick perfectly! I don't know the exact model, but it has a fairly large roll at the neck and comes up fairly high on the neck, and while wearing it the noise is just plain gone. I do notice that the inside of the jacket tends to "puff up" in the chest and sleeve areas, but I can live with that. On the downside, the Joe Rocket jacket that works for me is black on black and is really only usable for temps under 80 F, so it might be a few months before I can wear it on a daily basis here in Missouri.

I have also tried a few other things. I have tried two other helmets, neither with any success. I tried my dirt use Troy Lee Designs Air helmet with goggles, but the noise was still there (and the visor about ripped my head off at speeds above 60 mph), and I tried a friends street Shoei which seemed more sealed around my neck, but the noise was still clearly there.

Lastly... I also tried cutting a notch out of my windscreen. I first tried it only being a couple of inches, then made another cut, then a third to make it deeper still, but that did not work either.

 

[Hlep]

My 500X came with the Honda tall screen and I've tried it in both the raised and the low position with little if any difference in the noise and buffeting. The buffeting was bad enough to spoil my enjoyment of rides.

On the weekend I replaced it with the original screen in the high position and there has been a reduction in noise and the buffeting has been eliminated. Still not as quiet as when I lift myself up a little on the pegs but acceptable. My next step is to put the original screen in the low position and try that. No doubt my chest area will be less protected from the weather but that's a small price to pay in our mild climate.

I'm about 175 cm (around 5' 10") and I was wearing a new Shoei NXR RF1200. I was also wearing a light neck scarf and I always wear ear plugs.

 

[MotoMachines]

Ermax makes a couple of windscreen options, one 'high screen' and one 'touring' variety, +15cm and +8cm from the stock, respectively.

 

[wardie]

Hi new to forum and CB 500 X owner (2014). I have several on and off road helmets. From Snell approved AFX, Arai to Nolan flips to 3/4 style and can tell you with accuracy that a close quality fit on a helmet makes all the difference on wind noise.


Case in point my Nolan flip is noisy. It fits good but because of the flip front design it has many surfaces that will allow air to get into the gaps.


Two years ago I purchased an Arai helmet from the Service Pavilion. The fit was tight, the finish awesome and guess what??? I could ride without ear plugs and hardly have a wind noise unless I opened the shield. My model is a Vector-2 certainly not their most expensive but have now made this my go to helmet.


I have custom molded ear plugs that I also wear on more than just around town trips. The takeaway here is a quality helmet that is properly fitted makes all the difference in the world for wind noise. Wardie

 

[Heavy]

...I purchased an Arai helmet from the Service Pavilion...

Awesome people selling an awesome product.


I bought my XD-3 there and was amazed at the time they spent fitting it for me.

 

[Hypodermicbliss]

I've been experimenting with reducing wind noise on my X for a while. I'm pretty tall and slim at around 6'2 and for me moving the stock screen to the lower position and buying a decent helmet has made the world of difference.

I'm now using a schuberth C3 pro (with earplugs for long rides on the motorway) and it makes the X a much nicer place to be. I was considering a tall screen, but don't feel like it's necessary now.

A few months of trial end error and a decent lid did the trick ?

 

[RobG]

My take is it's gonna vary per person depending on height as well as what type of helmet you are wearing.


I'm only 5'6" tall with a 29" inseam and wear a Schuberth C-3 modular helmet...my first ride was with the shield in it's high position and had a little bit of buffeting but not bad, my second ride today I put the shield in the low position and rode the same route and miles as yesterday with the same weather conditions. The low position actually had a bit more buffeting than yesterdays ride so for me, it looks like the high position works best.

 

[Fezwick]

G'day Folks,
I've just registered on site today.
Been looking for an 'inexpensive' screen to reduce wind noise while seated in the normal upright position (yes, I use earplugs and noise is reduced if I tuck in under screen).
As I'm a bit of a 'tight arse' don't want to spend +$130.00 for an aftermarket / genuine screen.
So I spent $10.00 on a 300x40x3mm strip of alloy and a set of fairing screws. Phots show the result of 2 hours in the shed )
Brackets do two things, 1) lift screen up 60mm and 2) increase the space between headlight cowl to reduce vacuum behind screen.
Still a little untidy, will sand & paint matt black once tested.
When I'm happy with the result, I can post a template if anyone shows any interest.

 

[Xch]

Trying this one out at the moment in all the different positions and heights.

So far I have found a few less blustery positions and a drop in noise as well. The added bonus of the GPS mount right above the speedo makes it even better.

 

[Xch]

Another view.

 

[vamcman]

Has anyone seen the stock screen on the 2016? It seems to be noticeably taller and has two cut outs about a third of the way up the screen.

Check it out at the Honda Powersports website.
(1st post - won't let me add links)

 

[DaveOH]

I have a 2014 500X and over the past 2 seasons I have tried many things to reduce wind noise and buffeting. I have both the short and tall Honda screens and tried: no screen, both upper and lower mounting positions, rubber washers to adjust the angle etc. I also purchased a MRA X-creen sport and tried it on the stock screen which didn't seem to help much but on the tall screen after trying every possible position found a position that helped to reduce the buffeting. Also, I purchased a new helmet, a Scorpion 500 which wasn't much of a cost increase over my Scorpion 400 but it did help reduce wind noise significantly and I always wear ear plugs.

After looking at the Madstad website and their explanation of allowing some air to pass under the screen. I added 3 thick washers under each mounting screw to space the screen away from the body as much as the stock screws would allow. This also made a noticeable improvement.

However, I was still not completely satisfied with the level of wind noise at highway speeds so I purchased the Madstad 18" Windscreen system. I've only been able to try it once so far with the arrival of winter but so far I am completely satisfied. It provides an improvement that is immediately noticeable. I also like the fact that it is adjustable so you can raise it up if you are on a long highway trip. I highly recommend this system!!

Finally, as the previous poster mentioned the vents in the 2016 CB500X I also find it interesting that most of Honda's other Adventure bikes now also have some type of vent holes in the lower part of the screen to reduce buffeting. Some of the early reviews of the Africa Twin mention that the stock screen is very effective. It looks like they have addressed this issue.

 

[mm38]

I wonder of the 2016 screen will fit on a 2014.


mm

 

[jsonder]

I wonder of the 2016 screen will fit on a 2014.


mm

The mounting points are different, so you would need to make an adapter.

Personally, I prefer this:

 

[DaveOH]

I tried it without a windscreen. It is fun at low speeds (under about 45 mph). However, on longer rides at highway speeds the wind blast gets really annoying.

 

[jsonder]

I tried it without a windscreen. It is fun at low speeds (under about 45 mph). However, on longer rides at highway speeds the wind blast gets really annoying.

?? I did 4 400-mile days going to Montana and again returning this summer, and the wind didn't bother me. But, I've been riding naked bikes since 1960.

 

[garrup]

?? I did 4 400-mile days going to Montana and again returning this summer, and the wind didn't bother me. But, I've been riding naked bikes since 1960.

....likewise. Here on the windy prairie, a 60mph ride into the wind normally equates as 100mph windforce, hitting you full on. Considering how windy it normally gets.
I remember this bothering me in the old open-face helmet days, but now with the great new full face helmets, its not much of an issue. But i'm not a touring sort of guy, and never have been. If i was, i'd probably ride a tractor bike with all kinds of plastic deflecting the wind.
My philosophy is, if you want to ride 500 miles straight ahead, point A to point B, on a flat highway, into the wind, that's what the SUV is for.

 

[mm38]

I'm not sure if this isn't my imagination...

I've been able to ride several naked bikes, Scrambler Ducati, Diavel, vintage CB750, Monster 821, FZ07, and the wind blast doesn't seem as severe as it does on my CB500X.

This is with the screen high, low, very low, spacers and no screen at all. Maybe it's just the shape of the front end.


mm

 

[garrup]

Memory is tricky. Could be you just remember the good things about riding those bikes. Your memories may be associated with riding them in varying situations. More fun situations. Like winding roads, not freeway. Like riding on calm, warm spring days.. Like riding country highways with hills and through pretty countryside on narrow pavement at 55mph, not multi-lane highways at 75mph.
Putting a sports bike on the freeway, for long distances, point A to B, is a sure way to take the fun out of riding altogether. It can make you bitter about riding. Its one of the things that took me off a bike for 35 years.
If you have to do that, then you need a full-up touring machine with a yard of plexiglass in front of you.
For me, that's no way to ride a motorcycle. So you will need two bikes, or you will have to decide what kind of riding you really want to do.