Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Eagal,
How'd that thingy you bought from Cyclegear work out?

Just a couple of other options for you local guys (Oz)
DIY molded ear plugs
Earmold Aus
I personally haven't used either but the people I know that do use them, rave about them and recon they are the ducks guts

I use el cheepo washable/reusable plugs without fail. Already got tinnitus and hearing loss due to being around lots of things that are noisy and blow shit up

I will answer the questions on everyone’s mind. You ask, “How did the Windjammer II work?” Well, I will tell you. First, I must point out that my results may be different from the results you experience. You know the routine; your bike, type of windshield, helmet, height, etc. all affect the amount and type of turbulence you encounter. For example, the Arai Profile that I wear is supposed to be a very quiet helmet. As it turns out, it is louder than the Arai RX-7 Corsair that I replaced; a helmet not known to be quiet. I suspect that if I switched to a naked bike, the Profile would indeed be the quieter of the two. However, as if turns out, on the GSX650F with a stock screen, the Profile caused an unbearable amount of noise in my ear pockets. So much that my ears would ring after a relatively short ride. Something that has never happened to me in the past. My belief is that noise is due to buffeting caused by air swirling around in the ear pockets. This led me to seek out ear plugs (and the Windjammer II) for the first time.

The Windjammer II arrived relatively quickly from the UK. It came within a few days of ordering. With the exchange rate, it cost about $24.00 USD. It is easy to install. You simply stretch it around the bottom of your helmet. The inside of the Windjammer II is tacky and it helps keep it in place. No trace of this sticky substance is left on your helmet. It really doesn’t look too bad on the helmet. If you are using a Bluetooth, like a Scala Rider you may have to make a simple modification to use them both at the same time. I have a Scala Rider, but I haven’t used it with the Windjammer II in place. I think I can easily make a little slice in the Windjammer with a razor blade to allow the Scala unit and mic to fit. Anyway, once you get your head through it (watch your ears!) and into your helmet, you hardly know it is on. I find that the helmet fogs up easily with it in place. It even fogged up with all of the vents open in 60+ degrees. I plan to purchase a Pinlock lens in the future and I hope it helps reduce the fogging. Also, as you can imagine, it gets very warm under the helmet with this in place when the temperature rises.

After doing comparison rides with and without the Windjammer II, I can tell you that it does make a difference. It does slightly lower the amount of noise that I receive and it helps reduce the amount of turbulence that I have inside of my helmet. Don’t expect the inside of your helmet to feel like you’re riding inside of an Acura! You are on a bike and will still hear a lot of noise and feel a lot of wind. It will not reduce noise as well as earplugs. (BTW – I find that SureFire EP-3 SonicDefenders work well). I can say that without this in place and without ear plugs, my ears will ring after 20 minutes on the freeway. With this in place (and with no earplugs) I do not have that same ringing sensation. So, for me it does reduce the wind from coming into the bottom of my helmet, but I can still hear most of the noise. I did a four hour ride this last Friday with both the Windjammer II installed and earplugs. Other than being very hot, I was comfortable.

So, you ask, what my conclusion is. I have mixed feelings. The Windjammer II is not perfect, but does seem to help a little bit. I have become accustom to using ear plugs. I suspect they are the better option if I want to hear when I am a senior citizen. I do think the Windjammer II will be useful for keeping the warmth in during the colder months providing you have something to keep your neck warm and most importantly, you have something that prevents your lens from fogging. As I have become a believer in the use of earplugs, I would advocate using them in place of or addition to the Windjammer II. Given the chance, I would probably not purchase another Windjammer II as it seems to have only a minimal benefit. If you have any questions regarding my write-up, please PM me. Also, if you are in the area and you would like to conduct your own evaluation of the Windjammer II, let me know. I will gladly loan mine to you.

I have earplugs from Alpine but the buffeting of the airflow directly into the nek (and thus helmet) creates additional noise on the 650F. I have a Shoei XR1000 (RF1000 in some countries) and I've purchased a ' Whisper Kit' just like haa21 mentioned. Can't give a review of it since its not arrived yet.

Thanks, haa!!!!