I've done some reading about helmets geared toward naked bikes or upright riding sport touring positions. Evidently some helmets are quieter internally in a sportbike riding position and some are not. Marketing aside did you change helmets with the SD?

I have a Shoei RF1000. I don't wear earplugs. Sometimes I wear a backpack which I know causes air turbulence and adds to the noise. When in a full tuck things are quiet but that's maybe 5% of my riding. I'd like to quiet things down a bit by not going to ear plugs because I feel the ear plugs lessens my auditory contact with the road and cars that I'm trying to not get smashed by.

All things being equal in fit did you really notice a difference in turbulence and noise with a certain brand or model of helmet?

Or am I wasting money and should learn to ride with ear plugs because no helmet is going to be quiet whether sportbike position or upright naked bike.

I tried several helmets over the years and some are noisier regarding wind noise than others.
On the 990 I ride with earplugs as I can hear the exhaust from the Mivv cans no problem. That I don't hear other stuff or have the plugs in my ears doesn't bother me at all.
On the 1290 it is different and I would like ride with earplugs as the wind noise annoys me. So I feel a louder exhaust coming on.
I have a shoei 1100 and a shark race pro. The shoei is noisier with the vents open. The shark on the other end is quieter but useless on the 1290 as the design is for a sports bike.
The spoiler lifts the helmet at the front when riding the 1290 which makes it uncomfortable as the strap hurts my throat.

All up earplugs save your ears on long trips so I like them.
Favourites Bilsom xtreme.

Place your hand underneath your jaw when you ride to stop the turbulence and you will see how quiet it could be...
My nexx x1r carbon is far from quiet even with earplugs and two sealed up air outlets in the back.

I use an Arai Tour-X4 definitely not the best for wind noise but I would recommend wearing ear plugs whilst riding in any case (talk to anybody who suffers with Tinnitus and you will understand the benefit). You could try “Auritech” ear plugs ( http://www.auritech.info/products/biker/ ) which are not the cheapest but in my experience do what they claim on their website.

Nope.

I ride with a Arai Corsair V with the spoiler down (because I ride in the tuck a lot) and always with ear plugs. Just can't ride without ear plugs and don't know why anyone would want to. The right ones just take the harshness off external noise and I think you just need to use them and stop reading into it too much. Took me a long time to try it out but once I did I was hooked. I just ride with cheap $2 oxford ones and get a new set each month or so.

Robban is on the money though. Cut off the wind coming in from under your chin and the helmet is so much quieter.

I bought a RPHA 10 plus this year, it more quiet than my Suomy, It's also light and good value for money
Still ride with earplugs btw

I have a Bell Star Matte Carbon Helmet. Tried it first without the rear spoiler installed. Too much lift at 100+ mph. Good with spoiler on. Noisy though at speed so need earplugs.

I had a Shoei Qwest which was awesome, quiet but quite a bit of breeze comes in past the chin curtain with the chin vent shut.
Then I got an RF1100 (aka XR1100 in the UK) which has so much wind noise I wore it about three times.
I've now got a Shoei GT Air which is awesome. It's so well insulated with the vents shut that my head cooks, and quiet enough with them open that it's not a problem.

I wear earplugs similar to the Auritechs linked above on runs > 250 miles, but on a normal weekend blast of around 200 miles I don't bother. I find them far better than the foam style as they attenuate the sound rather than muffling it.
Even with the Akra system once out on the open road it's quiet enough that my ears are fine at the end of the day.

Thanks to all for the input. I've installed the chin curtain today and will try out some earplugs.

I had an Icon Alliance helmet when I first got my SD. It wasn't loud, but it still muffled out enough sound for a non deafening ride at highway speeds. I ended up getting a AGV AX-8 Evo Naked. I thought it'd be a bit quieter because when I tried it on in the store, there was no room in the ear pockets and it also came with a chin skirt. The liner was literally pressing right up on my ear and was aching a lil. Once I hopped on my bike and onto the highway, windnoise was killer. About a 30 minute ride home and my ears were aching and half deaf. I have to ride with earplugs in now.

I would recommend the AX-8 Naked Evo on every level, except for windnoise. If you get the helmet, make sure you get a set of a ear plugs with em as well.

Sorry to come off as an ass, but here a really persons using earplugs due to their cans? I mean i understand the use due to wind noise but really, some mount the so called Carnage cans but use earplugs? MEans you openly admitt that those exhaust are the touch of to much, use earplugs but all the neighbours should suffer from the noise or use earplugs to?

Reminds me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_mp76ouFUg

The part around 1:25 really matters but looking the whole darn thing is fun to.

Dont get me wrong, i am all for the proverb; Loud Pipes save lives. Beeing a Rebel, a child at heart and unreasonnably. But at least take it like a man or women ( to stay gender correctish) and endure the noise you emit or stick with normal or allowed DB output! Dont be a Pu.... if you cant endure it, then revert.

Now back to topic.

It is praiseworthy that most people (i know some countries do not make you wear coconut protections) opt to protect their coconut. But never forget that it is always a compromise between Badass and safety (includes wind noises ....) IF you opted for a bike like the SDR, then you also opted for proverb safety is second. Seriously no matter how awesome your helmet or protectiv gear is, the 1290 power output will never be countertered by any helmet or protection. Nor is it needed to ride but who cares fun first and most will not stick to road rules. And that is totally fine. Some tree huggers will say something else but ok they are entitled to their Opinion.

^ Bad ass o meter
I... * Not allowed brain caps
I ........................... * Simpson Outlaw
I
I ........................................................* not riding at all
I__________________________________________>Safety

For 7 years, I used my Outlaw Bandit Simpson Helmet, yes with one of the ultimate carnage cans the Sebring Twister on an XB 12 Fully open Without earplugs also on 1000 KM travels made in 1 day ofcourse, the mandatory ban on the green hell in germany came with no extra charge. Went lately to a Doctor check and the result was everything ok. Especially considerig I was born with a pierced ear drum and a heavy Otitis.

Solid helmet, had a crash once at moderate speed, helmet worked, it seems i did not get dumber and if my IQ decreased by so much that i cant perceive a change, which in return makes my life quality go up as i question much less and also worry much less making me enjoy my life more in return.

It is a moncock (preferable over a 2 piece) shell with fluffyinternals and fixed open ventilation slits. It does not come with a fancy chin deflector thingy. But therefore i can wipe my nose on the run in cold weather, room enough to comfortably breath....

Best Helmet? Certainly not, but every design comes with pros and cons. The most important when it comes to melon protection, is fit, moncock shell, internal shock absorbing and Field of view. The rest is subjectiv alltho one should aways consider the BAd ass factor. This should not be overlooked, as it adds to safety in some extend, it opens doors.

PEople react differently toward you on a Bike if you intimadate them or not. A more threatening impression will rather make them open the passage to let you pass in traffic jams instead of blocking you on purpouse..potential dangerous situation... The general person will respond more sharpely to the annoying dude in a bar if he is looking Geekly than to a 2 meter Hells Angel.

Edit: Looking at eh Ax8, mentionned above, it seems like a sound helmet and looking good.

To mention a Helmet that is supposed to be BAd ass but awfull ( i would call it ridiculous) look at the link below, a prime example why Bad ass does not mean better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkUQ_BSD0MQ

I stopped reading at "loud pipes save lives"

This has been getting some good reviews and as I'm in the market for a new helmet, I reckon I might try this:

That Arai has, but I keep searching for other great options that don't assault the bank account so much. Even at my local shop's 25% off it's still a ton of cash. Need to go try it on, dealer will also let me ride it down the road a few minutes to test the turbulence. The HJC RPHA in my size arrives Thursday for the spin around the block. About 60% less than the Arai.

I've just come back from a 2k mile trip around france / spain (took in wheels and waves in biarritz on the way down), have always complained that my arai viper was hellish noisy, but after a few days of 8-9 hours in the saddle it was unbearable, my buddy suggested trying his disposable earplugs instead of my expensive cusom fit jobbies, the difference was night and day, almost no noise at all, my theory is that the custom mould is taken without a helmet on, when you put the helmet on the ear distorts and the plugs don't seal properly, the bad news £70 wasted on ear plugs, the good news £400 saved on a new Schuberth