yep ear plugs are the way, I have a hearing loss and now tinnitus cause i didnt wear plugs when i got my first big bike. Its the most annoying thing a constant noise in ur ear basically.
Believe me u dont want it at all, can also prevent fatigue to wearing ear plugs esp on long rides.
But u either have resistant ears to tinnitus or not but ear plugs still prevent hearing loss to
I find that the Schuberth Concept is quieter and more comfortable than both the Arai and Shoei that I own. But for longer rides I still wear earplugs. You should too.
Shoei are noise free and the best fit I have ever had. Check out I think it was Ride magazines group test. The XR900 (?) came out tops. Arai also have a great reputation but are noisy. The Shoei would be my choice for a lid if buying today. Always wear ear plugs in any case. I never did 'till I got the Arai, and having read up more on bikes etc, know more about how damaging to your ears the noise we make really is. Deafness is cumulative after all.
Go for a helmet with fewer vents, I find additional vents increase the wind noise, got a Shoei X spirt which is OK but will probably get an XR1000 for longer trips. Tried Arai's and AGV but found the visor system with its external pod facing forward increases noise. keeping the rubber visor seal strip onhelmet cleaned and lubed with the silicon supplied also decreases noise at the expense of fogging up as it seals so much better
The Roof has a good reputation as a quiet helmet. I only have 1 lid, a Roof Diversion R010 so have nothing to comapre it too but can confirm it is comfortable and well made with all the right regs passed. I still wear ear plugs though.
I had a Roof,very quiet,much more so than a Shoei xr1000 and a couple of Arai's i've had.But really like everyone else says,wear ear plugs.If you can't get ones that are comfortable,look into getting custom made ones.