G'day all

Bought a SHOEI Hornet dual purpose to compliment the XTR..

I have been wearing a SHOEI 1100 for the past three to four years and it's the best helmet I have owned....

So bought the Hornet, same size and similar lining.

Have only worn it two or three times and each time I get the most terrible pain in one ear. So painful that I can barely remove the helmet it hurts so much.

It's weird because the hornet is basically the same as the 1100 apart from the longer chin and visor.

I am really upset (in a pissed off way) that this helmet is giving me such pain when I was so looking forward to using it.

Has anybody else experienced pain in the ear/s when using a new helmet?
It's almost like the pain you get when you swim too deep but just continuous..

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Marc

I had my Hornet internals reshaped slightly when I bought it because of a few pressure points by a chap I know who used to be an Arai technician (now retired). He used various tools, most homemade, which looked like small rollers that screen printers use to pre-compress the inner padding (not the liner) around the temples. It now fits a treat. I guess you could do the same around the ear area?

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Hi Marc

did you not try it on before buying? I usually lurke around the shop wearing the helmet for a while for excactly that reason. It takes a while for pressure points to show up.
A friend bought a helmet on line, same make, same size as his old one but turned out to be a very different shape. Never fitted properly.
Also see if there are pads of different thickness available. Shoei usually got them. (Pricey!!)

Rob

First question is do you wear earplugs?...(although you've never had any complaints before from the other Shoei?)

Second...check to see if there's a difference with all the ventilation slots closed up...maybe air getting in to your ear region?

Third...it wouldn't be coming from any buffering from the top of the screen or even through the fork openings at the front of the tank?...are you a tall chappie by chance?

I hope you get it sorted



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The Suit:What would you consider to be your greatest weakness?
Me: Honesty.
The Suit: Honesty? I don't think honesty could be construed as a weakness.
Me: I don't give a f**k what you think.

.[IMG] [/IMG]

Strange...

I wonder if the padding under the lining is glued up properly.

My head is officially Shoei shaped. I can buy any large Shoei helmet & it will fit comfortably without mods. Don't know whether that is lucky or unlucky...

I'd have a look at the padding by pulling the lining out & checking that's all is where it should be. There may be a fault with the workmanship.

The Hornet DS is a great helmet, it's worth persevering with, maybe even trying on another one at the shop.

Good luck, Boneman

Hello Ohlins / all

Yes - I do wear ear plugs... and this could be the problem - although I dont have a problem with my other Shoei Helmet..?

The pain is only in one ear (left) and goes from the ear down my neck. (Glad to see I am not the only one Rob)

I did try it on (for size) and having the other SHOEI 1100 - it felt almost identical in the shop.

Lots of possibilities - I am a short arse (wish I was 6' haha) - so not so much a buffering problem.

I just had a brain wave... since you mentioned buffering...I am going to wear the Hornet on my GSX for a few days and see if its BIKE SPECIFIC??
I recall riding my wifes CB400 and my GSX and the wind noise was incredibly different. (Yes I know 1400 vs 400 - but the 400 was a lot quieter)

Thanks for all the advice and concern.

Have a great week all

EDIT: Just Googled "Shoei Hornet Ear Pain" and it seems I am not alone. The ear plugs seem a likely culprit so I am going to remove them for a ride and see what happens. It only takes an hours ride and I get the pain. (I wear plugs for general wind noise as my main commute is mostly 35km of freeway).

Marc

I had a similar experience, with both moulded (specifically for me) plugs, which stick out of the ear a small amount, and disposable plugs, but only the ones with the cable joining the two together.

The moulder plugs were touching the lid and just became uncomfortable after maybe an hour or so. In the case of the disposable ones, it was the cable that was causing the problem, I sorted it by re-routing the little cable to the front, not the rear of my ears.

Sometimes, in the early days of the lid, my ears would some how become bent/folder or twisted a little when I put the lid on, doesn't happen any more but I resolved that by giving the lid a twist about on my head after fitting it.

It does seam that these lids need some kind of 'breaking in' with some people.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

My DS when new used to press on my ears a bit but after about a week it had moulded nicely to my misshapen head. Maybe worth having a look at the lining as suggested, they are an awesome lid.

My Shoei Raid II makes my ears incredibly sore too, half fixed by taking a warm spoon to the lining. ie use the rounded side to 'ease' the helmet lining where the contact is. Mine's not 100% cured, but I don't seem to be able to quite cure it completely. It's now fine until I do a couple of 300 mile days together.
Rob