AUTOMOTIVE ACOUSTIC EXPERTISE MEETS MOTORCYCLE PASSION. BETTER MEASUREMENTS. BETTER SOUND. BETTER RIDES.
Why do motorcycle riders choose a certain bike?
Because it is about more than performance and design. It’s about sound and emotion.
The engine and exhaust sound create a unique riding experience. Today, sound quality and NVH are more important than ever in delivering the perfect riding experience. With its new binaural measurement approach, HEAD acoustics brings proven automotive testing expertise to motorcycle development for the first time. You can begin conducting initial evaluations as early as the test drives, and thanks to our comprehensive psychoacoustic analyses, you can assess sound quality and acoustic feedback exactly as drivers experience them.
We prove that NVH test drives with a motorcycle can be practical and comfortable. Connect a HEAD acoustics mobile data acquisition system, such as SQuadriga III or SQobold, to the motorcycle and use the binaural microphone kit BMK, integrated by HEAD acoustics into the SHOEI motorcycle helmet GT-Air 3, to capture realistic binaural recordings directly at the rider’s ears.
The integrated setup enables quick, reliable acoustic assessments under real-world riding conditions. Be it rider comfort, sound cleaning, wind noises, or other investigations. Hear your ride exactly as it was: when combined with mobile measuring systems, the automatically configured and equalized binaural BHS II headset plays back sound files directly on-site for immediate evaluation.
With solutions from HEAD acoustics, acoustic testing becomes intuitive and efficient. By combining HEADlab II, SQuadriga III, the HEAD VISOR acoustic camera, and the powerful ArtemiS SUITE software, users can capture, analyze, and optimize motorcycle acoustics with outstanding precision. From wind noise and vibration to advanced psychoacoustic analyses, the entire workflow is designed for maximum usability and reliable results.
At the heart of the process is ArtemiS SUITE, an exceptionally intuitive software platform that transforms complex acoustic data into clear insights. Flexible analysis tools, such as the playback spot and an extensive sound engineering toolbox, enable intuitive creation of target sounds and seamless comparison of variants. The result: highly reproducible measurements and a deep understanding of how riders truly perceive sound on the road.
Motorcycle sound is more than a question of source level. What matters is how intake, exhaust, mechanical, tire, and wind noise reach the rider’s ears. This whitepaper shows how transfer path-based analysis can be used to understand, quantify, and optimize these acoustic paths under realistic operating conditions.
Using two motorcycle concepts as examples, the study demonstrates how source position, radiation direction, shielding, and vehicle layout influence the perceived sound at the rider's position. The method enables experts to evaluate sound design concepts earlier, reduce prototype effort, and create a more emotional, brand-specific riding experience while keeping environmental noise under control.
For 40 years, HEAD acoustics has advanced psychoacoustic methods, from the first artificial-head measurements to fully integrated NVH workflows for vehicle engineering.
Beyond our high-end equipment, in Engineering Services, we share with you what truly matters: expert knowledge of vehicle NVH and a passion for motorcycle acoustics. With the binaural HMS Head Measurement System, we capture sound exactly as people perceive it - precisely and authentically.
Methods such as TPA and (O)TPA enable detailed analysis of sound sources, transfer paths, and noise contributions to identify root causes and reliably predict the effects of modifications.
Our NVH simulation solution, PreSense, transforms complex TPA results into an intuitive experience: interactive driving simulations, what-if analyses, and the auralization of virtual prototypes create a new understanding of sound and rider perception.
We have 40 years of experience in automotive testing, using tools such as our HEAR! methodology, which evaluates spontaneous rider feedback, as well as advanced evaluation models for objective sound-quality assessment and end-of-line testing. Let’s redefine your motorcycle sound together!
Forget uncomfortable in-ear microphones and inconsistent test results. With the HEAD acoustics Binaural Microphone Kit (BMK), acoustic test rides become easier, more comfortable, and more reliable. Integrated by HEAD acoustics in the SHOEI motorcycle helmet GT-Air 3, BMK captures authentic binaural sound directly at the rider’s ear.
Thanks to its intuitive handling and outstanding wearing comfort, test riders can focus fully on the road, while the testing staff benefits from highly reproducible, reliable measurement data. Compared with conventional in-ear solutions, the helmet delivers a more natural listening experience and significantly improves usability for everyone involved in motorcycle acoustics testing.
COMPLETE ACOUSTIC TESTING RANGE FOR MOTORCYCLES
HEAD acoustics provides powerful measurement systems and expert engineering services for motorcycle acoustic projects. From on-road test rides to advanced test-bench setups, we support the full process of capturing, analyzing, evaluating, and optimizing two-wheeler sound.
For creating distinctive, emotional and brand-specific motorcycle sound experiences.
For evaluating and optimizing engine, intake and exhaust sound under real operating conditions.
For assessing and reducing the impact of motorcycle noise in urban, residential, and recreational areas.
For developing, evaluating, and optimizing acoustic feedback and warning sounds for electric motorcycles and scooters.
Relevant Products
PreSense
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