While there were many attention-grabbing motorcycles at this year’s EICMA, there were several cool products as well. What caught our attention most? A couple of noise-canceling helmets.
Wind noise is one of the most persistent challenges for motorcyclists, contributing to fatigue on long rides and potential hearing damage over time. Unlike the constant drone of a jet engine, wind noise is dynamic and unpredictable, making it significantly more difficult to cancel electronically. Now, the motorcycle industry’s two leading helmet communication companies are tackling this problem head-on with Active Noise Canceling (ANC) technology.
Sena released the Phantom helmet earlier this year as the first ANC-equipped motorcycle helmet on the market. At EICMA, Cardo announced its entry into the space with the Beyond helmet while also licensing their ANC technology to Schuberth, which unveiled its modular C5 ANC helmet.
The technology requires more than simply adapting existing noise-canceling headphones. While many in-ear devices like Apple AirPods include noise canceling, they’re not as effective as over-the-ear headphones popularized by Bose. The superior performance of over-ear designs comes from acoustic chambers that surround the speakers—chambers that traditional motorcycle helmets simply don’t have room for. That’s why all three manufacturers designed these helmets specifically from the ground up to accommodate ANC technology.
We had the opportunity to try both the Cardo Beyond and Schuberth C5 ANC helmets in simulated wind tunnels at the EICMA show, and both delivered a noticeable reduction in wind noise. We look forward to real-world tests soon.
After years of development, this technology is finally reaching consumers. The Sena Phantom full-face helmet is available now with an MSRP of $649. Cardo’s Beyond GTS and Beyond GT (both full-face models) are expected to arrive in the U.S. in summer 2026, priced at $1199 and $949, respectively. The Schuberth C5 ANC is also expected next summer with an MSRP of $1499 for the complete helmet and communications system kit. CN
Click here for more New Products on Cycle News.
