AGV Helmets - Experiences?
 

I'm in the market for a new helmet as mine is getting a bit long in the tooth.

I've always had an Arai (well apart from the HJC I bought when I first started riding) and have been pretty happy with them.

So I'll be primarily looking at Arais and Shoeis to purchase.

I was wondering if anyone had comments or experience with AGV helmets. If they're good enough for Rossi are they good enough for me? Do they last well? Are they light & quiet?

Obviously I'll try a few on before buying, but I just wanted to know whether I should broaden by brand allegiance and include AGV.

Anyone happen to know any helmet sales on at the moment? :-)

Cheers
Phill

Had an AGV for a long time, very good, much quieter that the Arai, if a bit on the heavy side. That was a while ago and all their new shells don't fit my head so I am back in the Aria camp.

Rgds, Rob

Always stuck with AGV's cos Arai's and Shoei's just don't seem to fit me snugly. Got an AGV V-flyer now and it's very light and comfy, not the most quiet lid I've ever had but I've had MUCH worse. You wanna try a Rossi rep Ti-Tech!:o

The Ti-Tech ones are supposed to be quite light - lighter than the older ones anyway, not sure how they compare to the lates Arai's ...

I've got an Arai now and my old Rossi rep was SO much quieter it's not funny! I'm amazed at how loud my Arai is in comparison.

i think that the fit is the most important factor. BTW shoei's seem to have at least two shell shapes.

In the XR1000 i am a medium in the X-Spirit I need an extra large.

Rob

Used to use Shoei until a couple of years ago when I changed to AGV. Echo the comments of rob and tp that they are far quieter than Shoeis. Also find the fit much better but suppose thet depends on the shape of your head:bouncy::bouncy::bouncy:

Had a shoei a few years back ,was a bit awkward getting iridium visors for and was quite noisy.Since that was up for renewal i have only used AGV's(mainly down to my local dealer giving me a decent discount on them,helps to know one of the lads in the clothing dept:D ),can testify that they crash well as i had an off whilst wearing my Rossi Imola rep,totally gutted as it was a limited edition:(.personally think the top brands are all much of a muchness quality wise,just depends on what deal you can get.

Thanks everyone! I will certainly factor AGV into the helmet buying equation now.

Cheers
Phill

I had or should I say still have an agv ti tech. I loved it and still do. Very light being carbon & cevlar shell. You get a bit of noise if you bend your head forward because of the titanium vents. The onll downside I found was that the actual opening is lower on the forehead that my previous helmets, this resticted your vision whilst leant over and trying to look deep into the corner. I trashed the lid at TD2, can't bear to throw it out because it still is a very nice lid.


Jon

[Edited on 28-6-2004 by Jon]

I have always had AGV with one big crash i am still here.

The helmet must fit AGV's fit me Arai and Shoei did not .

I have the new Ti tech Rossi mugello and it is quiter than the x vent with excellent airflow

If Vale got £ 50 for evryone it would still be worth it its great

Thanks for all your responses.

In the end I went for an Arai Astro Race.

The helmet fits like a glove and feels really comfortable.

After a week's riding though there are two problems I've noticed.

1. With the visor up at any speed above 40 mph there is a really nast wind whistle. I often ride in sunglasses with the visor up when around town and this noise is really annoying. This problem never happened on my old Signet GT.

2. The peripheral vision doesn't seem as good as the Signet GT. The check pads are a bit higher on the Astro and I seem to have to turn my head more to look into the blind spot over your shoulder.

Anyway, a couple of little niggles that I'm sure I'll get over. I have to, now that I've spent the money!

Phill

Ah, helmets!

This probably won't a popular opinion but I thought it might be of interest to some.

After having crashed on my Shoei X-Ceed at Oulton last year, I need to replace it (shell cracked). I liked the X-Ceed quite a bit. A new one was going to cost over well 400 quid. Now that I am doing a few club races there is a good chance that Oulton wasn't my last crash. Having to spend 400 quid on a new lid every time I crash, wasn't something I relished. So I looked around, for quite some time, like 6 months. Tried all sorts: AGV, OGK, Arai, Shoei, Shark, Nolan, you name it, I've probably tried it. I went to J&S several times to look at end-of-line helmets. I was getting discouraged as the lower priced models didn't fit or lacked features, or were just too quircky.

What did I buy in the end? Now don't laugh. It's a Nitro helmet. And, I am very impressed. These are essentially a Shoei rip-off where even visor mechanism is almost identical. What did I pay? Try 50 quid! Brand new, replacable liner, cheek pads, top fit, reasonably quiet. Visors, clear, dark, iridium, etc, all 20 quid. And best of all, it doesn't make my eyes water like the top Shoei lid did, which made me loose two contact lenses. Also, most of my Shoei accessories, like rain mask, nose guard, chin curtain, tear-offs, all fit the Nitro.

Now, if I write off another helmet it's only not so bad. I can buy 8 of these for every Shoei!

You might say that only an Arai or a Shoei or some other mega expensive helmet will protect you adequately. Hard to say, I guess and I am not planning to test it. But, the Nitro helmets are tested to the same standards as the others.

Granted, a Nitro helmets won't buy you much kudos at your local bike hangout, but for racing, no contest. There are quite a few Nitro helmets in the paddock, I noticed.

Watch out, Arai and Shoei, your days may be numbered for over charging for lids, especially in this country!

[Edited on 30-7-2004 by Felix]

well, I like my AGV, I've had Shoei, and HJC, and Arai don't fit properly and a few people say they're noisy, but because of the name 'seem to put up with it'... (!)

I have just had a V-flyer, lovely helmet, 200 quid for fully removable interior (even headlining) while Shoei's Raid is not for the same money, and you have to spend 300 quid plus on Arai's for same spec... Now I have next model up still AGV called the GP-Pro, very lovely fitting helmet, and I don't find them noisy..

we all have different heads, and all brands do different head shapes within their range, so I guess some people find some noisy more or less than others, of course...

As long as it's safe and good fit, it doesn't matter if not a posh name does it? so if Felix and anyone else is happy with their helmet, then that's the main thing isn't it? :)

[Edited on 31-7-2004 by Melnie Mouse]

helmet advice
 

i recently purchased the agv titech rossi valencia rep helmet to replace my old arai crafar rep and would never buy a agv again. i rode form cornwall to brands for wsb and by the time i had done 150miles i had a terrible ringing and buzzing in my ears, a feeling i never had with my arai. the helmet feels comfortable enough and is good quality apart from the tacky chin support thing. the vents seem to work well but the wind howls through the visor as theres no side pods like a arai. the arai is a very comfortable and quiet helmet,one which fits like a glove.
my mate had a small lowside in his agv and worked ok when he naged his head on the road so they cant be that bad..............