AGV’s excellent budget sportsbike/track helmet: AGV K1

AGV-k1-featured

AGV’s entry-level sportsbike helmet review: the AGV K1.

Always fancied owning a range-topping track helmet like the AGV Pista GPR or the slightly cheaper Corsa R, but just can’t bring yourself to pay range-topping cash?

Then the AGV K1 might just be the helmet you’re looking for because owners reckon it’s a goodie. It’s very much an entry-level sportsbike helmet with most of the look and appeal of the Pista but for around a fifth of the price.

And like the Pista and Corsa, it’s part of the same family, meaning it also benefits from all the aero and wind-tunnel work that AGV has put into their race helmets, meaning it’s stable and super aerodynamic. All for well under £200!

So, here’s all you need to know about the AGV K1 helmet including how well current owners say it does (or doesn’t) perform.

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Front view of the gloss black K1 – very pointy = cracking aero

Best places to buy an AGV K1?

Please click below to visit the AGV K1 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Buy from SportsBikeShopBuy from GetGeared

Safety

 (more about helmet safety)

Both the Pista and the Corsa are SHARP five star rated helmets, meaning they’ll give maximum protection in an impact.

But they’re made from advanced composites and carbon fibre to achieve that level of protection.

The K1 is made from cheaper materials – in this case thermoplastic – which is easier to form into a helmet shell which makes for a cheaper helmet to produce.

Which is not to say it’s necessarily going to perform worse because many thermoplastic lids appear in the SHARP 5 star rating list too because much of the protective qualities of a helmet is in the design of the helmet as well as the materials and construction methods used.

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This one’s the AGV K1 Edge VR46 – showing Pista GPR inspired rear spoiler

Looking back at the data, recent thermoplastic AGVs like the AGV compact have scored 4 stars out of five and in fact, of the four thermoplastic AGVs that have been tested over the years, every single one has scored four stars for safety, which is a very impressive result indeed.

Read our ‘more about crash helmet safety‘ guide for important information about how to choose a safe helmet.

But with AGV’s record of producing some really effective thermoplastic helmets, coupled with the fact that, at the time of writing, AGV are our second safest helmet brand, then it very much looks like you can trust a helmet with AGV on the front to give pretty amazing levels of protection.

And we’ve no reason to expect those levels won’t continue with the AGV K1.

Other safety features?

Well, it’s got a wide/tall visor opening that’s necessary for a racing helmet – and that’s also great for all-round visibility on the road too.

It’s produced in 2 helmet shell sizes (the more, the better in terms of looks, fitting and safety) along with four expanded polystyrene (EPS) liners to cater for the different helmet fitment sizes.

And it has a Pinlock anti-fog ready visor to keep your vision clear – though you’ll have to shell out extra for the actual anti-fog insert as it doesn’t come in the box.

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Rear view of the K1 gloss white

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Surprisingly, for a racing-inspired helmet, owners have been rating the AGV K1 as a reasonably quiet helmet.

Sportsbike helmets usually don’t fair well in terms of quietness because it’s simply not a priority when making a helmet that’ll perform well on the track.

Plus noise-supressing materials tend to increase weight and adding more padding can reduce ventilation.

However, like the rest of its stable, the K1 has been carefully aerodynamically shaped to increase airflow and reduce wind resistance, which of course will reduce the amount of noise a helmet makes.

And many owners have been rating their K1s as quieter than average. A few say that it gets noisy when you up the pace – but then what helmets don’t? That’s why you should always stick in some decent ear plugs when you’re going any further than a trip down the local shops.

But overall, the AGV K1 should be quiet enough for most riders.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The K1 has a double chin vent and a triple forehead vent; all closeable by sliders.

It all features AGVs Integrated Ventilation System or IVS which is their name for vents that pass air directly through the helmet shell and into channels around the lining.

Moist and warm air then passes out of the helmet via the twin rear exhausts sited just below the rear spoiler. It’s all a reasonably standard configuration in helmets these days but the devil tends to be in the detail – it’s how well the systems designed and manufactured that makes all the difference.

Now the AGV K1’s been out a while, we’re delighted to say that AGV seems to have done a great job and make a really well venting helmet. Lots of owners rate it highly and say it lets a ton of air through if you open all those vents so that’s a job well done.

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Another Rossi-inspired K1 – this one’s the Flavum.

Visor

(more about visors)

Like all AGVs sportsbike helmets, the helmet aperture on the AGV K1 is wide and tall to give decent peripheral vision as well as forward vision when your chin’s on the tank and your head’s in a sports bike tuck.

It’s also got a quick release visor using AGV’s XQRS or Extra Quick Release System. That’s handy for swapping out visors or removing it to give it a quick clean.

And AGVs quick release system is one of the best so you shouldn’t have a problem here.

The visor does have Pinlock pins (good) but doesn’t come with the Pinlock insert in the box (not so good) so expect to pay £30ish extra for a Pinlock antifog if you live somewhere wet/cold where your visor is bound to mist up from time to time.

And it’s probably worth that investment because several riders mentioned it fogs up pretty easily when cold. Again, that’s a problem for pretty well all helmets – though with the great ventilation on the K1, it does clear away quickly once you’re back on the move.

If you like a visor with a ‘cracked open’ or city riding position, then you’re sorted with the K1 because not only does it have one, but AGV includes several different adjusters in the box which allow you to adjust how much the visor cracks open or to do away with detents altogether, if that floats your boat.

Overall, owners reckon the visor on the K1 works well.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the K1, you’ll find a removable/washable comfort lining containing moisture absorbing Dri-Lex fabric. Dri-Lex makes for a comfortable lining that’s pretty wear resistant and durable.

The K1 is available in fitment sizes XS-XXL and the word out there is that fitment’s true – so measure your head and order the correct size. Note, it’s a medium oval fitment helmet.

It’s a very comfortable helmet too according to owners – and if you need to ride with glasses or sunglasses, there’re glasses grooves in the sides of the liner so you shouldn’t have a problem there either.

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Another view of the AGV K1 VR46 Flavum

Looks & Graphics

Valentino Rossi is still very much AGV’s poster boy, so with the K1 being a sportsbike helmet, we counted no fewer than 8 VR46 options available – including Rossi’s trademark Soleluna as well as the Edge 46 and Flavum 46.

Aside from these, there’s a gloss and matt black version, a gloss white and the Power and Qualify graphics. Expect more graphics to be released over the coming months/years though, so to see more designs and find the latest deals on the AGV K1, please click through to our recommended retailers using the links below.

Best places to buy an AGV K1 helmet?

Please click below to visit the AGV K1 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Buy from SportsBikeShopBuy from GetGeared

Other stuff – fasteners, comms, weight, aero, warranty

The AGV K1 comes with a double-d ring fastener – they’re nice and safe and preferred for track-helmets.

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth headset, there are speaker cutouts inside the K1.

The helmet weighs 1.52Kg (3.3lbs) which is obviously heavier than its Pista GPR (1.3Kg) and Corsa R (1.35Kg) brothers, but isn’t bad at all and about average for a full face thermoplastic helmet. Owners don’t find weight a problem (in fact most think it’s a light weight helmet).

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Moody matt black version of the K1

And because it shares aerodynamic properties with its racing stablemates – including a rear spoiler designed to improve stability at higher speeds – the aero on the K1 (slipperyness, stability and reduction in buffeting on a sportsbike) is excellent.

A few owners said it’s super stable and there’s hardly any buffeting even when turning your head and doing lifesaver checks.

The AGV K1 comes with a 2 year warranty (add another year’s warranty if you register the helmet with AGV online).

Overall/Summary

AGV’s been very cunning with the K1. They’re capitalising on all the dev work that their MotoGP and racing teams have put into designing their race helmets and transferred it over into a much cheaper helmet package that’s bound to appeal to heaps of racing fans who’re running their bikes on a budget.

And we’d expect the K1 to maintain AGVs excellent reputation for safety (though we won’t know for sure until it’s been independently safety tested). Plus, it has a wide & tall visor for use on a sportsbike and offering excellent peripheral vision, and it’s got a very effective  ventilation system.

There’s also many other features you’d expect to see in a modern helmet like quick release visor and removable and washable internal: all making for a helmet that’s very easy to live with, according to owners.

And owners rate the K1 highly for value for money and being a really flexible helmet, suitable for a wide range of rides.

So, if you love the looks of a Rossi helmet (or a McGuinness, Morbidelli, Martin, Hillier – in fact the list of riders who wear a Pista GPR goes on and on) but can’t afford or don’t need a helmet costing towards a grand – and if you’re after a sporty helmet from a maker you know you can trust, then the AGV K1 is well worth a punt.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Great Alternatives to the AGV K1?

OK, there’s stacks of great alternatives out there if you’re just after a reasonably priced full face helmet – check out our top 10 full face helmets to start yourself off!

But if you’re after a helmet that’ll work with your sportsbike, then here’s a few more to take a look at (and of course flip over to our top 10 sportsbike/track helmets page).

Most other sporty helmets are a bit more than the K1, mainly because they use more exotic or complex construction techniques and also because with most other makers, their sportsbike helmets are the actual helmets used on the track in pro-racing!

The LS2 FF323 Arrow comes in either fibreglass or carbon versions and can be had for under £200 which is pretty amazing when you consider you’re getting a real MotoGP developed SHARP 4 star safety rated full face track helmet.

HJCs FG-17 is a sportsbike/track helmet that can be had for around the same money as the K1 and that’s SHARP 4 star safety rated too.

If you’ve a bit more to spend, even though Bell’s Bell Star is their entry level track helmet, it’s still a composite fibre helmet that scored a maximum 5 stars when SHARP safety tested it.

Best places to buy an AGV K1?

Please click below to visit the AGV K1 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Buy from SportsBikeShopBuy from GetGeared

Check out our Sportsbike or track helmets sections for more previews and reviews of helmets suitable for your sportsbike.

Star Ratings

MCN Rating Apr 23: Quality 4/5, Value 4/5

REVIEW OVERVIEW
Safety
Comfort
Noise
Features
Value
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agv-k1-motorcycle-crash-helmet-reviewThe AGV K1 is a great value helmet that really performs. Owners say it's comfy, very well vented and an all round great helmet to live with. Plus it has great aero and field of vision. Really well rated helmet and recommended for a lower priced helmet for a wide range of bikes.

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