Schuberth S2 Review: Crash Helmets for sale. To read other Sharp 4 & 5 star crash helmet reviews, check our helmet reviews section.
Summary: A well specified helmet with lots of good design features from the same folks who produce helmets for the Ferrari F1 team. Full faced, integral sun visor, great ventilation, Pinlock anti-fog visor give you all the features the modern mile-muncher needs – but then at this price, so it should have!
Please click below to visit the Schuberth S2 helmets page at our recommended store. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Read the bumf on Schuberth’s latest ‘flagship’ full face crash helmet and it looks like a marketing department copywriter has spewed up on it. They seem to have decided that what the launch of a new helmet really needs is half a dozen new acronyms to bamboozle their punters. They reason that see enough technical-sounding abbreviations and we’ll roll over, think they’ve got all bases covered and spunk up the required £350-£400 without any more ado.
Schuberth S2 in moody black and white.
We all know that might work (a bit) for a cheapo helmet. But if you’re serious about safety and the performance of your helmet (and us bikers are a pretty savvy lot and love nowt better than get down and dirty with technical gubbins) then this won’t wash. So let’s take a look at the Schuberth and see if there’s any substance behind their claims.
The Schuberth S2 is aimed at being the ultimate all-rounder. They reckon it’s great for touring riders, city riding and sporty riding. They also say it’s got incredible ventilation, a versatile visor, excellent mixture of shock absorption and toughness, integrated bluetooth antenna(s!) and is one of the lightest and lowest-noise helmets on the market. Some claims.
The shell itself is available in two sizes (some of the other premium manufacturers produce their class-leading helmets in four different shell sizes) which isn’t necessarily a problem but possibly points to a bit of corner-cutting. It’s created using their S.T.R.O.N.G fibre technology (as acronyms go, that’s gotta be a poor one!). Couldn’t find out what it actually stands for but I think what they meant to say is that it’s made of fibreglass. OK fibre glass that’s vacuum compressed and multilayered – but come on chaps – it’s just fibreglass isn’t it?!
That’ll be clever, multilayered fibreglass then?
As to how safe the helmet is – well, It’s ECE approved (like all helmets) but only scored 3 stars on the SHARP helmet safety test. Schuberth helmets do have a good reputation – that said, for safety, we’d only really recommend four or five star SHARP tested helmets. The internal foam is multi-density which is a good sign as all the top brands tend to offer multi-density foam because it gives the best shock absorption for the head during an impact. But it did only score 3 stars which is a bit disappointing.
The shell’s got a couple of integrated antennas built in for bluetooth – which is the first I’ve heard of it from all the crash helmets for sale on the market at the moment – for use with Schuberth’s own intercom system. They’ve developed the SRCS-2 system specifically for the S2. Not sure if it’s any good as yet but it’s been designed to be pretty much ‘plug and play’ so probably worth checking out if you need inter-helmet comms.
There’s a few interesting features to the aero design of the helmet. It’s got an integral rear spoiler built into it and it’s also got a skirt around the bottom. These are designed to reduce buffeting at speed and wind noise. Schuberth make a big thing of the lack of noise, quoting figures of 85db at 65mph and harping on about wind tunnel testing. In action, people do say that it’s pretty stable and resistant to buffeting however there’s a mixed bag of reports on how quiet it is – some say it’s really quiet and others really noisy. Riders with naked bikes seem to reckon it’s more designed for fared bikes as on nakeds, the aerodynamics don’t work as well. Bottom line is that it’s about average and your perception will depend on how quiet your previous helmet was and the bike you ride. Either way, it’s advisable to wear ear plugs if you’re going any distance.
Onto the visor. It’s got everything. It comes with a Pinlock antifog insert attached and ready to rock. It’s also got an integral sun visor (0perated by an easy-to-use lever) though some folks reckon it doesn’t really come down low enough. It’s got a firm action to it, a locking mechanism to keep it firmly shut and a city mode (basically, slightly cracked open). It’s also got something rather grandly called ‘Turbulators’ which are a row of little diamond shapes across the top of the visor which are supposed to reduce whistling/noise from the top of the visor. I don’t know about you but I’m always fuming at the noise caused by air on the top of my visor when it’s cracked open. Thank God for Schuberth solving that one 😉
Here’s another of those acronyms again – the AROS or anti roll of system – which is Schuberth’s name for making the chin strap a bit more secure by adding an extra anchor point (a bit like many cycle helmets). Might be a case of over-engineering or solving another problem that doesn’t exist – although in the aftermath of Simoncelli, they might have thought it’d be a popular mod. Reports are that it’s OK though one or two people find it a little uncomfortable on the back of the neck. Worth testing while wearing your other gear – especially your jacket – to make sure it doesn’t interfere with the collar.
Onto ventilation. It’s got the usual chin and forehead vents along with a couple of rear exhausts. Reports are that ventilation is all good – easy to operate flaps, lots of venting that can be adjusted pretty easily with gloved hands and good blast across the visor (should it be needed for demisting). It’s worth noting that the chin vents have permanent holes in there which always given a breeze across the face. Riders say you quickly get used to it but worth being aware of if you do a lot of winter riding!
Blue arrows go in, red arrows go out. Ventilation works well though!
So there you have it. Based on the SHARP testing score, it should offer only reasonable protection in a crash but it does offer good levels of other performance. It’s widely reported as comfortable and practical and the visor and ventilation systems are some of the better ones we’ve seen.
For a look at other crash helmets, check our helmet reviews section. And if you’ve used any of the helmets we’re looking at, we’d love to hear what you think of them – by commenting below. Thanks! Billy.
Best places to buy a Schuberth S2 helmet?
Please click below to visit the Schuberth S2 helmets page at our recommended store. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Review of LS2’s flip-over polycarbonate modular helmet.
If you’ve ever checked out the Shark Evoline or Shark Evo-one 2 modular helmets, you might find there’s more than a passing resemblance with the LS2 Valiant.
Not only is the design pretty similar, but the Valiant is also a dual-homologated flip-up helmet too – where the chin bar rotates right to the back of the helmet to give more of a proper open faced helmet feeling.
And like the two Sharks, the Valiant has a thermoplastic shell – LS2 calls it a Kinetic Polymer Alloy but don’t be confused – it’s still a polycarbonate shelled helmet.
LS2 Valiant Avant – works well as a full face as well as open face helmet
The Valiant is designed for regular road riders and commuters – so track riders should look elsewhere (like in our sportsbike helmets section).
It took Shark a few goes to make their helmets really work – so we find out if LS2 have got it right first time by discovering what owners think of their Valiants. And we uncover what features you can expect if you decide to buy one.
Please click below to visit the LS2 Valiant 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).
To cut to the chase, we’d expect the LS2 Valiant to give reasonable protection in an accident.
Looking at SHARP test data, their average score for a tested LS2 polycarbonate helmet is 3 stars out of 5. Which is pretty OK.
Until recently, there was only one LS2 modular helmet tested by SHARP. That’s the LS2 Strobe and that scored 3 stars for safety plus a 100% score for number of times the chin bar stayed locked during testing; which is obviously an excellent score.
Now though, the Valiant has been SHARP tested where it scored an overall 4 stars for safety and its chin bar stayed locked 97% of the time – which is an overall great score for a modular.
Rear view of the LS2 Valiant in chrome with chin bar closed
The Valiant is both DOT (US) and ECE 22-05 (EU) certified so it’s passed the thorough ECE testing regime, which is good to know. It’s also been both P & J certified meaning that it’s been approved to work as both a full face and open face helmet – so you can ride with the chin bar open and round the back of the helmet legally in ECE countries.
It’s also got a wide, Pinlock Max Vision visor which should keep your vision clear when it’s cold and raining and give decent extra peripheral visibility to spot hazards approaching.
And a drop down sun visor is always a great idea to stop you getting caught out and dazzled by the sun.
LS2 Valiant 8.5ms impact test result courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk
And while the Valiant is only made in two shell sizes (which isn’t the best for fitment or, arguably, for safety) it does use a multi-density polystyrene lining to offer more progressive shock absorption during an impact.
Finally on safety, the Valiant is fastened using a micrometric 2 chin strap – that’s a micrometric fastener with a metal ratchet instead of the old plastic version.
All in all, the LS2 Valiant should give very decent impact protection.
For other helmets that have proven they’ll give superior impact protection in the SHARP safety testing labs, you might want to check out our safest helmets pages.
From owner feedback, it seems like we’re gonna have to score the LS2 Valiant about average quietness for a modular helmet.
Dual homologated with a chin bar to rotates to the rear of the helmet
Modulars are generally noisier than the equivalent full face helmet – it seems mostly because the mechanism for that articulating chin bar either creates space for turbulence to get in and/or because it means there’s less room for noise-cancelling padding.
That’s what a couple of Valiant owners thought causes the noise in the Valiant too, though a couple also said that opening the vents lets noise in but closing them off makes the Valiant impressively quiet.
But as always, noise is a very subjective thing, and we did find several owners who think their Valiants are really quiet, as well as others saying it’s really noisy.
If you’re coming to a Valiant from a full face helmet, expect it to be a bit noisier than you’re used to, and wear some decent ear plugs. Do that and we reckon that most riders will be fine with noise suppression in the Valiant (and most other modulars).
There’s a useful chin vent with a 2 way open/close slider covering it that gives venting to the back of the visor. There’s also a crown vent, again with a 2 way slider covering it, that’s designed take air through the helmet shell and push it into channels inside the helmet to cool the top of your head.
At the back, there’s four separate exhaust vents to help pull that warm, stale air out of the helmet, making room to let more fresh air in.
Front view showing wide visor and front vents
That’s all fine, but looking inside the helmet, there’s not a whole lot of chance for air in the air channels to make its way through the comfort lining and get air to your head. Where most makers put large cut-aways or mesh panels into the lining to allow air through, the Valiant’s liner is much more solid.
Owners of the Valiant reckon the chin vent works well but the head vent less well – with owners rating head ventilation around average. Which is not so much of a problem for those of us riding in Northern Europe, but might be a problem if you’re somewhere hotter.
Though of course, with the Valiant you’ve always got the option of having the chin bar up for a while to cool down!
The visor on the Valiant is a class A optically correct visor (meaning it’ll be distortion free). It works on a ratchet and has the opening tab top-centre, which can take a bit of getting used to.
It’s also a wide visor for extra peripheral vision (good) and in Europe it comes Pinlock-ready with a Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog insert in the box (very good).
Note, in the DOT zone (USA) it’ll come with LS2’s Fog Fighter anti fog preparation and not a Pinlock.
Sun visor down and Pinlock visor raised
So, LS2 ticks lots of boxes with the visor on the Valiant, and that translates to lots of owners saying the visor system works very well.
There’s a useful drop down sun visor in the Valiant, operated by a slider along the bottom left rim of the helmet – that’s a handy place to locate it and usually the best place to make it easy to find when riding.
Sometimes you find sun visors are a bit light and leave a stripe of bright light at the bottom which some folks find annoying, but the word on the sun visor on the Valiant is that it’s nice and dark and drops down low.
Like other helmets where the chin guard rotates round to the back of the helmet, the movement of unlocking and pushing up the chin guard on the Valiant opens the visor and moves it out of the way of the guard.
The chin guard then rotates to the back of the helmet where it stays in place through gravity alone (i.e. it doesn’t lock in place). Owners say the unlocking and rotation of the chin guard is effortless and smooth.
With chin bar fully rotated, the Valiant works well as an open face helmet
It can be done easily with one hand, though it’s worth saying while it can be done without stopping, you’re always best waiting until you’re stopped to open the chin bar and not obscure your vision or take your eyes off the road. It only takes a slight bit of interference from an intercom mic or bit of grit in the mechanism and you could be toast.
The chin bar locking mechanism has metal clasps too which is usually a feature associated with more secure locking chin bars – so that’s good to see.
Sizing of the Valiant is about right – so follow our fitting guide and order the correct size.
LS2 has designed the Valiant to suit longer oval head shapes – so if you’ve a rounder head, you might find that it’s tight at the sides.
It weighs about 1.7Kg (3.75lbs) which isn’t the lightest helmet, but shouldn’t really cause you any problems because that’s just about bang on the average weight across all modular helmets.
Inside, you’ll find a removable and washable liner padded with lazer cut foam for a more tailored fit to the face. It’s made from a breathable and hypoallergenic material – and crucially, Valiant owners say it makes for a really comfortable helmet.
Looks & Graphics
We try and put as many graphic options as possible on these pages, but for the latest options and deals on LS2 Valiants, please check out the links to our recommended retailers below.
Best places to buy an LS2 Valiant helmet?
Please click below to visit the LS2 Valiant 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).
LS2 Valiant Video
Here’s a 5m30s video taking you around a plain matt black Valiant.
Other stuff – audio/bluetooth
The LS2 Valiant is designed to accommodate the Linkin Ride Pal III bluetooth communicator – that’s a bluetooth set designed by well-known intercom maker, Sena, for LS2 helmets. If you’re looking to use a different bluetooth, then be aware that the speaker pockets are pretty slim, so you’ll need to have slim fit speakers otherwise they might well be uncomfortable.
This one’s the Valiant Lumen in full face mode.
Overall/Summary
With the LS2 Valiant hitting the shelves, there’s now a further option if you’re looking for a modular helmet where the chin guard rotates right to the back of the helmet.
And the Valiant offers good value for money too. For a reasonable price, you get a full-featured helmet that should work well anywhere from a daily commuting helmet to a touring holiday helmet.
Cons? Well the top venting is a bit limited, the speaker pockets are shallow and, like most modular helmets, it’s not the quietest. But on the plus side, it’s good value, has that really practical chin guard that flips back out of the way, has a useful wide visor with Pinlock and drop down sun visor. And it’s rated as really comfortable by most owners.
And the great news now is that when SHARP tested the LS2 Valiant, it scored an excellent four stars for safety (and the chin bar scored a high 97%). So, if you’re after a dual homologated – flip-right-over modular helmet, the LS2 Valiant’s excellent value and well worth a try.
If you’re after a great performing flip-front helmet, then here’s some beauties to check out.
We’ve gotta mention the two Sharks which are most similar to the LS2 Valiant.
There’s the Shark Evo One 2; that’s a flip-over modular that’s been safety rated by SHARP with an excellent four star rating. It comes with a Pinlock in the box and is a tad lighter than the LS2, though it’s a tad more expensive too.
And there’s Shark’s other flip-over helmet, the Evoline 3. That was safety rated by SHARP as 5 star, has a drop down sun visor and is good for glasses wearers.
Please click below to visit the LS2 Valiant 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).
Review of the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 enduro and street helmets.
We’re looking at both the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 together because they’re very similar helmets: like quite a few helmet makers, Nexx has created a single helmet that they’ve then repurposed to make both a full face street helmet as well as an endro-style dual-sport helmet.
Which is why we’ve included both helmets in a single review – because they share so many components, you can pretty much regard the X.WED2 as the X.WST2 with a sun peak/roost guard bolted onto the top.
As for those names – X-WED2 makes more sense when you know it was originally called the X-Wild Enduro in the US – and the X-WST2 sold as the X-Wild Street. But they’re now sold with the same name over there too.
So, if you’re interested in either helmet, here’s the low down on what you get for your hard earned cash.
Nexx X.WED2 – dual-sports helmet Nexx X.WST2 – street helmet
Nexx X.WST2 street helmet in Motrox grey/red graphics
Please click below to visit the Nexx 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).
Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2?
The X.WED2 adventure helmet and the X.WST2 street helmet are pretty much identical helmets apart from the sun peak. So, the great thing about choosing the X.WED2 is that if you want to go touring for example, you can remove the peak and it’ll work as a great sports touring helmet. Obviously, you can’t do the opposite with the X.WST2 and turn it into a dual-sport helmet because it doesn’t come with the sun peak or the fitting so it’s a one-way street only.
If you do go for the X.WED2 enduro helmet, then it comes with a peak extender too, to extend the range of the sun peak, as well as Go-Pro accessories to mount a camera on either side or top of the helmet – plus there’s and a couple of different chin bar vent covers; either solid or perforated for extra venting off road but without the gravel getting in!
This is the enduro version with the sun peak – the Nexx X.WED2 Patrol
Both the X.WED2 and X.WST2 share the same helmet shell and they’re both goodies.
Nexx focuses its helmet development efforts on producing composite fibre helmets, and both these helmets share the same X-Matrix composite shell. That’s a multi-layered sandwich of fibreglass, aramid (kevlar) and carbon, arranged in a multi-axial mat which helps increase strength in all directions.
They also produce helmet shells in 3 different sizes, with the smaller shell used for XXS-S sizes, the medium shell for M-L and the largest shell size covering sizes XL-XXXL.
Composite fibre helmets typically score higher for safety than polycarbonate or fibreglass helmets (according to SHARP testing results) and the more shell sizes the better in terms of making a helmet that fits comfortably and fits just right – i.e. firm and tight without being too tight. Comfort and fitting are key in getting a safer helmet too.
While neither helmets have been safety tested by SHARP (or Snell in the US), the ECE 22.05 version of the Nexx X.WED2 helmet was tested by the independent CRASH testing scheme in Australia where it scored a decent four stars out of five. That’s pretty much their highest rating as only one helmet ever has scored 5/5!
Lovely Carbon Zero version of the Nexx X.WST2
OK, so what other features are good for safety?
Well, there’s quite a few actually. Both helmets have got integrated drop down sun visors, wide visors for good peripheral vision, and they’re Pinlock antifog ready, though there’s no Pinlock included in the box.
They’ve also got Nexx’s version of EQRS which Nexx calls its ’emergency strap V2′ which emergency services can use to pull out the cheek pads to help them remove your helmet more easily.
It’s rare to come across a helmet that’s so universally praised for being quiet, but that’s pretty much the case here. It’s probably fair to say that the most glowing praise was coming from the dual sport crowd – but both helmets rank highly for noise suppression.
And that’s even the case when the vents are open it seems. OK it’s going to be noisier then because you’re letting in noise along with more air, but it’s still pretty good. But close the vents and keep the chin curtain in place and owners seem to rate it between good to great for quietness, which is a particularly great considering with the X.Wed2 you’ve got a big peak sticking up top.
Don’t expect to ride without the need for ear plugs though as it won’t be so quiet you couldn’t damage your hearing. But still, according to most owners, Nexx have done a great job here.
Both helmets feature a mass of front vents. There’s a large central chin bar vent with a large glove-friendly panel to open or close it. And up top, there’s three forehead vents – a large central vent plus a couple of smaller vents either side – all covered with two position sliders to open/close them.
Plain white X.WED2 showing front vents plus sun visor slider top right of the shell.
On the X.WST2, that chin bar vent is covered by a solid two position panel – push the bottom to open the vent and push the top to close it.
On the X.WED2 you also have the option of swapping out the panel for a perforated cover to allow masses of air in whether it’s open or closed. Or you can stick with the solid cover because both are included in the box.
As we’re used to seeing in most helmets these days, those top vents let air through the helmet shell and around the helmet to keep your head cool.
According to several owners, both helmets vent extremely well, with a few owners saying it’s the best venting helmet they’ve owned.
OK, there’s one or two niggles – a couple commenting that the sliders are too stiff and, with the X.WED 2 that it’s all but impossible to open the top vents on the move because of the peak making it really hard to access them.
But get all the vents fully open, and they do flow a large amount of air to keep your head cool. Slightly less so with the X.WST 2 in the chin vent area because, unlike the dual sport helmet where you can pull off the chin bar vent cover entirely if you want, you can’t do that with the Street helmet. But it’s still pretty good.
The visors on both the X.WED2 and X.WST2 are panoramic visors, meaning they’re wider than your average visor for that more involved riding feeling – as well as being that bit safer, allowing you better visibility in your peripheral vision.
And they both have Nexx’s X-Lock quick release system. That’s a pretty unusual quick release visor system where you have to rotate a plastic pod (Nexx call this the X-Block) that fits over the visor pivot point on each side, then pull it off. That allows the visor to release from its pivot. It’s a bit quirky but it works.
Owners reckon the main visor system works well and like it particularly for the width of vision the panoramic visors give. If you buy an X.Wed2 and want to remove the visor to wear goggles, apparently it’ll accept goggles up to around 100mm (4″) deep.
This one’s the X.WED2 enduro in Hill End graphics
Sun Peak (X.WED2 only)
Being a dual sports helmet (designed to work on the road as well as off road) the X.WED2 has a removable sun visor/roost guard. That’s good for shading you from the sun and sprayed up muck if you’re following someone else off road.
Nexx has redesigned the peak from the previous version of the helmet so it performs better on the road and doesn’t lift or vibrate the helmet as much at speed.
And it sounds like it works really well as we found a few owners who said it doesn’t buffet or catch the wind when you’re riding on the road, so that’s an excellent job.
It’s also got extra cut outs to help the air flow reach the top/side vents. And it’s a moveable peak too so you can adjust it (without tools) to suit your riding position.
They’ve also included an extender piece that makes the peak even bigger if you need it.
And if you want to remove the sun peak, you can do that too – Nexx has included a couple of quick release visor pivots in the box so you remove the peak and configure it as a street helmet with visor in place.
Rear view of both helmets is near identical – but this one’s the X.WST2 Motorox. Note sun visor slider top left.
A couple of things to say about the sun visor: it’s an 80% tint sun visor that’s operated by a slider situated in a slightly unusual place on the top left of the helmet.
It looks like it’ll be a bit tricky to find and use at first but we didn’t find anyone having a problem with locating or using it so I guess all’s well there.
What we did find though, were people complaining that the sun visor doesn’t drop down far enough. It’s a common problem with sun visors from quite a few makers – I guess because if it comes down too low they’ll potentially have lots of people complaining it drops onto the bridge of their noses which is going to be an even bigger annoyance.
It has to be said, it does sound like it’s particularly high on the both the X.WED 2 and X.WST 2 – though, as one owner pointed out (which I’d not thought of before) they liked the fact it doesn’t drop down too low so they can more easily see their instruments. Makes sense I guess!
The X.WED2 and X.WST2 are medium-oval fitment helmets which generally suit most people’s head shapes in the West.
They’re made in 3 helmet shell sizes and they’re available in pretty extreme sizes too, with the smallest being XXS and the largest XXXL. The largest shell fits sizes XL-XXXL, the second shell covers sizes L-M and the smallest shell size fits XXS-S.
Having a helmet come in three shell sizes is good for overall fitting, comfort and – we’d argue – for safety too.
The internals of both helmets are removable and washable. Chin guards are ergonomically styled to fit the contours of the face (sometimes called 3D cheek pads) with a ventilated skull cap to let air through to your head.
Both helmets feature Nexx’s own version of the EQRS system – tug on the red tabs and it should allow for easier removal of the cheek pads to help emergency services remove your helmet. It also helps you remove the pads when it comes to washing your lining too.
Titanium’s always a good bet. This one’s the Motrox Titanium X.WST2.
Nexx has used what they call X.Mart Dry fabrics which are their version of moisture-wicking and anti-allergenic fabrics.
They usually make for decent, comfortable crash helmet linings – and that’s the case here with lots of owners saying it’s a very comfortable helmet.
The only niggles? A few owners say that the neck roll is on the large side making it a struggle to get the helmet on. And while the sizing’s accurate, they can be tight helmets at first and take a few rides to break in properly. After that though, most owners seem to agree that they’re nice and comfortable helmets.
Looks & Graphics
OK, there’s a stack of graphics out for both helmets so you’re really best clicking through to our recommended retailers below to check out what’s available (in addition to the one’s we’ve shown on here). It’s worth noting that the glorious full carbon version is only available as the X.WST2 and not as the dual sport version – at the time of writing. Shame.
Best places to buy a Nexx helmet?
Please click below to visit the Nexx 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).
Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 Videos
The top video’s a review of the X.WED2 (note it’s very comprehensive with almost 38m run time!) followed by an 8m look at the X.WST2 (was called the X.Wild Street in the US but it’s the same helmet).
Other stuff – audio, build quality, weight, warranty
The Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 both come ready to integrate the Nexx X-Com intercom unit. That’s a communicator built by Sena which fits into the slot in the left hand side of the shell. The plastic panel removes with a couple of screws and the X-Com unit slots in. It’s a bit old tech according to a few owners but it does the job.
The only issue with build quality we could find was that one or two owners commented that the poppers in the liner aren’t really strong enough so when they remove their helmets the liner can come loose. It’s by no means a common problem but worth looking out for. Other than that, owners seem to reckon their helmets are well built and the finish is broadly rated very good.
Nexx reckons both helmets weigh about 1.55Kg (1.45Kg for the carbon) though 3rd party reviewers seem to think they’re a bit heavier. One weighed the X.WED2 in size large at 1.7Kg. Either way, several owners reckoned their helmet feels light weight when riding, and I guess that’s the bit that matters!
Both helmets come with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Front-on view of the Nexx X.WED2 in plain gloss white
Overall/Summary
Like many helmet makers who produce a dual-sports or adventure helmet, Nexx has taken a street bike helmet added a sun peak and tweaked the ventilation system to produce a new helmet for adventure bike riders.
To be honest, it’s a sensible thing to do and it’s particularly useful for adventure bike helmet buyers since it often results in a helmet that can be converted into a true street bike helmet when you’re looking to use the helmet on the road.
Either way, both the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 are great helmets that are well liked by most owners. They’ve a reasonably light weight composite fibre shell with lots of ventilation, and have a long list of features and additions that make for a helmet that’s easy to live with – including a drop down sun visor, Pinlock-ready (and wide) visor and comfortable inner lining. They’re available at a decent middle-of-the-road price point too.
Strong points are very good ventilation and excellent noise suppression. They’re well built too and well designed with the peak on the X.WED 2 being particularly carefully designed for good aero abilities.
Nexx helmets are building a solid reputation for making quality helmets at affordable prices and the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 are both excellent helmets and well worth checking out.
The only dual sport helmet so far that scored well with SHARP – in fact scored a maximum 5 stars for safety – is Caberg’s Tourmax: a modular dual sport helmet. That’s still a great helmet and costs a stack less than either Nexx Helmet.
Arai Tour-X 4
Another Adventure helmet that’s well rated is the Arai Tour X4. It’s not been SHARP tested but it is Snell certified (a similar US standard) and, like the Nexx X.WED2, it can be converted into a full face helmet by removing the peak. It’s a bit more expensive than the Nexx but comes with a 5 year warranty.
Scorpion ADX1
The Scorpion ADX-1 is a modular helmet that works as a street or adventure helmet. It’s half the price of the Nexx too, comes with a Pinlock anti fog insert in the box and has a 5 year warranty. Excellent value.
Shoei Hornet ADV in matt black
And finally, there’s the Shoei Hornet ADV – fibreglass helmet with full face and adventure configurations, Snell certified (US version) – and it was Ride magazine recommended. Around the same price as the Nexx.
For other decent alternatives to either adventure helmets or full face helmets, please click the links below.
Other Adventure/Dual-Sports helmets?
There are lots of other Adventure/Dual Sports crash helmets out there, so please check out our Adventure motorcycle helmets page to see all our other reviews and previews. Or, if you're looking for the safest tested helmets on the market, you might want to take a look at our safest motorcycle helmets pages where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there.
Other full face helmets?
We've got lots of other ways you can find your ideal full face helmet. You can check out our Top 10 full-face crash helmets list to see our best rated helmets or head over to our Smartish Filters pages and zoom in on helmets with your 'must have' features. You can browse through all our full face crash helmet reviews as well as our safest motorcycle helmets page where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there. Finally, check out our helmet gallery to find a lid that takes your fancy.
Best places to buy a Nexx Helmet?
Please click below to visit the Nexx 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).
AGV Pista GP-R review – the best top-of-the-range full face sportsbike helmet?
The AGV Pista GP is AGV‘s no-holds-barred, top-dog track helmet – aimed at those of us who want the best and most exclusive sportsbike helmet around.
It was designed in cahoots with assorted MotoGP riders, including Valentino Rossi, to be the ultimate track helmet – taking all their demanding needs and crystallising them into the perfect racing helmet. And like anything that’s designed to be the best of the best, it’s got a suitably astronomical price tag to go with it!
But if you want the best sportsbike or racing crash helmet on the market, then you probably need to look no further than the Pista GP – or the revised GP-R version (with updated rear ‘Biplano’ spoiler and hydration system).
Having said that, you’ll find a few very worthy alternatives towards the bottom of the page. But if the AGV Pista GP is good enough for Vale for the last few seasons, then I’d say it’s probably good enough for the rest of us!?
Please click below to drop straight onto the AGV Pista GP-RR 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).
Safety
It’s probably safe to say that, because the Pista GP has been tasked with protecting the hallowed head of Valentino Rossi, AGV have put extra effort into making sure the Pista GP offers fantastic levels of protection.
So, it’s not surprising then that as well as being DOT and ECE certified (which of course even £30 helmets legally on sale across the US and Europe have to be) the AGV Pista GP scored amazingly well in its SHARP helmet safety test.
In fact, it scored a maximum 5 stars meaning – as you’d expect – the Pista GP is going to protect you just as well as pretty well any helmet on the market today. That’ll be combo of the strength and energy absorption of the carbon fibre shell (that’s manufactured in four shell sizes) and 5 density expanded polystyrene shock absorbing lining – both doing their jobs supremely well.
And, as of 2019, it’s been tested/homologated by the official MotoGP and international motorsports body, the FIM, under their new racing homologation scheme.
The Pista GP-R carbon version comes in unadorned matt or gloss
So, in terms of outright safety if you hit the deck, it’s probably going to perform as well as pretty much any helmet on the market today (see here for other 5 star safety rated helmets).
Of course, that’s only part of the safety picture though, because a good helmet can help you avoid an accident in the first place. How?
Well, the Pista GP has a huge field of vision. That’s really important for the track of course – but it’s probably just as important on the road too, helping you spot vehicles entering your blind spot and giving you excellent vision up front, even if you’re in a tuck and going for it.
The visor’s also Pinlock-ready (with a Pinlock in the box) again helping make sure your visor’s fog-free and your vision isn’t impared. It also has a visor lock which is useful in keeping the visor closed and locked in an accident, preventing rocks and grit getting in your face.
The fit can be tailored in lots of ways too (see more below) – a comfortable helmet lets you concentrate on the riding and not in fidgeting with your helmet.
Overall then, the AGV Pista GP covers pretty well everything you could want from a race helmet in terms of safety, with the only glaring omission we can think of being a lack of EQRS or an emergency cheek pad removal system.
So does the Pista GP-R Granpremio – this one’s gloss finished. Note the massive rear spoiler, designed to break off in impact but giving loads of helmet stability
Looking to buy this AGV?
We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, free delivery, 365 day returns backed by outstanding reviews. Or if you're happy to buy from Germany, Motoin are a quality operation with decent Euro prices and great review scores. You can also click through to the AGV helmets pages at Amazon if you prefer to buy from there or if you're in the US, Revzilla have amazing ratings, free delivery and a wide range of AGVs in stock. Please click any link to drop onto their AGV helmets pages or see here for info on our recommended stores.
Helmet Noise
Like many track-focused helmets, the Pista GP is a bit of a noisy blighter.
But then, keeping things quiet wasn’t really on AGVs radar when they were designing the helmet. Racers wear ear plugs to keep their hearing intact and don’t overly rely on the helmet to keep things quiet.
Helmet designers also tend to focus more on making a massively protective helmet that’s light weight, with good venting and has all the other stuff that’s important to a racer. Plus, making a helmet that suppresses noise well can mean adding more padding – and that makes for a heavier helmet.
What the Pista GP does well though is streamlining; and that can have an impact on reducing noise by cutting the sound made by wind turbulence as it rushes over the helmet shell.
But overall, don’t expect the Pista GP to be quiet, cos it ain’t. In fact, while there are comments from owners saying they thought it was quiet – most reckon it’s noisy as f***.
It’s probably no coincidence then that AGV include some ear plugs in the box!
Note the top vents have rubber bungs to open/close them so aren’t adjustable as you ride
Ventilation
The Pista GP has a decent number of air vents – a single vent in the chin and three forehead vents.
But it’s unusual in that the three top vents have removable rubber bungs in them. So to get ventilation into the helmet, you need to remove the bungs (and keep them somewhere safe!) before you ride.
The chin vent has a more conventional open/close switch, but it’s this system of bungs that can alarm you if you’re not expecting them. They’re OK if you’re on the track and can pull into the pits but maybe not the best if you’re a road rider?
And many owners do say they find them fiddly.
If you do lose your bungs, all is not lost though. The helmet comes with spares in the box.
And the Pista GP does vent well – around the scalp at least. But quite a few owners reckon the chin vent isn’t up to much and the helmet really needs a Pinlock anti-fog insert in there to keep things fog-free.
Thankfully, there’s one included in the box – so you’re probably just as well fitting it as soon as you get the helmet.
The Pista GP-R has super-swoopy aero to make the whole package as aerodynamic and stable as possible. They’ve done a great job
Aero
Along with safety and vision, helmet aero appears to have been one of the main objectives of the Pista GP designers. After all, reducing drag means improved outright top speed; and keeping buffeting to a minimum will keep a rider fresher for longer and mean their vision’s impared less.
And, according to owners, they’ve done a remarkable job.
A few riders commented that it cuts through the air like no other helmet – and the faster you go the better.
It’s also really stable, even when you look around, with little noticeable buffeting.
To say AGV have made a helmet that’s both amazingly streamlined AND looks really cool is testament to the design work they’ve done behind the scenes.
This one’s the Iannone replica Pista GP
Visor
Visors are important features of any helmet – but even moreso for a track-rider?
AGV have thrown everything they can think of at the visor on the Pista GP.
It’s quick change too, using their XQRS Extra Quick Release System for quick and toolless visor removal. That’s a great system involving pulling down a tab and pushing on the visor to remove. It’s really easy to use and quick to get the hang of.
It’s also a 3.3mm thick, class 1 optically-correct visor for minimal distortion and comes Pinlock Max Vision ready with a Pinlock antifog insert included in the box.
And being a race helmet, it’s also a Race 2 flat visor that’s tear-off ready and with a bunch of tear-offs in the box.
Rear view of the Pista GP Gran Premio in matt finish
It also has a visor locking mechanism to stop grit and road crap getting in your helmet if you end up on the deck. To engage the lock, you push the visor closed and it auto-locks; although there’s a ‘cracked open and locked’ position to keep things secure but with a bit more ventilation getting behind the visor.
The visor works using friction – so no ratchets here. It stays where it’s put up to a point but a couple of owners say it will slam closed when things get fast.
Comfort and Sizing
Both comfort and sizing are good.
Owners say the sizing is true to the sizing guides though things can feel quite tight when you first try your Pista GP on. But stick with it and it’ll give a little.
They also note that the Pista GP is designed to have its fit customised, so may not be bang-on out of the box like road helmets.
It comes with adjustable cheek pads (with extra cheek pads in the box) and an adjustable crown pad. You’ll probably need to play around with these a little to get the fitting just right.
The interior is made of quality materials – using materials like Shallmar, CoolMax and Lycra to tailor the fit and give anti-microbial and moisture-wicking/cooling properties. AGV have also designed it so it’s seamless in sensitive areas – and of course, it’s all removable and washable.
If you like carbon weave, the bare ‘Carbons’ are the way to go. This one’s the Carbon in gloss
The Pista GP-R also has an integrated (but removable) hydration system included. That’s essentially a tube that’s carefully routed through the helmet to the rear of the chin guard to allow you to rig it up to a bottle (or presumably a high-end Dainese hump-suit?) so you don’t have to slurp from a bottle like the rest of us.
Might be a useful feature if you’re a proper racer – but probably unnecessary if you’re not (and you might risk looking like a bit of a twat?)
Looks and Graphics
It’s probably fair to say that the mean and aggressive looks of the Pista GP (along with the fact that it’s a race-bred track helmet of course) is one of the main reasons folks lust after the Pista GP.
That menacing shape, combined with the exposed carbon-fibre designs of the non-Rossi inspired graphics, really shows of the quality of the materials of the Pista GP.
There’s both Rossi and Ianonne rep versions for race fans and there’s also plain carbon versions in both gloss and matt laminates as well as the striking Gran Premio available in both gloss or matt carbon finishes but with red highlights.
Check the designs up and down the page – or click the links to our recommended retailers below to see any more recent designs and the latest prices.
Best places to buy an AGV Pista GP-RR helmet?
Please click below to drop straight onto the AGV Pista GP-RR 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).
AGV Pista GP Video
Here’s a video featuring a slightly younger-looking Valentino with the promo video for the original Pista GP.
Other Stuff – quality, warranty, communicators
The Pista GP Soleluna Qatar helmet
At this price, owners obviously expect a lot from their Pista GPs. So it’s surprising there’s one or two reports of dodgy QA because it should be second to none at this price. Most owners say the quality is great, but a couple have reported faults with their helmets so, if you buy one, check it over carefully before accepting it. It’s only covered by AGV’s 2 year warranty too – which is poor (many offer 5 year warranties now).
Finally, if you’re after a helmet that’ll fit your bluetooth communicator, you might need to look elsewhere. While you’ll probably be able to stick it to the outside of the Pista GP, there’s no space for speakers in there so don’t even try.
Overall/Summary
The AGV Pista GP and GP-R are remarkable helmets. But they’re very focused helmets too.
If you’re planning on using it on the road, then you might need to look a bit harder. Those always-open (or closed) vents might be a pain – as might the noise. Having said that, lots of the features that make it so great on the track don’t half make it easier to live with on the road too.
It’s got exceptional aero and with that customisable level of comfort, you should be able to tailor the fit to get things bang on.
If you’ve got deep pockets and you’re after a racing helmet that’s light and with great all-round vision, then the Pista GP is where it’s at. There are alternatives to consider of course (see below), but if the track’s where you do your riding, then the AGV’s a great performer that’s well worth looking at.
Best places to buy an AGV Pista GP-RR?
Please click below to drop straight onto the AGV Pista GP-RR 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).
Alternatives to the AGV-Pista GP-R?
If you like the look of the Pista GP but want to know what the alternatives are, then look no further.
Firstly, there’s the Pista’s cheaper cousin – the AGV Corsa. It looks almost identical to the Pista GP but it’s a composite helmet (so no beautiful carbon weave poking through the paint). It’s still a blinding helmet though. It’s SHARP 5 star – just like the Pista GP – very light and a fraction of the price with a bit more real-world usability.
From the other main rivals there’s the Arai RX-7V – SHARP 4 star tested and a great performing track helmet.
Of course, you need to check out the Shoei X-Spirit III, that’s SHARP 5 star safety rated and Snell 2015 certified for safety, a massive performer and a real looker too.
And there’s Bell’s Pro Star track helmet – its cheaper sibling, the Bell star, was awarded 5 stars by SHARP (so we don’t really doubt the Pro Star would manage it too). That’s made in a massive 5 helmet shell sizes and it’s an awesome lid.
Of the others, there’s the HJC RPHA11, the Schuberth SR2 and the SHARK Race-R Pro. All very worthy helmets that are great track helmets and can be had for lots less than the AGV Pista GP-R.
I originally set up Billy’s Crash Helmets because I was looking for the best helmet, but couldn’t find it. So I started tons of research, scouring the four corners of the interweb (yes, there are only four 🙂 ) looking for the best and safest helmet around that I could buy for a sensible amount of cash.
And what helmet did I end up with? As it turns out it was a Roof Desmo. Which, if you’ve seen the review, is a decent helmet but decidedly NOT the best helmet out there. By a country mile.
Nope, even though I was looking for many of the things that we focus on in our reviews – safety, features, comfort, quietness, value – I ended up going for a helmet that I thought was cool.
Just goes to show what fickle buggers us blokes are eh? Or maybe it’s just me…!?
Anyhow, six years on after starting the site (and several helmets later), I’m at it again – I’m looking for my next new helmet. I’m going on a romp around Scandinavia and I’m looking for a new helmet to take along on the trip.
And my checklist hasn’t really changed that much. I’d quite like a flip-up lid. One that’s gonna protect me, that’ll be comfy, has a great, big, anti-fog visor, sun visor; and now I want one that’ll happily fit a bluetooth set – preferably with ear cutouts that actually attempt to locate near where my ears are, not where the helmet maker wants them to be!.
So that shouldn’t be a problem now should it?
Well, it turns out it is. Because while there’s lots of great helmets out there, every one of them is a bit of a compromise. Bit like buying a bike – none of them quite ticks every box.
Quite literally. Our smartish filters page proves the point. If you tick every box of every feature you’d like so see in a helmet, you’ll not get any results back. That’s because no helmet has every feature. Simple.
There’s some cracking modular helmets out there, some scoring 5 SHARP stars for safety. But even those that do, their chin guards aren’t quite up to the job – as SHARP shows, they sometimes come unlocked during impacts, meaning they could feasibly open during an accident (SHARP just shows % of times they come ‘unlocked’ because they can’t evaluate exactly how much at risk that puts you at).
That even includes the popular, SHARP 5 star rated Caberg Duke for example. If my maths is up to scratch, it means that, of the 32 impact tests SHARP did on the helmet, the chin guard unlocked four times.
Don’t know about you but that’s four times too many for me!
Anyhow, the Duke’s great value, but I want a flip-front helmet where the chin bar pushes right round to the back of the helmet out of the way – one of the reasons I bought a Roof Desmo in the first place.
So what’re the options?
There’s some Roof helmets of course but they’re all a bit flawed. The Desmo’s cool but looked a bit big on my head when I wear it, the visor isn’t antifog and it hasn’t been SHARP safety tested. The Roof Boxers are great but they lack vents and have the same visor problem.
Shark do a few modulars, including the Evoline 3 which is 5 star safety rated, and the Evo-one that’s 4 star rated. Happy days? Well the Evoline 3’s chin guard unlocked in 43% of the impact tests and the Evo-one in a crazy 66% of the tests!
Of course now there’s an Evo-one 2 out – which hopefully means Shark’s addressed some of those safety issues – but that’s not been tested by SHARP yet, so it’s still a bit of a punt.
Can’t quite see how the ECE can rate those chin guards as protective if it can’t stay locked and in place when you need it to!
OK, so what about a modular where the chin guard doesn’t flip around to the back of the helmet?
TBH I don’t fancy riding around with a massive chunk of plastic protruding from my forehead. I guess you could argue that if you did have an accident with the chin guard up like that, it might give a bit more protection than if there wasn’t a chin guard there at all. But you could also argue that it might hit the deck and break your neck after it digs into the tarmac too.
Plus, looking over the reviews, many of these modulars rate highly for safety but they’re usually flawed in some other way.
Nolan modulars that have been SHARP safety tested have all scored 4/5 stars for safety and their chin guards have NEVER unlocked during testing. Bloody well done Nolan. But for me, they always come up short in other ways – or more likely they’re now discontinued!
I like the idea of the weird and wonderful Nolan N44 though – but would rather have a chin bar that wraps over the helmet rather than removes all together. And while the Nolan N90 was four star safety rated, its successor, the N90-2 hasn’t been tested yet. Boo.
And there’s something a bit dull about the Shoei Neotech 2 for me. They’re great helmets but they’re a bit staid?
The Schuberth C3 looks OK but it’s only 3 star safety rated. And while the Schuberth C4 looks pretty cool on paper and is a bit more modern looking, it’s an unknown when it comes to protection and it’s too pricey for me.
The X-Lite X1004 scores a healthy 4/5 stars for safety and a 100% chin guard result but, as our review points out, it’s flawed in some other meaty respects.
Like I said, there always seems to be a compromise somewhere!
So maybe I’ll get myself another full face this time. Removing the chin guard conundrum from the equation might make things a bit more straight forward. We’ll see.
The Icon Airmada is a sporty full face polycarbonate helmet that’s aimed at road riders but that gives a definite nod towards sports/track use.
And if that’s the sort of motorcycle helmet you’re looking for, you’ll also be stoked to hear that it’s at the lower end of the price range too.
So, if you’re looking to buy a new full face helmet, here’s what you can expect from an Icon Airmada, along with some insight of what owners and riders think of theirs, gathered from around the web.
Please click below to visit the Icon Airmada 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).
OK, first up, you want a helmet that’s going to give you great protection in an accident, right?
Well, the Icon Airmada is both ECE and DOT certified (which means in Europe it’s been put through its paces in the testing lab and come out with a smile and a thumbs up!)
That’s the good news. The not so good news is that it was independently tested by SHARP where it scored two stars out of a maximum five.
That’s not great. But before you do skip on to the next helmet review, you should know that getting a helmet that fits just right is your number one priority when buying a new helmet to maximise its ability to protect you. Having said that, there are a few four and five star safety rated helmets out there to choose from that are the same price as the Icon or less. Just sayin!
One thing definitely going for the Airmada is that the helmet shell is made in four shell sizes – that’s great for helping get just the right fitting as well as looks. And different cheek pads are also available to help you customise the fit even more.
Rear view of the Airmada Scrawl
The Airmada is fastened to your head with a double-d ring fastener and there’s a big visor opening in there that gives excellent all round vision. That’s always good for safety – on the track and on the road.
If you’re after a particularly quiet helmet, then check out our quietest helmets pages. But note, helmet quietness is incredibly subjective.
As for the Icon Airmada, it seems like it’s a bit of a noisy brute. Maybe that’s down to the fantastic ventilation (see below) letting in lots of noise along with loads of air? Or, as a couple of owners suggested, those side pods could be sticking out a bit causing turbulence. Whatever the reason is, most owners reckon it’s somewhere between average for a full face to really loud.
Ventilation is one of the Icon Airmada’s strong points.
There’s six front vents and four rear exhaust vents.
To each side of the chin bar, there’s a couple of vents that pull air towards the chin and mouth area. They’re opened/closed by way of a slider on the inside of the chin bar. Those can be fiddly to operate, especially when you’re riding along; so probably best to set them in position before you set off and leave alone until you stop.
Icon are known for some pretty way-out graphics. This one’s the Chantilly in black/white
There’s also a flip bar covering the central chin bar vent that pushes air up onto the back of the visor, helping the anti-fog treatment keep your visor clear as well as giving cooling to your face.
Above the visor, there’s another slider that reveals a couple of inlets to take air onto the forehead. They’re further supplemented by a pair of crown vents that direct air inside the helmet shell to ventilate the rest of the head.
Most Airmada owners reckon the ventilation system really works – anywhere between pretty good and fantastic. And they reckon those visor vents really help with keeping the visor fog-free too.
The standard clear visor that comes with the Airmada is optically-correct and has Icon’s own fog-free coating on it. That’s a surprisingly good anti-fog system that most owners say works really well.
The Airmada will actually work with Icon’s Tracshield tear off visor system if you’re serious about your racing and planning to take an Airmada to the track.
Back to the standard visor: it works on a ratchet; there’s a nice big opening tab to the left and it also has a simple/cheap locking mechanism by means of a metal pin. Push it down to lock, push up a bit harder to release the lock and open the visor. Not sophisticated, but it works.
It’s also a quick-change visor. Like many Icons, you need to pull off those side pods (you don’t have to do this first, but when you put on a new visor, you’ll have to pull off the pods to attach to it, so it’s easier to do it while it’s on the helmet) then open the visor to reveal a couple of release levers. Push one back each side and the visor will pop off its hinge. Icon’s system is similar to a few other makers’ and works OK once you get the hang of it.
One thing that’s great with the Airmada is the width of the field of vision, which Icon has made extra wide. Great for safety and for improved peripheral vision that.
The main thing to note about the Icon Airmada is that it’s designed to fit riders with longer, narrower heads.
Word is that it’ll probably suit many medium oval heads too, but for you folks with longer heads out there, the Airmada’s worth a look.
Fitment size is about right, so measure your head (how? check our fitting guide) and order the correct size from one of our recommended retailers who’ll all do no-quibble returns just in case it doesn’t fit quite right.
Because the Airmada is produced in four shells sizes – and because they also sell replacement larger/smaller cheek pads – there’s lots of room for getting the fitting exactly right for your head. Having said that, it’s got what Icon call their race fitment, designed to keep the helmet tight fitting at speed. Which means its got a pretty tight neck roll so might feel a bit/a lot tight getting it on in the first place.
Inside the Icon Airmada is the usual (decent) lining that you’ll find in most Icon helmets. Namely, it’s got removable cheek pads and a head liner made from a breathable and moisture-wicking ‘hydradry’ material. And of course it’s fully machine washable.
And if all those features pass muster, then owners reckon the Airmada’s a comfy helmet with no problems noted.
Looks & Graphics
Of course, lots of people buy Icons because of their mad graphics. Yup, you can buy a plain old gloss white, black or silver version – and there’s a matt black rubatone version too (we like the rubbery feel of rubatone versions!). And why not at this price because the plain versions are way cheaper than the graphics?
But most folks are pulled towards one of those bonkers graphic versions if they’ve got the nads to pull it off in public (so to speak!).
Icon are releasing new graphics all the time, so click the links below to quickly jump onto the Icon Helmets pages at some of our quality/service recommended stores. But we’ve put a smattering of some of the ones that caught our eye up and down the page.
Best places to buy an Icon Airmada?
Please click below to visit the Icon Airmada 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).
Icon Airmada Video
Ok, here’s a short 3.30m video from the guys at Revzilla showing the Icon Airmada in Mechanica graphics – starting immediately after the intro title sequence.
The Airmada comes with a double-d ring fastener. If you’re looking to add a bluetooth kit to your Airmada, there is space to fit the comms unit on the outside, but there’s no speaker cut outs in the lining so they might well dig in your head a bit.
As for weight, well it’s a tiny bit heavier than the average polycarbonate full face weighing around 1.62Kg (3.6lbs). That weight shouldn’t really be a problem when you’re riding though – in fact most of the owners that we came across who commented about weight said it feels light when you’re wearing it.
Another bonkers graphic – the Airmada Monkey Business
If you wear glasses inside your lid (or sunglasses) you’ll not really find any glasses grooves inside the Airmada to make things easy. A couple of riders said they don’t find it a problem; though if your glasses are anything out of the ordinary (like they’re really big or the arms stick out more than normal) you might struggle.
Build quality seems to be pretty good – not quite up there with the most premium makers, but good, especially at this price point. Which makes you wonder why Icon only backs their helmets with a paltry 1 year warranty. No reports of Icons being returned more often than other helmets though.
Overall/Summary
The Icon Airframe is a well liked helmet and seems to work well for riders on lots of types of bikes. It’s fairly noisy – but then we know riding a bike’s noisy, so stick in some ear plugs and you should be fine.
That visor system is well liked and gives good all-round vision. And it’s a comfortable helmet as long as you’ve a longer, narrower head shape as that’s who Icon’s designed it for. It’s ECE and DOT certified; but the only slight fly in the ointment is that SHARP 2 star safety rating. Other than that it’s a funky looking helmet with the typical massive range of even funkier icon graphics that most owners seem to really like, and it works well on the road. It’s available at a competitive price too.
If you’re after a great performing full face helmet on a tight budget, then look no further.
Take a look at Shark’s Ridill. That’s a cheap polycarbonate helmet but it’s SHARP 4 star safety rated, has a handy sun visor and comes with a 5 year warranty.
Finally, here’s another 4 star safety rated lid – the MT Thunder 3. Sun visor, lighter than the Icon and yours for about £100.
Looking to buy an Icon Airmada?
Please click below to visit the Icon Airmada 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).
Other full face helmets?
We've got lots of other ways you can find your ideal full face helmet. You can check out our Top 10 full-face crash helmets list to see our best rated helmets or head over to our Smartish Filters pages and zoom in on helmets with your 'must have' features. You can browse through all our full face crash helmet reviews as well as our safest motorcycle helmets page where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there. Finally, check out our helmet gallery to find a lid that takes your fancy.
Retro helmet, great quality, Ago heritage. The AGV X3000.
The AGV X3000 is AGV‘s recreation of Giacomo Agostini’s early 70’s racing helmet. And like most modern retro helmets, it’s designed to give you all the look, feel and kudos of a lid from those halycon days but with some of the latest tech and features that make modern helmets safer and easier to live with.
Like the Bell Bullet or Biltwell Gringo – to name a couple of other recent retro helmets – most owners are gonna buy the X3000 for the looks, and probably to match their retro rides in their retro garages. But it needs to offer more than just looks for the modern rider to use it on more than just the very occasional retro ride.
Please click below to visit the AGV X3000 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).
The AGV X3000 is a retro helmet but it uses modern helmet tech. Which means there’s no reason why it shouldn’t give heaps of protection to the modern rider.
But there’s only been one retro helmet we know of so far that’s been independently tested by anyone other than ECE or DOT – and that’s Bell’s SHARP 3 star rated Bullet.
Having said that, the X3000 is both ECE tested/approved and DOT certified, and we also know that AGV has a fantastic track record of making safe helmets and is (at the time of writing) one of the safest helmet brands.
The X3000 uses AGV’s latest fibreglass helmet forming tech and is made in 3 shell sizes and expanded polystyrene (EPS) shock absorbing lining sizes – like many of their regular helmets.
Matt grey X3000 showing dummy visor snap (one on the left actually closes the visor)
Couple that with the fact every AGV fibreglass helmet that has been SHARP tested having scored either four or five stars when safety tested by SHARP… and we can’t think of any reason to suspect that the retro X3000 is going to give anything less than decent impact protection.
It’s secured on the head using typical racing double-d ring fasteners. And there’s a nice large anti-scratch visor to give a decent view of the road ahead as well as good peripheral vision.
So while the AGV X3000 looks a whole heap of 1970’s, we’d expect it to give a large slice of 21st century protection. And because no AGV helmet has scored below a four star SHARP rating since the earliest years of the scheme (out of a staggering 27 tested helmets!) we’re going to give the X3000 a four star rating for safety too.
And if SHARP tests it in the future, we’ll let you know on this page as soon as they do.
The word from AGV X3000 riders is that it’s above average for noise suppression.
It’s less aerodynamically streamlined than most modern helmets (a couple of owners said the aero isn’t that great and quite a bit of air gets up inside the helmet) which means there’s going to be more wind resistance and noise. But there’s also very little in the way of fins, vents and spoilers sticking into the air flow creating noise.
Rear view of the iconic Ago 1 Agostini replica (the one the AGV logo’s based on)
There’s also a decent amount of EPS and lining inside the shell and a neck roll to stop wind and noise getting inside the helmet from below.
So what does that mean for helmet noise? Well, some folks reckoned it’s noisy over 45mph. But more riders say it’s somewhere between OK to quiet at legal speeds.
Could be they expected an old-looking helmet to be mega noisy or it could be that riders wearing an X3000 are more likely to be riding an older bike so taking things steady? Or of course it could be that AGV’s made a pretty quiet helmet!
So, if you buy one, expect it to be about average quietness (and buy a decent pair of ear plugs) and you shouldn’t go far wrong – and you might even be pleasantly surprised!
Unlike the originals, most retro helmets try and include some form of ventilation in there. That’s partly because most modern riders expect their helmets to perform a lot better than in the old days – and partly because we’re much wussier!
The X3000 has some cunning vents slotted into the top of the visor. These mate with vent holes in the helmet shell and direct air through the visor, through the shell and into the helmet, venting air through channels in the polystyrene liner and onto the scalp.
It’s not the most comprehensive venting system we’ve ever seen but it’s a neat solution and keeps that classic helmet shape intact – and brings air into the helmet in a wide strip from the forehead to the back of the head.
The word from owners is that the top vent works OK. It’s not the best venting helmet for hot summer days but generally it keeps you cool enough.
Thankfully, that skinny chin bar lets a stack of air in underneath the helmet and keeps your face and neck cool.
Note that to open the forehead vent, you remove a rubber cover (much like you still have to in their latest racing lid the Pista-GP R!).
Of course, most of us are gonna lose that once it’s out – but AGV has made a little pocket inside the helmet for you to stick the cover in, which might give us a fighting chance to keep it safe. Nice touch that and one that’s praised by owners.
Front view of the Ago 1 showing that nice large racing visor that gives a ton of vision
Other than that, there isn’t a chin or crown vent. Guess there has to be some compromise to looking this classy and authentic!
Of course it’s anti-scratch like all visors have to be these days. And because it’s on a race-inspired helmet – and one with a thin chin guard at that – it gives a large view all round. That includes when your chin’s on the tank looking down a straight.
That should work pretty well because it’s got a bit of a cut-away on the bottom of the chin guard which AGV legend says Agostini asked for in the original racing helmet so he could get his head tucked in more!
And like visors of old, it needs a 24 piece socket set to get it off. Actually, that’s not true – but it does take a bit more fiddling with to get it off than modern quick-change visors, and needs you to remove another rubber bung and wield an allen key to whip it off.
Unlike visors of old, there’s a decent gasket around the visor hole to keep out rain and air – and the visor can be locked closed using the stud on the bottom left of the helmet. To unlock and open, just push up on the tab on the visor.
The X3000’s visor also works on a ratchet so you’ll find plenty of fixed positions for the visor inbetween closed and fully open.
This one’s the X3000 in red/white
Just don’t expect the X3000’s visor not to steam up if it gets cold/wet/humid – because it will.
There’s no Pinlock or other anti-fog insert for the X3000 (at the time of writing at least). But then you’ll only be trundling out your Gold Star or classic Kwak when it’s fine and sunny won’t you, so your helmet won’t see any of that inclement weather nonsense anyway.
Downsides? Well, a couple of X3000 owners we found complained that the visor whistles a bit at lower speeds. But that’s about it.
Many were surprised at how easy the visor is to get used to and how well it works considering it looks so old-school (again, maybe low expectations worked in the X3000’s favour here). Plus a few more loved how much vision the visor gives you – especially horizontally.
AGV X3000s are designed to fit medium oval head shapes. That’s most of us in the West, but if you know you’ve got a rounder head shape, then make sure you buy from a shop that’ll let you have no-quibble returns/exchanges (like our recommended retailers below).
Having said that, there seems to be a bit of a dispute going on because quite a few owners think it’s more longer oval than that. So I guess if you are a longer oval headshape and want to wear an X3000, it might be worth trying one out.
The 3000 is made in three helmet shell sizes – that helps with getting the sizing bang on as well as making a helmet that looks better when you’re wearing it.
If you’re looking to order one, the opinion out there is that it sizes quite small – so you might need to order one that’s larger than your usual helmet size. So we recommend you check our helmet fitting guide then order a size up if you’re on the cusp between two sizes.
And if you’re usually a size medium, the good news is that AGV makes the X3000 in both MS (56cm) and ML (57/8cm) versions to help you get the fit bang on.
Don’t know who Gloria was/is but this design’s named after her!
Quite a few owners found their X3000 to be tight in the cheeks when they first tried it on. If that’s what you find, don’t worry because most say it breaks in pretty quickly and fits nice and snug in no time.
And if it doesn’t, you can swap out the cheek pads for thicker/thinner pads so you can get the fit just right.
Inside, you’ll find a removable/washable lining that includes both genuine leather and a suede-like fabric for that totally retro feel inside and out.
The early word is that if you get the sizing right and it’s right for your head shape, then it’s a very comfortable helmet with no major problems found so far.
Looks & Graphics
The most expensive version of the X3000 is that Agostini replica (the one on the top picture) – the one that they tell me the AGV helmets’ logo is based on (though it’s back-to-front if it is!).
Note some X3000s are called just that while some are called ‘Super’. The only difference is the paintwork – no difference other than that.
If you’re thinking of buying an X3000, there’s plain/matt black versions as well as a gloss white and matt grey. The Supers have some simple classic paintwork and then there’s the multi-coloured Gloria and that classic Agostini replica, the Ago 1 – though if you want to look like Ago, AGV has only made 3000 of the Ago 1s so you’d better get your skates on.
As always, to see the latest graphics and deals at some of the most reputable online stores around (we continually check their 3rd party ratings to make sure they give great service) then click the links below. Cheers!
Best places to buy an AGV X3000 helmet?
Please click below to visit the AGV X3000 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).
AGV X3000 Video
Here’s a decent 6.5m video showing you round a couple of X3000 Supers.
Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, build quality, warranty
Because they’re an (albeit old-style) racing helmet, the X3000 comes with the obligatory double-d ring fastener.
If you’re after using a bluetooth headset with your X3000, you might want to think again.
There are reports of owners fitting Sena and Packtalk headsets to their X3000s – so it is possible. But there’s no earphone cut outs inside – and you don’t want to go hacking about with the EPS lining as that’ll compromise safety.
So you’ll really have to do without a comms unit if you buy an X3000. Which shouldn’t be too much of a bind – it’ll give you that properly authentic retro riding experience after all!
The AGV X3000 Super – if it’s called super, it’s simply down to the graphics
Because it’s a fairly basic fibreglass helmet, the X3000 is pretty light – weighing in somewhere between 1.3-1.4Kg (2.9-3.1lbs) depending on size. Many X3000 owners say it feels lightweight when you’re wearing it too, so all good there.
And as is often the case with an AGV, the quality is reported as being good – better than some of the other retro helmets built to a lower budget. Various comments include the materials feeling high quality and the paint’s finished to a high standard
If you buy one, expect it to come with a 2 year warranty (what’s up AGV, think it’s not going to make it past 2 years?!?)
Overall/Summary
If you’re after a retro racing helmet that’s as authentic as you can probably get, then the AGV X3000 is a good bet.
It’s got the great heritage of being made by the original manufacturer while having a decent sprinkling of modern materials and features thrown at it to make it that bit more usable than the original.
The word from owners is that it’s a damn good helmet without any major faults.
It’s reasonably quiet, the visor works well (though could suffer from fogging if you’re looking to use it anytime other than a summer’s day) and we’d expect it to give excellent protection. It’s well built too so should last and continue to look the part for years alongside your shiny retro ride.
There’s quite a few retro helmets out there to choose from. But the word from owners is that the AGV X3000 is one of the better helmets – it looks the part when you’re posing and plays the part when you’re riding. It’s not cheap, but then style never was. Well worth a look.
After a decent retro helmet? Then check out these bad boys…
The ‘original’ retro is probably the Bell Bullet (if we can call it that!). It’s been SHARP 3 star safety rated, it’s comfortable with good ventilation, weighs about the same as the AGV but it’s a heap less dosh.
So too is the composite fibre Nexx XG.100 which is even lighter than the Bell and AGV, though it doesn’t have any vents.
The real budget retro is the Biltwell Gringo – that’s a thermoplastic shelled helmet. But note, it’s DOT certified only (i.e. not legal in the UK).
Best places to buy an AGV X3000?
Please click below to visit the AGV X3000 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).
The Scorpion Exo 100 looks, on paper at least, to be a breath of fresh air. With a drop down sun visor and classic West-coast good looks, it promises to offer something a bit different from the usual crop of no-frills open face lids.
Polycarbonate Shell
Sizes XS to XXL
Spring-loaded sun visor
Typical price range: £80-£90
Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo-100?
Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-100 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).
The Scorpion Exo 100 is a polycarbonate-shelled open faced helmet made with a ‘half helmet’ shell to give it that West-coast cruiser look. They’re particularly popular in the States but less so in Europe where fuller-shelled lids offer a bit more protection in an accident, and against the weather. However, with cruisers becoming more and more popular outside of the US, so too is the half-helmet look.
Scorpion Exo 100 Padova in cream
Given the Exo 100 is an open faced helmet, it won’t be tested by SHARP. Open face crash helmets inherently offer less protection than full face helmets so if you’re looking for the safest options, go for one of our safest helmets which have all been tested by SHARP and given maximum scores. However, if you’re looking at and open faced helmet, then you’re probably aware of their shortcomings and willing to overlook them in favour of the look of an open face and the sense of freedom they give you.
Having said all that, the Exo 100 has been ECE 22.05 tested and approved – like all motorcycle crash helmets on sale in the UK and EU – so it will offer at least a minimum level of protection in a crash.
It’s also worth nothing that every Scorpion helmet tested by SHARP to date has scored either three or four stars out of five, so assuming the Exo 100 uses similar materials and construction methods, it’s not unreasonable to think the shell itself might score similarly – which is above average.
Size & buying
If you’re thinking of buying an Exo 100, a few owners reckoned they had to go down a size (so, if you’re an M, you might want to try an S). Scorpion’s seem to be a bit hit and miss where sizing’s concerned so be aware – either try one in store or our advice is to err on the smaller size and buy from a vendor who will replace without any quibbles (not all do). Either way, don’t go out for a ride in it and keep it in perfect condition with stickers and labels so you can return it – until you’re sure you’ve got the right size.
In white showing removable peak and lowered sun visor
The Shell is manufactured in two sizes – that’s good for both safety and looks. The smaller shell size covers fittings XS to M and the larger shell size fittings L to XXL. Making two outer shell sizes fit five internal ‘fitting’ sizes is achieved by using different amounts of internal padding; with the XXL having less padding than the L for example. Which, in this example, might make the L helmet seem over-sized when worn compared to a person with an XXL head; which one or two owners have complained about (the lollipop effect). Again, it’s something to check when you try on the helmet to make sure it’s a keeper. For more information on this, see our shell size guide.
Sun visor & neck skirt
The Scorpion Exo 100 has some interesting features that set it apart from the competition. Firstly, it has a built-in sun visor. There’s a button top left of the visor opening (as you’re wearing it) that you press and a spring-loaded sun visor pops down and drops to just above the nose. Folks reckon it could be a bit darker but it’s good for low sun and keeping the worst of the rain or road crud out of the eyes. It can get a bit blustery behind it so it doesn’t stop really bad wind and rain, but for most owners, it’s a useful extra for when things get particularly bad like when you’re overtaking a truck or riding into the lowering sun. There’s also enough room behind it for goggles or glasses.
A range of different density sun visors are available as well as clear and amber (for low-visibility conditions).
Another nice touch is the removable neck/ear skirt. It zips in to the helmet to provide extra comfort and protection against the worst of the weather and reduces wind blast. It also houses speaker pockets and gives a great channel round the back of the helmet to route any cabling from your intercom or communicator that you might want to hide.
Other features include a sun peak that’s easily removable and leaves the front of the helmet clean and free of fixing brackets. Good design.
Internals – well padded, well ventilated and comfortable
Comfort, ventilation
Users say the helmet is really comfortable on, though one or two owners with unfaired bikes do say there’s quite a bit of helmt-lift above 60 mph. Another couple complained the chin strap could do with being longer, though they did confess that it could be due to their double-chins! Most find it comfortable though – and like the micrometric fastener too.
Interestingly, the Exo also has front vents – with small inlets behind the front peak pulling air into and through channels in the EPS polystyrene liner to keep the head well ventilated and cool – and help the fully removable/washable lining wick moisture away from the head.
Looks and build quality
Matt black Exo 100 with sun peak removed. Mean and moody most popular version.
Quite a few owners remarked on how well the Exo 100 is made. For the price of the helmet, they were surprised how high the build quality is with a solid feel and quality detailing throughout.
The Exo 100 is available only in plain colours – including gloss/matt black and gloss cream and white. The pink shown in the video is no longer available (surprise!).
Video
Here’s a video of a ‘dude’ doing very well to not feel embarrassed wearing a Barbie pink Exo 100!
Guides
If you’re looking to buy a new crash helmet, you might want to check out our useful guides page – including all about the SHARP crash helmet safety testing scheme – and our 10 things to look out for when buying a helmet.
Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo-100 helmet?
Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-100 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).
6D ATS-1 motorcycle helmet: the safest helmet around?
You’ve gotta respect anyone who’s willing to put the time, effort and commitment into making motorsport safer. Which is exactly what 6D helmets have tried to do since founding the company just outside LA in 2011.
They first brought out a range of motocross helmets, and now, in the shape of the ATS-1, 6D has brought their innovative helmet tech to street helmets. This technology allows the helmet shell to rotate independently of the head to reduce rotational impact on the brain and brain stem, hopefully reducing potential damage during an accident.
Front view of the ATS-1 in white/black. Note, all helmets supplied with clear visors.
Read more about the system and the science behind it in the safety section below. But along with Bell Helmets and their MIPS tech (as seen in the Bell Star range) and Leatt with their 360 Turbine tech, 6D are putting considerable resource into making safer helmets for road and off-road riders.
The first result for road pilots is the ATS-1, designed to be the safest street helmet in the world. So check out the article below where you’ll find the most comprehensive review of the 6D ATS-1 full face street helmet – including what owners and reviewers think of the helmet in action.
It’s been understood for years that head injuries from a motorcycle accident don’t just happen because of the initial impact. Secondary rotational forces acting on a helmet when you hit the road can spin the helmet, which rotates the head too.
Sweet looking 6D ATS-1 in plain carbon with clear gloss lacquer
The problem with that is it can cause further injuries, not just to the neck, but internally on the brain and brain stem too. That’s because the brain effectively ‘floats’ inside a rough, irregularly shaped skull. Meaning if the head rotates suddenly, that can cause the brain to impact on the inside of the skull, causing damage.
Not only that; shearing and twisting forces on the stem of the brain can cause damage too.
Which is why different helmet makers over the years have taken steps to reduce rotation.
Lazer tried it with a moveable outer layer on the shell of the helmet. And Bell has a rotating multi-layered shock absorbing liner on their Flex helmets.
But 6D’s seems to be the most sophisticated system around. It uses two layers of shock-absorbing lining, separated by a bunch of flexible rubberized fixings (see graphic below) that allow the two layers to move independently of each other. Which means if the helmet hits a surface and rotates, your head will have some protection against the rotation being passed on.
Which will hopefully mean less rotation being transmitted through to your skull and less/no damage to your delicate grey matter.
At least that’s the theory.
6D calls the technology ODS or Omni Directional Suspension. And while the ATS-1 is both ECE and DOT certified, I guess the only flaw here is that it’s difficult to actually know for sure how well it works out on the street. Many riders swear by 6D’s system but until you can do controlled and independent testing, (or find two riders to have identical accidents to see who gets damaged and who doesn’t!) it’s a bit of an unknown.
These are 6D’s ‘Elastomeric Isolation Dampers’
ECE 22.05 will have tested the helmet during certification (DOT doesn’t conduct testing, rather it’s up to the makers to prove it conforms if asked to), but neither of the independent helmet testers – that’s SHARP in the UK – has tested a 6D helmet at the time of writing.
It’d be great if SHARP would test one because they give graded results that we can compare to other manufacturers (Snell’s is a pass or fail as is the ECE test).
Anyhow, moving on…
The 6D ATS-1 also has that double shock absorbing liner to absorb impacts, and the flexible grommets that allow for rotation protection (which 6D likes to call Elastomeric Isolation Dampers) also absorb impacts directly by compressing too. According to 6D’s research, this lining outperforms any other helmet they had independently tested – though from the graphing on their website it looks like it was only tested against five other helmets and at one impact speed.
Rear view of that white/black ATS-1
Still, the results do look promising and I can’t remember seeing any other helmet maker publish independently-tested comparative results like 6D has – so thumbs-up there.
OK, that’s enough about impact protection for now. Other stuff that’s great for safety:
The 6D ATS-1 is made in three shell sizes. They use aerospace grade 3K carbon fibre on the shell (3K refers to the top, visible style of the weave). There’s also a Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog insert in the box which will obviously help with keeping visibility clear. It’s got EQRS and there’s a padded chin guard too. All those features are great for safety.
Typically, we rate helmet’s safety as 3 stars as default when they haven’t been independently tested. But we do modify that when there are other factors that come into play. Since 6D has published safety data and because there’s a whole bunch of other safety features incorporated into the ATS-1, we’re happy to push that up in 6D’s case.
There’s a lot to the 6D ATS-1. There’s that double-layer shock absorbing liner; a chin curtain and tight neck roll – and all the vents are closeable and really seem to work in blocking out air. Which should make for a really quiet helmet.
Unfortunately, that’s not quite what happens in practice because, overall, owners seem to think it’s about average for noise.
Not a fan of carbon weave? Wanna be seen? Then grab a fluo-yellow version…
Like we always say, helmet noise is very subjective and it’s rare that you get loads of people agreeing that a helmet’s overwhelmingly noisy or quiet. And that’s certainly the case for the 6D ATS-1 with opinions ranging from ‘sounds like the end of the world’s coming’ to ‘head wrapped in cotton wool inside a vacuum’.
So, taking a wide range of opinions of owners into account (i.e. the people who know first-hand), it seems the 6D ATS-1 as about average for noise suppression.
The guys at 6D have taken ventilation very seriously in the ATS-1 (you can tell they’re from LA!) because there’s chin vents, brow vents and crown vents going on along with a massive 5 rear exhaust vents.
All those front vents are closable and word is that they’re easy to find/operate in gloves. Owners also reckon that closing them off really does keep things air-free – especially because that chin curtain is very effective at keeping out air from below.
But open them up, and everything seems to get very windy indeed! A few owners put that down to the fact that there’s a gap between the two shock absorbing liners meaning air has extra ducting inside the helmet to help keep your head cool.
Plus those generous vents – including that brow vent that lets air in around the forehead – seem to work well. Meaning owners universally praise the ATS-1 for great venting.
The visor too seems to have been well thought out and well designed.
The 6D ATS-1 has a nice large visor that makes for great peripheral as well as vertical vision. In fact, while it’s not being punted as a sports helmet, quite a few folks have taken theirs on the track and reckon it works really well, giving great forward vision even when you’re tucked in and barrelling down a straight.
That visor has good optical qualities too and most owners say the quick-release system works a treat (though it might get a bit fiddly if you swap it for a tinted visor because it helps if you can see through the visor when swapping it!).
The visor works on a ratchet and has a visor lock on the left that also works to keep the visor in a ‘cracked open’ position if you want some extra ventilation riding through the city or stop it from slamming shut at speed.
And 6D includes a Pinlock Max Vision antifog in the box to keep things clear if you suffer from misting.
Looks like 6D has covered pretty well every angle when it comes to the visor on the ATS-1.
There have been a couple of comments from owners about the internals not being quite as soft as some of the higher-end competitors like Shoei and Arai (i.e. helmets that are as pricey as the ATS-1).
Inside the ATS-1. EQRS straps in red
Having said that, the vast majority of owners find it a really comfortable helmet – providing the internal shape’s right for your head shape in the first place. 6D say it’s a medium oval helmet but word is it’s slightly narrower than your typical medium oval.
Look out for a squeeze around the ears as a couple of owners say they found the internal speaker pockets pressed into their ears.
If you do find the fit not quite spot on (helmets need to fit just right to maximise safety), you can tailor the fit slightly by going a step up or down on the cheek pads that you can get from 6D. And of course, make sure you buy from a retailer who’ll give you a no-quibble replacement if it doesn’t fit (see our recommended retailer links below – they’re all no hassle returns or better).
Fitment sizes sound about bang on – so measure your head according to our fitting guide and order the correct size.
Because the ATS-1 has that double shock absorbing lining, it makes for a larger than normal helmet overall. Meaning if you’re of slighter frame, it might look a bit bigger than other helmets when you’re wearing it – though you can probably get away with it if you’ve a bigger frame.
It also means it’s a slightly weightier helmet, even though it’s a carbon fibre helmet.
The average weight for a carbon helmet is about 3lbs (1.36Kg) whereas the 6D ATS-1 is about 3.9lbs (1.78Kg). But even though it looks a lot on paper, most owners don’t seem to worry about the weight and often feel it’s nice and light when they’re riding in it.
One final point on comfort is that a couple of riders said it’s really tight when you’re trying to get it on/off. Whether that’s the case for you or a deal-breaker is something you’ll have to find out for yourself I guess.
But remember, if you order online with a view to trying it for size, make sure you keep it box-fresh and don’t ride in it, otherwise it’ll probably get rejected when you try and return it. That goes for pretty well all stores.
Looks & Graphics
6D is a smaller company than many other premium helmet makers. Which may or may not account for the fact that the ATS-1 is available in fewer graphic options (or it could be that they just don’t want to cover up that glorious 4K carbon weave?!?).
Whatever, you get limited graphic options with the ATS-1. There’s a plain gloss and matt version; they both show off the fibre best). Or you can get hi viz yellow/black or white/black if you want a bit of paint too.
But, at the time of writing, that’s it.
You can always click through to our recommended retailers below to find the latest designs and deals though, just in case 6D has brought out some more options.
6D ATS-1 Helmet Video
Here’s a 5 minute video taking a look at the plain carbon version of the ATS-1 and including a look at how the ODS system works.
Other stuff – fasteners, glasses, aero, build quality, warranty
It’s got glasses grooves inside to accommodate the stems of glasses and stop them sticking into your skull.
As for aero – apparently it’s very good. That slippery shell and rear spoiler make for a helmet that’s really smooth and stable, even at high speed according to owners.
It is a very expensive helmet; and a couple of owners said the build quality isn’t quite up there with some of the very best premium helmet makers. Things like the feel of the materials aren’t quite as nice with another owner saying it felt a bit like a prototype helmet.
Having said that, 6D offer a 3 year warranty on the ATS-1 which is good – just not class leading like the 5 year warranties found on some helmets.
Overall/Summary
Helmets off to 6D for trying to be different – and better. The safety concept behind the ATS-1 is sound and widely accepted – that rotational forces on the shell of the helmet can cause devastating injury to motorcyclists during an accident.
And 6Ds solution looks very promising too – giving multi-directional rotation insulation (i.e. protection in all directions). My only question mark is that, as far as I’m aware, it hasn’t been independently tested – at least independently tested by an organisation not being funded by the manufacturer! Until it has, we’ll not know for sure if it’s the step-change improvement that 6D thinks it is.
Safety aside, 6D looks to have made a great street helmet. The downsides are that it’s expensive, larger and slightly heavier than similar helmets. But on the upside, it works really well as a helmet, it’s comfortable with a great visor system and amazing aero – and should work well on pretty much any type of ride, thanks to that wide/tall visor.
The bottom line is whether you want to pay the extra for a helmet that’s (hopefully) safer than other helmets and can live with those downsides. Many can. And if you can’t, then there’s a world of massively amazing alternatives out there – and many have proven safety pedigree too.
Take a look down to find some suggestions.
Good Alternatives to the 6D ATS-1?
If you’re looking for a good, safe, full face helmet, then there’s a ton of great helmets out there. OK, they might not have 6Ds funky ODS dampers, but all these helmets have been shown to work well at absorbing impacts in the SHARP lab.
First up, Shoei’s awesome RYD full face. Four shell sizes, Snell & SHARP 5 star rated, Pinlock, EQRS… the list of safety features goes on and on. Plus, it’s a great helmet!
And we’ve gotta mention the Bell Stars (base model as well as Race Star and Pro Star). They’re Snell certified and even the base model Bell Star has been SHARP 5 star safety tested. Plus they’re great for on the track – though the Pro Star makes the 6D look a bargain!
Or if you want to spend less than the ATS-1, take a look at AGVs Veloce S – that’s AGV’s SHARP 5 star safety rated second-in-command race helmet with EQRS, optically-correct visor, Pinlock, and comes with a 5 year warranty, all for less than the 6D.
Other full face helmets?
We've got lots of other ways you can find your ideal full face helmet. You can check out our Top 10 full-face crash helmets list to see our best rated helmets or head over to our Smartish Filters pages and zoom in on helmets with your 'must have' features. You can browse through all our full face crash helmet reviews as well as our safest motorcycle helmets page where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there. Finally, check out our helmet gallery to find a lid that takes your fancy.
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.
Front view of the gloss black K1 – very pointy = cracking aero
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Another Rossi-inspired K1 – this one’s the Flavum.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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).
Check out our Sportsbike or track helmets sections for more previews and reviews of helmets suitable for your sportsbike.
