The Original Retro: Bell’s Moto 3 motocross helmet is back

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Bell Moto-3 Retro Motocross Helmet Review.

Bell launched the original Moto 3 back in the early 70’s, bringing an integral chin protector into Motocross racing for the first time. Since then, the Moto-3 has taken on a bit of a legendary status among aficionados and so Bell sensibly decided to launch an updated version to satisfy demand.

And here it is – the Bell Moto 3. Pretty much identical to the original 70’s version but using modern manufacturing to make it that bit safer and that bit more user friendly (but only a little bit… read on). And of course now it has that extra retro mystique to go along with it meaning it’ll make the perfect match for your RNineT or Duke Scrambler.

So if you’re thinking of buying a Moto 3, here’s what you can expect to find.

Fiberglass retro motocross helmet
Based on the legendary 70’s original
Should fit most retro goggles
Medium oval fitment
DOT and ECE certified
Double-D ring fastener
3.1lbs (1.42Kg) – pretty light
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay $290-$390

Looking to buy a Bell Moto-3?

The Moto-3 is now discontinued, but the last time we checked there were deals to be found at Amazon. Please click below to visit their Bell Moto-3 helmets page – and as always if you buy from any store, 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

(more about helmet safety)

Like the original, the latest Bell Moto 3 has a fiberglass shell; but unlike the original it’s been both DOT certified and ECE tested/certifed. If that doesn’t mean anything do you, please click the links above to find out more – but in a nutshell, it meets modern mandatory safety standards.

Fiberglass helmets are a small step up from thermoplastic helmets and make for strong and reasonably lightweight lids – and that’s the case with the Moto-3. It weighs around 3.1lbs (1.42 Kg) which is a smidge over what we consider a true light weight helmet but most owners reckon the helmet feels light when they’re wearing it.

Light weight is not only good for comfort but it’s good for safety too as there’s less weight and inertia from the helmet to deal with in an accident (which, it’s argued, can cause whiplash and hyperflexion – not good).

Bell-Moto3-classic-fluo-orange-crash-helmet-rear-view — Uncluttered and very round – this one’s the Fluo Orange Moto-3

The Moto 3 hasn’t been Snell or SHARP tested unfortunately, but the UK’s SHARP labs has tested three Bell fiberglass helmets over the last couple of years (a couple of Bell Star sportsbike helmets and the retro Bell Bullitt) and they scored an average of four stars out of a maximum five. The Bullitt is probably the most directly comparable because it’s a retro style helmet too, and that scored three stars. Meaning we’d expect the Moto 3 to score something similar.

An extra tick in the box for the Moto-3 is that there’s polystyrene EPS padding on the inside of the chin bar too which isn’t seen that often but is potentially really good for added protection for the lower face.

It’s also got a decent, secure double-d ring fastener; and that massive viewport, designed to accommodate tons of different goggles means you’ve got loads of forward and peripheral vision – again great for safety (until you stick your goggles on that is!).

And finally, if you’re a fan of Arai helmets, you’ll probably know they bang on about their R75 rounder, smoother helmet form, designed to glance off stuff when you’re sliding down the road. Well, looking at that smooth, round, uncluttered Bell Moto-3, it looks like Bell got there first. And if it does work like Arai reckons, then it’s surely gonna work the same for the Moto 3 too!

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

You’re probably not going to buy a Bell Moto-3 because you want a quiet helmet. And you’ll probably put it on your head expecting it to be a bit of a trashcan, letting in all that air and noise from that great gaping hole in the front.

Bell-Moto-3-Independent-matt-titanium-crash-helmet-top-view — Top and front view of the matt titanium Independent

Which may explain why owners who ride in in a Moto-3 seem to say they’re surprised at how quiet it is. OK, so most Moto-3 riders probably aren’t cruising on a motorway at the ton, but it seems that because folks who wear one aren’t expecting mega noise performance, they’re pleasantly surprised.

Arguably it’s a double-whammy on the noise front, because you can probably couple that with the fact that the Moto-3’s shell is hyper smooth and round, without any protruding bits and pieces in the airflow causing extra noise – including a lack of crown vent holes letting noise in.

You probably shouldn’t expect the Bell Moto 3 to be a massively quiet helmet if you buy one – let’s face it, the lack of a shield is gonna cause a stack of noise. But if you do, you might be pleasantly surprised too!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Bell-Moto3-classic-yellow-motorcycle-crash-helmet-front-view — That massive space should fit pretty well every type of retro goggle out there.

Having said there’s no crown vents on the Moto 3, you shouldn’t be put off from thinking it’s going to get stuffy in there – because there’s one massive gaping vent hole right there in the front.

That’s obviously the main route for letting cooling air into the helmet, supplemented by that nice always-open slotted vent in the chin guard.

Word is that overall you’ll probably find it gives less ventilation than some modern motocross helmets, but you’ll get more than most full face helmets – which is, after all, what it’s going to be replacing for most of us – and means ventilation will be decent for most of us for most of the time.

Goggles/Shield

That huge space in the front of the Moto 3 means it’ll accommodate pretty well every type of retro-inspired goggle out there. The only minor drawback is that there isn’t a ridge or clip for the strap at the back of the helmet, but owners didn’t seem to find that a problem.

Bell-Moto3-classic-black-crash-helmet-side-view — Classic gloss black Moto-3

Oh, it’s worth noting that if you were thinking you’ll buy a Moto 3 and stick one of those bizarre/cool bubble shields on it (like you find with the Bell Bullett), you might want to think again. Unlike some 3 stud retro helmets, there don’t seem to be any after market clip on shields available for the 5 stud Moto3, just in case you were thinking about binning off the goggles…

Sun Peak/Roost Guard

(more about sun shields)

Like most motocross helmets, there’s a roost guard/sun peak combo above the goggles.

It clips on using five studs and, according to owners, is about as solid and sturdy as they come. That means it stays in place pretty well all the time and it doesn’t flap around while you’re riding.

And if you’re keeping sub-triple digits on the speedo, owners reckon it’ll not knock your head around or catch on the air and pull your head back, which is all good.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside most of the standard, plain graphic versions of the Moto-3, you’ll find a nice retro-style lining made of terry-towelling. Yep, there’s laser cut foam to give a modern contoured fit, and yep it’s all removable and washable, but yep, it’ll also take you back to the days when towelling was cutting-edge sportswear too.

Bell-Moto3-Chemical-Candy-orange-flames-retro-helmet-back-view — Rear/side view of that gorgeous Chemical Candy Orange Flames Moto-3

This latest type of towelling lining is antimicrobial though, plus it’s always been mega moisture wicking. And owners reckon it feels great – and properly retro.

But if 100% towelling’s not your thing, the graphic versions tend to go for a quilted fake leather and towelling combo approach, which is probably a bit more wear-resistant too

Overall fitment is medium oval, though a couple of guys with longer heads did say it fits really nicely for them, so it might be worth a dabble if that’s your head shape too.

Pushing on a Moto-3 might be a bit tighter than your usual affair, but owners reckon it shows the quality of the materials used as they don’t get too loose over time and keep cosseting your head firmly – which is a good thing for safety as well.

Having said that, it does mean that if you get the fit just right, it’ll probably mean your glasses stems will be pressing into your head – so if you must have a Moto-3 and you wear glasses, make sure your retailer will allow returns when you buy, just in case it’s a problem.

Other than that, owners reckon it’s a surprisingly comfy helmet.

Looks & Graphics

Of course, the Moto-3 looks very cool, especially if it’s matched with an old flat tracker or modern classic. And there’s a few hyper cool retro designs to match too. There’s that gorgeous Chemical Candy Flames (top of the page) and the strikingly stripy Chemical Candy black/gold. There’s the Ace Cafe and RSD Malibu specials too – plus there’s a stack of other plain colors to match your ride.

As always, check out the latest designs and deals by clicking through to our recommended dealers (below) who – experience and reviews show – will take good care of you.

Best places to buy a Bell Moto-3?

The Moto-3 is now discontinued, but the last time we checked there were deals to be found at Amazon. Please click below to visit their Bell Moto-3 helmets page – and as always if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Bell Moto-3 Video

Here’s a 5m video looking over the Moto-3.

Other stuff – audio, build quality, warranty

There is space for speakers inside the Moto-3, so if you did want to stick a bluetooth set on it, it should work OK (though it looks kinda weird, you know that, right?).

One constant from pretty well everyone sharing their thoughts on their Moto3s is that it’s well built. It’s at the pricier end of the retro helmet market, but if you want quality materials and finish, you’ve gotta pay a bit more.

Finally, it’ll come with a full 5 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

The Bell Moto-3 is a quality piece of kit. It’s not the cheapest retro helmet out there but for the money, you’re buying the history, the heritage and a great looking, quality helmet.

Bell-Moto3-Chemical-Candy-Black-Gold-retro-helmet-front-view — Another great looker is the Chemical Candy black/gold version

You probably know that it’ll not give quite the same levels of performance and protection (from the elements and probably in a spill) than the latest, tested and highest safety rated helmets out there.

But having said that, Bell has a great reputation for making some of the safest lids around and the Moto 3 even has EPS in the chin bar, which is pretty rare and a big tick in the safety box.

But it’s that style you’re buying into with the Moto-3. It’s got oodles of charm and an image that’ll match any retro bike. And as long as you can live (or ride) with its shortcomings, we reckon it’ll be one of the best and most practical retro helmets around.

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Good Alternatives to the Bell Moto-3?

If you think you’ll just want a full face helmet, check our links below. But if you want a cracking retro helmet, you can either visit our retro helmets pages to see all our reviews, or check out these recommended lids below.

First off, there’s the Bell Bullitt – the helmet that kicked off this retro helmet craze. It’s a SHARP 3 star safety rated helmet that’s a decent all rounder with a proper(ish) shield.

There’s also the Nexx XG.100 which is a composite fiber helmet that’s a smidge cheaper than both Bells and a bit lighter too.

Or for a faithful reproduction of the legendary Agostini’s helmet, how about the AGV X3000? It’s a sportsbike helmet, with shield, that’s a bit more expensive than the Moto-3 but a bit more practical on the road too.

Looking to buy a Bell Moto-3?

The Moto-3 is now discontinued, but the last time we checked there were deals to be found at Amazon. Please click below to visit their Bell Moto-3 helmets page – and as always if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Star Ratings

LS2 Rapid review – low price full face motorcycle helmet

Page Contents

LS2 Rapid – LS2’s budget all rounder full face helmet.

Chinese lid maker, LS2, is known for making lower-priced motorcycle helmets. And with this LS2 Rapid dropping in at the lower end of even their low price range, you might be a) mega interested in knowing more and b) forgiven for thinking it can’t be much good.

But because it’s ECE certified, that means it’s passed exactly the same safety tests as even the most up-market, high price helmets on sale in the ECE zone. And because it’s DOT certified too, manufacturers have to make sure it will stand up to DOT regs as well.

All of which means – on paper at least – that if you’re after a full face helmet for less but want just as much protection (and don’t we all), then you could get just as much protection by buying an LS2 Rapid as you would paying out for a helmet ten times the price.

In theory at least.

ls2-FF353-rapid-carrera-yellow-black-full-face-helmet-side-view — Hi Viz LS2 Rapid Carrera

The Rapid’s been designed to work as a sports-tourer all-rounder helmet. So read on to find out what it offers in all the key areas – and find our recommended alternatives at the bottom of the article if you’re looking to buy a low-cost full face motorcycle helmet with a proven safety record.

Budget full face helmet
Thermoplastic shell
SHARP 2 star safety rated (out of 5)
Micrometric fastener
Pinlock ready shield
Optically correct shield
Sizes XS-XXXL
Lightweight 3lbs (1.35kg)
Expect to pay $80-$90

Looking to buy an LS2 Rapid?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Rapid helmets pages at two of our recommended stores and Amazon – both checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, 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

(more about helmet safety)

OK, if you’re trying to work out what the shell of the Rapid is made from, you might have a bit of a problem. LS2 says the shell on the Rapid is made from HTPP ABS. OK, right. Thanks for that.

ls2-FF353-rapid-matt-titanium-motorbike-helmet-side-view — Tell tale circle on the shield of this titanium Rapid shows that it’s Pinlock-ready

In fact they’ve a bit of a track record in using confusing language, with a few of their other helmets being made, apparently, from kinetic polymer alloys. Thanks again. Sounds like something Iron Man’s suit should be made from (but I guess that’s the idea).

But what both these baffling names mean is that a helmet’s made from plastic. KPA is pure marketing speak for plastic, whereas HTPP ABS is a more technical term and actually stands for High Pressure Thermoplastic Technology – acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (love you Wikipedia x). AKA a thermoplastic helmet formed under pressure.

Jeez, I wish they’d just tell us that in the first place!

Anyhow, there’s nothing wrong with thermoplastic helmets of course; because plastic is a relatively lightweight and strong material that’s reasonably easy to form into the shape of helmets so lots of manufacturers use it. Oh and it happens to be pretty cheap, which is always nice.

LS2 Rapid 8_5 MS SHARP impact test result — LS2 Rapid 8.5 M/S SHARP impact test result courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk

So don’t worry about buying a plastic helmet because the data shows us they can offer just as much protection as any other helmet.

Moving on… LS2 make the rapid in two shell sizes, with one covering larger sizes and another for smaller helmet sizes. Most budget helmets are made in a single shell size so that’s pretty decent (see why here).

Inside the shell, there’s a multi-density shock absorbing lining (another good thing) and the whole thing is secured to your noggin using a quick release micrometric ratchet strap.

Again, they’re good fasteners and folks who are new to wearing a helmet will undoubtedly find a micrometric strap the easiest type of strap to use.

Front view shows size of the shield aperture and built in breath guard

So, even though the LS2 Rapid is a cheaper helmet, it ticks off 90% of the safety features offered by all the other helmets on the market and the ECE testing guys found it gives at least the same minimum level of head protection as every other helmet on the market.

Beyond that, we always look at data from other independent testing outfits; in the US that means Snell testing and in the UK it’s SHARP. Both might be lab based tests, but they’re the closest thing we can get to showing how a helmet might perform in a spill.

Looking at historic SHARP data (carried out on European LS2 helmets, not DOT helmets remember), we can see of all the 16 LS2s tested so far, they’ve scored an average of 3.2 stars out of 5. Which is a pretty decent average. And looking at their last five tested polycarbonate helmets (polycarbonates are thermoplastics) they’ve scored an average of 3 stars.

ls2-FF353-rapid-motorcycle-helmet-matt-black-rear-view — Rear view of a matt black Rapid showing the rear exhaust vents below the spoiler

However, SHARP tested the LS2 Rapid in 2019 and it scored a fairly lowly 2 stars out of a max of 5. As you can see from the 8.5 m/s impact test graphic above, it faired pretty miserably on side impact tests.

It’s usually very difficult to say whether the European LS2 Rapid is exactly the same helmet as the US version. But if it is, then that’s a worrying score.

OK, so that’s the safety stuff that’s important for the few seconds after everything goes pear-shaped. Now for the features that are gonna help stop you hitting the deck in the first place.

That shield is class A optically correct to give a nice clear view of the road ahead. And it’s also Pinlock anti-mist insert ready. So if you find yourself fogging up all the time, you can buy a Pinlock for the Rapid to cure all your woes.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The config of the vent system on the LS2 Rapid is similar to most other helmets on the market. That means it’s got a large chin vent that can be opened/closed and a couple of forehead vents, ditto.

All the vent covers are sliders and they’re nice and big, meaning your clumsy gloved sausage fingers should be able to find and fiddle with them on the move, no problems.

And of course, it wouldn’t be much use having vent holes to let air in if there wasn’t a corresponding exhaust somewhere to let air out – and there’s a nice large one under that small rear spoiler at the back.

ls2-FF353-rapid-white-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — This plain white Rapid clearly shows the left side crown vent slider

Most of the best venting helmets on the market allow air to penetrate the helmet shell from where it’s funneled around inside the helmet and onto your head via channels furrowed out of the internal EPS shock absorbing lining.

And that’s just what this LS2 does… kinda. But on the Rapid there’s just a couple of holes pushing air directly onto your head without any channels for the air to circulate around. So don’t expect the Rapid to be the coolest, best venting helmet in the world.

Shield

(more about shields)

That shield is a quick release, class A optically correct shield that’s Pinlock ready.

If you’re not familiar what what that means, quick release shield means it’s quick and easy to remove the shield without tools – so you can swap it out for a different shield or take it off after a ride to easily clean it.

Or you might want to take it off so you can fit a Pinlock anti-fog insert. If you live somewhere cold/wet/humid, you’re gonna need a system to stop your shield fogging up and a Pinlock, that attaches to the inside of your shield, is one of the best.

ls2-FF353-rapid-deadbolt-full-face-helmet-side-view — Striking graphics of the Rapid Deadbolt

Quite a few helmets come with a Pinlock in the box – including some at this price point (try using our smartish filters page to find them by clicking ‘budget helmets’ and ‘Pinlock’ which’ll bring up all the budget helmets that are either Pinlock ready or come with one in the box).

Most helmets come with shields that don’t claim to be optically correct and do a fine job. But if the choice is between having an optically correct shield or one that ain’t, then it’s optically correct every time. And that’s a decent extra for a cheaper helmet.

Other than that, the shield’s got a single central opening tab at the bottom of the shield – which should be fine for quickly finding and opening your shield.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Obviously, the LS2 Rapid is a budget helmet so you probably shouldn’t expect it to be the last word in comfort.

But having said that, it’s got much of the stuff you should look out for in any helmet – including much more costly lids.

The internals are removable and washable and are made from breathable and hypoallergenic fabrics.

ls2-FF353-rapid-crypt-black-white-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — This one’s the LS2 Rapid Crypt in black & white

That fabric is overlayed onto 3D laser cut foam which is kinda the benchmark in tailoring the foam to fit the contours of your face. That’s good, but word is that you should probably expect the materials used in the Rapid to be a bit cheaper and slightly less durable than more expensive helmets – but that’s probably no surprise, right?

The Rapid’s been designed to suit medium oval heads, but is possibly a bit rounder than the average medium oval. If you’re not sure if that’d work for you, you might want to make sure you buy from a helmet retailer who’ll accept refunds/swaps without fuss (like all our recommended retailers do).

One thing that’s notable with the Rapid though: it’s a lower priced helmet but LS2 has managed to make it a very lightweight helmet (for a thermoplastic helmet that is). In fact, by our reckoning it’s about the average weight for a full on carbon fiber helmet which is pretty astounding!

No tired necks after a day’s riding with the Rapid then!

Looks & Graphics

OK, so what graphics can you buy your new Rapid in?

Obv there’s the usual suspects – blacks, whites, greys. But there’s also a fancy lady version – the Poppies (see top image). I say it’s for ladies mainly because that’s the way helmet makers still seem to think. Bung one out there with pink flowers on and that’s it for a helmet that’ll appeal to the ladies! Job done. Sheesh.

There’s also the Crypt design, the Caraborace, Deadbolt, Grid and a hi-viz Carrera. Check em out up and down the page – or click through below to find the latest designs and deals at our trusted retailers.

Best places to buy an LS2 Rapid?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Rapid helmets pages at two of our recommended stores and Amazon – both checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, 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 Rapid Video

Here’s a 4m video taking you round the most important features of the LS2 Rapid.

Other stuff – audio, chin curtain, warranty

You’ll find a couple of speaker pockets inside the Rapid – vital if you’re wanting to fit a comms system. You’ll also find a breath guard and chin curtain in there – good for helping stop your shield fogging up and keeping wind out from below.

And should something go wrong with your Rapid, most LS2s – including the Rapid – come with a 2 year warranty.

ls2-FF353-rapid-motorcycle-helmet-matt-black-side-view — Plain matt black’s always a popular choice.

Overall/Summary

If you’re looking for a helmet that’ll work for your daily commute as well as for longer blasts, then it looks like LS2 has managed to produce a decent helmet that offers great value for money.

The Rapid is super light weight, has an optically correct, Pinlock ready shield and offers stacks of features that serious riders look for in their helmets – including quick release shield, speaker pockets and removable inner.

If you’re looking for a good all rounder, work-horse sort of helmet and if you like value for money (and at this price point you don’t expect the world) then the LS2 Rapid could be a decent buy.

Only, the big sticking point is that the UK version of the Rapid didn’t score too well when tested for safety by SHARP (scoring 2 out of 5 stars). In our opinion, that’s a good reason to pass on the Rapid and check out our alternatives below.

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Good Alternatives to the LS2 Rapid

OK, so you’re after a lower-priced helmet that’s been tested for safety and come out glowing, then check out these bad boys. Most cost a bit more than the Rapid, but then most helmets do!

First up, there’s the Scorpion Exo R710. That’s a Snell tested/certified fiberglass full face helmet that’s super light, just like the Rapid, and is great value for money.

Next, there’s the Shark Ridill – this is Shark’s entry-level all rounder helmet that’s been awarded 4 stars by SHARP. It’s also got a drop down sun visor too and scores well in just about every respect. A banging helmet.

There’s also the AGV K3 SV – that’s SHARP 4 star safety rated helmet from one of the safest helmet brands around. It’s got an integral sun visor too, plus it comes with a Pinlock antifog in the box.

Looking to buy an LS2 Rapid?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Rapid helmets pages at two of our recommended stores and Amazon – both checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Review of the Arai Defiant X crash helmet for cruisers and nakeds

Page Contents

Arai’s fiberglass full face helmet designed for cruisers and naked bikes.

Arai has made the Defiant X for riders of naked bikes – and specifically for riders of cruisers and cafe racers.

It’s a fiberglass composite helmet that’s designed very much like the rest of the Arai family – which means it’s built to a very high standard and shares the overall helmet shape (R75) and many features with the rest of Arai’s current crop of high-end helmets.

Only, the normally hyper-conservative Arai have added a few design flourishes to the outside of the Defiant X that makes it look a little more retro and ‘street’ than the rest of their helmet range. Whatever next?!?

So, if you’re in the market for a new helmet for your naked bike, then read on to find out what you can expect from the Arai Defiant X (Arai Renegade V in Europe).

Fiberglass composite full face helmet
Designed for riders of naked/upright bikes
Medium oval fitment
Snell M2015 Certified (US)
SHARP (UK) 3 star safety rated
Pinlock Max Vision included
Double-D ring fastener
Sizes XS-XXL
Weight 3.5lbs (1.6Kg) – heavier than average
Expect to pay $590-$730

Looking to buy an Arai Defiant X?

Please click below to visit the Arai Defiant X helmets pages at our recommended stores – both checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from either store, 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

(more about helmet safety)

The Defiant X is both ECE 22-05 and DOT certified. It’s also Snell certified in the US and the UK version – called the Renegade V over there – has been SHARP tested.

arai-defiant-x-motorcycle-crash-helmet-carr-orange-rear-view — Arai Defiant X in Carr orange graphics

All of which means it’s passed the pretty stringent European ECE testing regime and the Snell labs have put the Defiant X through an extra round of safety tests where it passed their standards to get M2015 certified.

With Arai’s recent improvement in scores in the SHARP safety test – with their last two helmets which use a similar tech and shape to the Defiant X, scoring a maximum 5 stars for safety – (that’s the European equivalent to the Signet X and the Corsair X), we expected the Arai Defiant X (in the guise of the Euro-spec Renegade V) to score pretty highly too.

It was safety tested by SHARP in 2020 where it scored three stars out of a maximum of five. Looking at the 8.5m/s impact test results, it looks like it dropped points for side impact attenuation which is disappointing and unexpected.

Arai renegade v defiant x 8.5ms sharp results — Arai Renegade V (UK version of the Defiant X) 8.5m/s impact test results courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk

Again, this is testing on the EU version of the helmet so we can’t be 100% sure they have identical construction.

Like several other Arai helmets, the Defiant X shares the rounder R75 helmet shape that’s designed to ‘glance off’ objects during an accident. It also has their much vaunted peripheral banding tech where a strengthened band of fiber is wrapped around the helmet passing above the eye port to add strength and rigidity to the helmet.

As far as we’re aware, Arai hasn’t released any hard facts about how well their R75 helmet shape works in the real world. I guess common sense dictates that it can’t hurt, but to what extent it helps reduce injury, we’re not sure.

OK, onto other safety features.

Well, there’s an anti-fog insert included in the box to keep the shield fog-free. A double-d ring fastener to keep it securely in place – and the helmet is produced in three shell sizes which is arguably great for safety as well as looks and fitting.

I’d expect a premium helmet like the Defiant X to also maybe come with EQRS too – but overall we’d expect the Defiant X to give great protection when you need it.

arai-renegade-v-motorcycle-crash-helmet-diablo-side-view — Defiant X in Diablo red graphics

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Arai helmets aren’t usually known for how quiet they are – especially the helmets designed for the track like the Corsair X.

And with the Defiant X, Arai has put a few more vent holes into the helmet shell, all of which will let more noise in along with the air.

To combat this, they’ve added what they call a noise-reducing foam to the cheek pads which they hope will keep things quiet. And they’ve also added a fixed chin curtain to the bottom of the helmet to keep noise out from below.

It might have helped a bit, but overall, owners seem to reckon noise levels inside the Defiant X is about average for a full face helmet – so don’t think you’re going to be able to get away without using ear plugs with the Defiant X because you won’t; not if you value your hearing that is!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Arai’s made a big thing about the ventilation in the Defiant X. That’s because there’s a ton of vent holes all over the lid.

arai-renegade-v-motorcycle-crash-helmet-black-frost-rear-view — Rear view of the black frost Defiant X showing side and to vents.

First off, there’s those obvious four vent holes in the chin bar. They ventilate the chin and rear of the shield and while they look like straight-through old-style racing vents, they can actually be closed off from the inside of the helmet.

Arai reckons that’s to keep the integrity of the helmet shell intact – so for safety. I’m not entirely sure how that squares up with the rest of their range which don’t have similar open holes in the chin guard… but anyway, owners reckon they’re a bit of a pain to use. They’re madly difficult to open/close on the move, especially as they both have to be found individually. So they really mean you’ve gotta stop, fiddle, then set off again. Not ideal.

Like most other Arais, there’s a couple of vents in the shield ducting air into the helmet shell, as well as a pair of crown vents up top – and again these crown vents are both operated independently using small but glove-friendly sliders next to each vent. They do take time to get the hang of but once you do, they’re OK to find and open/close – though they are a bit more time consuming than using a single switch.

New to the Defiant X, you’ll also find a couple of intake vents in the front of the cheek pads behind the shield. These are designed to draw air in from the face area and push it out of the side exhaust vents when you’re on the move.

And talking of exhaust vents, the Defiant’s got seven rear exhausts (if you count the main 3-exit vent as three) including a rear neck roll exhaust.

OK, that’s great. But do they work??

arai-renegade-V-motorcycle-crash-helmet-outline-frost-black-side-view — Frost Black design Arai Defiant X – showing shield lock mechanism

Easy to answer that one. Because owners reckon the ventilation is really great. The vent covers might be a bit fiddly to use, but if you want cooling then open them all up and the Defiant X will give gallons of the stuff (or should that be degrees?). Either way, it’s good.

Shield

(more about shields)

The shield on the Defiant X is designed to be larger than average to give both a larger vertical as well as horizontal opening. It also uses Arai’s VAS or variable axis shield system (designed to give a nice tight fit as well as allow Arai to lower the shield mechanism to accommodate the peripheral banding).

While it does create an effective shield mechanism, it also means you get a slightly fiddly shield quick release mechanism that needs you to remove the side pods and perform a short masonic jig with the shield before it’ll pop off.

Actually, it’s not too difficult once you do it a few times, but still it’s a bit more tricky than most other helmets around.

Something else that can be fiddly is their shield lock/opening mechanism. If you’re used to Arai’s, you’ll be familiar with slamming the shield shut to find that it auto-locks. To unlock/open the shield, you need to push on the lock then push up on the shield tab. Again, a few new owners find this annoying and pointless – but you do get used to it over time.

The Defiant X does come with a Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog insert in the box which is welcome and saves $30 or so (or adds $30 onto the overall price depending on how you look at it!).

But, coupled with the shield ventilation system, it should mean your shield’s kept clear in all but the most cold/wet conditions.

arai-helmets-pro-shield-system — Arai’s pro shield system – as both a sun peak and shield tint.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Arai don’t do internal sun visors. They reckon they compromise the safety of a helmet – though I’m not sure anyone else does, including some helmet safety testing labs.

They do offer their external pro shade tinted shield system as an extra though. Some folks love em, others loathe em. But if you want to have a sun shade system on your Arai and don’t like riding in shades or swapping out your clear shield for a tinted screen, then the pro shade system will set you back another $80-90. Not cheap!

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Defiant X has a medium oval fitment – meaning it should fit most people’s heads that aren’t too round or two long and narrow.

And while there’s no substitute for getting the right internal helmet shape to match your head shape in the first place, Arai’s internal comfort lining is probably the most out-of-the-box adjustable and customizable of any maker.

It features removable 5mm panels to each side, to the crown and to each cheek pad which allows you remove or add padding to get the fitment just right. And if doing that doesn’t quite give you the fit you’re looking for, Arai does sell larger and smaller fitment cheek pads too.

arai-defiant-x-modern-gray-motorcycle-crash-helmet-side-view — Defiant X in Modern grey plain design

So, if you get the right fitting (see our helmet fitting guide) and tailor the fit with the comfort lining pads, then word is that the Defiant X is a really comfortable helmet. Combine that with some great ventilation and a lining material that’s ph neutral, anti-microbial and odor resistant – as well as created from a particularly soft and high quality lining – and the Defiant is a majorly comfortable place to stick your noggin.

So that’s all good on comfort with several owners saying their Defiant is great for all day riding.

Looks & Graphics

In terms of overall appearance, the Defiant X looks pretty similar to most of the Arai range in that it shares the overall helmet shell shape and vent config of many other models. The most notable difference is the slightly sculpted chin bar with it’s four vent holes.

Similarly, and as is usual with Arai helmets, most of the graphics are pretty conservative with a few classy graphic options available.

To check the graphics out in more detail and see the latest Defiant X deals, feel free to click through to the Arai helmets pages on our recommended retailers below.

Looking to buy an Arai Defiant X?

Please click below to visit the Arai Defiant X helmets pages at our recommended stores – both checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Arai Defiant X Video

Here’s a 3m video from Arai Europe taking you round some of the most notable features of the Defiant X (called the Renegade V in Europe).

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, build quality, chin curtain, warranty

The Defiant X comes with a good old fashioned double-d ring fastener. And if you’re looking to fit a bluetooth set, there are speaker pockets inside the comfort lining but there’s no word yet on how easy it is on the ears or easy to fit.

As for build quality, it’s got Arai’s usual outstanding attention to detail and build quality so you should be able to ride without worry on that front. At 3.5lbs (1.6Kg) the Defiant X is slightly heavier than the average 1.5Kg full face helmet; though it’s doubtful it’ll cause any problems in practice – though click the link to find the lightest motorcycle helmets if light weight’s a priority for you.

Renegades come with a built in, permanent chin curtain to reduce noise and air flow from the bottom. And as usual, your Defiant X will come with Arai’s 5 year warranty (7 years from date of manufacture found stamped or printed on the chin strap).

Overall/Summary

Arai’s probably the most traditional of helmet manufacturers. And the Defiant X is only a slight development from many of their other helmets, using tried and tested helmet tech that’s proven to offer good protection in an impact (and much improving over recent years) and that’s popular with road riders and racers the world over.

It’s Snell Certified – which is always good to know, though the Euro version did drop a couple of stars for safety when independently tested by SHARP (though we don’t know if it’s exactly the same helmet).

And of course there’s also that great Arai build quality and use of high quality materials that makes owning an Arai memorable. But then it should do because Arai helmets don’t come cheap.

For that higher price tag, you could be forgiven for wanting a bit more of course. How about EQRS or how about a Pro Shade included in the box (or even better a photochromic shield) for example? And don’t forget, if you’re not used to an Arai helmet, you’ll have to get used to that quirky shield lock mechanism; plus the individual vent openers might get on your nerves a bit.

But like the rest of its recently safety tested family of helmets, we’d expect the Defiant X to offer decent levels of protection and performance for most cruiser and naked riders.

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Good Alternatives to the Arai Defiant X

OK, if you’re after a more exclusive performance helmet, here’s a selection of helmets you might want to check out. We’ve included both full face and modulars here – but only helmets that perform well in safety testing.

AGV Corsa '23' crash helmet design side view — The funky AGV Corsa ’23’ design

The Bell Star range are some fantastic sportsbike-oriented helmets that are SHARP 5 star safety rated. There’s also a variant to suit most budgets.

The Shoei RF-SR is a great all rounder full face helmet that, again, scored maximum marks for safety when SHARP tested it.

Or how about the lightweight carbon version of the Shark Spartan – a well rated full face road helmet with 5 year warranty and Pinlock in the box.

Or finally, there’s another sportsbike full face that scored maximum for safety – the AGV Corsa. It comes with a wide, optically correct shield and is a light weight carbon/fiberglass composite.

Looking to buy an Arai Defiant X?

Please click below to visit the Arai Defiant X helmets pages at our recommended stores – both checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Star Ratings

Review of the LS2 Valiant FF399 motorcycle crash helmet

Page Contents

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 ECE dual-homologated flip-up helmet too – where the chin bar rotates right to the back of the helmet to give more of a proper three quarters 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-modular-crash-helmets-white-black-red-side-view — 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.

Polycarbonate modular helmet
Dual Homologated
DOT and ECE certified
SHARP 4 Star safety rated (ECE helmet)
Drop down sun visor
Class one optical shield
Long oval fitment
3.75lbs (1.7Kg) – avg weight
Sizes XS-XXXL
Expect to pay $300-$370

Looking to buy an LS2 Valiant?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Valiant helmets pages at one of our recommended stores and Amazon. And if you buy from either store, 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

(more about helmet safety)

To cut to the chase, we’d expect the LS2 Valiant to give reasonable protection in an accident.

It hasn’t been Snell tested, but looking at the UK SHARP test data, their average score for a tested LS2 polycarbonate helmet is 3 stars out of 5. Which is pretty OK.

LS2 Valiant Sharp 8.5ms impact test results — LS2 Valiant 8.5ms impact test result (ECE helmet) courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk

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.

But don’t forget, that’s a European ECE helmet that was tested, not DOT – and we can’t be certain they’re identical helmets.

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 in Europe, 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.

ls2-valiant-solid-chrome-modular-motorbike-helmet-rear-view — Rear view of the LS2 Valiant in chrome with chin bar closed

In the US, the Valiant comes with a LS2 Fog Fighter prepared anti-fog face shield that’s also a wide shield to 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.

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, we’d expect the LS2 Valiant to give decent impact protection.

For other helmets that have proven they’ll give superior impact protection in the Snell test, look here. Or for helmets that’ve scored well in either the SHARP safety testing labs or Snell, you might want to check out our safest helmets pages.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

From owner feedback, it seems like we’re gonna have to score the LS2 Valiant about average quietness for a modular helmet.

ls2-valiant-matt-titanium-modular-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — 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).

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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.

ls2-valiant-solid-matt-black-modular-crash-helmet-front-view — Front view showing wide shield 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 cooler states, 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!

Face Shield

(more about shields)

The shield on the Valiant is a class A optically correct shield (meaning it’ll be distortion free). It works on a ratchet and has the opening tab top-center, which can take a bit of getting used to.

It’s also a wide shield for extra peripheral vision (good) and in the US it’s Fog Fighter anti-fog prepared (in Europe it comes Pinlock-ready with a Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog insert in the box).

ls2-valiant-solid-matt-black-modular-crash-helmet-side-view — Sun visor down and Pinlock visor raised

So, LS2 ticks lots of boxes with the shield on the Valiant, and that translates to lots of owners saying the shield system works very well.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

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.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

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 faceshield 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.

ls2-valiant-solid-gloss-white-modular-crash-helmet-rear-view — 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.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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 3.75lbs (1.7Kg) 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.

Looking to buy an LS2 Valiant?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Valiant helmets pages at one of our recommended stores and Amazon. And if you buy from either store, 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.

ls2-valiant-lumen-modular-motorbike-helmet-side-view — 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 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 shield with Fog Fighter coating and a 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 ECE version of 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.

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Good Alternatives to the LS2 Valiant?

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.

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Looking to buy an LS2 Valiant?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Valiant helmets pages at one of our recommended stores and Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

Nexx X.WED 2 and X.WST 2 composite dual sports and street helmets review

Page Contents

Review of the Nexx X.WED 2 and X.WST 2.

We’re looking at both the Nexx X.WED 2 and X.WST 2 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.WED 2 as the X.WST 2 with a sun peak/roost guard bolted onto the top.

So, if you’re interested in either helmet, here’s the low down on what you get for your hard earned $s.

Nexx X.WED 2 – dual-sports helmet
Nexx X.WST 2 – street helmet

Nexx X.WST2-motrox grey red street helmet front view — Nexx X.WST 2 helmet in Motrox grey/red graphics

Composite fiber shell construction
Drop down sun visor
Double-d ring fastener
Equipped with EQRS
X-Com (Sena) communicator ready
Both DOT & ECE approved
Not Snell or SHARP tested
Extreme shell sizes – XXS-XXXL
2 year warranty
Expect to pay:
- X.WED 2 – $500-$600 (carbon $750)
- X.WST 2 – $400 (carbon $550)

Looking to buy a Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2?

Please click below to visit the Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2 helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores, Revzilla. And if you buy from either store, 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 helmets:

Nexx X.WST2 helmets:

Nexx X.WED 2 or X.WST 2?

The X.WED 2 adventure helmet and the X.WST 2 helmet are pretty much identical helmets apart from the sun peak. So, the great thing about choosing the X.WED 2 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.WST 2 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.WED 2 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!

Nexx-X-Wed2-X-Patrol-Enduro-crash-helmet-side-view — This is the enduro version with the sun peak – the Nexx X.WED 2 Patrol

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Both the Enduro and Street share the same helmet shell and they’re both goodies.

Nexx focuses its helmet development efforts on producing composite fiber helmets, and both these helmets share the same X-Matrix composite shell. That’s a multi-layered sandwich of fiberglass, 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 fiber helmets typically score higher for safety than polycarbonate or fiberglass 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 Snell (or SHARP in the UK), we always check out past SHARP safety ratings to see if it’ll give us a idea of how well it’ll perform in an accident.

Nexx X.WST2-Carbon zero street motorbike helmet side view — Lovely Carbon Zero version of the Nexx X.WST 2

Unfortunately, only four Nexx helmets have been tested to date and only one composite helmet in the last couple of years. So there’s probably not much we can uncover from that.

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 shields 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.

Oh, and of course it’s DOT certified (ECE 22.05 certified in Europe).

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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 managing noise with both the X.WED 2 and X.WST 2.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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.

Nexx-X.WED2-plain-white-front-view — Plain white X.WED 2 showing front vents plus sun visor slider top right of the shell.

On the X.WST 2, 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.WED 2 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.

Shield

(more about shields)

The shields on both the X.WED 2 and X.WST 2 are panoramic shields, meaning they’re wider than your average shield for that more involved riding feeling – as well as being that bit safer, allowing you better visibility in your peripheral vision.

They’re also Pinlock anti-fog ready, though a Pinlock doesn’t come in the box.

And they both have Nexx’s X-Lock quick release system. That’s a pretty unusual quick release shield system where you have to rotate a plastic pod (Nexx call this the X-Block) that fits over the shield pivot point on each side, then pull it off. That allows the shield to release from its pivot. It’s a bit quirky but it works.

Owners reckon the main face shield system works well and like it particularly for the width of vision the panoramic shields give. If you buy an X.Wed2 and want to remove the shield to wear goggles, apparently it’ll accept goggles up to around 4″ (100mm) deep.

nexx xwild enduro hill end helmet side view — This one’s the X.WED 2 in Hill End graphics

Sun Peak (X.WED 2 only)

Being a dual sports helmet (designed to work on the road as well as off) the X.WED 2 has a removable sun visor/roost guard. That’s good for shading you from the sun and sprayed up dirt 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 shield pivots in the box so you remove the peak and configure it as a street helmet with the face shield in place.

nexx xwild street motrox helmet rear view — Rear view of both helmets is near identical – but this one’s the X.WST 2 Motorox. Note sun visor slider top left.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Of course, there’s an integral drop down sun visor included on both the X.WED2 and X.WST2.

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!

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The X.WED 2 and Street 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.

They 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.

Nexx X.WST2-motrox titanium street helmet side view — Titanium’s always a good bet. This one’s the Motrox Titanium X.WST 2.

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.WST 2 and not as the dual sport version – at the time of writing. Shame.

Best places to buy a Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2 crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2 helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores, Revzilla. And if you buy from either store, 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 helmets:

Nexx X.WST2 helmets:

Nexx X.WED 2 and X.WST 2 Videos

The top video’s a review of the X.WED 2 – note it’s very comprehensive with almost 38m run time! That’s followed by an 8m look at the X.WST 2 (was originally called the X.Wild Street when launched – hence the video title).

Other stuff – audio, build quality, weight, warranty

The Nexx X.WED 2 and Street 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 3.4lbs (1.55Kg) or 3.2lbs for the carbon, though 3rd party reviewers seem to think they’re a bit heavier. One weighed the X.WED 2 in size large at 3.75lbs (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.

nexx-xwild-enduro-purist-white-helmet-front-view — Front-on view of the Nexx X.WED 2 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.WED 2 and X.WST 2 are great helmets that are well liked by most owners. They’ve a reasonably light weight composite fiber 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) face shield 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.

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Good Alternatives to the Nexx X.WED 2 and X.WST 2?

You can check out all our adventure bike helmet reviews and our Top 10 full face helmets – but here’s some of the best alternatives out there.

The Arai XD4 is Snell certified and, like the Nexx X.WED 2, 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.

The Scorpion Exo AT950 is a flip-front helmet that can also be used as a street or adventure helmet. It’s half the price of the Nexx too, is all day comfortable and has a 5 year warranty. Excellent value.

Shoei Hornet X2 Seeker TC8 — Shoei Hornet X2

And finally, there’s the Shoei Hornet X2 – fiberglass helmet with full face and adventure configurations, Snell certified – and available for around the same price as the Nexx.

For other decent alternatives to either adventure helmets or full face helmets, please click the links below.

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[xyz-ihs snippet=”Alternatives—full-face-helmets”]

Looking to buy a Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2?

Please click below to visit the Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2 helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores, Revzilla. And if you buy from either store, 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 helmets:

Nexx X.WST2 helmets:

Star Ratings

AGV PistaGP: AGV’s top of the range sportsbike helmet

agv-pista-gp-r-project-46-featured-image

Page Contents

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.

valentino rossi agv pistagp helmet — A happy Vale with his fully-liveried Pista GP

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!?

Top-of-the-range sportsbike helmet
Carbon fiber full face helmet
As used by Valentino Rossi
Snell M2015 certified
SHARP 5 star safety rated
FIM Racing Homologated
4 shell sizes
Pista GP-R has updated rear spoiler and hydration system
ECE 22-05 and DOT certified
Large, class 1 optical shield
Pinlock and tear-off ready
2.9lbs (1.3Kg) – that’s light
Double-D ring fastener
Expect to pay $1650-$1750

Looking to buy an AGV Pista GP-RR?

Please click below to drop onto the AGV Pista GP-RR helmets pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, 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 flew through the Snell certification tests and 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 fiber 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.

agv-pista-gp-r-matt-carbon-side-view — 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 shield’s also Pinlock-ready again helping make sure your shield’s fog-free and your vision isn’t impared. It also has a shield lock which is useful in keeping the shield 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.

agv-pista-gp-r-gran-premio-side-view — 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

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 very noisy.

It’s probably no coincidence then that AGV include some ear plugs in the box!

agv-pista-gp-r-gran-project-46-valentio-front-view — 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.

Some retailers include one in the package (check before you buy) and you’re probably just as well fitting it as soon as you get the helmet.

agv-pista-gp-r-gran-project-46-valentio-rear-view — 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.

agv-pista-gp-r-iannone-front-side-view — This one’s the Iannone replica Pista GP

Shield

Shields are important features of any helmet – but even moreso for a track-rider?

AGV have thrown everything they can think of at the shield on the Pista GP.

It’s ultra-wide and ultra-high to give maximum vision all round.

It’s quick change too, using their XQRS Extra Quick Release System for quick and toolless shield removal. That’s a great system involving pulling down a tab and pushing on the shield 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 shield for minimal distortion and comes Pinlock Max Vision ready.

And being a race helmet, it’s also a Race 2 flat shield that’s tear-off ready and with a bunch of tear-offs in the box.

agv-pista-gp-granpremio-matt-rear-view — Rear view of the Pista GP Gran Premio in matt finish

It also has a shield 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 shield 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 shield.

The shield 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.

agv-pista-gp-r-gloss-carbon-side-view — 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 unnecessary if you’re not?

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-fiber 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?

Please click below to drop onto the AGV Pista GP-RR helmet pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, 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

agv-pista-gp-soleluna-qatar-2015-helmet-front-view — 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 poor 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.

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 – not yet SHARP tested but it’s sure to be 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.

Looking to buy an AGV Pista GP-RR?

Please click below to drop onto the AGV Pista GP-RR helmets pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

Review of the Icon Airmada street motorcycle crash helmet

Page Contents

Icon Airmada: mid-priced full face street helmet

Note: The Airmada is now discontinued, so you might want to check out some of our Top 10 Helmets lists to find your next helmet instead?

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.

Polycarbonate Full Face helmet
Silver Airmada showing the six front air vents
Great visibility
SHARP 2 star safety rated
Longer narrower fitment
4 shell sizes
Weighs around 3.6lbs (1.62Kg)
Optically correct shield
Optional tear off shield
Good ventilation
Extreme Sizes XXS-XXXL
Expect to pay $180-$300 depending on graphics

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

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 DOT certified – so is legal in mandatory helmet states – and ECE (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 in Europe 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 #1 priority when buying a new helmet to maximize 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 customize 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 shield opening in there that gives excellent all round vision. That’s always good for safety – on the track and on the road.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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.

Having said that, if you wear decent ear protection, we’d expect you’ll be fine.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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 shield, helping the anti-fog treatment keep your shield clear as well as giving cooling to your face.

Above the shield, 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 think those shield vents really help with keeping the shield fog-free too.

Shield

(more about shields)

The standard clear shield 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 shield system if you’re serious about your racing and planning to take your Airmada to the track.

Back to the standard shield: 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 shield. Not sophisticated, but it works.

It’s also a quick-change shield. 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 shield, you’ll have to pull off the pods to attach to the new one, so it’s easier to do it while it’s on the helmet) then open the shield to reveal a couple of release levers. Push one back each side and the shield 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.

Matt black Rubatone Icon Airmada

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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 crazy 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.

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 (is it just me that gets sick of stupid titles on videos!?!).

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, glasses, build quality, chin curtain, warranty

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 3.6lbs (1.62Kg). 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 shield 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 DOT and ECE 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.

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Good Alternatives to the Icon Airmada?

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 shield and comes with a 5 year warranty.

Or there’s AGVs ever popular K3 SV. That’s also SHARP 4 star rated with a sun shield – plus it’s got great ventilation and comes with a Pinlock anti-fog insert in the box.

Finally, here’s another 4 star safety rated lid – the MT Thunder 3. Sun shield, lighter than the Icon and yours for about $100.

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Star Ratings

6D ATS-1 street motorcycle helmet review

Page Contents

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.

6D-ATS-1-full-face-helmet-in-white-black-front-view — Front view of the ATS-1 in white/black. Note, all helmets supplied with clear shields.

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 dirt 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 on the road.

Carbon fibre full face helmet
Featuring 6D’s ODS rotation tech
Designed to be the safest helmet
DOT & ECE certified
EQRS
Pinlock Max Vision antifog included
Great ventilation
3 year warranty
Expect to pay around $750

Looking to buy a 6D ATS-1?

The ATS-1 is now discontinued, but it was still available at Amazon the last time we checked. So click through to their ATS-1 page using the link below. 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).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

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.

6D-ATS-1-full-face-carbon-fiber-helmet-gloss-side-view — 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.

Read more in our definitive guide to helmet safety.

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 DOT and ECE 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.

6D elastomeric isolation damper — 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 Snell in the US and SHARP in the UK – has tested a 6D helmet at the time of writing.

It’d be great if SHARP in particular 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.

6D-ATS-1-White-Carbon-motorcycle-helmet-rear-view — 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 fiber 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.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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.

6D-ATS-1-crash-helmet-in-fluo-yellow-black-side-view — 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.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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.

6D ATS 1 full face carbon fiber helmet matt top view — Top down view showing exhaust vents

Shield

(more about shields)

The shield too seems to have been well thought out and well designed.

The 6D ATS-1 has a nice large shield 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 shield 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 shield because it helps if you can see through the shield when swapping it!).

The shield works on a ratchet and has a shield lock on the left that also works to keep the shield 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 shield on the ATS-1.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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).

6D-ATS-1-helmet-inside-view — 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 fiber 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 fiber 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 below to find the latest designs and deals though, just in case 6D has brought out some more options.

Best places to buy a 6D ATS-1?

The ATS-1 is now discontinued, but it was still available at Amazon the last time we checked. So click through to their ATS-1 page using the link below. 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).

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

The ATS-1 comes with a good ole-fashioned Double D ring fastener.

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 shield system and amazing aero – and should work well on pretty much any type of ride, thanks to that wide/tall shield.

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 RF-SR full face. Four shell sizes, Snell certified, 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 shield, Pinlock, and comes with a 5 year warranty, all for less than the 6D.

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Looking to buy a 6D ATS-1?

The ATS-1 is now discontinued, but it was still available at Amazon the last time we checked. So click through to their ATS-1 page using the link below. 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).

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Star Ratings

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

Page Contents

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 for 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.

Entry-level sportsbike full face helmet
Thermoplastic shell
Larger shield opening – width & height
Double D-ring fastener
Pinlock-ready, quick release shield
Sizes XS-XXL
Weighs 3.3lbs (1.52Kg)
Expect to pay $180-$250

Looking to buy an AGV K1?

Please click below to visit the AGV K1 helmets pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, 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

(more about helmet safety)

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

But they’re made from advanced composites and carbon fiber 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 UK’s 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.

agv-k1-crash-helmet-rossi-edge-vr46-side-view — 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 Numo Evo have scored 4 stars out of five and in fact, of the four thermoplastic AGVs that have been tested over the years, every single one has scored four stars for safety, which is a very impressive result indeed.

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

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

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

Other safety features?

Well, it’s got a wide/tall shield 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 shield 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.

agv-k1-motorbike-crash-helmet-gloss-white-rear-view — Rear view of the K1 gloss white

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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

It all features AGV’s 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.

agv-k1-motorbike-crash-helmets-rossi-flavum-vr46-side-view — Another Rossi-inspired K1 – this one’s the Flavum.

Shield

(more about shields)

Like all AGV’s 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 shield using AGV’s XQRS or Extra Quick Release System. That’s handy for swapping out shields 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 shield 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 shield 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 shield 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 shield cracks open or to do away with detents altogether, if that floats your boat.

Overall, owners reckon the face shield on the K1 works well.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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

The K1 is available in fitment sizes XS-XXL.

agv-k1-motorbike-crash-helmets-rossi-flavum-vr46-rear-view — 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 and a gloss white. 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 stores using the links below.

Best places to buy an AGV K1 helmet?

Please click below to visit the AGV K1 helmet pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, 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 3.3lbs (1.52Kg) which is obviously heavier than its Pista GPR (2.9lbs) and Corsa R (3lbs) 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).

agv-k1-motorbike-crash-helmet-matt-black-side-view — 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 head 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 capitalizing on all the dev work that their MotoGP and other 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 AGV’s excellent reputation for safety. Plus, with its wide & tall shield for use on a sportsbike, decent ventilation system and all the other features you’d expect to see in a modern helmet like quick release shield and removable and washable internal, we reckon the AGV K1 should be a good helmet to live with too.

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 over a grand – and if you’re after a sporty helmet from a maker you know you can trust, then we reckon it’s going to be well worth checking out the new AGV K1.

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Great Alternatives to the AGV K1?

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

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

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 fiberglass or carbon versions and can be had for around $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 fiber helmet that scored a maximum 5 stars when SHARP safety tested it.

Looking to buy an AGV K1?

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

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AGV K3 SV motorcycle helmet review

The AGV K3 SV is the successor to the popular K3, with the SV denoting an integral sun visor. It’s a polycarbonate-shelled crash helmet that takes its design from the latest line of AGVs that includes the Corsa, GT Veloce and Pista GP – meaning it has a sharp, aerodynamcially-shaped chinguard and rear spoiler designed to cuts through the air and reduce buffeting. The K3 SV is priced to be a more entry level helmet though, and one that works on a range of road bikes and for a variety of riding styles.

Weight – 3.3Lbs/1.49Kg
Integral sun visor
Comfortable but noisy
Great ventilation
Comes with a Pinlock antifog insert
Not Snell tested
SHARP 4 Star safety rating (out of 5)
Micrometric fastener
Typical pricing – $220-$300

Looking to buy an AGV K3 SV?

Please click below to drop onto the AGV K3 SV helmets pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Page Contents

Safety and shell

The AGV K3 SV is a total redesign of the K3, including the shell. It shares its overall design with the latest range of AGVs, meaning it has a pointier look to the front and shares an integral spoiler to the rear that’s found on the GT Veloce. Unlike the GT Veloce, the K3 SV is constructed of polycarbonate; a cheaper and heavier material. However, it’s still DOT certified and while it hasn’t been tested by Snell, it scored 4/5 stars when tested by SHARP, meaning it’s right up there in terms of safety. It’s also around the same weight as the pricier helmet. All in all, the AGV K3 SV should provide the protection you need and outperforms many much pricier helmets in terms of safety.

AGV have put a great deal of focus on producing an aerodynamic helmet and owners are widely happy with the result. They find there’s very little buffeting and it’s stable at speed.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-gloss-white — Lots of vents equals (in this case) lots of noise

Helmet Noise

Unfortunately, owners of the K3 SV say it’s a pretty noisy lid. The K3 has great ventilation which often means there are more openings in the shell of the helmet to catch the air and make turbulence; and turbulence equals noise. It also means there’s an easy route for noise to enter the helmet and in the K3’s case, that makes for a noisy lid. It’s especially noticeable above 50 mph, so if you’re after a quiet crash helmet, then this probably ain’t the one for you.

Poor noise suppression seems to be a common problem with most helmets in this line, so AGV must be counting on folks preferring good ventilation and light weight over a quiet helmet. That said, most owners point to the fact that they wear ear plugs when riding any distance so it doesn’t bother most owners too much. If having a quiet helmet is particularly important to you, click ‘quietest’ to the right to see only helmets people find particularly quiet.

Size

The AGV K3 SV comes in two shell sizes and XS – XXL fitment sizes, with four different EPS (shock absorbing expanded polystyrene) liners. Like the other helmets in the range, AGV also offer a MS and ML fitment which gives buyers a bit more assurance they can get a size that’s just right.

Ventilation

In common with the latest range of AGVs, the K3 SV has really decent ventilation. It has a pair of chin vents operated by the usual (for AGV) slider inside the chin bar; a pair of forehead vents that open/close with sliders covering the vents; and a vent on the top of the head that’s unique to the K3 SV (presumably as the retractable sun visor gets in the way of the venting from the other vents).

Once you get used to how the different vents open, they’re reasonably simple to operate, even with gloves, and are an improvement on the GT Veloce and Corsa’s fiddly sliders. The top vent pulls in stacks of air and, because the K3 SV has lots of channels through out the polystyrene liner, it keeps your head nice and cool and removes the warm air via the rear vents. One or two riders have complained that the front venting is a little too aggressive with too much air coming up across the shield and into their eyes. But overall, ventilation on the K3 SV is good.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-guy-martin — Guy Martin K3 SV showing visor release and sun visor mechanisms

Shield/sun visor

The K3 SV has both a clear main shield and a tinted drop-down internal sun visor. The main shield has a quick-release system that is very simple to use – release the shield by pulling down on a tab on each side and the shield pops out. It clicks back into place with a bit of firm pressure on each side and is an excellent system that owners love.

The aperture for the shield is nice and wide, like the other AGVs in the range.

In the centre-bottom of the shield is a small slider that you can push upwards to open the shield just a crack and keep it there. It’s called ‘city mode’ and is designed to help with demisting when you’re riding slowly.

The sun visor opens using a lever behind the left hand side visor pivot. It’s easier to close than open, but it works pretty well by all accounts – the only grumbles being that it’s a bit too lightly tinted; but then I guess it’s probably just meeting legal requirements that often don’t allow tinted visors to cut out more than a certain % of available light. Also, a couple of owners have reported that it’s not particularly good quality because it distorts the vision a bit.

As usual, the sun visor is anti scratch but it’s not anti-fog, so unlike the main visor, it can steam up. It’s easy to remove to clean and replacements are available from AGV – including a high-vis yellow version for improved vision in low light.

Comfort

No problems reported with the comfort of the K3 SV. Once you’ve got the right size – helped by the intermediate MS and ML fitments, owners reckon it’s a comfortable helmet. The interior is the usual removable/washable liner that’s anti-microbial and moisture-wicking. There’s also glasses grooves cut into the liner to help glasses wearers slot their glasses into the helmet and prevent the stems of the glasses from digging in. All good here.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-imola-98 — Rossi AGV K3 SV Imola 98 – one of four Rossi paint schemes

Looks & Graphics

Because the AGV K3 SV sits towards the foot of the range at an attractive price point, it’ll probably be one of AGVs biggest sellers – so there are heaps of graphics available. That includes the usual plain whites/blacks/ but also several Rossi reps and a Guy Martin/Simoncelli replica or two. You can see the current range on the AGV USA store website.

Best places to buy an AGV K3 SV?

Please click below to drop onto the AGV K3 SV helmet pages at our recommended stores and Amazon. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Video

Here’s some dude at AGV fondling his K3 SV Simoncelli rep.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-vulcan-white-blue — The K3 SV Vulcan – comes in a range of colors

Other stuff

The K3 SV comes with a micrometric chin strap fastener (easy to use and as safe as they come). It has internal cut-aways for AGVs own Share communicator speakers – but they’re not that big so either you might want to check that yours fit before buying – or be prepared to do a bit of trimming yourself (not too much mind as you don’t want to compromise side-impact resistance).

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Overall

The AGV is a great performing helmet – it scores well in SHARP safety tests, is comfortable and has some great features including fantastic ventilation and a drop down sun visor, not to mention its streamlined shape that reduces buffeting and lifting. It’s a looker too. It’s only the noise that lets it down. If you can live with that (or wear ear plugs) it’s a great helmet at a good price.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-Rookie — AGV K3 SV Rookie

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Looking to buy an AGV K3 SV?

Please click below to drop onto the AGV K3 SV helmets pages at our recommended store and Amazon. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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