Review of the AGV Numo Evo ST modular helmet.

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

AGV is a name that’s synonimous with safety. If you don’t have time to shop around but want a safe helmet for your motorcycle, then you can pretty well always trust an AGV.

We’ll bang on a bit more about protection in the Safety section below. But for the meantime, the AGV Numo Evo ST (also known as the AGV Compact ST in the EU/UK) is AGV’s latest flip-up helmet.

It’s a thermoplastic helmet, and is a slight update on their old AGV Numo Evo helmet. That means it’s at the budget end of the market, designed for general urban/touring riding but with a slightly improved interior and a few tweaks here and there over the old helmet.

But because it’s a lower priced all-rounder, that’s not to say it won’t perform. The ECE version scored an excellent SHARP safety rating along with some useful features such as  drop down sun visor. Meaning it could well be worth considering if you’re looking for a new modular helmet that’s not going to put a massive dent in your monthly beer money.

So read on dear friend to find out more about the AGV Numo Evo ST.

• Modular helmet
• SHARP 4 Star safety rated (ECE version)
• Thermoplastic shell
• Drop down sun visor
• 100% tested chin guard
• Micrometric fastener
• 3.9lbs (1.8Kg) heavy for a modular
• Sizes XS-XXL
• Expect to pay $299-$350

Note: the Numo Evo ST has now been discontinued so you might find some good deals by clicking the links below. If no longer available, try the AGV Sport Modular which has replaced it.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

OK, straight to it. The AGV Numo Evo ST has the full range of safety ratings you’ll be looking for on a helmet.

That means it’s DOT certified (ECE approved if you buy one in Europe or Oz) – and over there it’s P/J homologated, meaning it’s been designed to be safe and legal to ride with the chin bar up (not all flip-front helmets are).

The DOT version hasn’t been independently safety tested by Snell, but the ECE version has been tested by SHARP and – just like the old AGV Numo Evo – it scored a hefty 4/5 stars, with the chin bar staying locked and closed 100% of the times throughout testing.

That last score is pretty rare for a flip-front helmet and just what you’ll be looking for when you buy any modular helmet. You need to trust that chin bar’s gonna stay put if you hit the tarmac and SHARP’s test means you can be confident it will on the Numo Evo ST.

Again, note that safety score is for the ECE version of the helmet. And while we think they’re the same as the US DOT helmet, we can’t be 100% sure. Just sayin.

OK, given it’s scored so well in various safety tests, there’s probably not much more point in mentioning it’s only produced in one shell size (not a great feature) because the bottom line is it’s been shown repeatedly in the lab that it’s up there with the best of em.

But there are also some features that you should be looking for in your helmet to keep you out of trouble in the first place. And in the case of the Numo Evo ST it’s got:

• Fastener – a micrometric fastener that’s safe and mega easy to use (but see D-ring below).
• Dual homologated – meaning it’s been designed to be safe riding with the chin bar up.
• Sun visor – great for stopping dazzling when the sun’s in your eyes.

Safety features you might want that’re missing on the Numo Evo ST.

• EQRS – or emergency quick release system. That’s a way for medics to more easily remove your helmet after an accident.
• 5 Star safety rating – these are few and far between but buying a helmet with a max rating kinda makes sense (though the Numo Evo ST is still very good in this respect).
• Double D ring fastener – the good thing about D rings is that you have to adjust them every time. That’s great if you’re the kind of person who tightens it up diligently every time. Not so great if you’re not.

As you can see by SHARPs 8.5m/s test result graphic above, the ST was slightly less effective absorbing shocks on either side. But still, overall it’s an excellent score.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

I think most of us would like a really quiet helmet, right? Well, if that’s you, then you probably want to go for a full face helmet because flip-front helmets are, in general, pretty loud lids. And more specifically you should probably go for one of these quietest helmets.

But if you’re looking at the Numo Evo ST and hoping it’s a quiet helmet, well here’s the score.

There are always lots of different opinions about how noisy every single helmet is (for all the reasons described here!) – and there are some folks who call the Numo Evo ST quiet. But they’re far outweighed by the number of people who says it’s either a loud helmet – or even go as far as saying it’s deafeningly loud.

Cutting through the noise in search of an average, it seems the Numo Evo ST is somewhere around ‘loudish’ if you’re comparing it to other modulars – to ‘loud’ in comparison to most other helmets including full face lids.

Like lots of folks commented though – you should always shove in some decent ear plugs anyway, and if you do, you should find the Numo Evo ST just fine.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Like the old Numo Evo, the Numo Evo ST uses what AGV calls its Integrated Ventilation System or IVS.

In the case of the Numo Evo ST, that’s a dual chin vent operated by a single slider and two separate forehead vents which are independently controlled by separate sliders.

These feed air through the helmet shell, into channels inside the helmet EPS shock absorbing liner and through to your scalp.

The word from owners is that the system works OK but not amazing – with cooling airflow noticeable but not as good as some of the best venting helmets.

That shouldn’t be too much of a problem in temperate places but if you live in warmer states where venting is a deal breaker, you might want to look elsewhere.

But note, the shields on pretty well all helmets need a helping hand to keep fog free when it’s cold/rainy or humid, so it’s a shame the Numo Evo doesn’t come with an antifog system like Pinlock. The shield’s not Pinlock-ready either though you can buy them aftermarket – European Numo Evo ST’s come with a Pinlock in the box (Grrr).

Shield

(more about shields)

The shield on the AGV Numo Evo ST is a quick release shield with a shield opening tab conveniently placed bottom left.

It’s a nice and wide shield too to maximize peripheral vision, which is just what you need when riding in town. Plus the quick change shield is really convenient so you can quickly whip it off to clean it in the sink after a ride.

Unless you ride somewhere that’s perma-hot or you’re strictly a summer-only rider, you’re going to want to fit a decent anti-fog solution to your shield.

Unfortunately, the Numo Evo ST no longer comes with a Pinlock-ready shield in the US (as shown in our photos) so you’ll get just a plain, clear shield in the box, though Pinlock shields and inserts are available separately.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The sun visor on the AGV Numo Evo ST is pretty much the same as on the old Numo Evo.

That means it’s operated by a lever on the left hand side of the helmet, drops down nice and low and cuts out quite a bit of direct sunlight. Integrated sun visors legally can’t be too dark so as to obscure vision but they’re good for keeping you safe and comfortable in all but the most dazzling sun.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin guard on the AGV Numo Evo ST gives pretty well all the functionality you need from a flip-up helmet except for maybe the ability to flip the chin guard right over to the back of the helmet like the Shark Evo-One 2, Roof Desmo or LS2 Valiant.

The Numo Evo ST is pretty conventional in that respect, with the chin bar raising up to form a peak at the front of the helmet. But it is single-button operated for ease of use, and the locking mechanism includes metal clasp for extra strength to help keep it closed during an impact.

It’s also got a chin bar lock so you can lock it open when raised and there’s no possibility of it dropping down when you really don’t want it to – like when you emergency stop.

In fact, it’s seemingly so safe that during every one of SHARPs 32 impact tests on the ECE version of the Numo Evo ST, the chin guard stayed locked and closed.

That’s something only a handful of modular helmets can boast – and should give you a good level of confidence that it’ll stay closed and protecting your face if you ever need it to.

Overall, the chin bar system on the Numo Evo ST is fuss-free and works fine.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

There’s a washable/removable lining inside the Numo Evo ST – using a material called Shalimar for most of it but with Ritmo fabric for the cheek pads – see our guide to helmet materials for more info.

The inside of the Numo Evo ST is one of the major changes over the old helmet. And since owners found the old helmet comfortable, hopefully the new ST version will be more comfortable still.

The fabrics inside are moisture wicking and treated with antibac so should keep things reasonably box-fresh for a while. But when things need a bit of a refresh, you can pull it all out and machine or hand wash it to freshen it up again.

The Numo Evo ST is designed to suit medium oval head shapes (that’s most of us). And the word from owners is that the sizing’s spot on… so simply follow our helmet fitting guide to find your correct measurements and order the right size.

Get the correct size and you should find the AGV Numo Evo ST is a really comfortable helmet because owners say the materials are great and it’s all day comfy.

Looks & Graphics

The Numo Evo ST looks similar to most of AGVs current range of sportsbike helmets. With that pointy ‘hawks bill’ chin bar, they’re designed to cut through the air and give stability at speed – as well as look pretty cool.

But the ST isn’t a sportsbike helmet so you’ll find the graphics are a bit more conservative than your typical race-rep. There’s the Mono range which are the solid black/white versions – along with an unusual Mono mid grey version.

The Vermont graphics come in hi vis yellow, black or white; the Boston in Blue/white and black/grey; and the Seattle in Black/grey with red or yellow highlights or a blue white.

Actually, there’s so many variants, we can only give you a taster on this page. So feel free to click your way through to our recommended stores below where you’ll find a much wider selection of designs.

AGV Numo Evo ST Video

Here’s a decent 4m look around the Numo Evo ST Portland.

Other stuff – fasteners, headsets, weight, glasses, aero, quality, warranty

Modular helmets tend to be heavier than full face helmets – I guess because there’s a load of extra mechanism needed in there to articulate that chin guard. But the AGV Numo Evo ST is heavier than most because it’s got all that mechanism plus it’s made from thermoplastic, which tends to be a bit heavier than most other helmet materials.

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth headset into your Numo Evo ST, then a few owners say it’s just fine – with a couple of Sena owners (including one with a Sena 10S) saying it fitted without any problems.

It weighs around 3.9lbs or 1.8Kg – so it’s no lightweight helmet, on paper at least. But according to owners and riders, it doesn’t feel very heavy at all when you’re wearing it – and when you’re on the road, that weight evaporates. So, all should be good there.

Same goes for glasses wearers. You can push on your glasses then close the chin bar (a couple of folks say it’s fiddly at first but fine once you get the hang of it) and we only found Numo Evo ST owners who said it works fine with their glasses or sunglasses.

Aero and buffeting usually isn’t a problem with the latest AGV designs and it turns out the Numo Evo ST is no different. Owners reckon it’s got great aero qualities with little to no buffeting and great stability, even at speed.

Lots of owners also say it’s a very well built helmet too. Great overall quality, good materials and excellent finish are common comments about the Numo Evo ST.

AGV helmets come with a 2 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

The AGV Numo Evo range is a tried-and-tested range of modular helmets and this new ST version has an updated interior lining along with a range of other features that might well put it at the top of your list if you’re looking for a cheaper flip-up helmet.

That includes a very good SHARP 4 star safety rating along with a 100% rating on the chin bar locking mechanism.

It’s also got a useful drop down sun visor, plus it’s got that all-important AGV badge and helmet design that means it’s a well-built helmet that really looks the part because it shares its DNA with the top of the range sportsbike lids used by Valentino Rossi on the MotoGP grid.

Ok, the ventilation is about average and it’s not the lightest helmet on the block. But for the money, it’s a great performing flip-front helmet that the vast majority of owners say was a great investment.

So, if you’re looking for a great value modular helmet that’s as good for all day touring as it is for commuting, then the AGV Numo Evo ST is a great buy.

If you buy one, just make sure you shove some ear plugs in the basket too!

Crash Helmet Buying Guides

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various guides - or have a look at our top helmet lists where we've got the top 10 rated helmets overall and best budget/safest/full face/flip-up/sportsbike/track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the AGV Numo Evo ST?

There’s some great modular helmets out there. Here’s a bunch which are all highly rated for safety as well as being great helmets.

HJCs IS-Max II is a favourite. It’s cheaper than the Numo Evo, it’s slightly lighter, scored 4 SHARP stars for safety and has a sun visor too.

In fact, both the IS-Max II and the Shark Evo-One 2 are 4 star safety rated and scored 100% for chin guard too. The Shark has a sun visor and comes with a Pinlock in the box too – and it’s the type of modular where the chin bar rotates to the back of the helmet, if that’s the sort you’re looking for.

AGVs Sport Modular is a cracker too. It has a sun visor, Pinlock in the box, it’s 4 star safety rated too and is designed to work best on sportsbikes – hence the name. It’s light too (as light as many full face helmets) plus has an optically correct shield- though that all comes at a much higher price.

Other Modular Helmets

If you're after a new modular/flip-up helmet, they've never been more popular and there's a ton of choice out there. You can find our latest top 10 modular helmets list here or check out all our modular helmet reviews here. You can also visit our smart filters page where you can click the flip-up/modular check box then choose a few other features to find the best flip-up helmet for you.