An AGV helmet replaces my ageing LT: Initial impressions

In the end, really happy with this helmet. I felt it suited me and my R15 really well.

BHPian R15M_Rider recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After some thought, finally decided to share a review on my most recent acquisition which I personally almost value as much as my motorcycle - The AGV K1S helmet.

Before going into the review, let me share a few details about my previous 3 helmets. The first one was an open face Royal Enfield one which I used in my college days with the Honda Dio. Pretty sure it was DOT and ISI certified and not ECE, but I don't remember much.

The second one was a Vega Ryker D/V Elite . This was my first helmet after acquiring my first motorcycle - the 2022 YZF R15M. I won't go into detail, since I have mentioned many times on my R15 review thread as to how I whole heartedly started becoming a motorcyclist. Again this helmet was only DOT and ISI certified. Naturally, I started doing my own research on the importance of riding gear and the criticality of a good helmet, the importance and the intensity of each certification. I knew this helmet wasn't going to cut it(the visor quality was the worst, impossible to drive if there is even little bit of rain) and hence just after a year of purchase, I switched to an MT Hummer MIR.

This was a really good upgrade. A definite leap in quality compared to the Vega. It is also ECE 22.05 certified making it much safer as well. This was my first helmet which had a proper "snug" fit, which was as expected uncomfortable at first but then gradually I got used to it. So, what happened that made me switch to the much more premium AGV within just 8 months of using the MT(I still use the MT, but only for short errands) ? Well there were two reasons:

1. Cracks developed on the spoiler section. Chin curtain is extremely flimsy and more often than not, it came off easily whenever I removed the helmet from my head. Yes, this was miles ahead of the Vega, but still cracks weren't encouraging. It was mostly caused by a minor drop but still...

2. I did a track day in March this year at MMRT organized by Yamaha, where I was first introduced to the track-mandatory "double-D" ring. At first I wasn't a fan of the "seemingly" complex mechanism(it was an Axor helmet I think), but I understood why it was mandatory. Compared to the ratchet quick release strap on my MT helmet, it did feel much more secure. This made me determined to get a double-D ring helmet as my next one.

Ever since I got my MT, I did start getting more interested on the safety/riding gear aspect of riding. With motorcycling increasingly becoming more and more as a passion for me, I started getting into investing in proper riding gear for touring long distance, race-track and eventually started investing in riding gear. All along, I was also getting to know about famous helmet brands and why AGV, Arai, Shoei are rated so highly globally. Out of the 3, based on the design alone, I loved the look of AGVs. I mean, its Italian. Hard to argue on the design!

So, the next question was obvious. Where will I be able to buy one? Thanks to the poorly implemented mandatory ISI rule, officially, none of the big premium helmet brands are sold in India. I was left with basically left with two options, either to get it through a niche importer/website like FC-Moto or try getting it from somewhere in Chennai. There are few sellers who do import and sell AGV helmets like Gears Chennai. Since I was very much inclined to try the helmet out before making a decision, online purchase was ruled out. Besides that, there were too many possible red flags and I just wasn't confident to go this route. The only disadvantage of directly getting it was obviously, there will be limited stock and pricing might be higher too. But I still decided to give it a try.

Obviously, the pricing was on the higher side. A mouth-watering 28.5k. It wasn't much far off from the 26.k listing I found on slickshop.in. But as I said, very limited options available, and getting it upfront was the best option considering the amount of fakes in the name of "replicas" are circulating. Seriously, what the AGV sticker is to helmets is the same as Apple logo is to phones! But a part of me knew, 20-30k was anyway the target budget and I was prepared to spend on it. Besides, I know this will last me 5-6 years ideally, which in the long run is totally worth it in my book.

In order to verify the authenticity, there is a QR code given with the box to check. Once you can it, it will take you to the AGV website on your app which will show you the details of the product to verify. Thankfully everything checked out.

There were 5-6 in stock, but I went for the matte black. I had decided on either to get this or in white. I was also not really into graphics and designs. Something about the plain color with AGV's Italian flavored logo made it more aesthetically pleasing. One surprising thing is the K1S comes with a normal cardboard box and has a AGV tag on the helmet cover instead of the logo imprinted like the last K1. As mentioned, the authenticity checked out thankfully. Now coming to the serious bits.

Pros:

• ECE 22.06 (latest standard) and DOT certified.
• I went for the L size which fit well. A good snug fit with enough breathable space. Cushioning is very comfortable.
• Ventilation is amazing! It has 5 vents in the front with an integrated spoiler in the back. This is one helmet I can use comfortably in the typical humid climate of Chennai with the visor down without complaining. At good speeds, it beautifully channels airflow keeping your face fresh for the most part.
• The visor is also great. Crystal clear. By default it comes with a clear visor with a provision for pinlock. I guess it is also possible to get a smoke visor but I very much prefer the clear one which can be used even after the sun goes down.
• Double D rings, at first I thought it was cumbersome to fasten, but just over 2-3 days, got used to it.
• Beautiful Design

Cons:

• Non ISI
• Price !

In the end, really happy with this helmet. I felt it suited me and my R15 really well. Its one of those helmets which you want to have rather more than need to have. I can easily see this lasting me the entire lifespan of 5-6 years without aging badly. Overall, I would say, if anyone is looking for a premium helmet, and has a dilemma on the cost to value part, I would say it is definitely worth the shot. Afterall, in the large scheme of things, its a small price to pay for your head!

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