The Road Captain will be proud!

[Strika]

Well, Phill will have agiggle when he hears this one!!!!!

I have been needing to buy a new road lid since about February, when the Rexess had a little lay down right on top of my new BMW Sport Integral Lid, rendering it squished and unusable! I have been using my race Lid, which is not ideal as it pads them out and they tend then to smack you in the face when you sit up for turn one at the Island!

So this morning I went out A Lid Huntin!!! I had in my mind to Buy another Arai. I was going to buy a New "Vector Web", which I liked the look of and it fits me like all Arai's do..perfectly. I had sussed them out and could nick one for about $600. Which is Exxie, but, comfort is a hard thing to quantify with money. However, I was once again going to open my mind to other brands before buying the Arai! I intended on trying the newest HJC's, the XR Shoei's, the Nolan N602's and AGV Stealth.

The HJC, was just a bucket of puss and I still cannot fathom why people think they are so good. The finish is average at best and the fit is all over the place for me. Still a big no from me on HJC. At least I gave them an opportunity though!!!

Next was the Nolan and I nearly bought it! It appeared at first to fit really well and I liked how it all worked. But, I wore it around for ten minutes and soon enough, some tight spots appeared and moved it from awesomely comfy to just OK! Nolan Out!

Next I tried those RST's, they were not on the list but were there so I threw one on! Yuck!

The Shoe's were next, but once again, a little time in it and it was horrible. I don;t have a Shoei head! I wish I did, as I reckon they are the pick next to Arai for quality and Safety!

Lastly I threw on one of the new AGV Stealth's. I had an AGV in my early riding days and found it OK, but never brilliant. The chinpiece would smack me in the gob every lap at turn one! A real pain in the arse both on the track and in windy road conditions. However, the sales guy said that the Stealth was the first AGV released since Dianese bought them out and according to folklore, it's a very Dianese designed lid! So, on the scon it went for a trial! I pulled it on and it was damn good to be honest. It surprised me. I wiggled my scon into it and the first fault appeared. It tucks my ears forward when I pull it on and I have to stick my fingers up inside the lid and fold them flat again! My OGK does this as well, but once seated, they stay put in the OGK. This is the same as the AGV as I would later find out when I rode in the new lid. Yep, that's right Phil......I bought an AGV mate!!!!!! It sat perfectly for a good 30klm commute including some freeway running and some city traffic. It was windy as buggery though, which was a good test of the helmets seating on my head and also it's noise levels.

In the short run I did, I can confidently say, it is as quiet as my Arai and fits almost as well. The vents are easy to operate, especially the chin vent, and they work which is a nice change! I am not sure what model it is I bought, but it is black and grey with some gold bits on it! A little conservatively painted as modern lids go, but pretty lairy for this black duck!!!

I'll let you know in 20,000klms what I end up thinking about it, but right now it appears to be a bloody nice lid which is quiet and comfy! noice!

OH, and as always, Bikebiz did me an enticing deal on the lid with a tint visor! They are wheelers and dealers thos guys! I love it!

[MickLC]

Head shape makes a big difference eh. I've recently picked up one of those horrible HJC's in Carbon Fibre....which is fine by me cos I've got an HJC/Shoei shaped head

[Six Addict]

so we seeing u tomorrow marty??

i like agv... ive got a cheaper airtech

[MadKaw]

Gotta luv the Stealth...

Picked one up last year for a song and have no complaints..

except its a bit noisy....

[Disco]

I have a new stealth aswell is V-cumfy But stupid here bought overseas and is only to british standards and DOT ...

[Strika]

Gotta luv the Stealth...

Picked one up last year for a song and have no complaints..

except its a bit noisy....

What were you wearing before that??? A Schuberth or sumfink?? I reckon they are bloody quiet????

[Disco]

Wasn't it a cooley?Or was that russel

[Smitty]

Yep, that's right Phil......I bought an AGV mate!!!!!!

good one Marty

my last 2 helmets have been AGVs
the first one (I bought in place of an old Shoei) protected my bonce in a 80kmh fight with the
Westgate freeway..and got destroyed. I went straight and bought another (Rossi replica style)
good helmets in my opinion (and they fit my head nicely)


cheers

Smitty

[aardvark]

We recently trialled the new Nolan flip-top for work. What a turdulent piece of junk. It has to be the noisest helmet I have ever worn, it's really tight across the forehead and the ventilation system does next to nothing.

[MadKaw]

Its noisier than my previous Nitro and AGV Xvent..

You must be going deaf in your old age..

From Web Bike World..

Noise Levels
All that air flowing through does cause some noise; I'd say the Stealth transmits more noise than average, but it's not the loudest helmet I've tried.

The top vents do not cause high-pitched whistling noises, and that liner that blocks the air vent holes probably mitigates some of the noise coming from the air flowing in to the top vents. There is some rushing wind noise though and it can be diminished somewhat if the front top vents are closed.

The helmet seems to transmit a fairly high volume of general wind rushing noise that emanates from around the sides of the helmet, and this may either be due to the smaller than average shell size or possibly those big exhaust vents behind the ears.

Also, the helmet does have some lower frequency booming noises that come from up underneath. This is probably due to the shorter than average helmet shell, and it also is due to the way the liner fits up around the back of the head.

The fit back there can vary greatly, depending upon the rider's head shape, the way the helmet fits, and even the clothing the rider is wearing. But I can stick a thumb into the liner in back of my ear and the turbulence-induced noise becomes greatly diminished.

So overall, I'd say the AGV Stealth has higher than average noise levels when compared to most street helmets I've tried. I'd say it transmits "race" helmet levels of noise.

Be sure to visit to the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Noise page for more information. Also, note that we always wear high-quality, correctly fitted ear plugs when riding. Please see the wBW Earplugs and Hearing Protection page for more information on choosing and wearing earplugs.

If you don't wear ear plugs, all bets are off -- every motorcycle helmet is dangerously noisy, in our opinion, and your hearing is as precious as your eyesight, so don't mess with it. Wear ear plugs. Also, note that small changes in clothing, jacket collars, motorcycle types and, of course, windscreens and fairings can make huge differences in the amount of perceived noise.

Score: The AGV Stealth gets a "Poor" rating for noise control.

[Phil]

Saw the new lid this morning, looks good and Marty seems happy with it which is the main thing.

My garage looks like a past catalogue of various AGV models over the last 15 years, some are in - um - better condition than others

[Strika]

I think I still have my Criville Replica Quasar in the shed somewhere too Phil!!!

[67-FKD]

Strika, we must have the same heads mate, as the ears thing was my first complaint with the Stealth as well, but as time has gone on and the helmet wears in, that ceases to become a problem, you ears work themselves out in it

i opted for the jet black option, scored it for about 350 and the visor for about 50