daveslash5
Member
My beloved 6 year old Schuberth C3 had gotten a bit long in the tooth, did not fit snugly anymore and after a long ride caused a sore spot on the top of my head. The time had come for a new helmet and I planned on replacing it with a new Schuberth C4 Pro. I like to try before I buy, so I checked the local shops. I could have one in Gloss Black or Flat Black, which was all that the dealers had in stock. I checked on ordering, but the Covid supply disruptions have proven to be a problem: no Large Hi-Vis in stock at the warehouse and the dealers did not know when they would be available. I also looked at and tried on the Shoei Neotec 2 and although it felt good on my head, it just felt bulky to me. It also seemed a bit more of a subdued yellow-gold color than a vibrant Hi-Vis. Tried a Nolan, HJC, and an LS2 Modular and they just did not make the grade and were not available in Hi-Vis anyway.
Last week as I was having a tire installed on my bike at Cherokee Cycles, the new BMW dealer in Greer SC, I noticed some helmet boxes that were on the floor to be displayed. One was the Italian AGV Sportmodular helmet in a Hi-Vis and Carbon pattern. I tried it on and it fit my head shape perfectly and it felt REALLY light. I came home and started reading online info on this helmet and it sounded good. It is currently marketed as the lightest modular helmet on the market with a full carbon shell and titanium metal parts, a high safety rating and good visibility. I went back the next day, wore it around the shop for 30 minutes and bought it.
I wore it on the ride home and initial impressions were good. It is noticeably lighter and has much more ventilation than my Schuberth – I can feel a breeze on my face from the chin vent. It has a comfortable interior (although after putting it on I have to reach in and adjust my ears) and excellent visibility. It was also a bit noisier than the Schuberth and at certain angles the wind made some whistling noises that would go away with a shift of the head. I used earplugs with the C3 and I will have to use them with the Sportmodular too.
Back at home I decided to compare the weight of both helmets. The Schuberth C3 in Large came in at 1630 grams (3lb. 9.4oz.) and the AGV Sportmodular at 1480 grams (3lb. 4.2oz). That’s a third of a pound lighter! I have not put calipers to the helmets, but the AGV looks slightly larger. The fit and finish on this AGV is certainly top notch.
Now after 200 miles I am liking this AGV. Some pluses of the Sportmodular are the light weight, excellent clarity for the visor and the flip down sunscreen. It also comes with a PinLock 120 anti-fog lens. The ventilation is better than any previous helmet that I have owned due to a large vent on the chin, a good sized vent on top, a “spoiler” with exhaust vent on the back and one at the base of the neck. It has a very comfortable interior with a reversible crown (one side for cold weather and one side for hot weather). The exterior has a nice smooth design and eye catching Hi-Vis and Carbon graphics.
Some differences between my Schuberth C3 and the AGV Sportmodular are the double D ring chinstrap that take a bit of getting used to after the ratchet lock system on the Schuberth, pressing a button to unlock the visor before raising it (it locks shut in the closed position) and pulling -not pushing- the button for the chin bar release. The visor seems a bit closer to my face and the sunscreen touches the end of my nose when I lower it but then goes back up to just above my nose. I will have to be sure to put in ear plugs before highway riding. I think that will get used to these differences, and in my short test so far the pros balance out the cons.
I think that the AGV Sportmodular may be one to check out if you are in the market for a new modular helmet.
Last week as I was having a tire installed on my bike at Cherokee Cycles, the new BMW dealer in Greer SC, I noticed some helmet boxes that were on the floor to be displayed. One was the Italian AGV Sportmodular helmet in a Hi-Vis and Carbon pattern. I tried it on and it fit my head shape perfectly and it felt REALLY light. I came home and started reading online info on this helmet and it sounded good. It is currently marketed as the lightest modular helmet on the market with a full carbon shell and titanium metal parts, a high safety rating and good visibility. I went back the next day, wore it around the shop for 30 minutes and bought it.
I wore it on the ride home and initial impressions were good. It is noticeably lighter and has much more ventilation than my Schuberth – I can feel a breeze on my face from the chin vent. It has a comfortable interior (although after putting it on I have to reach in and adjust my ears) and excellent visibility. It was also a bit noisier than the Schuberth and at certain angles the wind made some whistling noises that would go away with a shift of the head. I used earplugs with the C3 and I will have to use them with the Sportmodular too.
Back at home I decided to compare the weight of both helmets. The Schuberth C3 in Large came in at 1630 grams (3lb. 9.4oz.) and the AGV Sportmodular at 1480 grams (3lb. 4.2oz). That’s a third of a pound lighter! I have not put calipers to the helmets, but the AGV looks slightly larger. The fit and finish on this AGV is certainly top notch.
Now after 200 miles I am liking this AGV. Some pluses of the Sportmodular are the light weight, excellent clarity for the visor and the flip down sunscreen. It also comes with a PinLock 120 anti-fog lens. The ventilation is better than any previous helmet that I have owned due to a large vent on the chin, a good sized vent on top, a “spoiler” with exhaust vent on the back and one at the base of the neck. It has a very comfortable interior with a reversible crown (one side for cold weather and one side for hot weather). The exterior has a nice smooth design and eye catching Hi-Vis and Carbon graphics.
Some differences between my Schuberth C3 and the AGV Sportmodular are the double D ring chinstrap that take a bit of getting used to after the ratchet lock system on the Schuberth, pressing a button to unlock the visor before raising it (it locks shut in the closed position) and pulling -not pushing- the button for the chin bar release. The visor seems a bit closer to my face and the sunscreen touches the end of my nose when I lower it but then goes back up to just above my nose. I will have to be sure to put in ear plugs before highway riding. I think that will get used to these differences, and in my short test so far the pros balance out the cons.
I think that the AGV Sportmodular may be one to check out if you are in the market for a new modular helmet.