AGV Ti-Tech Helmet Review

Bill — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:07:24 +0000

There is no question that one of the best road racers on this planet is Valentino Rossi and being a 5 time MOTO GP champion proves just that. There is also no question that riders often imitate their favorite racers and one of the easiest ways to do that is to wear the clothing and/or helmets that they wear on the track. This has been happening for many years and is nothing new. If you were to pick up an AGV Ti-Tech Replica then you would be wearing the same helmet as a 5 time champion.

AGV Ti-Tech Helmet Fit

AGV describes the Ti-Tech's design as a "race fit," which does make sense considering they designed the helmet for Rossi. Let me be clear, to a street rider, race fit means snug and bordering on tight. This is a feature that some people prefer and some people hate and you might have some wiggle room in the size and adjustments but compared to your average street helmet, this one is snug.

The AGV rep told me that the Rossi replica is the exact helmet that Rossi races with and that the same helmet you buy, is the same helmet he wears. The only difference is that the sponsor tinkers with the graphics on the helmet slightly but that shouldn't deter anyone. Knowing this, there is no question that the Ti-Tech was developed with a racer in mind and that said, you might sacrifice a small amount of comfort in exchange for high end performance.

In my opinion, the main problem with the comfort level of the Ti-Tech is the way it fit around my ears. I admittedly have a set of dumbo ears but even so it was very snug. The cheek pads are tight and you have to make sure your ears are as tucked back as possible or you are going to fold one and that can hurt. Ask me how I know.

AGV Ti-Tech Riding Comfort

My initial impression of the Ti-Tech was not favorable as it just felt too cramped compared to the other helmets that I typically ride with and it wasn't looking good. I don't give up on a product easily and if I intend to review it then I want to make sure that I give it a fair shake and I have to admit that after I had a couple of weeks of ride time on the Ti-Tech and adjusted to it a little bit then I kind of started to like the way it fit. What was once snug and tight turned into secure and safe. You can fine tune the way the Ti-Tech fits by changing out the size of the removable liners which also by the way are washable.

Something that you may like about the snug fit of the Ti-Tech is that it is a very quiet helmet. I found all but the loudest road noise was easily baffled by this helmet and the buffeting at highway speed was minimal. I did get a small amount of buffeting when speeds approach triple digits but it is hardly worth mentioning.

Now that I have gotten my major issue addressed I have to say that the AGV Ti-Tech is a pretty solidly designed helmet otherwise. It utilizes a Carbon Kevlar shell which is top shelf material and is DOT certified which should make you feel pretty good about its crashability. I try really hard to never have to crash test a helmet but I know that Valentino has crashed a number of times while wearing this helmet and seems to have survived quite well.

AGV Ti-Tech Ventilation

The ventilation system on the Ti-Tech is one of the best I have seen. I live in Georgia where temps regularly see mid 90s and often top triple digits at street level. Obviously this is a hot zone and a good ventilation system is a nice feature. The Ti-Tech features Titanium air intakes (hence the name I believe) and they flow a large volume of air and are placed correctly to keep the air flow inside the helmet just right. The Ti-Tech keeps your head cool, it's as simple as that.

A removable chin curtain blocks almost all outside air, leaving the adjustable titanium chin and top vents the only source of air intake. This is a nice feature when the temps turn cold and you will definitely appreciate the barrier.

The faceshield is also a high quality item, as it should be on a helmet in this price range, and I unfortunately had to test its effectiveness in the rain a few times. The water wicked away nicely and the shield stayed clear, which is another testimony to the ventilation system doing a great job.

The Ti-Tech features the XQRS, which is short for Extra Quick Release System. Once you get the hang of the way it works, the XQRS allows for quick visor changes.

AGV Ti-Tech Design

In my opinion, the clear cut best thing about the AGV Ti-Tech is its visual appeal. You expect a helmet in this price range to be a quality helmet with nice features but you don't always get a GREAT looking helmet with a full race pedigree like the AGV Ti-Tech. You might not like the Ram Horns graphics that Rossi uses on his helmet but they offer a number of other very attractive designs. I am partial to the model that I tested which was the red, white and black design.

On the flip side, one of the worst things about the Ti-Tech is the price tag. You are staring down the barrel of a helmet with a $650 MSRP give or take a few bucks. You can likely find a better deal than that if you shop wisely and I would encourage you to check out the Ti-Tech helmets at the bottom of this article to see what kind of deal you can find.

If you are a rider who enjoys riding in absolute comfort and will settle for nothing less, then the AGV Ti-Tech probably isn't for you. If you are an around town rider or a weekend racer and prefer a race oriented helmet that can be seen on MOTO GP tracks around the world then the AGV Ti-Tech might be the perfect helmet for you. The decision is yours.

It won't make you a better rider but it might make you LOOK like a better rider. Check out the AGV Ti-Tech deals I have shown below or take a look at some of the other models of AGV Helmets that are available. You can't beat a deal and there is nothing wrong with Cheap Motorcycle Helmets.