Light weight is one off the most important safety and comfort qualities of a motorcycle helmet and Italian helmet manufacturer AGV has now released the world’s first fully carbon modular helmet.
The AGV Sportmodular has a carbon-fibre shell and a carbon-fibre chin piece and weighs in a just 1295g.
It is now available in Australia, starting at $899 for the glossy carbon, $999 for the White Carbon and the Grey Carbon, while the two “Multi” (Red and also Hi Vis Yellow) are $1099.
That compares with the previous lightest modular helmet, the Shark Evoline Pro Carbon Helmet that weighs 1565g and is made of a mixture of carbonfibre and multi-axial glass fibres.
Shark Evoline Pro CarbonModular pluses and minuses
Flip-up or modular helmets are convenient and great for touring where you can just flip them up to talk to fellow riders and pillions or take a quick photo. Some service stations even allow you to fill your tank without taking ff the helmet.
However, they are traditionally heavy because of the hinge mechanism and the need to make them structurally stronger to overcome the inherent weakness of the two-piece shell.
That can make them tiring on a long trip where riders have neck pain at the end of the day.
They can also be fatiguing on a long ride because of the extra noise from that gap in the hinge mechanism.
The AGV Sportmodular is not only light weight, but all also reduces fatigue because it has been wind-tunnel tested to reduce drag and wind noise.
Sportmodular features
AGV claims the helmet is great in all seasons because it is lined with soft hypoallergenic 2Dry fast-wicking materials for moisture control, Sanitized to make it odour free and has a patented ventilation-enhancing reversible crown.
The material can be swapped around for hot and cold days. One side of the crown is made of smooth Ritmo to keep your head cool and the other is a soft Shalimar material to keep your head warm.
It also also great in the rain with a rear lip profile that directs rain and spray away from the neck.
The Spotmodular also features a 190-degree panoramic visor, visor lock so it doesn’t spring open at high seeds, an anti-scratch internal sun visor and a chin strap with a secure titanium double d fastener.
The helmet has the same impact protection as their Pista SGP-R helmet worn by MotoGP riders such as Valentino Rossi and three-time World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss who is contesting the Australian Superbikes in his comeback year.