Italian manufacturer AGV introduces two brand new helmets that are going to broaden its Street Road line-up: the K-3 and the K-4 Evo. If the K-3 can be considered the ‘entry-level’ product of the range, there is no doubt it raises the bar quite a bit as it bears quite a few resemblances with the GP-Tech (the model that sits at the top of that range) as well as boasting flashy Valentino Rossi-replica graphics. Its shell is made of HIR-TH (High Resistant Thermoplastic Resin), while the coating of its Street 8 visor is anti-scratch and anti-fog.

The air inlets on forehead and chin allow for a constant flow of fresh air inside the helmet while the two outlets on the sides and the one at the back - framed into a little spoiler - use EPS channeling to get rid of the hot and humid air from within the helmet. The inner lining is removable and washable (nape pad aside) and is made of Dri-Lex, which has been hygienically treated to avoid bacteria and allergies.

The K-4 Evo is arguably the most balanced and versatile model of the whole AGV range. The overall design of the model is pretty similar to the K-3, but its shell is made of fibreglass-based ACF (Advanced Composite Fiber). These two new models from AGV come with a slew of different and fancy graphics (as you can see in our massive photo gallery); which one do you like the most?

View the full AGV - K-3 and K-4 Evo photo gallery

Continue reading: AGV K-3 and K-4 Evo: not really 'entry level' helmets

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Renowned German manufacturer Schuberth introduces the new S2, which is described as a ‘true allround helmet’ and - in the intentions of its maker - will take on all the main segments of the market, meaning Cruising, Touring, Sports and Racing too. The S2 weighs 1,450 g (+/- 50 g depending on the size) and has a shell made of composite moulding and fibreglass in a sanwich structure (hence it is uniform, with no ‘patches’) which contributes to make the S2 light and rigid, and has a polyester/polyamide lining that’s easily removable and washable.

Schuberth takes a lot of pride in its wind tunnel - they were the first helmet manufacturer to get one about 30 years ago - which allows them to carry on very advanced tests in aerodynamic and aeroacoustic on their products, and the S2 is no exception. The model in fact uses a quite advanced design and that reduces the air flow that gets to the ears, making it one of the most ’silent’ helmets out there. The model also boasts an innovative ventilation system which allows it to take in 8 litres of fresh air per second when traveling at 100 km/h, and uses a chin spoiler that increases down force while reducing neck strain.

Furthermore, the S2 is the first helmet ever to come with 2 integrated antennas for Bluetooth and FM radio reception, which is suitable for Schuberth’s own SRC connectivity system. Obviously, built-in sun visor and a Micro Lock quick release buckle at the chin-strap are also parts of the package. Check out the main specs of the Schuberth S2 right after the jump.

Continue reading: Schuberth launches the new S2 'all round' helmet

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Twenty-one riders will be on the 2012 MotoGP grid this season and these are the helmets they will be wearing. Some graphics are instantly recognizable like the one on Valentino Rossi’s new AGV PistaGP helmet, or Casey Stoner’s Nolan X-Lite with symbols representing his native Australia. Others like Yonny Hernandez’s and Ivan Silva’s Scorpion lids are almost the same and just switch around the black and white colouring.

Both Michele Pirro and Danilo Petrucci are members of the Fiamme Oro, Italy’s police sports division (officially they are police officers). The Gresini rider’s lid has the name and blue and white colours of the State Police while Petrucci goes for the Fiamme Oro logo and the Italian flag.

James Ellison goes for the minimalist look, no graphics, just a pure white Shoei helmet that you’ll be able to spot immediately.

Which helmet design do you prefer?

Continue reading: 2012 MotoGP helmets

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During the first Sepang test Valentino Rossi debuted this new AGV helmet dubbed PistaGP (pista in Italian means track) that sparked a lot of interest after the Italian said “it feels like I am not wearing a helmet. Its aerodynamics have increased, with excellent ventilation and exaggerated visibility, like switching from the TV to the cinema.”

Rossi was the leading rider involved in this three year project (it also helps that he was named the honorary president of AGV back in 2008) that was officially presented to the press during this past weekend final pre-season test at Jerez.

According to the blurb, which doesn’t say when it will be released to the the bike riding world of Joe public and more importantly if someone who doesn’t make six digit paychecks will have to sell his first born (which some days I feel like doing) or a kidney (well we do have two) to afford to buy this innovative helmet that is based on laser scans of the rider’s head and then the measurements are converted into a digital format. These measurements are then used to design the helmet, from the inside to the outside, adopting state-of-the-art digital design technologies based on CAE/CAD methods.

For more pics and info on the PistaGP just hit the jump.

Continue reading: AGV's new PistaGP helmet - Taking it to the next level

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This is the new and exclusive Airoh helmet GP500 that Team Gardner Racing (TGR) and naturally Remy and Luca Gardner will using this season.

Continuing the team’s developing “dream” theme, the Australian aboriginal dreamtime design reflects TGR’s Aussie roots, and is a stunning example of the Italian helmet company’s creative talents (even if reminds us very much of Valentino Rossi’s AGV 2007 Dreamtime lid)

Inspired by Australian aboriginal artwork and incorporating some of Remy and Luca’s favourite colours, Airoh’s designers have been able to highlight the Gardners’ proud culture and produce their own special piece of art and the dreamtime helmet is sure to be one of the team’s stars this season, alongside Remy’s Moriwaki Dream (MD250) GP3 bike.

Continue reading: Airoh's TGR GP500 Helmet

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We usually check out Sharp before buying a new helmet to see what kind of safety ratings it gets, but helmet certification standards are not all alike and one standard like DOT, Snell and ECE R22-05 may not meet the other.

So when an Italian consumer protection agency Altroconsumo carried out their own tests on ten full faced helmets and seven failed, with six of them not meeting ECE R22-05 standards, we as consumers obviously get confused.

This agency took into consideration models with price ranging from 85 to 460 euros and on different sizes had them tested in a certified homologation laboratory to check normal safety conformity with an extra test to check impact in points different from the ones forseen by the ECE standards.

Three models passed the tests including the extra test, with the Shoei XR1100 model coming out on top, while the models that didn’t pass the tests (AGV Grid, Airoh Dragon, Arai Axces, Premier Style, Shark Vision R e Suomy Apex - with Nolan’s X-Lite X602 meeting the first test but not the extra test) Altroconsumo reported their findings to the relative manufacturers and to the Italian Ministry of Transportation requesting that they immediately test all helmets that are currently being sold.

The above video is in Italian, but it’s easy to understand the various tests they carried out.

Source | motoblog.it

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If you can’t get enough of social networking from your computer, smartphone or tablet and also feel the need to comunicate to the world while your riding your two wheels, Newmax Helmets is filling in that void with their recently launched Social Network Helmet.

The idea comes out of workshop organized by Newmax and the Istituto Europeo di Design in Turin in April 2011, and developed at the company by working on some ideas of Margherita Buzzi, a second-year student attending the three-year post-graduate course in Industrial Design.

The helmet is available in a rainbow of colours, but all them feature a white space ‘the wall’ on the rear where you can write messages, thoughts or even draw. Each helmet comes with a magic marker, an eraser and four removable stickers to further personalize it.

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As usual Valentino Rossi debuted a special helmet for his home race at Mugello and this year it was this ‘eye-catching’ design dubbed ‘The Eye’.

Unfortunately for Rossi the Mugello GP didn’t bring him that much luck as he finished 6th in the race, despite the not so sublimal message behind the meaning of the eyeball “watch out because sooner or later there’s going to be a change” now hardcore Rossi fans can own ‘The Eye’ as AGV is releasing another limited edition of this GP-TECH lid, which is slightly different from the previous one.

The graphics were designed by Aldo Drudi and besides showing Valentino’s big blue eye, the helmet also features the colours of the Italian Tricolore flag (this year is Italy’s 150th anniversary of unification and also on AGV’s logo) his bulldogs Cesare and Cecilia and the trademark sun and moon motif on the back.

Technical specs after the jump:

Continue reading: AGV Valentino Rossi 'Eye' limited edition helmet

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This was the last helmet design that Loris Capirossi wore during this year’s Valencia GP and it was a special and final tribute to his 22-year long career in Grand Prix racing.

Suomy has decided to honour the former three time World Champion with this limited and numbered ‘Grazie Loris’ edition designed by Starline. The Apex model will be produced in numbers from 0001 to 1000 and will be sold at a price of 400 euros.

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The Monza Research Institute is developing full face electronic safety helmet that throws out a distress call if a rider crashes.

The helmet is part of DARS (Decade of Action for Road Safety), and a world wide campaign launched by the UN with the objective to improve road safety and it was presented during this year’s EICMA show by George Beghelli Bartoli, technical director of the Monza circuit.

The MRI ESH is able to report the exact location of the wearer and provides information regarding vital functions and sends off a signal of ‘man down’ in case of a serious accident.

Continue reading: MRI Electronic Safety Helmet (w/video)

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