With a Carbon-Kevlar shell and titanium air intakes, the AGV Ti-Tech is made from top-shelf material, but you'd expect nothing but the best on the same helmet utilized by five-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi.
Do you want to wear the same lid as the greatest road racer in the world? The
AGV Ti-Tech Replica allows you to do just that by wearing the same helmet as none other than The Doctor himself, Valentino Rossi.
This riding season we've had the opportunity to sample the Ti-Tech and have worn it for triple-digit thrills during trackdays, street rides through idyllic scenery, and even a week-long European Alpine adventure. Through it all, the Ti-Tech has been a good-looking and capable companion.
I assume the "Ti" in Ti-Tech stands for titanium, the material utilized for vent intakes on the design, but it should stand for "tight." Let's get that straight right off the bat - the make-or-break aspect of the Ti-Tech is its snug fit.
AGV describes the Ti-Tech's close quarters feel as a "race fit," which makes sense as the Italian firm built the new lid with Rossi in mind. As we mentioned above, it is a Ram Horn-decaled Ti-Tech adorning the curly-haired cabesa of Mr. Rossi on the Grand Prix circuits. Our AGV rep assures us that the Rossi "replica," is the exact same stock unit The Doctor's people get straight off the shelf from AGV, with the lone difference being the Fiat Yamaha folks tinker with the colors. The point is the Ti-Tech was developed for racing and does seem to have compromised some comfort for performance.
The problem with the Ti-Tech's initial feel is how the ears fit into the helmet - they almost don't. Cheek pads press hard and a rider has to take great pains to make sure their ears are pinned back when putting on the helmet. It is a take-it-or-leave-it fit from AGV, and no doubt many will opt to "leave it" after wriggling on the Ti-Tech for the first time in a showroom.
At first I hated the cramped fit of the Ti-Tech too. It takes some getting used to, but provided you make certain to get those ears swept back, you can wear this helmet for hours without complaint. There were a couple times, however, when I was cursing myself for not making second or third sweeps inside my helmet to assure my Dumbo-esque audio receptors were indeed pinned up against my skull. Take it from me, if you do get an ear folded over in this helmet, it hurts like hell after a couple of minutes. If you bear any resemblance to Mad Magazine's Alfred E. Neuman, this is not the helmet for you.
Once I
did get adjusted to the Ti-Tech and broke in the helmet after a couple weeks of riding, I actually started to like the snug fit. What had before felt cramped, started to feel stable and the sensation provided me with a sense of security and safety. After a couple weeks I swapped out the AGV for my old Shoei that has ample room for my ears and it felt a lot looser than the snug Ti-Tech. Riders can fine-tune the AGV's fit by changing the size of the removable and washable liners. If I had taken the opportunity to sample more sizes and liners I could have found an even more comfortable fit, but even then you're never going to feel like your ears aren't a bit constricted.
One side benefit of the snug fit is that when you have plugs in all but the loudest and most critical road sounds are muffled and believe me, your earplugs ain't goin' nowheres. At speed you will feel some buffeting, and if you forget your plugs, you're going to hear it. Riding at a regular pace with plugs, the only noticeable exterior sound due to the helmet was a slight drone when I pitched my head to the right.
Okay, now that the tight fit is addressed, the Ti-Tech does do all the helmet basics very well. As would fit a design bearing its $650 pricetage, the Ti-Tech utilizes top-shelf material, with a Carbon-Kevlar shell. Although we were fortunate to never crash while wearing it, we imagine its DOT certification ensures it will protect your noggin in a fall. After all, Valentino has taken a GP tumble a time or two with the Ti-Tech on and he doesn't seem any more daft than usual.
The AGV Ti-Tech was developed for a guy by the name of Valentino Rossi, with The Doctor wearing the design in the MotoGP championship.
One area on the Ti-Tech where I have to give a full five-star, two-thumbs-up rating is the ventilation. I sweat like a feverous pig when the temps soar, but only once in the many moons I have worn the Ti-Tech has my head been dripping with perspiration after squeezing out of the AGV. That occasion was my first-ever trackday, when the outside temp was well into the 90s and I was in full leathers. The venting system, which features pure titanium air intakes, is multi adjustable. The Ti-Tech keeps your head cool, it's as simple as that.
On the temperature flip side, during an unforgettable Edelweiss European Alpine Tour this summer, as well as other cold-weather rides here in the States, my arms and legs might have been shivering, but my precious brain was well insulated in the comfortable liners. Helping keep things at a comfortable temp, a removable chin curtain blocks almost all outside air, leaving the adjustable titanium chin and top vents the only source of air intake.
When the European rain started falling, which it did for about three straight days in the Alps, the removable shields wicked rain off at a sideways glance. Even in wet riding conditions, the shield was reluctant to fog up and when it started to get a bit misty inside, cracking the visor open just one position cleared everything up in short order. The Ti-Tech's XQRS (Extra Quick Release System) allows for quick changes, once you get the hang of it.
One of the best things going for the Ti-Tech is its looks. Even if you don't want Val's Ram Horns graphics, there are plenty of other sharp looking designs. We were partial to our red, white and black design. One of the worst things going for the Ti-Tech is its $650 MSRP ($620 for our non-Rossi design).
Although I have done several all-day touring rides in the Ti-Tech, I couldn't recommend this helmet for the touring set, where long-haul comfort is tantamount. On the other hand, if you want a helmet for trackdays and half-day sportbike excursions, the Ti-Tech might be right up your alley. Just don't be surprised if you find the AGV on your head during those touring trips anyway.
So will wearing the same helmet as the five-time MotoGP champ make you ride even one iota closer to the brilliance of Signor Rossi? Whoa buddy, that's not a race fit, that Ti-Tech really is too tight. It's cutting off the circulation to your brain. Loosen that chin strap buddy, because you're still pretty much a schlub, but at least you'll look the part of a MotoGP hero.
Buy it now: AGV Ti-Tech Replica
