Adventure helmets are versatile and stylish these days, with MX looks and features but all of the comfort of a road touring helmet. Here is our latest AGV AX9 review...

Adventure helmets haven’t been around for that long. Back in the early 2000s they began to appear from various manufacturers initially being touted as a supermoto helmet because of the off-road style looks and roadbike-style visor… Here, we review the AGV AX9…

Matt headed North for the BMW Safari, wearing his new Adventure kit from Link, including the AGV AX9...

Matt headed North for the BMW Safari, wearing his new Adventure kit from Link, including the AGV AX9…

 But as the adventure market grew in popularity so did this style of helmet and these days just about every manufacturer has at least one, if not many, adventure touring helmet models in their range. AGV’s AX9 is the off-road/adventure option in its five-model touring range of helmets. Style-wise it’s one of the best-looking adventure lids on the market as it still retains angular, MX-inspired lines yet packs in a load more functionality for big distances on and off road.

Weighing in at a smidge under 1.5kg, the AX9 is light. Throwing it on for the first time on day one of a three-day stint on the 2024 BMW GS Safari, the AX9 was instantly comfortable and no strain on the neck and shoulders after a big days ride.

“The AX9 was instantly comfortable and no strain on the neck and shoulders after a big days ride”…

Internally there are two removable cheek pads, two chin-strap pads, wind protector cover and a crown pad that can be washed if needed. The fabric is supple yet holds your head firmly and there is a space around the ears to accommodate an intercom if you so please.

Read our other AGV helmet reviews here…

I run ear plugs, but without them there is little noise – a factor of both the aerodynamic performance of the helmet and the softening of air by the ventilation and chin protector. There is one central air intake in chin area that has an open and close function. Air runs through the vent into a foam filter with this whole unit removable and allowing a high volume of air to pass through if you desire.

The two top air intakes run air across the top of the helmet and out exhausts on the rear of the helmet. They noticeably cool the top of your head with open and closed the only regulation. Removal of the chin protector dramatically increase noise and air flow through the helmet and is something I’d ride without when the months are hotter.

The AX9 cuts through the air very well, no matter what bike I’ve been riding with it on. Even at high speed there is no head bobbling that you typically get in a motocross lid and while the peak looks like a wind-trap, it isn’t. The AX9 comes with an optional visor opening mechanism that allows you to drop the peak at the expense of less visor opening – something I will never use.

With the visor removed, the AX9 is designed to accommodate goggles. Visor removal – and too the peak – is by a flathead screwdriver, and the visors come ready to go for a Pinlock lens. AGV also has five replacement visor options for the AX9: the standard fit clear, 50 per cent tint, 80 per cent tint and Iridium gold and silver. The clear and tints are $119, while the Iridiums are $139.

The only thing I could fault the AX9 is for something trivial – the visor is gloss black and not gloss carbon! Aside from that, the fit, finish, style, performance and functionality of the AX9 is brilliant. Shop around the adventure touring market for a helmet like I did recently and you’ll also see that in terms for value for money the AX-9 is hard to beat.

 For more information see Link International – linkint.com.au – for the full AGV range, agvhelmets.com.au or visit your local AGV stockist. The AGV AX9 Gloss Carbon is available for $799RRP. The AX9 comes in three models with different graphics for $699 RRP and solid black or white for $599 RRP.

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