Sports helmets need to juggle a lot — sleek aerodynamics, clear vision, reliable safety and, ideally, comfort you can live with all day. The AGV K7 helmet promises that in a compact, road-friendly package. I’ve been out riding with one on a Suzuki GSX-S1000 and Yamaha FZ-1 Fazer to see how it stacks up.
Fit & comfort
The K7 is offered in sizes XS–2XL across three shell sizes, and I found the medium true to my usual fit. It’s compact in feel, and for me it stayed only just on the right side of cramped, though that tighter profile pays off when it comes to weight and aero stability.
Inside, the cheekpads are lined with a smooth, cool-touch fabric that makes slipping the helmet on and off more comfortable, while the crown pad uses a grippier brushed fabric to keep it steady. My glasses slid in without fuss thanks to the channels at the top of the cheekpads.
A chin curtain is supplied in the box. Fit it to cut down noise and really feel the ventilation system working. Leave it out and the vents will become irrelevant as you’ll just get a lot of swirling air coming up through the chinbar.
Noise & aerodynamics
The K7’s streamlined shape worked well on both a naked and half-faired bike, with no turbulence issues and lower noise levels than I expected. As always, noise depends as much on the bike, screen and riding kit as it does on the helmet itself, but the K7 held its own for me.
Photography: Helen Meeds
On the scales, my size medium came in at 1674g — right in line with competitors such as the Shoei GT-Air 3, Schuberth S3 and HJC RPHA 71.
Vision & visor system
The visor is easy to swap and works through six firm steps, with a cracked-open position for extra airflow. This can be locked in the cracked position with a loop at the tip of the visor, though I find the resistance is enough to stop windflow from pushing the visor open even if it's unlocked.
Anti-fog duties are handled by a Pinlock 120 insert, which covers a wide field of view. Peripheral vision is excellent, and the internal sun visor is equally practical. It has two drop levels: riders with generous noses can use the first setting and those of us with smaller ones can take the extra coverage. The only drawback is that it isn’t treated to resist fog, so winter misting is a possibility.
Ventilation
There are five intake vents and three exhausts, with channels running through the impact liner and crown-pad perforations to move air through the lid.
The chin vent in particular is impressive, firing two strong jets directly to the face. The central top slider is also effective, though the side intakes give more subtle cooling.
Overall ventilation is good — but you'll only if the chin curtain is fitted. Without it you'll not need vents as incoming air swirls inside and swamps anything that's coming through the vents.
Intercom compatibility
Inside the K7, recesses are generous enough to take large 45mm speakers. The helmet is prepped for the AGV Insyde comms system, co-developed with Cardo, which integrates neatly and uses their Mesh technology.
Those wanting a third-party intercom might find mounting tricky. The rim is too wide for most clip mounts, and the shell doesn’t leave much flat space for adhesive plates. Smaller mounts may work, but it’ll require trial and error.
Fastening & safety
The fastening system is a micrometric quick-release buckle. While I personally prefer double D-rings on sportier lids, the micrometric option is convenient and in line with the competition.
On safety, the K7 is ECE 22.06-approved, and AGV claim it exceeds the baseline requirements.
Two previous AGVs with ECE 22.06 approval have been tested under SHARP and both scored the full five stars, which bodes well. There's also the ACU Gold sticker that means you’re cleared for track use.
Final thoughts
AGV’s K7 feels like a well-balanced package. The build quality is high, the visor and vision system are excellent, and ventilation is effective once the chin curtain is in place.
At the time of writing, the K7 costs from £379.99 for plain colours and £449.99 for graphics, which comes in cheaper than some big-name rivals while giving little away little in performance. For riders after a sporty road helmet, the K7 is a very strong contender.
