AGV X101 DAKAR 87 001

The AGV X101 is now joining the likes of the AGV X3000 and AGV X70 to complete the Legends retro helmet collection. This means AGV are now coming with retro offerings for full face, jet, and off road riders so that you can complete your look in almost any major riding segment. The X101 gets its retro look from the helmets used in the Dakar rallies of the 70s and 80s, but it still enjoys all the benefits of modern safety and helmet construction.

So, while you’re getting this classic shell shape, stylized logo, and vent design, the helmet still uses a fiberglass shell in 3 outer shell sizes, and it is ECE 22.05 certified. Overall, the X101 will be coming at a recommended retail price of about 330 Euros, or about 390 USD. This means that the helmet will be competing with other retro offerings such as the Shoei Ex-Zero, Shoei Glamster, Bell Moto-3, and the Arai Concept-X.

Material

The AGV X 101 is fully constructed out of fiberglass in 3 outer shell sizes. These shell sizes are distributed with the first covering XS – S, the next is for M, and the third is for L to XXL. Multiple shell sizes are always an important feature to pay attention to since they not only improve the comfort and proportions of a helmet, but they improve safety by giving you a lighter and more compact piece of gear.

In addition to this, the AGV helmet has been ECE 22.05 certified. Lastly, when we weighed the helmet in a size M, it came in at a light weight of about 1310 grams in a size M, or 2lbs 14oz, though this is heavier than the Shoei Ex Zero.

Ventilation

For ventilation, AGV have kept things retro in the X101. But you’ll still get plenty of air through the main chin vent in the front. The vent has been covered with a metal grille to also keep out larger bits of dirt or debris. You will also get more air in through the area around the visor. And though you’re not getting any exhausts in the helmet, this is generally standard among most retro helmets, and the air will mainly flow out through the EPS channels under the neck roll.

Visor

As a cross helmet, the AGV X1O1 clearly does not come with any visor. Nonetheless, you are getting a large visor aperture to give you a wide field of view. The helmet is built to be ready for goggles or, if you want to keep your retro look AGV’s retro Legends goggles as well.

Moving onto the peak, it is nice and sturdy while still offering a decent level of protection from the sun. It does have 4 main cutouts that will help with ventilation and reduce the sail effect. However, if you want to avoid this effect entirely, you can remove the peak with the three rivet snaps set in the forehead. To put the peak back on, all you do is line up the snaps again and attach it once more.

Liner

Lastly, we now come to the AGV X-101’s interior. Like with the AGV X3000 and X70, AGV have kept it retro, classy, and socially responsible with their very comfortable eco-leather and suede fabric liner. So, the trim around the visor and neck roll is genuine leather, treated in a less environmentally impactful way. AGV have also made sure to make the interior, but not the neck roll removable and washable.

So, to remove the interior, you first need to open up the retro designed double-D ring chin strap and you can then remove the cheek pads. These are held in with 3 snaps on the side and there is a suede fabric liner. You then take out the other cheek pad as well. The comfort liner of the AGV is held in with 2 snaps at the back and two on either side of the temple and it is also made of the same suede material. The liner has an embroidered AGV logo for style and has plenty of mesh around the crown to help with ventilation.

Looking at the interior of the helmet, there are no speaker pockets, but there are several deep EPS grooves to help air flow throughout the helmet and they will allow hot air to escape out the back of the neck roll.

Summary

The AGV X101 is another stylish retro offering from AGV that has definitely brought that classic style to the fore. In addition to the great smooth styling all around, the matching suede liner and modern safety standards make it comfortable and safer.

If you still want to learn more about the AGV helmet, then make sure to check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we run our data driven helmet road tests to bring you the facts. While there, you can also check out our AGV X101 Helmet Video Review.