Never buying an AGV Lid again. S4 SV - Dont Buy!
Discussion
Hi Denise, Matt,
Over 4 weeks ago I purchased a Helmet from HG Stockwell which was an AGV S4 SV model.
After paying hundreds of pounds for this lid, which fitted perfectly at the time, I trundled out of the store and back to work whereby I noticed that around 45mph an extraordinary amount of blasting wind was hitting me in the eyes. So much infact that it made my eyes water a massive amount and had to stop and wipe them dry. This process cycled several times until I was back at the office 2.5 miles away. On top of this wind in my eyes, a deafening whistle was developing around 40+ mph which was actually louder than my exhaust. Some mean feat considering that I have no baffles. This sound gets increasingly loud until you literally cant bear it – akin to a car alarm going off 3 feet from your head kind of loud. OK – so ear plugs help here a little, but combine this issue with the dribbly eyes, and all of a sudden it seems this lid is becoming a little “unsafe” to use.
Wind noise is also disturbingly loud, it is even louder than in my 5 year old Caberg cheapo lid. This issue isn’t really an issue, more of an observation.
The ride home was even more interesting. Realising that I could not return the lid as it is a “Safety” product, I popped it on and rode home in it whereby to my surprise, it tried to constantly lift off of my head upwards and dragged back so hard that my nose was now touching the visor.
Picture the scene........ (Que wobbly lines)
Johnny (31) on his CB500 daily hack does 100 miles a day 6 days a week. Here he is on the motorway doing 40mph. Why you ask? That’s because when he goes over this speed an amazing transformation occurs....... He becomes “Deaf eye dribbler man!” Thats right, at over speeds of 50mph you can guarantee that Johns eyes are watering so much that he needs to take on 4 litres of water an hour and use the bumps in the road to determine where he is going as he cant see. At the same time he has a whistle so loud in his lid that it is quite literally painful and is giving him a guaranteed headache that will make him so grumpy his missus will absolutely love him in the evening when he gets home. Watch him as his neck seems to be torn upwards from his head – so far infact he could audition for Mr Stretch in the Incredibles! See how his nose seemingly grows as he speeds up – like a modern day Bike Riding Pinochio!
When I got home, I took some Nurofen and started looking for leaks on the visor and checked the air vents to see if they were just open and being ultra efficient but could not find anything wrong at all. I reset the visor using the 4 phillips screws and spent a good hour doing this until I was satisfied that it was fitting as best it could. Went out again and still the wind issue was there as was the noise. This time, I taped up the visor top and bottom and the vents and went out again. Still the same. I wrapped a scarf around my neck to block up the chin section and hallelujah that did the job! Now I could see over 45mph, but ultimately would still be deafened by the whistle.
My issues are this, as a “Safety product” it is doing a pretty poor job.
1: It is meant to safely protect my head and hearing – this is does not do as it is trying to deafen me and keep me from hearing sounds of card and other important key survival noises whilst on a bike.
2: It is meant to keep the wind out of my eyes so I can see where I am going safely – again, another fail. So much water comes out of my eyes whilst wearing this lid at over 40+mph that I can NOT see where I am going. Perhaps this lid is best marketed at moped users?
I have had over 20 AGV lids in my time riding and racing, over 40 lids in total. This AGV S4 SV is quite honestly the worst thing I have ever used as a “helmet”. I currently own 4 bikes and have tried this lid on all of them. CB500, Hayabusa Turbo, ZZR1200, GSXR7/11 and it is shockingly similar on all of them, perhaps a little better on the Busa with my chin on the yoke – but this is not a good look for anyone really.
I find it also quite interesting that now 2 people have returned their AGV s4 SV lids having the same problem within 3 weeks. If this is one store – how many are being reported nationally? This is also reflected by the bad press these lids are getting on the internet reviews.
After this experience, I will NEVER buy AGV again and will also shop online for helmets where there is a return policy by law on EVERY product sold.
All I want is a lid, that does what it is supposed to do. That is what it IS – a piece of “SAFETY EQUIPMENT”
Over 4 weeks ago I purchased a Helmet from HG Stockwell which was an AGV S4 SV model.
After paying hundreds of pounds for this lid, which fitted perfectly at the time, I trundled out of the store and back to work whereby I noticed that around 45mph an extraordinary amount of blasting wind was hitting me in the eyes. So much infact that it made my eyes water a massive amount and had to stop and wipe them dry. This process cycled several times until I was back at the office 2.5 miles away. On top of this wind in my eyes, a deafening whistle was developing around 40+ mph which was actually louder than my exhaust. Some mean feat considering that I have no baffles. This sound gets increasingly loud until you literally cant bear it – akin to a car alarm going off 3 feet from your head kind of loud. OK – so ear plugs help here a little, but combine this issue with the dribbly eyes, and all of a sudden it seems this lid is becoming a little “unsafe” to use.
Wind noise is also disturbingly loud, it is even louder than in my 5 year old Caberg cheapo lid. This issue isn’t really an issue, more of an observation.
The ride home was even more interesting. Realising that I could not return the lid as it is a “Safety” product, I popped it on and rode home in it whereby to my surprise, it tried to constantly lift off of my head upwards and dragged back so hard that my nose was now touching the visor.
Picture the scene........ (Que wobbly lines)
Johnny (31) on his CB500 daily hack does 100 miles a day 6 days a week. Here he is on the motorway doing 40mph. Why you ask? That’s because when he goes over this speed an amazing transformation occurs....... He becomes “Deaf eye dribbler man!” Thats right, at over speeds of 50mph you can guarantee that Johns eyes are watering so much that he needs to take on 4 litres of water an hour and use the bumps in the road to determine where he is going as he cant see. At the same time he has a whistle so loud in his lid that it is quite literally painful and is giving him a guaranteed headache that will make him so grumpy his missus will absolutely love him in the evening when he gets home. Watch him as his neck seems to be torn upwards from his head – so far infact he could audition for Mr Stretch in the Incredibles! See how his nose seemingly grows as he speeds up – like a modern day Bike Riding Pinochio!
When I got home, I took some Nurofen and started looking for leaks on the visor and checked the air vents to see if they were just open and being ultra efficient but could not find anything wrong at all. I reset the visor using the 4 phillips screws and spent a good hour doing this until I was satisfied that it was fitting as best it could. Went out again and still the wind issue was there as was the noise. This time, I taped up the visor top and bottom and the vents and went out again. Still the same. I wrapped a scarf around my neck to block up the chin section and hallelujah that did the job! Now I could see over 45mph, but ultimately would still be deafened by the whistle.
My issues are this, as a “Safety product” it is doing a pretty poor job.
1: It is meant to safely protect my head and hearing – this is does not do as it is trying to deafen me and keep me from hearing sounds of card and other important key survival noises whilst on a bike.
2: It is meant to keep the wind out of my eyes so I can see where I am going safely – again, another fail. So much water comes out of my eyes whilst wearing this lid at over 40+mph that I can NOT see where I am going. Perhaps this lid is best marketed at moped users?
I have had over 20 AGV lids in my time riding and racing, over 40 lids in total. This AGV S4 SV is quite honestly the worst thing I have ever used as a “helmet”. I currently own 4 bikes and have tried this lid on all of them. CB500, Hayabusa Turbo, ZZR1200, GSXR7/11 and it is shockingly similar on all of them, perhaps a little better on the Busa with my chin on the yoke – but this is not a good look for anyone really.
I find it also quite interesting that now 2 people have returned their AGV s4 SV lids having the same problem within 3 weeks. If this is one store – how many are being reported nationally? This is also reflected by the bad press these lids are getting on the internet reviews.
After this experience, I will NEVER buy AGV again and will also shop online for helmets where there is a return policy by law on EVERY product sold.
All I want is a lid, that does what it is supposed to do. That is what it IS – a piece of “SAFETY EQUIPMENT”
IF you wind up dealing with HG head office Good Luck,
But regardless of their policies, there is a Fitness for Purpose element to the sale of goods act
So if its less than 3 months old take it back and demand a refund.. even over that there are still rights, get hold of trading standards or the CAB
Do not accept a replacement - this will not reset your rights
Do not accept a repair or for it to be sent away - this totally screws you legally
Money back is the only thing you are interested, if they refuse get trading standards on it immediatly do not give up until you have your cash
But regardless of their policies, there is a Fitness for Purpose element to the sale of goods act
So if its less than 3 months old take it back and demand a refund.. even over that there are still rights, get hold of trading standards or the CAB
Do not accept a replacement - this will not reset your rights
Do not accept a repair or for it to be sent away - this totally screws you legally
Money back is the only thing you are interested, if they refuse get trading standards on it immediatly do not give up until you have your cash
Edited by Dontlift on Tuesday 8th June 16:02
Edited by Dontlift on Tuesday 8th June 16:03
Actually come to think of it, when I went back to the HG store, they couldn't find my credit note. One chap gave "Tez" a ring at the head office, and left a voicemail.
I asked what happened next, and the chap just shrugged his shoulders at me. I said I would phone him - to which he said I shouldn't....?
I spent 5 mins on the phone to HG head office and had a word with someone in Finance, who informed me that "Tez" had forked off home early.
I basically went - RAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!! untill someone sorted it out
and now I have a nice shiny new lid NOT made by AGV.
Happy days
I asked what happened next, and the chap just shrugged his shoulders at me. I said I would phone him - to which he said I shouldn't....?
I spent 5 mins on the phone to HG head office and had a word with someone in Finance, who informed me that "Tez" had forked off home early.
I basically went - RAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!! untill someone sorted it out
and now I have a nice shiny new lid NOT made by AGV.Happy days
Conian said:
Why couldnt you just adjust it using the screws on the side?
because that was not the issue. AGV admitted to me on the phone that they are getting an "awful lot" of these lids back. So its not just me.
I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I fiddled with the screw adjustment enough times over 4 hours with no joy.
As I said, even taping up the vents and visor didn't cure the problem - so the screw adjustment surely is not the issue..??
3doorPete said:
Sorry to hear of your experience. I'm on my second AGV - an S4. Very pleased with it. None of the issues you have seen and mine has been tested in excess of 165mph.
Glad to hear it Pete, As the UK imported of AGV said to me, they couldnt find the fault and had to take it out on a road test with someone elses head in it. By that time, the lid is not returnable so I got the credit note. Turns out the issue was with a malformed styrene part internally to the lid.That and I must have a funny shaped head
dibblecorse said:
Seems odd, I've run an AGV S4 for 2 years on my 32 mile each way commute that includes 15 miles on the M4 on a Ducati Monster, so no fairing to help and never had an issue with noise ...... good luck with the new lid though and HG really do make it difficult at times !!!!
I know what you mean dibble I do around 150 miles a day all year round on the bike. Usually unfaired old faithful - CB500.Noise didn't bother me as I use earplugs, but the wind in the eyes was an issue from the chin area.
Bleah said:
dibblecorse said:
15 miles on the M4 on a Ducati Monster
If you see an old CB500 with a HG flouro yellow jacket on during your daily trundle - that'll be me Maybe premature to write off the whole AGV thing if it was a misformed part, guess that could happen on any lid.... at least they took the time to look intoit once HG pulled their finger out
dibblecorse said:
Maybe premature to write off the whole AGV thing if it was a misformed part, guess that could happen on any lid.... at least they took the time to look intoit once HG pulled their finger out
Maybe a bad batch? Over 140 returned to the UK importers to date, and 4 from the HG Stockwell store within 4 weeks.That is quite a lot of affected units for mine to be a one off.
AGV seem to think it is because of the different visor inserts that come with the lid which are causing problems.
Less of a feature, and more of a hindrance I think.
Remember this is a new product for 2010 (S4 SV) which is NOT the same as some of you lot who have the S4 lids. They do not seem to have these issues, only the new generation SV ones.
Read this very carefully, especially the bit about items being "fit for purpose":
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandr...
Print this off:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file25486.pdf
then go and discuss the legal obligations of the retailer with the branch manager. Point out that goods that are not fit for purpose must be replaced or monies refunded and that it's up to the retailer to prove that they are fit for purpose not up to the consumer to prove that they are not. Point out that if they don't refund your money immediately you will be adding any and all additional costs you incur to the amount that they will have to pay and that you will be pursuing this through the small claims court if necessary.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandr...
Print this off:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file25486.pdf
then go and discuss the legal obligations of the retailer with the branch manager. Point out that goods that are not fit for purpose must be replaced or monies refunded and that it's up to the retailer to prove that they are fit for purpose not up to the consumer to prove that they are not. Point out that if they don't refund your money immediately you will be adding any and all additional costs you incur to the amount that they will have to pay and that you will be pursuing this through the small claims court if necessary.
black-k1 said:
Read this very carefully, especially the bit about items being "fit for purpose":
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandr...
Print this off:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file25486.pdf
then go and discuss the legal obligations of the retailer with the branch manager. Point out that goods that are not fit for purpose must be replaced or monies refunded and that it's up to the retailer to prove that they are fit for purpose not up to the consumer to prove that they are not. Point out that if they don't refund your money immediately you will be adding any and all additional costs you incur to the amount that they will have to pay and that you will be pursuing this through the small claims court if necessary.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandr...
Print this off:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file25486.pdf
then go and discuss the legal obligations of the retailer with the branch manager. Point out that goods that are not fit for purpose must be replaced or monies refunded and that it's up to the retailer to prove that they are fit for purpose not up to the consumer to prove that they are not. Point out that if they don't refund your money immediately you will be adding any and all additional costs you incur to the amount that they will have to pay and that you will be pursuing this through the small claims court if necessary.
Bleah said:
I basically went - RAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!! untill someone sorted it out and now I have a nice shiny new lid NOT made by AGV.
Pothole said:
@ OP, I'm still not sure why you wouldn't buy an AGV again. You say you've had 20 others which were fine so why would this one experience put you off the brand?
mainly because AGV are now owned by Dainese and the design team have changed significantly. Thier customer service has been offloaded to the uk distributor and I did not enjoy the experience.The lids I have had in the past have been good yes, but like any company buy out, things change and not necasarily for the best.
They have lost a loyal customer, and several others judging by the general banter and reviews.
That, and it is my choice isnt it?
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