AGV vs Shoei helmets: SHARP stars, fit, warranty and CA$ landed prices model by model

AGV and Shoei are both top-tier helmet makers, and on the safety side they are close to level: every AGV and Shoei road helmet SHARP has tested under ECE 22.06 earned five stars. What separates them is price, fit and service. In Canada on 2026-10-21 the AGV was the cheaper helmet in every tier we compared: the K6 S had a median in-stock price 14% below the RF-1400, and the K1 S about 56% below the RF-SR. Shoei is the pick for riders who want a long warranty from a Canadian dealer and the widest size range; AGV is the pick for lighter weight per dollar. This guide compares the two brands tier by tier on manufacturer specs, SHARP ratings and landed CA$ prices from Canadian, US and EU stores.

Two brands, two ownership stories

AGV is an Italian helmet maker that Dainese, the Italian protective-gear company founded in 1972, acquired in 2007 (Wikipedia). Shoei is a Japanese company that specialises in motorsport helmets (Wikipedia). In the US, Shoei helmets are distributed by Helmet House, which operates shoei-helmets.com on Shoei's behalf, and AGV's US site is run by Dainese USA. In Canada ALLR sees both brands at the same independent dealers.

Model by model: specs and SHARP ratings

Three things stand out. First, the stars do not separate the brands: both get five at the top of their ranges, and the £150 AGV K1 Snotifications_active earned the same five stars as the £589 Shoei Neotec 3notifications_active. SHARP's full list is at sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets. Second, AGV's weights run lower: AGV's K6 S page says “Just 1255 grams”, against 1,651 g for the RF-1400 on Shoei's page (weight varies by size and shell). Third, retailer listings state Snell for the RF-1400, X-Fifteen and Pista GP RR, but AGV's Pista page names only FIM and ECE 22.06 and Shoei's USA pages list no certifications, so trust the label inside the helmet; our certifications guide explains it.

What each tier costs in Canada

Read the median, not the lowest. The CA$364 K6 S “lowest” is a 2XL clearance listing: Revco's own product feed prices the Reeval White/Red/Grey 2XL at that figure, while seven of ten Canadian stores list the plain K6 S at CA$799.99. Most stores list the RF-1400 at CA$949.95. On the medians the K6 S is 14% cheaper than the RF-1400 (CA$800 against CA$930), the K1 S is 56% cheaper than the RF-SR, and the K7 is 32% cheaper than the GT-Air 3. The race tier flips the story: the X-Fifteen's median (CA$1,400) is 35% below the Pista GP RR's (CA$2,145), because AGV's Canadian list prices sit at CA$2,199.99 while Shoei's are CA$1,399.95. Compare the pairs head to head on ALLR: RF-1400 vs K6 S, X-Fifteen vs Pista GP RR and GT-Air 3 vs Pista GP RR.

Fit and sizing: the two charts differ

For the K6 S, K3, K1 S and Pista GP RR, AGV's size guide runs XS 53 to 54 cm up to XXL 63 to 64 cm in 2 cm steps (AGV size guide). Shoei's chart uses the same steps from XS (53 to 54 cm) to XXL (63 to 64 cm) and adds XXXL at 65 to 66 cm (Shoei helmet sizing). Between two sizes, Shoei says to try the smaller first. Neither maker's page states a head-shape designation for these models, so we cannot say which is rounder; see our head shape guide and our sizing guide by brand.

Modulars: Tourmodular vs Neotec 3, and the recall

The AGV Tourmodular lists at about CA$553 at AGV's Canadian store, while the Shoei Neotec 3 lists between CA$1,224 and CA$1,390 at Canadian stores. AGV's USA site says that, with NHTSA and Health Canada, Dainese is voluntarily recalling specific batches of the DOT (E2206) Multi MPLK and Solid MPLK Tourmodular, because the chin guard plate may break over time (AGV recall notice). Compare the serial number on the chin-strap label with the notice.

Buying in Canada: Canadian, US or overseas store?

US stores are the most expensive route to Canada for both brands once duty, brokerage and shipping are added: for the Neotec 3 the cheapest US store landed at CA$1,491 against CA$1,224 at a Canadian store. EU and UK stores beat Canadian stores on most premium models (X-Fifteen CA$909 against CA$1,321, Neotec 3 CA$1,027 against CA$1,224), which fits the pattern in our Canada buying guide. The trade-off is service, and for Shoei it is a hard line: Shoei's warranty page says it warrants only new helmets bought from authorized dealers in the customer's own country, and “does not warrant SHOEI helmets purchased from a country different from the customer’s own country of residence” (Shoei warranty). A Shoei bought from an EU store is therefore outside warranty in Canada. AGV's extension adds up to five years for a selection of products on top of the legal warranty of the country where you bought the helmet, and must be registered within 30 days (AGV warranty); that page does not mention overseas purchases, so ask AGV before relying on it. The Canadian stores ALLR tracks for these helmets include Revco, Royal Distributing, ADM Sport, FortNine, GPbikes, MotoHut, RidingGear.ca, TripleClamp Moto and Ottawa Goodtime Centre. See landed cost explained for how the totals are built.

Which should you buy?

Prices are a dated snapshot (ALLR data, 2026-10-21); live listings change twice daily, and the method is on the methodology page. For the buying sequence, start at the buyer's guide hub.