Okay! Finally after careful consideration of the board members input and weeks of shopping, I just ordered my helmet from Dennis Kirk...Well as I was scouring the closeout section in Dennis Kirk, I came across this one.
https://www.denniskirk.com/denniskirk/b2c/p...x/e01011549.jpg
Don't know how to paste pics yet. Need to keep studying the page for that.
Anyways, did some research and AGV seems to make solid helmet that fits the psychological mold in which I was searching.
I've been an AGV wearer for damn near 20 years now including my 10 years of motorcycle racing (that's an AGV in my avatar, as are the gloves, leathers, and boots). I currently own an AGV stealth. Re: AGV in general...top notch protection! I've spiked the ground head-first on more than one occasion while wearing AGV (I only buy the ones made with the carbon/kevlar composite shells). It pretty much comes with the territory that if you roadrace motorcycles for any length of time, you WILL get to field test a helmet or three. Each time I walked away with a trashed helmet and no head or neck injuries of any kind. One of my racing buddies and I decided to see just what the composite shell could really withstand. We cooked up some 'homemade' incendiary devices, gutted the helmet, and put it to the test. It took 4 significant "bomb blasts" to actually crack the shell. Tough mothers they are. To my recollection, I've trashed 3 AGV helmets through "field-testing" with nary an injury to my noggin.
RE: the Stealth model in particular...a
little disappointing compared to other AGVs I've owned. Biggest gripes are that the massive "vents" on top seem to be massive wind-noise generators. And while the venting on my last AGV (a Q3 if memory serves) was outstanding, I can barely discern whether the vents are open or closed on the Stealth. To its credit though, it moves a reasonable amount of air with vents open, still a bit drafty with vents shut, but not bad, and I ride from 15*F to 95*F with the same helmet. Excellent graphics, good comfort, removeable liner, good shield clarity. If you paid 80 bones for that sucker, I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed.
As a comparator for you, I recently purchased a Shoei X-11...a top shelf helmet for sure. I expected to be quite impressed with it considering its reputation, reviews, price, and features. I've only done about a hundred miles commuting in it so far, but when I got home from my mother's house this evening, I told the wife I just might save the X-11 for a summer helmet (better venting) and go back to the Stealth for the winter. For the SUBSTANTIAL price difference, I'm really not all that impressed with the Shoei. It won't bother me one bit to go back to my AGV Stealth. I suspect you'll be plenty pleased with your purchase.
As always, YMMV.