These two get compared constantly and it is easy to see why: both are composite-shell sport full-faces, both come from makers with real racing pedigree, and both sit in the gap between a budget polycarbonate lid and a Shoei or Arai flagship. The interesting part is that they are notthe same helmet at different prices — they pull in genuinely different directions, and once you see which direction you care about, the choice is straightforward. Our full RPHA 11 Pro review and K6 S review go deeper on each.
The spec sheets, side by side
| Spec | HJC RPHA 11 Pro | AGV K6 S |
|---|
| Certification | DOT + ECE 22.05 | DOT + ECE 22.06 |
|---|
| Published weight | ~1,417 g (size not stated) | ~1,255 g (size not stated) |
|---|
| Shell | PIM+ (carbon, fiberglass, aramid) | Carbon-aramid fiber |
|---|
| Head shape | Not published | Intermediate oval |
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| Eye port | Enlarged | 190-degree Ultravision |
|---|
| Sizes | XS–2XL | XS–2XL |
|---|
| Internal sun visor | No | No |
|---|
| Pinlock-ready | Yes | Yes |
|---|
Every figure is read from the manufacturer’s own page. Where a maker does not state something — HJC does not publish a head shape for this model — we write “Not published” rather than fill the gap with a guess.
Certification: the one real generational gap
This is the most substantive difference between them, and it is the one most comparisons skate over. The K6 S carries ECE 22.06. The RPHA 11 Pro carries ECE 22.05. Those are not two names for the same test. The revision added oblique impact testing that measures rotational acceleration— the twisting force implicated in a large share of serious brain injury — along with impacts at multiple speeds, testing at more points on the shell, and accessory testing. Our safety-ratings guide spells out exactly what each protocol puts a helmet through.
The fair reading: 22.05 is a real, proven standard, and helmets certified to it are not unsafe. But if two helmets are otherwise close and one has been through the newer protocol, that is evidence rather than marketing, and it belongs on the AGV’s side of the ledger. Neither carries Snell, so if that matters to you, look at our certification ranking instead.
Weight: 162 g, and what it is worth
AGV publishes 1,255 g for the carbon-aramid K6 S; HJC publishes 1,417 gfor the PIM+ RPHA 11 Pro. Neither states the size tested, so both are indicative. A 162 g gap is roughly the weight of a phone, and it is smaller than the gulf between either of these and a polycarbonate lid around 1,650 g — so this is a refinement, not a transformation.
Where you feel it is at the end of things: the fourth hour of a ride, the last session of a track day, the second week of a daily commute. Neck fatigue is cumulative, and the lighter helmet is the one you are still comfortable in when you are tired. Both shells are composite for exactly this reason — our shell-materials guide covers why carbon and fiberglass composites run so much lighter than polycarbonate and what you pay for it.
Field of view: the AGV’s quiet advantage
AGV makes a specific, checkable claim about the K6 S: a 190-degree horizontal field of viewthrough the Ultravision visor, which is Optical Class 1. HJC describes the RPHA 11 Pro’s eye port as enlargedwithout publishing a number, so we cannot put the two side by side with figures. What we can say is that a wide eye port is not a comfort feature — it is shoulder-check and peripheral-awareness capability, and on a sport helmet worn in a forward-leaning position where you are already looking up through the top of the port, it matters more than it does upright.
Ventilation and shield hardware: the HJC hits back
HJC’s ACS full-airflow ventilationis the RPHA 11 Pro’s standout system: a genuine front-to-back airflow path channeled through the EPS, rather than intakes drilled into a closed shape. It is the reason the RPHA 11 Pro is our top pick in the hot-weather ranking, and if you ride in heat it is a real, daily advantage over the AGV. The RapidFire IItool-less shield mechanism is also excellent — a shield change in seconds with no fiddly side plates, which matters if you swap between clear and tinted rather than running a single shield year-round.
Where they are the same
Both are sport-focused full-faces with no internal sun visor, which is the premium convention: you fit a tinted shield instead. Both ship Pinlock-ready, so fogging is solvable on either — see our anti-fog guide. Both run XS to 2XL, both are composite, and both are aimed squarely at a rider in a forward, committed position rather than upright on a cruiser. If you want a drop-down sun visor, neither is your helmet, and you should be looking at a modular or the LS2 Stream II.
A note on price, because it moves: both sit in the same broad bracket, and the gap between them narrows or reverses depending on colorway, graphics and whatever is discounted this week. Do not choose on a price you read in an article — the live figures on the buttons below are refreshed and dated, and they are the ones to use.
Fit and head shape
The K6 S is built for an intermediate oval head, the most common Western shape, with a sportier interior that suits a rider spending time tucked. HJC does not publish a head shapefor the RPHA 11 Pro, and we are not going to assert one on the brand’s behalf — the RPHA line is widely described as intermediate-oval, but a widely-repeated description is not a manufacturer specification. Both have removable, replaceable cheek pads so the fit can be fine-tuned after purchase, which is the practical answer for either. Our head-shapes guide explains how to tell yours, and the sizing guide covers measuring properly so you order the right size first time.
The verdict
Buy the AGV K6 Sif certification generation, low weight and field of view are what you are optimizing for — ECE 22.06, 1,255 g and a 190-degree eye port is a coherent, modern package, and it is the one we would take for long road days. Buy the HJC RPHA 11 Proif you ride in heat or swap shields often: the ACS ventilation system and the RapidFire II mechanism are genuinely better than the AGV’s, and the PIM+ shell is not far off it on weight. The deciding question is simple — do you care more about the newest safety protocol and the lightest shell, or about airflow and shield convenience? See where each lands against the wider field in our full-face roundup.