Bell's No Compromise Approach to Enduro Helmet Design

Apr 8, 2013 at 16:00
by Mike Levy  

BELL
SUPER
WORDS Mike Levy
PHOTOS Paris Gore


The Right Tool for the Job

It's a saying that we've all heard at one point or another, but it is also a mantra that rings especially true when talking about helmets and safety. Downhillers have long worn full face protection that has evolved with the sport, and both the cross-country and road contingent sport feathery helmets that seem to be more air than EPS foam while still passing the required testing standards. And let's not forget BMX lids that, with their thick outer ABS shell, offer a buffer from the constant spills and scrapes of park, street, and dirt jumping. But we've seen a new style of helmet crop up over the last few years, one that looks to combine the DNA from all of the above to provide more protection at a reasonable weight for riders who don't want to wear a full face but will appreciate any extra security.

Not coincidentally, this train of thought seems to parallel many riders' shift to mid-travel bikes that can really attack the trail, as well as the enduro and Super-D race scene that seems to be the perfect application of said bikes and riding gear. Pretty much every helmet company now has an option in their lineup that is geared towards this market, with the majority following the same basic recipe: less or smaller vents and more material, along with (often slightly) increased coverage at the back of the head compared to a true cross-country helmet. Half measures? Depending on what you're looking for, maybe so. Bell approached the same concept from a different angle, with their new $125 USD, twenty five vent Super helmet being the result. Sporting more protection for the back of the head than pretty much any other half-shell offering on the market, as well as more coverage around the sides and ears, over-brow venting, and an integrated and easily removable GoPro helmet mount, the Super isn't just a warmed over cross-country lid. Further proof comes in the concession that Bell has made for riders who use goggles, with a shell shape that doesn't interfere with goggle fit, and a smart 'flying bridge moto visor' that slides up to make room for the goggles when they aren't needed. This last point should be noted by enduro and Super-D racers, as it will likely come in especially handy for them.
Bell Super
Alternative Angles

The Super's story began with not only a clean sheet of paper (how many times have we heard that cliche?), but by approaching the helmet's design from a different perspective. It's fair to say that most 'trail' helmets out there right now are pretty much cross-country lids with some added coverage out back, which is certainly a good thing for riders who are looking for exactly that, but Bell wanted something much more representative of the riding genre that the Super is aimed at. To that end, they looked at what aspects of a downhill helmet they might want to bring over to the Super, with lower protection sitting high on that list. This ethos is clear to see even in the earliest sketches of the Super (see the photo above), with a shape that clearly puts an emphasis on limiting vulnerability when the wearer hits the deck. Interestingly, that early basic shape actually resembles Bell's '500', their first racing helmet that debuted in 1954.

Bell Super.



What begins as a concept and simple sketches eventually makes its way to the computer, where CAD software creates a 3D shape (shown above) for Bell's designers to tweak and fiddle with. This is an important step in the process that also allows them to see the general shape and how it might look on one's head - a feature that could have looked neat on paper might suddenly make no sense, or it could become clear that coverage could extend further down without causing any issues. Half-size foam models, called 'eggs', are also carved by hand for the same reason, with the models also allowing for the first tactile connection as well.

The image to the right played an important role in the size and placement of the hex shape that surrounds each vent - notice that lateral lines of each are angled as to converge at a point out in space. While this may sound like a subtle detail, it goes a long way to making the Super pleasing to the eye.

Bell Super.
  Kona's Matt Slaven, pictured above with Bell designer Kyle Ellison, is a Super-D and enduro crusher who can also lay claim to being the 2011 North American Enduro Tour champion. His battleground is exactly the type of riding that the Super is designed for.
bigquotesOur (Bell's) design philosophy really isn't so much about thinking outside the bike, that term is very cliche to me. We are more about designing through the lens of the end user. Purpose built is what we do, it's very focused and driven to provide a better experience to the end user. Hilgard Muller - Director of Industrial Design

Paris Gore photo
  High above Sedona, Arizona, on an exposed rock slab. Sedona offers the type of terrain where a some extra protection could very well come in handy.

Bell Super. Photos by Paris Gore
  Bell's Allan Cooke is a legend of the BMX world and those skills are evident when he's aboard his Yeti SB66.


POV Made Easy

Love them or hate them, POV cameras are high on many riders' wish list of desirable gear, with a lot of us wanting to not only see our own riding, but the view from the top pro riders as well. Fitting most of these cameras to your helmet has been a bit of a joke, though, with rickety stock mounts that never seem to be in the right place while also never seeming to be tight enough to keep from making your video appear as if you're having a mid-run seizure. The Super takes an integrated approach to this issue, with a mount included that is designed specifically for GoPro cameras. Sculpted to fit into the hex-shaped vents of the helmet, it is held snug with a short Velcro band that slips under the X-static padding. The slightly countersunk shape of the mount, along with its lower profile compared to a standard GoPro helmet kit and thin foam contact point, helps to keep the camera steady and on target. The added benefit of the system is how easy it is to install and remove, with the job taking about fifteen seconds to complete. No faffing about with longer straps, and no wondering if you've chosen the proper placement on your helmet.


Goggle-Friendly

The number of riders who wear goggles with their half-shell helmet isn't big, but those who do will likely be ecstatic about this next point. Bell wanted the Super to be the choice of enduro and Super-D riders, many of whom wear goggles for all or parts of their race run. No one wants to have a face full of goggles while charging a short hill or transfer stage, though, so Bell designed a simple but clever solution that allows them to be pushed up onto the brow of the helmet by way of a pivoting visor. While the visor pivots can be snugged up enough to keep it from moving at all, backing them out ever so slightly lets the visor shift upwards by 30° to make room for them on the front of the helmet.

Don't give a damn what others think? You can run the Super visor-less and with goggles by using Bell's clever goggle tabs that mount at each visor pivot and act as guides for the goggle strap. You might look foolish, but at least your goggles will be staying put.

Bell Super. Photos by Paris Gore
  While day-glo colours may be all the rage, matte finishes and racing stripes never get old. Notice how the GoPro camera mount sits inside of the Super's central vent.

Bell Super. Photos by Paris Gore
  Slaven will be rocking the Super for his 2013 race campaign, so expect to see a lot of him, his new Bell helmet, and possibly a newly designed Kona in our race coverage.


First Impressions:
bigquotesWe've only had a few rides with the Bell's new Super on our heads, but we have to admit that we are fans so far. While other 'trail' helmets seem to be slow-stepping in the right direction, Bell has truly looked at what makes sense and taken off running with the idea. There is much more coverage all around, especially at the sides of the head behind the ears, and slide-up visor layout that allows for easy goggle storage simply makes too much sense not to applaud, even if you never plan on using goggles yourself. The same can be said about the GoPro mount: we might not be big fans of POV cameras, but the Super's clean mount definitely helps. Concerning fit, the new Bell helmet offers a very even feel on the head without any hard points that might cause trouble in the long run, and it feels reasonably svelte when in use. Unfortunately we can't comment on how effective its over-brow venting system functions until we get to use the Super in some warmer conditions, but we anticipate the helmet allowing for relatively good airflow. Our single caveat boils down to the Super's Speed Dial Fit System that, while doing a great job holding the helmet steady, seems a bit industrial, a point that a few other testers have mentioned as well. Besides that, the $125 USD Super is a very impressive helmet that will likely have other brands wondering if they should have approached the concept with a bit more gusto. - Mike Levy

Bell Super


www.bellhelmets.com

Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

174 Comments
  • 225 12
 They do look great, I know its a silly thing but I have always been turned off by their logo.
  • 127 11
 I feel the same way, especially when its all over the helmet. For whatever reason I generally associate it with cheapness. They should maybe look into recreating their logo.
  • 79 6
 Same here. I never liked their helmets that much in the past but this one looks great.... but I associate the logo with walmart helmets for strider bikes. I know I might be wrong but its stuck in my head.
  • 47 6
 HOly shit i was about to say that, It reminds me of the dinky little helmet I used to wear as a kid
  • 11 6
 That's a hard challenge, I'm literally doing a logo redesign for another protection brand right now
  • 32 4
 Ok that should be a new PB challenge - design the new Bell Logo - win the helmet. Tough to pry the Walmart stigma away from any product once they sell there, but that's where they make a lot of money.
  • 5 2
 Yes, it doesn't have the great marketing that Urge and POC have, by their star-users, and they may not look as cool, but with this model and all its features, make me consider again if I would buy another brand. Hope they sell it soon and not so expensive.
  • 9 1
 Rather than redo the logo they might consider launching a sub-brand that encompasses their reinvigorated approach to mtb helmets (this plus the new carbon full face lid). Burton originally did RED, plus Analog, plus Anon...I think everything is under the Anon brand now. I agree with the 'cheapness' connotations from the logo but its not the mark's fault, more of the overexposure in less-than-premium areas. Giro re-did their mark over and over and while the new one is swooshier its not necessarily better, or more indicative of their brand story or heritage.
  • 18 2
 Bell makes great helmets.
  • 10 4
 Great, somewhere for your GoPro so you can film your pals 2hr trail ride.
  • 15 12
 lets all be blunt. nobody wants a bell helmet. continue with these good models and change the logo and sales will increase
  • 8 0
 @twozerosix: That's one of the reasons why Bell purchased Giro back in 1996. It's curious that they're offering premium high-end product in both lines now. It seems like it would dilute their market share. The Super looks great, though.
  • 5 0
 Jason, one big thing that in my opinion, prevents Giro from cannibalizing Bell's sales is the difference in fit between Bell and Giro. I've always leaned toward Giro, because I've always liked the fit better for my noggin (one of the saddest days for me was the day they discontinued the best helmet ever... the Zen.) A few of my buddies dislike the fit of the Giros, so they usually go with Bell.

Just a possibility that lets them both share the high end market.
  • 2 1
 Any chance you could peel the stickers off? It's just on the visor by the looks of it. Could easily be my next helmet though Smile love this design!

Also phobospwns and others Giro and Bell are both owned by the same parent company anyway.
  • 10 2
 People are turned off not by the logos look, but because they associate that logo with cheaper stores where they sell other gear of theirs. That's what it really boils down to. I've seen a lot of people through my time here say they wouldn't buy a bell product, simply because it's bell. No other reason. A lot of people want their "gear" to be of a higher alleged status than risk being seen in the same helmet that Joey Next Door got at a big box retail store. Hah, rhyming.
  • 2 0
 That is curious, and the issue of fit (like how shoes have different lasts, heads have different rounds) is a good one but is not a headline (haha) for Bell or any other helmet company.

Every helmet co in the world would have you believe that their helmet fits you the best. Nobody talks about shape. FWIW Giro fits me better now than it did five years ago. Something changed - I used to only wear Bell. Yeah I bet the stickers can peel off, its just vinyl on the plastic visor.

Like in the DH helmet review, Bell is on everything, but Giro makes action sports stuff only - snow and bike. Bell is moto, bomb disposal, etc. So it might not be a bad idea to create 'Bell-Head' or 'Bell-a-bong' or whatever, to promote the high-end nature of their bike lids.
  • 6 10
flag malathion (Apr 9, 2013 at 17:30) (Below Threshold)
 Nothing sold at wal-mart is going anywhere near my bike. Not even WD-40.
  • 7 2
 Do you purchase a helmet for the logo?
  • 5 0
 I don't purchase anything for the logo as to show off like some people. But I will pass on buying something that looks ugly to me, especially if there are other good options on the market.
  • 3 0
 Not sure if it's the logo or the fact that the logo is quite often synonymous with Walmart and the like.
The colour sets you can pick from for BELL helmets have always been a tad ugly as well. Blue with green pin-striping? Grey with Flowers? Meh.
Not downplaying the quality of Bell helmets, mind you.
At this point they could really benefit from a graphics change. It is and always was an ugly logo. It needs to be modernized.
  • 2 0
 @Adym, the matte finish on the helmets would make it really easy to paint over, especially the black ones. It's just on the visor too, so with 5 minutes and a little black spray paint, you've got yourself a sweet helmet that doesn't have an eyesore logo on it.
  • 4 0
 Had a few bell helmets so far, always liked them. Pretty sure theres better things to worry about with a helmet than the logo. Also if the logos been synonomis with a brand for so long probably wise to keep it. Its recognized everywhere
  • 4 1
 bell logo's known world wide and a sign of quality.
  • 2 0
 This is the sort of feedback Bell might want to take into consideration.
  • 21 3
 Wow what disrespect to a company that started in 1923 (in the USA ), to me the name bell is top quality they never failed me, sixsixone on the other hand ohhhhh..... don't get me started, their helmet fell apart even before riding!, and all those who are running POC (Product Of China) check your stickers, your precious helmets are made in china even if they cost an arm and a leg.

never had any issues with my giro or bell helmets! (was in head on collision with a car with my giro helmet).

BELL don't change anything i like you the way you are!.
just hearing the name BELL makes me think of baja 1000 and other ton of racing history , anyone who disrespects them is a FOOL.
RESPECT!!!!!!!
  • 1 3
 Also let's not forget what helmet Mr. Gwin uses Smile
  • 1 0
 i've been a fan of bell helmets since the early 90's when seeing jeremy mcgrath dominating wearing his bell lids. to me, giro is the lesser quality brand
  • 2 0
 +1 Aibek
  • 1 0
 My first ever helmet was a BELL...and let me tel you that was the best helmet...it took a beating, shit I might still have it some where in the garage, but it saved me on many occasion. You know those days where you think you're Evil Knevil on your diamond back and you end up eating shit, crying all the way home, Ya that was a BELL on my head.
  • 1 5
flag tlong2 (Apr 10, 2013 at 9:13) (Below Threshold)
 Bell...backstabbing independent dealers by selling out to mass merchants...never have and never will buy one, they shape their helmets too round for me anyways. On this side of the globe we have elongated heads. Its obvious to me they do their R&D out east where the heads are rounder
  • 5 0
 "Its obvious to me they do their R&D out east where the heads are rounder"

thats priceless
  • 2 0
 There are generally two fits, a "euro" fit and an "asian" fit, No offence to you all in the US, it's just a naming,, the euro fit tends to be for a narrower head, ie Giro, the asian fit a more rounder head ie Fox. Tooling for a new helmet costs upwards of $25000, thats just for an in-mold lid. To change head shape too involves a whole new pile of $$$ with no guarantee it will work, Some smaller helmet brands will be daft enough to use the owners head as the benchmark (true) others will use a shape that has been proven to sell successfully.
  • 2 1
 I have to admit that the Bell name and logo seriously put me off. To me it is a name that's become synonymous with cheap kids lids. I like the look of this though and I'm sure the logo can be covered up.
  • 1 0
 For anyone worried about the logo. They are ALL stickers and can be removed. My Bell super is 100% matte black no logos no words
  • 1 0
 Well wasn't that just a blast from the past? Thanks shredjekyll.
  • 1 0
 Spot on Aibekell said.
  • 37 1
 Looks good. I am more likely to buy it because of the Bell/IMBA $100,000 trail grant.
  • 26 1
 For this helmet, it'd be great to if they had a mount for lights that would slot into the GoPro mount area. I hate using the straps for my Niterider. Hook it up, Bell.
  • 4 0
 I strongly concur. how about it, bell?
  • 4 0
 adapter. arent there like a ton of mechanical engineers here.
  • 15 1
 3d Print dat bitch
  • 25 0
 theres my next helmet
  • 4 0
 Damn right!
  • 2 0
 You can count me in as well !!!!! , best helmet design i saw in a while!.
  • 21 3
 i wonder if u can fit a dslr
  • 4 3
 Smile ))))))))))))))) very good one !
  • 1 0
 now THAT would be cool
  • 1 1
 i bet someone will make an adapter to mount to the tripod mount underneath the camera body. DSLR's are generally heavy though, so stability could be an issue. but that would be dope.
  • 1 0
 Guess you can use the GoPro to tripod mount, and put a goddamn 1D-X on it, mounted with some 70-200 F/2.8!
  • 11 1
 They look awesome! I like the integrated camera mount!
  • 6 0
 Lot's of history in that logo you all are complaining about and not just mtb,moto,bmx how about dragsters and funny cars from the 60's doing over 200mph in a 1/4 mile. I think this helmet looks great and think the simple oval with bell is pretty simple and easy to look at. Just put my order in for a full 9 cause I ride more DH but if your a trail junkie this should be on your short list. Just my 2 cents
  • 4 1
 Why just a Gopro mount? There Full 9 has both Gopro and countour...they sould have incorperated that into this helmet, I don't own any Gopro but have 4 contours,so even tho this is cool its still takes away from the accessabilty the Full 9 has......but helmet looks awesome.
  • 2 0
 I second this. I was looking for someone to point this out. I like the helmet but would rather mount a Contour. And integrated lighting mounts was a good idea as well. Bell could make a wild helmet that we could have a light, a camera, and two beers with straws to my mouth. Nice! I'm out Bell because I don't mount GoPro, make an even better helmet for with Contour mounts, for the smart riders.
  • 1 0
 loganpope...Who are the smart riders, the ones who ride with the cameras that win almost every comparison test, or the ones who use Contours because they refuse to use the best POV camera on the market? At least you redeemed yourself with the integrated beer holder/helmet combo...On a serious note, I checked out the new Bells at Sea Otter, and they are pretty slick helmets. I ended up buying a Kali Maraka, but am really thinking about getting the Bell for the more aggressive trails.
  • 1 0
 SprSonik... I think that even though the camera may not take the exact quality of video the user functionality is much better on the contour. My friend has a hero 3 black and a contour +2. I know for a fact that he prefers the contour. It gives GPS of the footage that alone is a huge feature, how can you compare the two on that note? Also I heard the app is better for contour as well as contours video export interface. He says the gopro isn't reliable and stops recording randomly ( sounds like there are still bugs in the software or he doesnt know how to operate it) but he doesnt have any problems or any complaints of the contour. Get what you would like but after a lot of research and knowledge gaining I found contour +2 to be a better product than the hero 3 black not because of a few pixels but because of the product in its entirety . The bEll helmet is cool, I also bought a new helmet recently, switched my old broken uvex for a new fox flux. I must admit that my old uvex is a nicer product. I regret not getting a 661 recon, or a Poc, or a Bell. I base my decision off of price which I am not doing with an action camera. I recommend contour +2.
  • 4 2
 Nice helmet, but wouldn't it be better to have a ff helmet with great ventilation? So far the only product out there is the archi but the jaw protector is too weak/open while the bucket is too bulky. Strengthen that jaw with a double wishbone and huge screen then put a little more ventilation on the bucket... What bell has got here is something that started with an xc helmet, i am think start with the dh helmet and take it down in bulk.
  • 5 0
 Oof, just googled the Archi, found this.

Holy ouch.
  • 1 1
 Should be some hype on that.. would definitely reconsider that purchase
  • 1 0
 Yea, even if it really is an amazing helmet, anybody who sees that picture is gonna instantly not buy it.
  • 1 0
 Fuuu? Damn that looked like it hurts...well thats one helmet I am scratching off my list
  • 2 0
 Well his face woulda been more f*cked in something like a half-lid. You gotta wear the right protection for what you do. I decided not to wear a halflid above "xc" level stuff. It is the facial protection that is so important beyond "xc" because almost always you are supermanning it when you screw up at speed. Temple protection is good your skull is paperthin there, but more often it is the horrific face injuries that will end your riding life.
  • 1 0
 From the way he described it, the helmet actually didn't perform the way he had expected it to and was in fact a factor in the accident going the way it did. Truthfully if the jaw flexes as much as he says then I wouldn't want the helmet anyways. The way it looks to cover the jaw alone would make me not want to get it no matter how good it breathed.

I also wear a full face above anything XC. I get a lot of flack for it when people see me up in the woods. They ask "you really need that helmet for these trails?" Because everyone thinks the trails are XC trails. And truthfully they are technically right, but then again nearly any trail can be an "xc" trail depending on how you ride it. I digress though, when people give me flack I invite them to follow me on a run. After that they don't ask why I wear it. Speaking of, if anyone who lives around the Seven Springs area of PA wants to go ride sometime hit me up. I have trouble finding people to ride with, it's all endurance XC all the time. Which is fine, but mostly I want to, as Ricky Bobby would say, "I wanna go fast."
  • 2 0
 great helmet !, for the initial price, weight, colours, adjustable visor, gopro options.., i think that will be my next purchase for all mountain and enduro use. Bell brand stands for absolute reliability on their helmets in its history
  • 2 0
 Why wouldn't they also make a Contour compatible mount? I could understand if Bell owned GoPro but it seems pretty stupid to potentially limit your sales based upon consumer choice of another product that you have no control over and make no profit from... Otherwise a really great idea.
  • 2 0
 good looking helmet but for me the next level of protection after my skate helmet is a full face. I never ever fall on the back or side of my head (knock on wood) so for me it only makes sense to protect the face, I don't see the point of having more protection if you still stand to knock your teeth out.
  • 2 0
 I never thought of Bell helmets as cheap, we don't have Walmart in Australia. When I was a kid I saved for ages to buy a Bell 'The Pump' XC Helmet, a helmet with a Reebok Pump attached. Terrible retention device, but the best gimmick EVER! All it did was squeeze your head 'till it hurt.
  • 2 0
 Where's FF version? I've been using Casco Viper MX for couple of years now because of its removable face protection endurorider.pl/2007/12/casco-viper It's not POV or google compatible but keeping my teeth in place is much more important than POV video. I get the idea but I don't like it Smile
  • 1 0
 beautiful
  • 1 0
 WTF? that Casco looks weird....thats more for roller ring thunder typeof helmet LOL...never seen that here in that states
  • 1 0
 tiny.pl/h8dl3 Casco web site. Beauty is a matter of taste right Smile My next helmet will be MX too. It's tough, reliable and long lasting. Besides they're still making parts for it so U don't need to buy new helmet every time U worn out some sponges.
  • 1 0
 those removable face protection are not reliable, beside being ugly
  • 1 0
 Not reliable you say - any bad experience with Casco's system? I choose Casco over Met Parachute because it's jar looks fragile. Long time ago there was Giro Switchblade but it's not produced any more.

If I'm not a downhiller but want's to have face protection Casco MX is the only way for me.
  • 1 0
 I only know the switchblade, it's never half as solid as real full face. and if it breaks you have plastic shattered that can seriously hurt you
  • 1 1
 Casco is not a DH FF helmet. It's allarounder with extra face protection which can be easily removed and attached. If U wan't to have ultimate protection go for solid FF but if U wan't extra protection without heat and heavyness of DH FF go for Casco MX.
  • 2 1
 An issue I see with the design is a pressure point by the helmet pushing sunglasses inward. There might be a gap in that area of the shell, but I would have a concern about that. I could be wrong and it was designed to have a gap so this doesn't happen.
  • 1 0
 It's passed the same tests to hit en1078 etc as every other helmet
  • 3 0
 Nanner-11, Bell set me up shooting photos for them for the week in Sedona. I had goggles, but it was a bit hot out so I chose to wear Smith glasses. I had no problem riding with the glasses and helmet combo. Glasses and goggles felt great on the helmet in a honest to god, non-bias opinion. No real issue to be had with the glasses.
  • 1 0
 I agree. I tried it on at Sea Otter, and there was no issue at all. I'm currently in the market for a new helmet (cracked the Variant) and I plan on getting Super because of how it felt too
  • 1 0
 I'd like to see the white race stripe in different colors....like the old muscle cars used to be ...like black and red, black and blue not just plain ol black with white race stripe..just saying, there was so much more they could have done with this ?
  • 1 0
 It's funny what everyone is saying about the logo. I'm an old man (33) and I feel the same way about Hyundai. I see a ton of people driving 'em now, and they could be the best car ever, but I always think Hyundai Excel. They need a re-branding, bad.
  • 1 0
 pfft you're not old yet! I'm 20 and I'm still thinking hyundia accent when I see the new santea fea's with all the options an RX330 has
  • 1 0
 Ok i got it since today... its nice in fit, cooling and looks.... BUT... the screw that holds the visor is made of plastic and broke when i wanted to screw it out to take of the visor and the broken part was stuck in there. a plastic screw in a metall base. thats completely silly, in a place where it will be moved and has to resist some forces.... sry guys, that is dissapointing.
  • 1 0
 Tried numerous Bell Supers on my noggin over the past few weeks at a local bike shop - they fit large - I wear Large and / or Extra Large in everything else - it turns out that I take a medium in the Super - weird, but that's life.

Re; the logo - are you guys kidding? Its a logo that is synonymous with quality structural testing. I'd buy a Bell helmet any day of the week, and I will buy the Super this week.

Andrew

www.sweetsingletrack.ca
  • 5 0
 I would love to see a back to back with the TLD A1
  • 1 0
 Ok well Lazer has had this stuff out for 2 years now! Check out the Oasiz by Lazer! This helmet won a 2012 Eurobike award. Enduro helmet !!!
I must be taking "Crazy Pills"

www.lazersport.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&lang=en

The Bell helmet is nice, it's just not as nice as the Lazer. Lazer camera mount can be replaced if broken or added if you don't buy it up front. Plus Lopes has some signature helmets in the line if you want to support him. The Rolls retention system has been awesome. I can roll it big to fit over a hat for snow riding or tight to hold my camera steady with ease and one finger. Guess which one?
  • 1 0
 The bell is nicer to look at. I like the curves over the sharp edges of the lazer.
  • 1 0
 Camera mount is still just for Gopro tho....come on we are in a modern age where we can make thing with multiple atachments I don't see why IF your going to put a mount on anything you put a mount that can accept more then just 1 brand !!
  • 1 0
 If its good enough for the Godfather, it's good enough for me:-). The bell logo is a bit retro, but isn't retro the cool thing with the kids these days? I'm going to try one on. I have an Endur-matic and the retention system isn't that good. As the helmet pads pack out you need to pretty well choke yourself with the straps to keep it tight. Hey, it's cool though!
  • 2 0
 I just hate how bold and up front the Bell logo is. Make it blend into the helmet a little more and I'd be inclined to buy one.
  • 1 0
 Helmet looks better than their old stuff and I agree with all of the above comments on the Bell company logo with that said... it aint much of one. They need to totally revamp it.
  • 2 0
 If they don't revamp it, they ought to place it elsewhere on the helmet. I hate large logos on most things I wear. A small emblem is choice. Gloss black on flat black would work. I'd probably still wear the bell anyways. Nice.
  • 1 0
 Looking a little closer, it is apparent that most only have a small Bell logo. Just one with the large logo on the visor. I think I'd deffinately wear one of these.
  • 1 0
 Bought it. Love it. Agreed that the Bell brand/logo was a turn-off and was looking at the POC, but I tried the Super and it looked and fit great. It cost a good chunk less than the POC and seems to have better adjustability.
  • 1 0
 Why is it importent to have a camera mount on a helmet ?? I don´t get it.There are much more needed features for a helmet.
Anyway, Bell made a really nice Enduro helmet ...congrats!
  • 3 0
 Cool, also love the Logo, its history I can appreciate!
  • 3 0
 Sweet the best looking helmet so far!
  • 1 0
 GoPro cameras 1 GoPro cameras 2 GoPro cameras 3 The good point?????Cross-country+MTB!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Totally agree!
  • 1 0
 "...while doing a great job holding the helmet steady, seems a bit industrial..." - Can anyone further elaborate on what Mike means by "industrial"?
  • 2 0
 after Giro took out the Xen the Poc was the only option, I would actually buy this one
  • 1 0
 You can still get the xen, just gotta do some internet sleuthing or hope a LBS has one lying around. You'd be surprised, I found a set of 661 knee pads at my LBS, the guy there honestly had no idea how much they even cost (found them for about 60ish online), sold them to me for 20 bucks. Steal of the month for me.
  • 2 0
 Any one else fall in love at first sight of the picture of the red helmet along with the black w/ white stripe?
  • 1 0
 Very nice Enduro Helmet, but there's still a gap in the market: Full Face, or convertible Cool Enduro Helmet.

I mean the attractive version of the horrible Met Parachute
  • 1 0
 Let's put $125 to make it look expensive. Perception of being expensive is not such a great marketing tactic. It's just a lid with some foam and plastic lining.
  • 1 0
 Not quite, it really is a great fitting helmet with a lot of features that give it the quality expected.
  • 2 1
 Looks good, seems like the temple coverage would interfere with glasses. But there are pix of riders wearing sunglasses and not crying, so maybe it's not an issue.
  • 2 1
 90 quid! jesus wept. I'm sure a decent trail lid (fox/giro) was about 50 odd quid. They're just exploiting rich colin enduro riders.
  • 4 1
 no contour or drift mounts, thats me out
  • 1 1
 I guess it wasn't noted, but I'm quite certain it comes with multiple mounts, one for both GoPro and Contour, not so sure about Drift though.
  • 2 0
 ^Nevermind, must have been another helmet I was thinking of. That's unfortunate for the people who don't own a Go Pro.
  • 2 0
 Interesting strategy to focus only on mounting a GoPro. I know its the most popular but you immediately lose those who don't own them.
  • 1 0
 Swann makes an adapter for the the gopro mounts to fit your DriftSmile Nice stuff on Amazon!
  • 1 0
 Wouldn't wear a helmet with Bell written on it even if it were for free. I'd want £20k a year then I wouldn't mind being a bell.
  • 1 0
 Who cares about the logo, when it comes to your head a logo shouldn't matter. Bell has always made the best products. Only posers care about looks...
  • 1 0
 the design is cool for a 50 buck helmet but i think they should put a litle bit more effort on the graphics :/ just saying
  • 1 0
 It's good to know I'm not the only one that sticks my tongue out when I ride.
  • 2 0
 best enduro/AM helmet so far
  • 1 0
 Recently wanted to buy GoPro 3 ........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 No compromise approach to enduro helmet design!
Where is the contour mount???
Come on BELL.
nice lid though Wink )
  • 1 0
 I had my "bell rung" pretty good while wearing a bontrager helmet so I will be trying this one out.
  • 2 0
 Hmm glad I saw this review before I bought
  • 1 1
 Me too. It's not quite what I am looking for. The matte looks goofy, Slaven's truck stop lenses aren't doing it for me, either.
  • 2 0
 I meant before I bought another helmet. I like them I think they r sharp!
  • 1 0
 Slavens glasses are Smith by the way... pretty sweet glasses actually..
  • 3 1
 Do I have to wear shades that make me look like an a*shole too?
  • 1 0
 no just a bell-end
  • 2 0
 What's the beef? A: it's sunny as shit in Arizona, you will destroy your eyes. B: the goggle design is awesome, but hard to use in the hot weather so glasses are the only option.....
  • 2 0
 i'm not serious. A: its always muddy as f*ck in ireland and wales. B: you must always wear goggles even if it doesn't make sense to do so, because it looks pro and it's just how it is...
  • 1 0
 Bell say its 390g which is pretty competitive weight for these ype of helmets. My fox flux is over 400.
  • 1 0
 I'll take one with the racing stripe. I'm a sucker for racing stripes. That way I at least look kinda fast.
  • 3 1
 Really people? you won't buy it because you don't like the logo????
  • 2 1
 I'm with you, the Bell logo is legendary if you know anything about the history of helmets..
  • 2 1
 Seems funny to me too. It's also like nobody's heard of stickers large enough to cover a logo.
  • 3 2
 The visor on it is just.... awkward.
  • 2 0
 it looks terrible without the visor though...
  • 1 0
 Just my opinion, but I feel the visor needs to be revised.
  • 4 0
 "Just my opinion, but I feel the visor needs to be revisored."

FTFY
  • 3 0
 Advise the adviser to revise the visor...if the visor's not nice then revise the advice...etc
  • 2 1
 I like it. Seems much better than the old Bell's.
  • 4 4
 Enduro helmet? You can't ride Megavalanche (Alpine gravity enduro race) without full face and quite rightly so.
  • 6 2
 Aaaaaaand everyone knows the Mega is the only enduro event in the world.... “ಠ__ಠ
  • 2 0
 that's true...Megavalanche is not the only enduro event in the world...I don't even think it qualifies as an enduro competition cause it's just riding your bike downhill, etc... in some other real enduro competition it might not be required to use a fullface helmet if you aren't competing in the pro's category...just so you know
  • 3 0
 The Mega is not an Enduro event anyway, it's a downhill marathon race. Enduro has individual starts AND multistage race. What the Mega does not have.

But it's true, after the TLD A1, that's the second "enduro" helmet we're stuffed with that will actually be forbidden on most enduro races... why? Cause it's an XC helmet, it's not a full face! But the word Enduro is so appealing to marketing dudes...
  • 1 1
 And you dont have to be in the top 3% of pro riders in the World to own one!! Stick that in your pipe rockshox PMSL...
  • 1 0
 Haters gonna hate. Lid looks dope.
  • 1 0
 I'm getting one , even if I look like a bell end , lol
  • 1 0
 The belt is too simple I think.
  • 1 0
 Forget the logo!! I'd love a lid like this and I JUST bought a Giro XAR!
  • 1 0
 Mine Mien Mien, I love one!
  • 1 0
 im really looking forward to getting this! so stoked to get it.
  • 2 1
 cooooool
  • 1 1
 Seriously? Aren't these the same helmets used in Pacific Blue?
  • 1 0
 I WANT THAT LID!!
  • 1 0
 nice
  • 1 0
 Want
  • 1 0
 awesome helmet!
  • 1 1
 Its pretty much a ski helmet design. Looks great though.
  • 1 0
 超级喜欢啊
  • 1 0
 阎看起来很酷给我。除了标志,像其他人一样说了这么远
  • 1 0
 Way to go Kyle!
  • 1 1
 helmet looks good, Fit on Matts head looks Bad.
  • 1 0
 i'll buy it.
  • 1 0
 Enduro the new buzz word
  • 1 0
 i need size xl!!!!
  • 1 0
 That's the biggest problem with all the increased coverage helmets, they are designed for "normal" heads, those of with 63cm+ get left out.
  • 2 1
 Bellend-uro (sn*gger).
  • 1 0
 How about the belt?
  • 2 1
 I'm getting one!
  • 1 0
 V1Pro!
  • 1 0
 we´ll tought helmet!!
  • 1 2
 I want it , Where can I get one ??
Oh yeah, Norbs got Robbed.
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