First Ride: Bell Super 2R Helmet
| Bell Super 2R Helmet There's never been a better time to be a mountain biker. Thanks to advances in frame and suspension technology, trails that were once ruled by heavy DH rigs are now doable on the latest batch of all-mountain bikes, allowing riders to push their limits on both the climbs and the descents. In response to the growing number of riders who are venturing into more and more technical terrain, or testing the waters of the enduro race scene, Bell created the Super 2R, a full-face helmet with a chin bar that can be removed for the climbs. It's meant to fill the gap between a half shell helmet and a dedicated full face, giving riders the ability to have greater coverage but without needing to carry two separate helmets. | Details • In-Mold Polycarbonate shell • Detachable chin bar • CE EN1078, CPSC Bicycle certified • Sizes: S, M, L • Weight (with chinbar, size L): 780g • Six color options • MSRP: $200 USD, $220 with MIPS |
The Super 2R's chin bar wraps completely around the helmet, and is secured in three places by ski boot buckle style closures.
Design and Construction
At the heart of the new helmet is an updated version of the Super, Bell's all-mountain / enduro lid that was released in 2013. The helmet's shell and EPS liner have been modified slightly, mainly in the area directly above the ears, in order to create a spot for the chin bar to mount on to. The chin bar completely encircles the helmet (Bell calls this 'Wraparound Protection'), with three ski boot-style buckles, one at the rear and two at the sides, to lock it into place. Installing and removing the chin bar doesn't require any tools, and can be accomplished without taking the helmet off. Other features include a breakaway camera mount, a ratcheting dial to adjust the fit around the head, and Bell's Overbrow Ventilation, which is designed to direct air over the top of the skull to provide additional cooling. The helmet itself has 23 vents, not including the 6 vents found on the chin bar. The Super 2R also has an adjustable visor with enough range of motion to fit a pair of goggles on the top of the helmet when they're not in use.
The helmet is based around an updated version of the Super, which will also be available for purchase without the chin bar.
Certification
The Super 2R is CPSC and CE EN1078 certified, but does not have the ASTM F1952 endorsement that is used to certify downhill helmets. That doesn't mean that the chin bar is superfluous, and you can be sure that Bell conducted their own in-house testing to ensure its integrity, but the ASTM F1952 requires a level of penetration resistance that a helmet with as many vents as the Super would be unable to achieve.
Kelend Hawks gives the Super 2R a try during the Oregon Enduro Series Finals.
On the Trail
Bell had a number of helmets on hand at the last round of the Oregon Enduro Series, which took place on trails of the Mount Hood Skibowl and Sandy Ridge, giving us the opportunity try the new system on a number of rides and in a race setting. After only a few tries, installing or removing the chin bar became second nature, and all it entails is making sure the buckles are open, guiding it into the two vent holes on the rear of the helmet, and then securing the buckles, working from front to back. With a little practices, it was only a matter of seconds before everything was in place and the conversion was complete. When climbing, it was easy to stash the chin bar in a backpack or loop it over the waist belt of a fanny pack. On its own, the chin bar weighs 350 grams, about the weight of a light XC helmet.
Riders who have spent time with the Super won't find any surprises with the fit of the new version - the shape is relatively unchanged. As far as half shell helmets go, the Super is a little on the heavier side, but with the chin bar installed the helmet felt well balanced, and very light for a full face. We were even able to witness a bit of real life crash testing, when one of Bell's employees took a high speed header on a trail at the Mt. Hood Skibowl. He was shaken up, and had crashed hard enough to crack the shell of his helmet, but his jaw and all of his pearly whites remained intact, which might not have been the case had he been wearing only a half shell.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | It's too early to comment on the durability of the Super 2R's construction, which is why we have one on hand for long term testing, but so far we're impressed with the helmet's execution. The chin bar attaches quickly and securely, with no wiggling or rattling, and it's well integrated with the rest of the helmet. For riders who envision themselves as being the next Red Bull Rampage champion, and fall asleep dreaming about hucking backflips over canyons, the Super 2R probably isn't the best choice, but for anyone who's ever struggled to decide whether or not to bring their full face helmet on a ride, the Super 2R makes the decision process a little bit easier. - Mike Kazimer |
www.bellhelmets.com
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For those of you, not in the know: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGMQvM8faw
Chin guard, but you need to use a Allen key to remove so it takes time. So didn't do more than 2 or 3 times for the long and hot liason stages. This helmet would be perfect for my needs.
Back in the day an xtr derailleur was $100 not $200. Gas was cheaper. People were nice. Bikes didn't qualify as housing down payments and didn't require selling my soul and left nut to the devil. Now I can buy a bike with a motor for the same cost. ....or I could finally get a nice tractor for the farm and buy a few cords of wood plus chicken feed.
People tend to react to others the way they are treated, maybe you have gotten bitter as you have got older (it sure sounds like it.)
More important how much of that "shiny stuff" is helping you give back to your local community and fellow mankind?
www.santacruzbicycles.com/en/us/nomad
www.eastbaymotorsports.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?veh=380639&pov=3739242
2. a $7500 nomad is more akin to a semi-pro race moto, or maybe a privateer pro moto, than it is a stock model. Race bikes can cost up to $150000, at least from what I understand.
3. using your money on things that benefit others is well & good, but spending money on something you love, even if it's "recreation" is both acceptable, & of real benefit to your mental health, which in turn improves your ability to produce in your chosen profession. Seriously, they've been doing studies on it for probably 100 years.
The mountain biking is expensive attitude is crap as it wasnt always this way.
Sure its a lot of money, but happiness is worth it..and bikes make me happy. I don't need the highest end bike and my new ride is certainly a very nice bike. I did my homework, bought it used (although it never hit dirt). Its got a pike and some fancy features, but no XTR.
I don't know why people feel the need to spend upwards of 5k on a bike, but if they can afford it, who cares.
TO the point that an XTR from 1992 is inferior to the XTR from 2014... that is definitely true - but the R&D costs and manufacturing costs should be going down, while the cost of materials should theoretically match inflation. If that is true, we should be getting better and better components for cheaper (assuming margins stay the same). Since this has not happened, all we can assume is that margins have gone up.
HOWEVER - something you may not realize is that a 2013 SLX derralleur is still better than a 1992 XTR derailleur. An SLX derralleur has an MSPR of $80. $80 today was worth $45 in 1992. So all things considered, biking components have gotten cheaper where quality does not improve.
NOW - what does this mean? It means that YOU aren't driven to buy new components or bikes as they get cheaper (but maintain quality), you are driven to buy the BEST bikes and components every year. You are paying for the improvements in quality because you are driven to buy whatever the BEST thing is, rather than driven to buy the same quality year over year.
So stop bitching. If you want the quality of 1992 XTR you can certainly get it much cheaper than it cost you back in 1992. If you want the quality of 2014 XTR - you better be willing to pay for it. Of course, in between options always exist (think XT)
I'm not sure your expected outcome is going to happen, when you walk outside & they see your mud covered dirt moto.
hahahahahahahahaha! what a great sales pitch.
hey i know, maybe i can just hang it off the seat post on my softride bike. lmao.
come on bell, get some real testing done and proven on this thing. until then its just another switchblade.
Good point and thanks cos I didn't see that. Maybe we can put the old Bell Super visor on there?!?
The "old" Super is one if my all-time faves. Looking forward to trying this one!
in my defense...methinks the visor appeared smaller in the pic....
Sure it's not DOT or whatever other certified but it has to be better than nothing at all. At only a slightly higher cost than the super I'm sure it will sell.
I'm of the belief that as mountain bikers we are getting faster every year and pedaling into increasingly dangerous terrain...so the more lightweight protection we can get the better. Plus a helmet like this would be great in cooler/cold temps for added warmth.
Met parachute has it so which helmet do you think people are going to buy lol
as for walk I couldn't be arsed to read your waffle sorry
Everyone who's going to buy it. If you don't, you have a wide choice of full face helmets. And if the Scottish climate is comparable to the Irish one, I assume you couldn't care less about vents.
Bell supposedly responded on MTBR and implied it's not the chin guard, but the venting that makes it fail 1952.
I personally don't believe it since the MET is well vented and passes.
That's all Bell has done if they can't show it actually works.
How would they do that? Pass 1952 since it's the only cert that tests the bar.
You may not like it, but 1952 is the only quantifiable way to know a chin bar will hold up.
For example the trails I ride are quite rocky and a fall could destroy your face. However it's quite far away so more often I ride dirt roads and walking trails where I'd find it ridiculous to wear a full face helmet, no matter how lightweight or well ventilated.
By the way, it's ego alone that says XC riding doesn't need a FF. There are plenty of people that have crashed XC riding that wish they had a FF at the time.
Did you even read the nonsense in your post? If it wasn't developed to be lightweight or well ventilated they could have passed 1952.
BTW - have you seen the second edition of Specialized FF helmet, quite ventilated one that Bearclaw rode in Roam and crashed in during crankworx? If only he could talk to a person like you, he'd be one concussion short. Stupid man
And the only person who's writing nonsense is you. It's even written in a review of the MET:
"The old MET Parachute came with an optional chin guard... In order to certify the helmet for this it was necessary to adapt the face guard and fix it to the helmet"
enduro-mtb.com/en/revolution-in-the-helmet-segment-the-met-parachute-hes
This means you can either have a certificate or a removable chin guard, but not both. Initially MET has chosen the latter, with their second model they decided to go for the first option while BELL decided to go for the second one. I don't see anything that makes one or the other company better, they just had different priorities.
"I still have the old parachute"
And how did you get over the fact that it doesn't have the 1952 certification?
Here educate yourself so you don't appear so ignorant- From the ASTN F1952 specs:
"Abstract
This specification covers performance requirements for helmets used by downhill mountain bicycle riders. Studies have shown higher risk to the head and face for this sport as compared to recreational street riding; hence, this specification requires greater impact protection and provides performance criteria for chin bars on full-face helmets, but does not require full-face helmets. "
I know it's pretty likely, I don't know you or your riding, maybe XC riding to you is like my grandmother riding on a paved path.
But here on the east coast us, lots of rocks, roots and tree-lines single track, one simple mistake is all it takes.
It's absolutely irrelevant what the standard says, all I'm saying is that nobody has ever produced a helmet with a removable chin guard that meets the ASTN F1952 specs. Neither BELL, nor MET (or GIro or anyone else). Yes, in theory it may be possible, but so far we have to choose between the standard and the removable chin guard, we can't have both.
@bat-fastard " I don't think there is a market for those who want to use it as an open some days and a full another"
Well, imagine that I'm one of them. If I lived near a bike park, I'd probably pass on both this and MET and buy a TLD D3. But because I live in Ireland, I simply can't justify spending €300 for something I'd use 10-15 times a year.
And will you finally stop focusing on the vents? It's like saying that a coupe with a sunroof is in the same category as a convertible.
I agree with what you posted to bat. I'm very happy with my MET, but I don't want three helmets and I'd like MIPS. The Super would be the perfect helmet if they redesigned to pass 1952.
I don't need a FF to ride around the neighborhood with my kids, things like that. I already have a proper DH helmet. Right now all I have is my MET, and old 1/2 dome I crashed in that needs to be replaced.
Removable chin guard = weaker construction, I said it about 10 times already for f*ck's sake...
its not a downhill helmet so stop comparing it to one.
Do you work for Bell? Why do you post stuff you don't know.
marketing speak doesn't mean shit.
Ventilation?
Did the version you tested not have MIPS?
dirtmountainbike.com/features/the-15-worst-mountain-bike-products-ever.html/10
That's what we're all hoping for here - that they pulled it off. I'm optimistic so far.
Stash the chin bar in a BP or FP?!!!! Bahahaha GFY. WTF would anyone ever do that? A full-time full-face helmet is not that cumbersome. Until I see the equivalent of an Autobot mask that extends & retracts according to my thoughts, I think you can stuff this here idear.
But more unexplained why head part of the helmet have bright finish and mate finish in the chinguard.....
Buying this nosense hellmet can also be possible if you are a super fan of the brand!!!!
Really you make yourself look really ignorant with your comment