Bell Super 2R HelmetThe Super 2R is Bell's response to the growing number of riders who are seeking out rough, technical trails, but don't want to be burdened by the weight of a traditional full face helmet. With their popular Super half shell helmet to work from, Bell was able to create a highly ventilated full face helmet, complete with an easily removable chin bar, that weighs in at only 722 grams. It's not meant to replace the helmet you'd use for DH racing or smashing out bike park laps, and Bell doesn't claim that it is. Instead, it's meant to provide a little extra security if things don't go exactly as planned, whether that's at an enduro race or on your technical home trails.
Constructed with a polycarbonate shell around an EPS foam liner, the Super 2R has 23 vents on the main portion of the helmet, along with four vents over the forehead, and four more on the chin bar. The chin bar attaches to the helmet with three ski boot buckle style latches, one on each side, and the third at the back of the helmet. Retention is handled by Bell's TAG Fit System, which uses a ratcheting dial located at the back of the head to fine tune the fit. Other features include a removable, breakaway POV camera mount, and 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. MSRP: $200 USD. CPSC / CE EN1078 certified. Sizes: S, M, L. Colors: Infrared, Matte Black / White, Matte Titanium / Red, Matte Black, White.
www.bellhelmets.com. @BellBikeHelmets On the TrailWorn without the chin bar, the Super 2R offers extra coverage compared to a typical XC helmet, sitting low on the forehead and extending further in the back and at the sides of the helmet. In fact, the side portions extend so far down that some riders may find that their ears occasionally touch the lower portion of the shell - as with any helmet, it's worth trying one one in person before making a purchase. Even though the Super is one of the heavier half shells out there (
for comparison, a Troy Lee A1 is 344 grams, and a Smith Forefront is 332 grams), the depth of the shell combined with the rear retention system helped keep it securely in place, without any bobbling or shifting around even on rough trails.
I was able to haul the chin bar easily on several different models of
hydration pack, typically orienting it with the chin pads facing the pack to keep it from swinging from side to side. Once at the top of a climb, installing the chin bar took a matter of seconds, and could easily be done without removing the helmet. The latches are relatively simple to operate even with gloves on, although it does get a little trickier if your hands are cold and the latches are even colder during a mid-winter ride. While it's easiest to attach the chin bar with the helmet still on, the sound of the latches snapping shut is rather loud, so if you’re trying to pedal away a hangover or a head cold, it's best to remove the helmet to put the chin bar on, or be prepared for the three noisy 'snaps' it takes for installation. It's also worth running your fingers along the front of each side latch or giving the chin bar a slight downward pull before heading down the trail, because it is possible to inadvertently close the latches without having them slid completely into the slots at the side of the helmet.
After three month of riding with the Super 2R I haven't run into any durability issues - all of the latches still operate properly, and the same goes for the helmet's buckles and retention system. Of course, as with any moving part, there is the potential for the latches to wear or develop excessive play, but given how many times a ski boot can typically buckled and unbuckled before that happens, hopefully the same holds true for the Super 2R.
The comfortable and secure fit of the helmet continues once the chin bar is in place, and the thick cheek pads ensure that there's no excessive shifting. That thickness can also be reduced if needed – there's a removable 10mm piece of foam in each cheek pad that can be removed by opening a velcro closure. I did find that the Day-Glo orange upper portion of the chin bar occasionally entered my field of vision – I'd likely pick a more subdued color, or at the very least spend some time with a Sharpie to make it less noticeable. Although temperatures remained fairly mild for the majority of testing, the ventilation provided by the helmet was noticeably greater than a typical full face, with plenty of air flow to keep things cool. Aside from bashing through a few low hanging branches, I luckily didn't need to put the
impact resistance of the chin bar to the test. That being said, in the event of a crash, I'm convinced that having it on would still be better than wearing just a half shell.
Pinkbike's Take: | The Super 2R will likely go down in history as the most talked about helmet of 2014/15, and for good reason. It's a helmet that's different than anything currently on the market, and although the concept isn't new, it's the best execution yet of the removable chin bar design. With the growth of enduro racing, as well as the increased number of riders pushing their limits on trail bikes, it's a helmet that makes sense in many instances. The fact that it doesn't meet the ASTM F1952 DH standard will be a deterrent for some riders, but it's a matter of honestly assessing your riding style and protection needs when contemplating purchasing the Super 2R.
How feasible removing and installing the chin bar is will depend on your local terrain, and in an area with rolling topography, where there are short climbs followed by short descents, it doesn't make as much sense to constantly stop and fuss around with a chin bar. For areas with long, sustained climbs followed by technical descents, the type of place where you might only take a few runs per ride, the Super 2R is an excellent choice. Plus, for $200 you're effectively getting two helmets in one, both possessing excellent fit and function. - Mike Kazimer |
Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review.
Anytime non-mountain bikers ask me why I wear a full-face helmet on certain trails I explain what can happen. No one understands until it happens to them. hope your still out there riding mate.
b/ my first choice was the parachute but medium was just to big, Bell medium fitted perfectly
c/ try to think about posts a bit more as you obviously didn't know the full story and may look foolish to some
hope this helps
sorry about c/ again my bad
But a full face and this new Bell 2r still offer far better facial and scalp trauma protection than a half shell, which is a reason enough to get one. Not to mention the 2r can be bought with MIPS.
Mips relies on the low friction layer allowing the helmet to rotate on your head when you fall, preventing the energy being transferred to your brain. However, nobody's helmet is that firmly coupled to their head. A mips helmet typically provides about 5mm of "slip". Now go put your helmet on and try to rotate it around, I bet that you can easily move your helmet more than 5mm in any direction on your head.
Mips works in concept when your head is physically coupled with the helmet liner but that's not the case in reality.
The shell is pretty stiff despite being made in 2 pieces and latched together. The construction however, is more like a typical bicycle helmet than a traditional full face. There's less foam in this thing and less plastic in the shell than most full face helmets, so I can't imagine it'll protect as well as one. That being said, for the trail riding I do, I'm okay with the compromise. I wanted a helmet that was full face, but wouldn't kill me on the climbs. It's lightweight. It's very well ventilated. It's more protective than a typical half shell helmet. Overall, it's a perfect helmet for the riding I do, but it's probably not the perfect choice for a DH rider.
Another thing I'll mention here is that the "overbrow ventilation" called out on the Bell website isn't a load of marketing crap. That's actually very valid. I wear this helmet both commuting and mountain biking, and when I keep the visor turned up in the air, it does seem to push air directly into the forehead vents. I've never had a better helmet when it comes to ventilation.
@onemanarmy I am glad your buddy's helmet did the job it needed to do.
I bought my dad a helmet not to long ago and he said... man this is tight. I loosened the fit system and guess what... it fit.
May seem like a stupid question but you'd be amazed how many people don't do that. I'm a solid 60 and the Large fits me fine.
Entirely speculation, but I am just curious what you've heard/know? It's a bit of a major factor for purchasing for me, because I'd be buying the helmet to use at bigger enduro races that I'm planning on this year (Crankworx, Crested Butte), but if the helmet won't even be allowed, then I may not buy.
Thanks for reading!
Is this helmet orange or pink?
I swear, either the photo editor hacks on all the MTB sites (see first pic @ top of page) aren't processing the colors of these photos right, or this helmet is actually pink.
Some photos out there it's nuclear neon orange, in others it's the color of smoked salmon.
I ask because I have one on order and can't wear a pink helmet, no matter how amazing it is.
The ONLY legitimate comparison is the "red" color that Nike started using 3 or 4 years ago on their men's shoes.
www.nikeairjordanonlinestore.com/Men-Nike-Air-Max-2014-Running-Shoes-Red-Black.html
Yes... That link is for a pair of "red" Nike men's shoes. That's the shade we're talking.
Not sure how I've gotten so far off base of what Mike and onemanarmy are seeing. And by no means do I feel like it's a "bad" color, it's just not the color for me.
But bottom line, it's going back and being exchanged for the matte black & gray color.
She color corrects and processes magazine editorial photos for a living, and as avid painter/illustrator in her spare time, she knows her colors.
My apologies to both Mike Kazimer and onemanarmy, as I am willing to disagree with strangers on the Internet, disagreeing with my wife carries its own unique and more immediate perils.
So while I'm technically wrong by doggedly insisting it's pink. But be forewarned, it's a very strange shade of orange/red.
I don't think its ugly, its far better looking any previous trails/detachable chin guard type that's out there.
"This helmet was like Shoei teamed up with TLD to produce the Edge + "RaceFace" removeable chin guard."
Where's the credit to Dan Severson? www.pinkbike.com/news/hans-rey-bike-vault-2015.html
I got mine few days ago and noticed that the strap that you can adjust in the back comes loose very easily if I just wiggle the helmet a little with my hand while wearing it. Turns it's just attached to the shell by one tiny push button on each side and one of them is not mounted properly:
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/37581795/bell_super_2r.jpg
But even if it was mounted correctly, I'm sure the head strap would come off immediately in case of a crash. Then the helmet would no longer sit tight and won't give the full protection, in particular if I'm not wearing the chin bar for once.
So is it just me or did Bell do a really poor job constructing the fixture of the head strap?
In any case, my helmet goes back to the shop first thing tomorrow.
Didn't get the version 2 as it doesn't have the Australian Standard sticker (yet) and will also use it for commuting, so wouldn't risk a lawyer looking for a cheap excuse not to pay up...
I'm just saying anyone who normally buys a large sized helmet (like me) and is thinking of buying a Bell Super, to try one on for size first.
First I hauled the chin bar in my pack, then I just let it hang around my neck, then I decided that since the chin bar itself had a lot of ventilation, to leave it attached while climbing to see if I could still get plenty of air in, and sure enough, no problems whatsoever.
Where it differs from a true DH helmet insofar as breathing is concerned, is as I just mentioned, it's got a lot more ventilation in the area than a DH helmet, and it's pretty-much as easy to breath as wearing an open-face helmet.
FWIW, I found it easier to mount the chin bar while wearing th.e helmet, and doing so only took maybe 20 seconds after I got a feel for it(installing and removing it a few times)
So I probably don't have a very good frame of reference for you. That said: depends on the climbs. If these climbs are someplace that you can do them safely without a helmet, I'd just go without, strap the helmet on for the downs. If you need a helmet for the ups, then why not pull the chinbar off, instead of leaving it on all the time?
That being said, I would also want a proper DH lid if going only downhill.
Oh, & keep in mind Sonator said he wasn't going to take the chinbar off at all, that's why I asked why he wouldn't take it off for those 3 hour climbs.
I like this lid, I need this lid, my riding (and my face and teeth) warrant this lid....but, I also have an iPhone 4.
What would you do???
/first world problems>
it's the first world.
u simply get them both. :-)
surely your loved ones can't object to a safer helmet?!? that's my line of defense.
Just wondering because the reviewer has been riding this for months.
worked well for you then? ;-) not saying the bell would be much better.
Also I thought the bell was ugly until I laid eyes on that monster.
Doesn't matter how you construct a chin bar... no chin bar is better for climbing. Don't know about you but I don't like breathing my own breath when I climb.
This is not a DH helmet. It is however in my opinion the best product on the market for enduro riders and your average single track rider.
Bottom line... in my opinion... if you're doing shuttling or serious downhill riding... buy a dedicated full face. If you're riding trails, single track, etc and looking for something better than your standard half helmet but don't want to sacrifice in the climb... this is perfect.
To me it's like anything else. I'll come at it like a subaru since I'm a subaru junkie. My car has seen the track, the snow, mud, gravel, dirt, long road trips, and survived a toddler, a golden retriever and an akita. It's set up to do a lot of those things better than must. But if you compared it to... say my buddies car (back cover of super street this month)... well.. his is faster. It's track car. Or if was out doing serious 4x4 work... I'd probably want something else.
Specialized gear for specialized purposes. Then you have your jack of most stuff.... like my subaru. Like this helmet. Sucker rips for who it was designed for.
well...a guy crashed right behind me there once in that main rock garden. right onto his freaking face. I heard a sick crack and stopped dead in my tracks.
I'm positive he would have loved ome of these that day.
oddly enough...on the same ride there was a rider who wore a full face. he was hot and miserable.
@pancakeflatted yep Annadel is brutal is you like to go fast. One mistake will be costly.
I currently run a dh fullface and I do the same thing. Take it off. But in Enduro racing you can't. You have to have a lid on at all times. That's really where this thing hits it's stride.
If I'm shuttling... I'll have my DH lid on.
I see this as an enduro helmet that has a lot of usage for folks that ride XC and do a lot of single track riding.
P.S. "desembalando," methinks, does not translate as "disassembly," or, if it does, the context refers to the packaging, not the helmet.
help!!! I don't know what faf means and Google is not useful here.
seriously.
- @mikekazimer -
IMHO.
It's one helmet + a removeable chin bar.
This helmet was like Shoei teamed up with TLD to produce the Edge + "RaceFace" removeable chin guard.CMIIW.
I almost never ride chairlifts... so the phrase doesn't really come up with me or my friends. we just ride our trails.
But it IS a little derogatory, isn't it? We all "earn out turns" in one way or the other.
but then like you say... we have wheel-size debates, all the hype around so-called enduro, and even the occasional cretin calling something "gay", and you realize that there are still problems in the world...