When I first I heard of the Bell Super 2R mountain bike helmet I honestly thought the idea of having a removable chin bar sounded unnecessary, if not ridiculous. I know many readers already think that, and in fact some of you may recall the old Giro Switchblade, which still has a cult following despite the popular opinion that it was uncool and unsafe. The 2R is the opposite of the Switchblade, and may in fact change the way the entire mountain bike world views helmets. As someone who likes to rally hard, and often clumsily, I am a convert to Bell’s bold gamble that the helmet needs reinvention. And, given the global surge of enduro racing, other manufacturers are already capitalizing on this ideology to give consumers added protection from nasty spills.

I had the pleasure to test this helmet in the fall and winter, and it will stand up year round

Eddie after a faceplant on Dakota Ridge. I have no idea why he is smiling... — Eddie after a faceplant on Dakota Ridge. I have no idea why he is smiling…

This review would be incomplete without mentioning a guy named Eddie, who I met last fall at a trailhead and noticed that he had a Bell Super 2R. Still very unconvinced about the utility of this product, I asked him what prompted him to purchase one. Eddie told me that a few months earlier, on Amasa Back in Moab, he fell and knocked several front teeth out, which could happen to anyone… right? A year later, Eddie was cranking hard down the very technical Dakota Ridge, flipped over, and repeated the dental insult. It could happen to anyone… uh, never mind. After spending a small fortune on teeth, his friend rightfully ordered him to ride henceforth with a downhill helmet, which he did until he realized how hot and heavy they are for everyday use… and fortunately stumbled upon the 2R. Eddie has been saved by this helmet, and has been extremely happy with it. My criticisms eroded, and suddenly I could not wait to get my hands on one.

Unless you are riding the world’s most vanilla trails lined with marshmallows, the Bell Super 2R mountain bike is a versatile lid build for almost anyone, increasing safety, inspiring confidence, and pushing the limits of helmet technology in general.

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The Deets

Adjustable Visor–this is a nice feature that allows for easy adjustment of the visor without much fuss. I found it very easy to put my enduro-approved goggles on the visor brow and out of my way for long climbs.
The adjustable visor is simple and easy to use
Breakaway Screws–easily replace the visor if it divorces you in a fall.
GoggleGuide Adjustable Visor System–an easy-to-use feature that allows you to wear goggles and put them on the helmet brow, under the visor, when you don’t need them.
In-Mold Polycarbonate Shell–safety first!
Integrated Breakaway Camera Mount–designed to protect your head, helmet, and fancy camera, the camera mount was designed to let go and roll away if you should topple on your head while filming
The breakaway camera mount is easily removable with velcro straps as well
Overbrow Ventilation–the helmet was designed to allow air under the brow, which works exceptionally well if you are wearing this helmet in winter.
TAG™ Fit System
The TAG fit is superbly designed
Wraparound Chin Bar–the crown jewel of the 2R, this protects your mug.
The removable chin bar will easily fit into almost any pack
X-Static Padding

Instructional video from Bell:

Testing

This helmet was tested in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona during the fall and winter months. I did everything I could to wear it out… except for falling on my face. Test that yourself.

The three latches that secure the chinbar are thoughfully designed and bombproof — The three latches that secure the chinbar are thoughtfully designed and bombproof

Things that I really liked about this helmet:

Adjustability: as with any bike helmet worth its weight, being able to adjust the fit on the fly is key. Bell could not have made things easier: with their reliable dial and TAG fit system, I was able to loosen up and cinch down this helmet if I needed to add a beanie or if I attached the chin bar and psychologically felt obligated to get the helmet as tight as possible.

Being able to take the chin bar off and cinch down the helmet quickly is nothing short of revolutionary

Chin Bar: As I mentioned, my initial impressions of attaching and using a chin bar seemed dubious. I warmed up to the idea rather quickly, and to quote Eddie, “I feel naked riding without one now.” It is easy to stow the chin bar on the outside of, or even inside of, a relatively small pack. Even better, it only takes about 20 Mississippis to attach it, and even fewer to remove it. In the time it takes you to consume an energy gel at the top of a long climb, you can install that chin bar and significantly increase your facial protection for the obstreperous descent.

The chinbar takes about 20 seconds to install — The chin bar takes about 20 seconds to install

Certification/Safety: Although there are helmets specifically designed for downhill racing, Bell went above and beyond to certify the 2R with CE EN1078 and CPSC standards, and has invited critics to examine their theoretical and real-world testing dynamics, most notably documented in this recent viral video:

Even better, the helmet is ICEdot compatible (sold separately), which is an emergency notification system that can activate a user’s health information using a code PIN on the helmet. As long as you register the PIN, and you are wearing your helmet, EMS can get your health data in case of an emergency.

This helmet just looks cool and attracts a lot of attention

Weight: At 694 grams, this is a very light helmet for what it can protect you from, and far less than most downhill helmets.

Ventilation: 23 vents ensure that good air flow keeps your head cool, using the brow ports and the chin vents. It works a little too well in the winter. 🙂

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Things that some users may not like:

Nutrition access: If you’ve ever used a DH helmet, you already know that some of them make it difficult to slurp down a gel shot or take a sip of water. When riding lift-serviced downhill runs, however, you have plenty of time to remove your helmet on the lift and power up between runs. With the 2R, you are more likely to be riding trail or enduro, and if you use the chin bar all or most of the time, you may find it difficult to put anything in your mouth without muscling the helmet around on your head. It can be done, but it’s cumbersome if you drink from a hydration pack whilst riding technical terrain.

As you can see, it can be a little tight trying to squeeze food or drink down your gullet when rocking the full faced feature

Noise: Overall the helmet is quiet, but using the chin bar amplifies the sound of your breathing. While not something you typically worry about with a traditional DH lid if you are mostly focused on clearing the next gap, the sound of your (loud) breathing may bother you if you wear the chin bar in undulating terrain and climb with it. Turn up the headphones, or get used to it.

Wearing the chin bar is worth it when ice may abruptly end your fun, but you can hear your breathing on climbs, and it is loud.

Price: At $199 MSRP, this helmet isn’t cheap, but neither is a trip to the ER or replacing your front teeth. Also, it isn’t a full-on downhill helmet, and it was not designed to be. You should consider purchasing a beefier helmet if you frequently ride lift-served DH trails.

$199 may seem steep for a helmet, but you cannot put a price on safety, or the confidence of descending trails like the Hangover in Sedona without slickrock ripping your face off

Bell - Super 3R/2R Chinbar
$56.25 Jans AD

Color: The helmet I tested was “infrared,” which is somewhere between a salmon and fuchsia color. Riders I know have complained that it looks nothing like the cherry apple red that Bell advertises, and they are correct. Infrared certainly attracts attention, but I agree with the riders who would like to see a standard red as well. The good news is that the 2R comes in several other color schemes, many that mimic the patterns of the popular Bell Super.

As you can see, the infrared is less red and more salmon colored

Bottom Line

Before starting this review, I was stolidly skeptical. Using this helmet, however, has not only convinced me that the 2R is a good idea, it has made me rethink what style of helmet I need for different trails. Most of the time I can get by with a traditional lid, but having a chin bar provides another layer of safety for technical trails. The good news is, the 2R provides the best of both worlds for enduro and trail riding, and I don’t think I can personally go back. Eddie agrees.

Other recent reviews have hinted that this product as a “game-changer,” a phrase that is often overused. But in this case, I agree. The 2R is reshaping how riders think about helmets and safety, and that is a good thing. The 2R has since been released with a MIPS version for only $229, which is an even better idea.

The 2R helmet gets a lot of attention on the trail and starts a lot of conversations, and more surprising, most people comment on how cool it looks. If you ride chunky, techy trails and like to charge hard, the 2R should be on your wish list.

Thanks to Bell for sending the Bell Super 2R over for review!