Bell Super 2R MIPS HELMET
Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) have announced full face helmets as mandatory for MTBA sanctioned enduro events from January 2016. While waiting for technology to catch up, many riders are already pedaling up the hill with 1-1.5kg full face attached to their backpack or bars. The Bell Super 2R offers advanced protection should you take a tumble, without the weight penalty and inconvenience of a more traditional full face helmet over a half to full-day in the saddle. It is not downhill approved; rather it is clearly aimed at the all mountain and enduro rider. It is also suited to those seeking more protection than a typical XC lid.
InITIAl IMpressIons
The Super 2R expands on Bell’s Super helmet design from 2013. The area around the ears has been modified to allow for the clip-on chin guard. The helmet also comes with a mount for your GoPro, once again reflecting changes in the ways we ride. Overall, it boasts the sleek construction we expect from Bell, a company that has been designing helmets since 1954. Also new this year is the option to buy the helmet with or without ‘MIPS’: a Multidirectional Impact Protection System. This is the Swedish designed, yellow liner on the inside of the helmet. The low friction insert is claimed to reduce the impact of rotational forces by allowing the helmet to slide in relation to the head. We can’t say we’d notice the effect of MIPS while crashing, but for an extra $30 it’s a worthwhile investment if your riding tends to be a little risky or ragged. Our medium test lid has a claimed weight of 760gms, with the chin. The main helmet is weightier than most other all mountain options. It is also heavier than the Met Parachute, although this well-vented alternative to the Super 2R isn’t designed with quickly attaching or detaching the chin in mind. The functionality of the chin guard was our main curiosity during the test period. Would the faff time ruin our ride experiences? Or would the extra ventilation and versatility make us want to hang on to this helmet for a good while longer?
In Use
Given the adjustability of Bell’s TAG fit system, we were able to set up the Super 2R simply and quickly. We were able to attach or detach the chin guard in about seven seconds; less time than it takes to unwrap a muesli bar. You don’t even need to remove the rest of the helmet from your head. The clip system is nice and secure and the helmet feels like one solid piece. Our peripheral vision didn’t decrease as much as we expected and the extra ventilation was certainly noticeable. When used as a full face, the Super 2R, with its adjustable visor, is perhaps better suited to goggles than glasses. We were glad for sunglasses with adjustable arms, as the sides of the helmet tended to squeeze the position of some frame designs. Where this helmet excels is in its versatility. The low weight of the chin was infinitely preferable to lugging a heavier helmet on our back or on the bars, something that makes this one a keeper for solid days on steep and technical trails. The ability to ride confidently without the chin is well suited to playful transit routes on the way to the rough stuff.
oUr TAke
Given the construction quality, and our experience with previous helmets from this company, we’d expect to get a good two or three years out of the Super 2R – unless you do some serious crash testing first. $299 (or $329 with MIPS) is not cheap, but the detachable chin guard also allows riders the option of running the product as an all mountain lid other days of the week offering increased value for money. As technology increases, and rider demands continue to change, we expect this type of product to undergo further innovation in the next couple of years. This might include further simplification of the clip and retention systems and a decrease in weight without compromises in fit or performance. But this is a well thought-out initial offering that fills a much-needed gap in the market.