After a year or more of focusing on their mountain bike lineup, the new Bell Zephyr should help revive their road lineup. It borrows the name of an older Bell full face motorcycle helmet, but it introduces some new technology not just to their lineup, but the helmet category in general.
MIPS is blowing up, but the Zephyr is the first to integrate it directly into the fit and retention system. One of the challenges of adding MIPS is that it adds thickness, altering the fit of the helmet if it’s simply being added to an existing model. Integrating it allows for a much slimmer fit since the retention ring and related material isn’t layered over top of it…
In addition to the safety tech, it also just looks darn good. This Belgian color combo was part of a special series they did for their Olympic athletes and won’t be available, but the stock colors are almost as cool.
The MIPS on this one is also not yellow, which it seems is how it had to be if you looked at any other helmet using it. Here, and on others it the line, the MIPS lining is color coordinated to the helmet with only the breakaway tabs in the signature MIPS yellow. Note how the breakaway liner is one with the band running back to the adjustable Float Fit Race retention mech.
The X-Static sweat pads are reshaped, adding the “salt lick” flap on the front, where sweat naturally heads thanks to gravity. This lets it drip out in front of your face rather than straight down your forehead and sunglasses. We’ll be testing this out as soon as our sample arrives.
The Fusion InMold polycarbonate shell is made with two layers of EPS, called Progressive Layering, that puts softer foam closer to your head and harder foam on the outside. There’s a plastic skeleton between the layers that helps keep it all intact if you wreck hard.
The stock colors are shown on the left and all the usuals (black, white, blue, red) are represented. Women get some more interesting options, but all of them do look pretty good if predictable. The 18 vents pass the air through the helmet well, showing straight through.
Look for it on October 1 for $230 in the U.S and about €255 in Europe. CSPC weight is 280g, and the EN version (for Europe) comes in around 268g (claimed).
The new Super 3R and Super 3 look and act just like the well regarded Super 2R that we reviewed, but get all new molds. In reality, it’s an entirely new helmet to improve the fit, especially at the temples.
Technical features are the same save for an upgrade to the Float Fit system. It’s now only available with MIPS for in the U.S., the regular 3 can be had without it in Europe.
Available 10/1, retail is $230 / €249 for the Super 3R with included breakaway camera mount, claimed weight is 784g.
Get the Super 3 MIPS without the chin bar and retail is $155 / €179. Non-MIPS, only available in Europe, will be €150. Claimed weight is 452g. Both versions are available October 1.
