Bell helmets – Interbike 2013
Trickledown technology in mountain and urban helmets
Published:
Interbike is generally a time for companies to showcase the best and most expensive product offerings — the “halo product” that draws customers in. Bell Helmets is bucking that trend this year by using the annual industry tradeshow to show off a new line of mid-range helmets, which pack a lot of features into lids with very approachable price tags.
Transfer-9
The Transfer-9 is a new full-face that follows closely in the footsteps of the US$400 Full-9 helmet. Bell was able to pack 90-percent of the features in a helmet that will retail for half the price by using a fiberglass, rather than carbon, shell and simplifying features with what appears to be very little decrease in functionality.
All the major features of the Full-9 carry over to the more affordable Transfer-9. It has three overbrow vents to aid in ventilation, removable cheek pads, a padded chin strap with a D-ring closure, and it’s compatible with the Eject helmet removal system as well as the Soundtrax audio system. Both the visor and removable GoPro mount are designed to break away in the event of an impact.
As one might expect, the switch from carbon to polycarbonate does come with a weight penalty; the Transfer-9 has a claimed weight of 1200g, which is 150g more than Bell’s Full-9. The Transfer-9 will retail for US$200 (UK pricing TBD) and will be available in February 2014.
Stoker
The Stoker can be thought of as a slimmed down version of Bell’s Super trail/enduro helmet. Slimmed down in terms of features, but also in terms of weight. Although the US$70 Stoker will cost US$55 less than the Super, its claimed weight of 316g makes it 74g lighter than the Super. These weight and price cuts were made possible by incorporating a simpler, non-adjustable visor, ditching the GoPro mount and simplifying the brow ports. There are also only 13 vents on the Stoker, compared to 25 on the Super.
The Stoker is expected to be available by the end of October.
Intersect
The Intersect is a new urban model that takes design cues from the Segment. Like the Segment, the Intersect uses a series of interior EPS foam segments connected by a reinforcing skeleton. It adds features such as a removable visor and an integrated mount for a rear light (sold separately through Blackburn).
The Intersect has a claimed weight of 450g and will retail for US$60. It will be available in February 2014.
For more information on Bell products visit www.bellhelmets.com.
Authors
Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
