Bell Super DH Mountain Bike Helmet Review

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A good helmet is inarguably the most important piece of mountain bike gear, so it’s important to put a lot of thought and time into finding the right helmet for you. I’ve worn the Bell Super DH helmet for a number of years (and many, many miles), and like more things in there, it has its pros and cons.

In this post, I dig into what I like about the Bell Super DH MIPS helmet and what I don’t plus a few other options to consider.

(I’m not being paid by Bell or anyone else to write this review)

What I like

Comfort & fit

The Bell Super DH is one of the most comfortable helmets I’ve owned. It’s comfortable with the chin bar and without it. I’ve never felt any pressure points or had the lid slip down over my brows like some other helmets I’ve tested.

It also has an adjustment dial at the back (like all mountain bike helmets should have) so you can get the perfect fit.

It also comes with two cheek pad sizes so you can choose whichever works for you when wearing it as a full face helmet.

The removable chin bar

The detachable chin guard is the main selling point for the Bell Super DH. It’s really two helmets in one – you can wear it as a ‘normal’ helmet for everyday pedaling, or strap on the chin bar when you head to the bike park or plan on doing some rowdier trails.

Some people question whether the removable chin bar design is as safe and secure as a one-piece full-face helmet. I would say that for the normal/average rider – yes, it’s definitely adequate, especially since it has passed tests to warrant it an ASTM F1952 Downhill Standard approval rating.

However, if you’re a true downhiller and taking bigger risks on jumps, drops, and other features then you may want to consider a dedicated downhill full-face helmet.

The magnetic chin strap buckle

This is a feature I didn’t know I really liked and needed until I got the Super Bell DH. The magnetic chin strap buckle is a nice touch and makes buckling/unbuckling easy and efficient, especially with one hand.

Safety

The most important factor when choosing a mountain bike helmet is safety, right? The Super Bell DH has one of the highest safety ratings for mountain bike helmets – a ASTM F1952 Downhill Standard approval rating, which means it’s designed to protect your noggin a high-speed crashes.

It also has MIPS Technology, which most mountain bike helmets these days should come with. MIPS stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. This means that MIPS helmets – including the Super DH – have a thin, plastic liner that is designed to protect your head against rotational forces during a crash.

“The brain is more sensitive to rotational motion than linear motion because it has shear properties similar to water or gel. When different parts of the brain move relative to each other as a result of rotational motion, the tissues can stretch, which can cause concussions or other brain injuries.” – MIPS Website

You can learn more about how the technology works on the MIPS Protection website.

What I Don’t Like

Can’t buy replacement liners

2023 Update – Bell has brought back the replaceable liners! Previously, you couldn’t buy new liners, but now they have them stocked on their website.

This is by far the biggest reason to not buy the Bell Super DH. In fact, I didn’t get another Super DH for precisely this reason. I ride a lot and the padded liners in my helmets almost always get worn out before I need to replace the actual helmet.

Bell used to offer replacement liners, but for some reason has discontinued them. I do really like this helmet, but until they bring back the replacement liners, I’ll be opting for something different.

The visor screws come loose

Another thing I’ve noticed with the Bell Super DH is that the screws that hold the visor in place come loose really easily. I actually lost one on both of my helmets, which was annoying.

The screws don’t fully keep the visor secured to the helmet, but they help keep the visor from slipping down. (And like the liners, you can’t buy replacements these are now available on their website as well).

Is this helmet for you?

I’ve been wearing the Bell Super DH mountain bike helmet for several seasons and I like a lot of things about it: it’s comfortable, it’s downhill-rated, it’s two helmets in one, and it comes in some great color choices.

However, the fact that Bell discontinued the replacement liner set is a big issue for me. It’s crazy that you can’t get new liners for a $350 helmet. I typically wear a helmet for two, maybe three years and I definitely wear out the pads before needing to replace the actual lid.

If the replacement liners aren’t a big issue for you and you want the option to switch between full face and half lid, then I’d say this is a great helmet choice.

DH vs Air vs 3R

In addition to the Super DH, Bell also has two other helmets with removable chin guards – the Super Air R and the Super 3R. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

Other MTB Helmets w/ removable chin guard

Not sold on the Bell Super DH or their other models but still want a removable chin guard? Here are a few other options to consider:

Have you tried the Bell Super DH mountain bike helmet? What do you love or dislike about it? Would you add anything to this review? Leave a comment below!