Back in September I received a Bell “Pit Boss” helmet from Bell Helmets for me to test.
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| Bell's "Pit Boss" Helmet |
I was very
excited the day it arrived by courier.
My first
impression was “That’s a nice looking helmet.”
I eagerly
put the helmet on before reading the users manual and was a bit disappointed
that the helmet felt so tight. I hate having to ship something back it’s a
pain.
I do most
of my gear shopping on line these days;
I don’t
have to worry about going to 4 different dealerships to see if I can find what
I want. I can shop at 5 in the morning when I am taking a coffee break.
The
downside, things sometimes have to go back and that can become tedious.
Even though
I was disappointed that the helmet was so tight, I sat down and read the owners
manual and in a few minutes I was one happy girl.
You see I read about the
Speed Dial fit system and how with the turn of a dial, you can adjust how the
helmet fits on your head horizontally and vertically.
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| Speed Dial Fitment System |
The claim
on the Bell Helmets web site that the Speed Dial Fitment System provides unmatched levels of comfort while drastically
reducing the tendency for open face helmets to lift off of the head, are not an
exaggeration in any way shape or form!
Once
I had the helmet fitted to my head, it went back in its carrying bag and in my
suitcase for my trip to Ireland.
Little did I know that I would be writing
about that helmet saving my noggin’ in a crash!
After hundreds of thousands of kilometres and 40 years around bikes, this was my first and hopefully only, crash.
Read that article here - Rider Error
Well,
before that little 35KPH reminder of our human vulnerabilities… I had 9 days of
riding and wearing the Bell Pit Boss helmet and I have to tell you that I LOVE
this helmet – it gets a 9 out of 10 from me!
I
am deeply grateful that if I had to crash that it was a low speed crash and
that I was wearing the Bell “Pit Boss” helmet equipped with the Speed Dial
fitment system when I did.
In
nine days of riding and wearing the Bell “Pit Boss”, I experienced reduced wind
resistance because of the shape and sculpting in the visor – to me there is
nothing worse than a helmet that catches a ton of air causing your neck muscles
to be tense all the time. My neck swells up and looks like I have a small
orange under the skin.
The air flowed off of it well and there was very little
buffeting of my head.
I
found that I was most comfortable with the removable neck curtain left in
place.
I liked the support it offered my neck and how it kept the wind from
going down my back.
Being
made of Kevlar, carbon fiber and fiberglass, it was so light.
There
were actually times I forgot I had it on it was that lightweight!
This
helmet was wonderful – absolutely wonderful.
And
in a need department that’s super important to me.
With
the 4 compressed disks I have in my neck from a car crash many years ago, I
have always gone for the lightest of helmet. Sometimes that meant I wasn’t
always as protected as I thought I’d be simply because of the fit. There are
too many downsides to wearing a full-faced helmet for me. Claustrophobia, that
feeling of not enough air, let me the hell out…is one reason I choose to wear
an open face helmet, the others all involve the limitations of using them.
I
find I spend too much time focusing on unlatching the jaw piece to take a drink
or relieve my claustrophobia. Not to mention the pulling of my hair even with a
head sock on, the heaviness, getting it on and then realizing you forgot to fog
proof your shield – I am trading one risk for another what, 5 or six things
that all take away my focus and make me less comfortable.
I get that. To me
this is a smart risk – I have weighed and measured my options, I have tried all
sorts of helmets and have come to the conclusion that being focused and
comfortable protects me more than the full face compensates for.
This is one decision I
feel a ton better about now that I have experienced a crash.
(AND NO I DON’T intend to make this a habit in the name of product
reviews.)
I
have been riding my own or on the back since the late seventies and I have
dropped my bike, dumped my bike and rodeoed through a ditch with my bike, but I
had never had or been in a true crash until my trip to Ireland. I can’t image
if this had happened to me back in my no helmet and beanie wearing days.
I
am glad it hasn’t happened with a few of the DOT helmets I have had over my
time either.
I
can’t imagine the outcome would have been good.
I gave this amazing
helmet a 9 out of 10 because of two things.
One, I did not care for
the drop down sun visor. I guess because of the way I had adjusted the helmet
to fit me, the lens came down and rubbed on the end of my nose. It was just too close and rather
uncomfortable, but hey, that’s what they make facemasks, bandanas and good
goggles or glasses for! I wear the Liberty Sport Glasses and a bandana for my
face in the rain and high wind.
Two, the ear pieces that have
the carrying pockets in them for communications devices might have kept my ears warm
if I had been able to have the ear pieces lay flat against my ear, they bulged
a bit, letting wind in and caused more wind noise than I like. It felt like
they are cantered too far back by a couple of degrees.
I imagine that with
communications devices in those pockets though that it might be a totally
different experience.
Other
that the drop down lens and the earpieces, I absolutely loved this helmet and
now I need to go buy a replacement one because my new helmet is where it
belongs after a crash, in the garbage.
During
my crash the Bell “Pit Boss” Helmet took at least one good hit, in spite of the
fact that I had tucked during the first revolution of my body skidding down the
road.
There
were some deep asphalt gouges – the pavement in Ireland is rather aggressive.
You can see them on the bottom left of the helmet by the DOT Information.
The
helmet never budged.
It stayed on my
head and protected my head just the way it was meant to.
The
visor took some scraping but beyond that the helmet looked new.
I
never ended up with more than a dull headache caused more by all of the
bruising on my ribs and the spraining of my left thumb and hand I am sure. I am
still shocked that I never had much of a headache.
This is a helmet that
I feel truly good about recommending.
If
you prefer an open-faced helmet, this is one, I feel you should consider the Pit Boss by Bell Helmets.
That
Speed Dial Fitment System and the light weight of this helmet, makes this helmet
a champion in my eyes!
Bell“Pit Boss” Helmets are available with a number of designs and a reasonable
number of colors, they also come in sizes small to extra large and because of
the Speed Dial Fitment System…all sizes in between!
Bell Helmets are distributed by Kimpex and sold through a wide range of dealers.
Belt
Drive Betty,
Editor
and Rider
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