by Brian Mullin
The Super 2R is an All Mountain helmet that has a removable and protective chin bar that can be
easily attached and detached during the course of a ride. You can detach the chin bar and enjoy the comfort and ventilation of a normal helmet or add the chin bar and get the versatility and protection of a full face helmet. The helmet comes with the ICEdot emergency identification and notification service and an optional MIPS insert. The Super 2R comes in three sizes, five color combinations and retails for $200 and will be available at Bell dealers in November.
I checked out the Super 2R at Interbike, and it is pretty cool. Felt comfortable on my head, and switching the chin bar on and off was simple. The latches are just like ones on a pair of ski boots, and once the chin bar is attached it seemed very strong and secure.
The Super 2R is CPSC and CE EN1078 certified, though it doesn't meet the ASTM 1952 certification for DH use. As someone who spends a lot of time in gnarly and dangerous terrain, this should be a great helmet design to provide more safety and protection for face plants into the ground, rocks and trees. I look forward to this model for my personal protection, and I like having the ability to be able to switch between normal or full on safety mode with three easy clicks.
Super 2R Specifications:
- Weight: 24.5 oz / 694 grams
- Sizes: S 5256 cm / 20.5"22, M 5559 cm / 21.625"23.25, s L 5862 cm / 22.875"24.37"
- Certifications: CPSC and CE EN1078
- Vents: 23 helmet vents - 4 overbrow port and 6 chinbar vents
- Removable Wraparound Chinbar
- GoggleGuide Adjustable Visor System
- Overbrow Ventilation
- Integrated Breakaway Camera Mount
- X-Static Padding
- Breakaway Visor Screws
- TAG Fit System
Impressions
The system goes on and off with ease, and I didn't have any issue at the show reinstalling the chin bar, though I did find it easier to do it while the helmet was off my head. Maybe with practice I could align everything properly while I was wearing it? The latch at the rear of the chin bar completely detaches, while the side ones just pop upwards. To install the chin bar, you line everything up, lock the rear latch down, and then push in the side latches until they click down into there receiving slots. Once everything was locked down the chin bar was stable, secure and didn't have any noticeable movement, and it felt like the helmet was one entire entity. Though I didn't get to smash it into the ground to see how tough the system is!
I think it will be a great helmet for All Mountain riders that want a more x-country like helmet for normal activities and something beefier for going down the gnarlier terrain, helping to protect the face from frontal assaults. It's not a full face helmet, but its more comfortable, cooler and has enough safety for most activities. It seemed stable and secure, and I would love to have it in my arsenal of equipment to help protect my precious face and head.
The design is much like the Giro Switchblade and MET Parachute helmets, where they incorporate a more normal vented system with a chain bar, offering the comfort and ventilation of an x-country oriented helmet with the safety of a full face model. The latest iteration of the MET Parachute does meet the ASTM F1952-2032 standard, though it didn't pass the CPSC test.
The Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, MIPS, was developed by a Swedish neuroscientist to improve protection from oblique impacts to the head. Concussions and brain injuries are often caused by angled head impacts that create rotational violence to the brain, causing strain on the brain tissue. MIPS utilizes either a low friction layer on the inside of the helmet liner for inmold helmets or a low-friction layer between the outer shell and liner for hard shell and two piece helmets. This technology helps to absorb much of the energy created by both unilateral or oblique blows to the head.
By mimicking the brains protective mechanisms, MIPS can significantly minimize brain injuries in connection with angled impacts and rotational violence. MIPS will be available on the 2015 Bell Super 2R, Super 2 and Stoker helmets.
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