bell helmets
- Thread starter stolen417
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Interested in this also. I have worn a Shoei RF-1000 for years now and its time for a new one, looking at a RF-1100 or a Bell Star or Carbon Star. I have read reviews and the Star is suppose to have amazing ventilation but I too would like to hear some real world opinions.
GNBRETT
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I have a Bell Star Carbon Cerwinski and like it but not too happy with snaps inside the helmet. they tend to unsnap often when taking the helmet off or putting it on sometimes. not a deal breaker but you just need to take it off and put it on slowly. no biggie I guess.
it is very light and most of all it has GREAT ventilation. that is the best part about the helmet on hot days. that alone is worth buying. you can always close the vents when winter comes.
and for me the #1 selling point is the Photocromatic lens that is available for it which is only available on a few selected helmets. that is the main reason I purchased the helmet to be honest.
its Snell 2010 certified as well and I realy like the magnet snap so it doesnt flap around in the wind when out riding. overall its a great helmet. I just wish the snaps snapped in a little better. kickass helmet nonetheless.
it is very light and most of all it has GREAT ventilation. that is the best part about the helmet on hot days. that alone is worth buying. you can always close the vents when winter comes.
and for me the #1 selling point is the Photocromatic lens that is available for it which is only available on a few selected helmets. that is the main reason I purchased the helmet to be honest.
its Snell 2010 certified as well and I realy like the magnet snap so it doesnt flap around in the wind when out riding. overall its a great helmet. I just wish the snaps snapped in a little better. kickass helmet nonetheless.
How is the wind noise? I have read it is comparable to a Shoei, not super quiet but not bad either.
cheferman65
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Most of the high end-better helmets will all be noisy, its a result of their ability to move air. If you own one or want one, you'd be a fool not to use ear plugs.
GNBRETT
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wind noise is tolerable imo. you cant have a great flowing helmet without some wind noise. and yea ear plugs are a good idea. with the vents closed its pretty dam quiet as it shud be since air isnt flowing.
I am a big fan the Arai Corsair V but no photocromatic lens and I dont want to carry around a clear shield when I go out. I gotta say the photocromatic lens works a lot better then I expected. it gets pretty dam dark when the sun is blazing down and it covers the whole shield unlike the pinlock system.
bit id say if the Arai offered the photocromatic lens id chose the Arai over the Bell Star. the Arai helmets seem to offer better designs imo but I really do like my Cerwinski model and get lots of compliments on it.
Stilslo
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I'm very happy with my bell star. It is noisy, but my head stays cool. Visor is easy to change out and it comes with a very nice bag. Comes with 2 different size cheek pads. Try one on first. I wear a large in most helmets, but a medium in bell. My only gripe with the helmet is the padding does not maintain it's stiffness very long. Ive had my star for 6 months and I need to order new cheek pads because the helmet is getting loose.
card16969
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i have a bell vortex and absolutely hate it, it was ungodly tight when i first got it to the point where it hurt and now its ridiculously loose, its loud and even though it has antifog screens they like to fog up really bad on chilli nights oh and its heavy. i borrowed my buddies start and its just as loud. My icon is lighter quieter and fits my head better. For the price of a star look at a shoei or an arai, i know my next helmet will be an arai after owning bell and icon
1busa
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I guess you got 1 of the good icon helmets.............They look spectacular just dont put them on
I purchased a hayabusa airframe and the snap broke off the strap and there is so much play in the visor any time i accelerated it would snap shut. This all occured within a year of purchase
Called the company and the guys seemed like he didnt care and tried to say it was from excessive use. Tried talking to me like it was the 1st helmet i ever owned and didnt know anybetter. I did get him to admit that other people had called in and complained about the same issues but he said he wasnt able to do anything about it because it was past the 90day warranty. I was a big fan but I'll never spend another $1 on icon anything 
I Love My Wife
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Bell Star here and couldn't be more pleased. 2 sets of cheek pads and a great helmet bag also.
I started off with the soft cheek pads and they were fine until they got soaked in the rain so I had to switch to the stiff pads. The fit was TIGHT at first but is great and gives zero helmet movement after breakin.
I started off with the soft cheek pads and they were fine until they got soaked in the rain so I had to switch to the stiff pads. The fit was TIGHT at first but is great and gives zero helmet movement after breakin.
I Love My Wife
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As far as noise I have a Scala G4 that I make phone calls from and people on the other end have no idea I'm on the bike.
GNBRETT
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the op asked about high end Bell helmets. no offense but the Bell Vortex is absolute junk and hardly a high end Bell helmet. its their bottom of the line helmet. thats like comparing a Ford Escort to a Z06.??? and Icon does not make a high end helmet either. you wont see any professionals wearing Icon helmets.
once again you cant have a great flowing helmet without wind noise. its a trade-off if you do a lot of hot weather riding and need a helmet that is going to cool you off.
the Arai is the superior helmet tho I agree.
I'd argue that the Icon Airframe Carbon is a high caliber helmet. I've had it and the Shoei RF1100. Unfortunately, my noggin didnt fit correctly inside the helmet shape of the Icon carbon, but It was every bit as "quality" as the Shoei RF1100 IMO. If it would have fit correctly, I would have kept it over the RF1100. Not to say the RF1100 isn't nice, because it definitely is. That particular Icon was an excellent helmet though. I do agree the mass amount of Icon's are built for middle of road. Not a walmart special, but not that Shoei/Arai level either. They do have helmet choices that dip into both arena's though.
card16969
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I guess you got 1 of the good icon helmets.............They look spectacular just dont put them on
crazy i know several people with airframes who have put tens of thousands of miles on them and never had a problem, but a helmet is a helmet they all have issues, my next helmet will be a Arai!!!
card16969
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and i also stated that i spent some time in a star and it was the same deal i really didnt care for it at all, i was just giving my experience with the brand in general and recommending look into a arai for the price range of a star
I've had the Bell Star since sept of last year(I only got one set of cheek pads too!).
I've worn large Shoeis for years, and had to exchange my large Star for a medium as soon as I got it.
The cheek pads were tight for a while but have broken in perfectly(at least for my head).
It did seem to get more noisy after a short time too, but I wear earplugs.
The ventilation is great also. The photocramatic sheild is the reason I tried a Bell again, and it is awesome. No more changing sheilds.
I have the carbon fiber Star, but it's only one ounce lighter than my Shoei(weighed them).
Overall I'm very happy with it, very high quality.
I've worn large Shoeis for years, and had to exchange my large Star for a medium as soon as I got it.
The cheek pads were tight for a while but have broken in perfectly(at least for my head).
It did seem to get more noisy after a short time too, but I wear earplugs.
The ventilation is great also. The photocramatic sheild is the reason I tried a Bell again, and it is awesome. No more changing sheilds.
I have the carbon fiber Star, but it's only one ounce lighter than my Shoei(weighed them).
Overall I'm very happy with it, very high quality.
Thanks for all the info even though this isnt my thread. My Shoei is still in good shape so I think I might just get a Carbon star to try out when I get some cash saved up. I hear nothing but good things about the photocramatic shield so I will have to get one of those too.
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