![]() Bell Star MIPS helmet Editor Score: 87.25% Aesthetics I selected the light-smoke faceshield, which nicely tones down ambient light without dimming visibility as much as a heavily tinted shield. The Star MIPS is a really nice looking helmet that felt comfortable and stable during session after session at Thunderhill. The best compliment I can give is that I wasn’t giving the helmet sitting on my head any thought while railing around the track. I was very pleased with the helmet’s stability at high speeds (more than 150 mph), and I was impressed with the shield’s wide range of visibility even when in a race tuck. Once properly fitted, I strapped it on and headed out onto Thunderhill Raceway, where Bell had invited us to sample its new lid. The helmet is also shipped with an extra pad that can be inserted where needed to ensure optimum fit. Bell’s rep Chris Killen (pictured) stepped into action, removing the small pad at the roof of the helmet and inserting it into the forehead liner, quickly creating a perfectly secure fit for my noggin. However, I noticed a bit of extra room in the forehead area and that the top of my skull didn’t fully sink into the liner. Bell describes its Star MIPS helmet as having an Intermediate Oval headshape, which I expected to closely align with the shape of my head. The way a helmet fits on a head is a critical element. It felt really nice on my head, but I could sense a bit of extra room next to my forehead. I typically use an Extra-Small helmet size for a snug and secure fit, but Bell suggested a Small for me. The Star MIPS feels plush when pulled over a head, despite any negative preconceptions some might have about about products manufactured in China. Bell says a Medium-size Star MIPS weighs 1755 grams, about 3.87 pounds, a bit heavier than the ECE-certified Stars that don’t have to be built as robustly as our Snell-approved models. That method saves production costs, but it also has an effect on the overall weight of the helmets. Most helmet companies build fewer shell sizes and adjust interior room by adding or subtracting internal pad thicknesses. Replacement shields start at $60 in clear or tinted.Īnother feature of the Star line is Bell’s use of six shell sizes for its line that stretches from XS to XXL. A Panovision faceshield with Class 1 optics (which puts less strain on eyes and is distortion-free over the entire field of view) has a larger viewing area to increase visibility compared to the previous Star. The snazzy Isle Of Man graphics version I tested, which looks rich and expensive, retails for $530. The Star MIPS starts at $470 for solid colors and up to $590 for graphics. A magnet in the strap secures its so it doesn’t flop around at speed, a simpler arrangement than fussing with a small snap. The cheek-pads feature an emergency-removal system to more easily enable the helmet to be taken off an injured rider’s head. The helmet provides many desirable features, such as removable and washable liners (woven with silver fibers to dry quickly and deter growth of odor-causing bacteria), channels in the padding to allow room for eyeglass arms, tool-less shield replacement, and integrated speaker pockets. It joins the higher-end Race Star Flex and Pro Star Flex in Bell’s Star family of helmets. It remains Snell, DOT, and ECE-certified. The shell of the Star MIPS gets subtly revised from the older Star and retains its Tri-Matrix composite of fiberglass, Aramid and carbon fiber. Helmet Tech: Reducing Rotational Brain Violence If you’re having a difficult time visualizing how MIPS works, take a look at the video below. It’s truly one of the few innovations in helmet design over the past several decades and will certainly become more prevalent in helmets as time goes on. It’s connected to the EPS liner by four elastomeric bands to provide 10-15mm of movement in all directions, absorbing rotational-impact energy from angled impacts.įrom the research we’ve seen, the MIPS system genuinely does reduce the effects of rotational energy on the brain, and Bell says its research indicates a 30% reduction in the energy affecting the brain. The Bell Star MIPS supplants the regular Star in Bell’s line, and its primary feature is the MIPS liner that is designed to rotate slightly inside the helmet to reduce the amount of energy transferred to a rider’s brain. The new Star MIPS is Bell’s latest attempt to improve protection for our brains, introducing the Swedish-engineered Multi-directional Impact Protection System to its popular street helmet. Photos by: Bell Video by: JD Mitchell, Bell and Duke
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