BELL Super 3R MIPS Helmet Review

Your choice of mountain bike helmet is extremely important. It not only has to protect you in a crash, but it has to be as comfortable as possible.

A mountain bike helmet should also suit your needs. If you ride technical downhill or enduro trails, you’re best off with a full-face helmet. But, an open-face helmet is often the best choice for more mild rides and hot days.

Some mountain bikers like to mix up their rides but don’t necessarily want to buy two helmets. This is where the Bell Super 3R convertible mountain bike helmet comes in.

What Is The Bell Super 3R?

The Bell Super 3R is a lightweight full-face mountain bike helmet that allows you to remove the chin bar to turn it into an open-face helmet. So it’s effectively two helmets in one.

You can leave the chin bar attached when riding an enduro route, alpine terrain, or just want extra protection. But, when riding mild trails or long climbs on hot days, you can remove the chin bar for more airflow.

The Bell Super 3R’s Safety Features

As we’ve already mentioned, the Bell Super 3R has a removable chin bar. You can either leave it at home or put it in your backpack when you don’t need it. The chin bar is straightforward to clip on and off in a matter of seconds. So you’re riding buddies won’t have to wait too long before you tackle tricky downhill sections.

The wraparound design of the chin bar gives the Bell Super 3R more integrity than its rivals, such as the Leatt DBX 3.0 Enduro. This means it can take more of a blow if you go over the handlebars.

The Bell Super 3R is a MIPS helmet, so you get extra protection. MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, which is a system that allows the inside of the helmet to slip, reducing rotational forces in a crash.

When it comes to safety, the Bell Super 3R is excellent but not as good as the Bell Super DH. However, the DH has less ventilation and is a little heavier. Also, the 3R isn’t downhill certified for racing. So you need to think about what is more important to you if you’re deciding between the two versions.

Other Features Of The Bell Super 3R

Bell has given the Super 3R excellent ventilation with 23 vents, 4 brow ports, and 6 chin bar vents. Therefore, you don’t need to constantly remove the chin bar and put it back on when riding on hot days. The brow ports do a great job of preventing your goggles or glasses from fogging up too.

If you like to capture your rides on camera, you don’t need to worry about attaching a mount to your helmet. The Super 3R comes with a removable GoPro mount. The mount breaks off in a crash, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it interfering with the safety aspect of the helmet.

One of the simpler things about the Bell Super 3R we like is its shape and adjustable sun visor. The shape is ideal for riders who like to wear goggles, and it gives you an uninterrupted field of view. Therefore, you have excellent visibility. Also, the visor effortlessly flips up and down to keep the sun and rain out of your eyes. Also, this gives you somewhere to put your goggles when you want to take them off.

The Bell Super 3R has an adjustable chin strap with a simple fastener. This makes it easy to get on and off even with gloved hands.

What’s It Like To Wear?

Many mountain bikers who have tried the Bell Super 3R say it is the most comfortable helmet they’ve worn. We agree, after a while, you forget that you’re wearing it, due to its only weighing 784.1 grams and its excellent ventilation.

Comfort is enhanced by the well-placed cheek pads that provide a snug fit. There’s also a dial on the back that allows you to quickly fine-tune the helmet’s fit.

It’s a good idea to try this helmet on with both the chin bar attached and removed. This will give you the complete picture of how it fits so you know if it’s right for you.

When you get the perfect fit, you’ll notice that the Bell Super 3R stays in place without wobbling around, even when the trail gets rough. It is an all-mountain helmet, so if your rides consist of singletrack, natural trails in the woods, and steep downhill trails, you’ll find the Bell Super 3R will perform well.

However, the comfort of the Bell Super 3R depends on the shape of your head. Some mountain bikers find that they get two sharp pressure points on the back of their head. This is not good for comfort or safety, so if you experience this, the Bell Super 3R is not the helmet for you.

If you like the idea of a convertible mountain bike helmet, but the Bell Super 3R doesn’t suit your head, you may want to try the Giro Switchblade as an alternative.

Pros And Cons Of The Bell Super 3R Mountain Bike Helmet

Pros

• MIPS
• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Two helmets in one
• Well-ventilated
• GoPro mount
• Looks great

Cons

• Not downhill rated for racing
• Some riders find pressure points on the back of their heads

Final Verdict

The Bell Super 3R is a great lightweight helmet with lots of ventilation. The removable chin bar makes it versatile and enhances its all-mountain focus. However, it’s not certified for downhill racing. For this, you will need the DH version.

We give the Bell Super 3R 4 out of 5. It only loses one point for not being downhill rated.

Tom Fortune

Tom Fortune has been reviewing cycling products for several years from his home in the French Alps. As the owner of mtb-threads.com, he mainly reviews mountain bike products but also reviews road cycling products independently.