Bell is undoubtedly one of the most fan-favorite helmet manufacturers on the market. They have been making helmets for over 40 years and are known for innovative designs that provide top-notch protection. That’s why people love their helmets for both motorcycle and bicycle riders alike.
While wearing a helmet might look like a no-brainer. However, there are several factors that you need to think about when making your purchase. The following three options highlight some of the best models for touring at present on the market.
There are several types of motorbike helmets out there on the market today. Therefore, it’s essential to determine which type is best suited for the riding environment you’ll be participating in. The helmets on our list are chosen considering various factors. In addition, they provide features such as a solid and light shell, well-designed ventilation structure. That’s how you’ll know that your head will be both safe and comfortable on the road.
Let’s check out what are the top editor’s selections for best bell helmet for touring. And there’s a complete buying guide for it describing the features you should look for in a helmet while getting one, stay tuned!!
Specifications
- Helmet Type: Modular
- Helmet Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Face Shield: Pinlock-ready Panovision Shield
- Sun Visor: Yes
- Helmet Weight: 3.89 lbs.
- Shell Construction: Fiberglass composite shell
- Helmet Sizes: XS (54-55 cm) to 2XL (62-63 cm)
- Safety Standards: DOT approved
Top Features
# Modular flip-up feature: The Bell SRT Modular helmet is an advanced modular helmet for touring. When you flip the front part of the helmet, it functions as an open-face helmet.
# Eyewear-friendly: No worries if you wear glasses. You can comfortably put on your glasses or sunglasses while wearing this helmet.
# EPS speakers cutouts: Wireless communication is essential when you are taking a long tour with your friends. And the speaker pockets will allow you to install the speakers and Bluetooth device. And you don’t have to make the inside of your helmet uncomfortable to do this.
# Inner drop-down sun visor: A drop-down sun visor is your best friend when you are riding in direct sunlight.
# Class one optics with Panovision face shield: The Panovision face shield ensures your max visibility when in a tight position.
Reason to buy
This Bell Modular helmet is an excellent choice for a touring helmet considering the price and features. The fiberglass composite-made shell is light enough for a modular helmet. The inner materials also have decent quality, excellent and comfortable. There are air channels that flow into the interior and pass through, keeping you nice and cool. In addition, it gives you modular features, a drop-down sun visor, and Bluetooth compatibility. These features will come in handy when riding your motorcycle on tour. And overall, we can say the Bell SRT modular is the best Bell helmet for touring. Click here to see more pictures of the Bell SRT helmet.
Reason to avoid
The Bell SRT modular helmet is reportedly loud when you are on the freeways because of the wind noise. You can fix this by putting on some good earplugs if you ride at a high speed. This is a middle or upper-middle-range-priced helmet. And the budget of this helmet can be an issue if you want something budget-friendly. If you are not fixed with the brand, you can check out the HJC i90 modular helmet that offers similar features in a budget.
Click on the button to check the price of the Bell SRT Modular helmet.
Specifications
- Helmet Type: Modular
- Helmet Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Face Shield: Nutrafog II Anti-fog face shield
- Sun Visor: N/A
- Helmet Weight: 3.74 lbs.
- Shell Construction: Lightweight polycarbonate shell
- Helmet Sizes: XS (53-54 cm) to 3XL (65-66 cm)
- Safety Standards: DOT and ECE approved
Top Feature
# Adventure helmet: Bell MX9 is a dual-sport helmet designed to perform well on highways and off-road riding. It’ll help you on a long tour that includes both pavements and off-road trails.
# Goggles compatibility: You can wear your helmet with this Bell helmet. And it allows you to go off-roading conveniently. Just lift the face shield or remove it (which is super easy, by the way), and it’s a dirt bike helmet.
# Velocity-flow ventilation structure: The ventilation structure of this touring helmet takes in air and makes the inside of the helmet cool. This feature will be your best friend if you want to go on a tour during summer times.
# Speaker pockets: You want to communicate with your touring partner effortlessly, right? Thanks to the speaker cutouts, you can easily do that if you install a com unit to this helmet without making the interior stuffed.
# MIPS technology or Multi-Directional Impact Protection System: The MIPS is a life-saving technology from Bell. It effectively manages the rotational energy from a crash, hugely reducing the chance of head injury.
Reason to buy
Bell MX-9 is a budget-friendly adventure or dual-sport helmet. A peak on the top allows you to use it on the off-road track, and you can easily remove it to turn this into a street helmet. Interior build is decent, nice and comfortable materials, easily removable and washable. The ventilation structure is impressive; it intakes tons of air inside and keeps you cool. You also have the flexibility to add a communication device, which is a handy tour feature. Also, the price of this helmet is pretty budget-friendly, considering it’s a multipurpose helmet from Bell. So, we can say that the Bell MX9 is the best adventure touring helmet from Bell. Click here to see more pictures of the Bell MX9 Adventure helmet.
Reason to avoid
Often the very plus point of something becomes the negative side if you slightly shift the viewpoint. This MX9 is the quality example of that. Most likely, you are going to ride on freeways on tour, and the peak visor of this helmet can get in the way. This peak visor will create drag and lift when you are on speed, and it’ll also be pretty noisy. You’ll also miss this helmet’s Pinlock-ready option and a sun visor. It’s not half bad deal if you look at the price this Bell MX-9 helmet. However, if you want a modular adventure helmet, check out the Scorpion EXO AT950 helmet, it’s good as well.
Click on the button to check the current price of the Bell MX9 Adventure helmet.
Specifications
- Helmet Type: Full-face
- Helmet Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Face Shield: Nutrafog II Anti-fog face shield
- Sun Visor: N/A
- Helmet Weight: 3.47 lbs (approx.)
- Shell Construction: Polycarbonate or ABS shell
- Helmet Sizes: XS (53-54 cm) to 3XL (65-66 cm)
- Safety Standards: DOT certified
Top Features
# Stable aerodynamic profile: The Bell Qualifier has a stable aerodynamic profile designed to reduce wind noise and improve balance. This might not be the most aerodynamically perfect like a Shoei RF-1400, but it’s pretty decent.
# Great value for the money: This helmet has many features that are found in more expensive helmets, but it is still affordable. This bell helmet remains one of the most budget-friendly helmets on the market.
# Reasonably light-weighted: The Polycarbonate ABS shell helps the helmet to be reasonably lightweight. And your neck will definitely thank you if you bring this helmet on a long tour.
# Well-built ventilation structure: Bell helmets have nice and quality ventilation structures. It’ll intake air directly inside the helmet and channel it into making the interior of the helmet cool.
# Integrated speaker pockets: Like the other helmets on our Bell touring helmet list, this helmet also got speaker pockets. Install your com unit without making the interior stuffed, and enjoy the ride!
Reason to buy
The Bell Qualifier helmet is a full-face or street helmet for an affordable price. It comes with a Polycarbonate ABS shell, and it’s light enough. And there’s the Velocity Flow ventilation structure from Bell that works well and keeps you cool and dry. This is undoubtedly the most affordable Bell touring helmet and performs pretty well. So if you want to go on a tour where you’ll mostly cover highways or pavement, this Bell Qualifier full-face helmet is a pretty good deal. Click here to see more pictures of the Bell Qualifier helmet.
Reason to avoid
The Bell Qualifier might not be the best option for you if you like to ride at speed. The wind noise will be louder than many other full-face helmets, but this is a very budget-friendly helmet. You can handle the wind noise by wearing a pair of earplugs. However, not being able to attach the Pinlock lens might give you a hard time. There is the Nutrafog II anti-fog coating by Bell on the face shield, but a Pinlock is a Pinlock. If you want to upgrade this Qualifier, you can check out the Bell Qualifier DLX MIPS; it’s worth the investment in safety.
Click here to check the current price of the Bell Qualifier helmet.
Best Bell Helmet for Touring Buying Guide
Bell is one of the few helmet manufacturing companies that has been making quality helmets over the decades. And the helmets they make are top-of-the-line quality. That’s no wonder since they have been improving their helmet-making technology over the years.
While choosing a Bell touring helmet, there are many features that you can check out. However, some of the key features you must check out before you buy a helmet. And they are-
Helmet Safety
The safety of a helmet should be the number 1 priority for the Bell helmets and all the helmets. You must check the safety features a helmet offers before you spend your money on a helmet. Do not compromise your safety for a few bucks; a helmet is something that will protect you from the hard asphalt, after all, if something goes wrong.
In that case, the Bell helmets got you covered. This company has been developing unique and innovative features over the years, and it’s getting better day by day. They have features such as MIPS and FLEX; these are both influential tech that protects your head from rotational energy.
To sum it up, buy a helmet that has at least a DOT certification. That is the minimum motorcycle helmet road safety requirement in America.
Fitting and Comfort
A helmet is comfortable only when the interior and the fitting of the helmet are both perfect. The relevant matters because an oversized helmet will wiggle over your head. On the other hand, a tight helmet will squeeze your head in a way that you might feel like your eyes are going to come out. In both cases, the situation is not ideal, and we don’t want that. We want our helmets to be nice and comfortable.
The helmets usually come in various sizes for the sizing, which entirely depends on the brand and model. However, for the inner shape of the helmet, most helmets come in three forms in general. They are-
- Round oval: Round inner shape
- Intermediate Oval: A little narrow in front and back, roundish in the middle
- Long Oval: Narrow from the front to end
While choosing a helmet fitting, carefully measure and observe your head shape and size, find out what shape you fit in, and then decide.
Features and Styling
Of course, you’ll choose your helmet according to your needs and the style you like. Helmets nowadays come with many innovative features. For example, the safety is increased, manufacturers also added lots of features into the lids. But when it comes to helmet choosing, your riding style also matters (it depends on what type of condition you’ll use the helmet).
For touring, you’ll most likely be using a Dual-sport or a Modular helmet. These helmets are versatile and perfect for traveling; of course, a full-face helmet will also do the job. Look and compare what the specific features you want for your ride are, and then decide. Prioritize safety features over exterior looks.
Helmet Price
Picking the fitting helmet might become a bit difficult as we all have different requirements and budgets. When choosing road safety equipment like a helmet, the price shouldn’t be the top priority. Of course, the higher amount of money you’ll spend, the improved features you will get. However, getting a MotoGP-level helmet might be unrealistic and too much for everyone.
If you do a little research or check out our buyer-friendly posts, you’ll find many budget helmets with helpful features.
Conclusion
In the end, there are a bunch of things that you should consider when you are buying a helmet. For example, will you be riding on city streets or highways? Also, will you need something that is both safe and comfortable for long distances?
There’s an entire guide available above with all of these in mind. That describes what features you should look for in a helmet, even if it’s for touring. And the top helmets mentioned earlier are good enough to accompany you on your adventure tour.
Now that you know the best bell helmet for touring with a user-friendly buying guide, all left is to get the bad boy and hit the road. Hope you find your desired Bell helmet! We are eagerly waiting to read your tour stories. Share them on comment section below after you get back safely.
Have a Safe Tour, Happy Touring!