Review: Bell Sixer Helmet

Bell was founded in 1954 in a grease-filled garage packed with hot rods and motorcycles. Years later, the company grew to become one of the world’s most iconic helmet companies with a logo that’s recognized worldwide. Bell continues to offer helmets for powersports and cycling applications, striving to make the safest helmets possible.
The Sixer is just one example of Bell’s dedication to rider safety. The Sixer comes to the table with all of the modern advancements made to trail helmets over the past few years and is a direct replacement for Bell’s previous trail lid, the Super. We decided to see for ourselves how Bell’s newest trail helmet compares to our favorite go-to lids.

Tech features:

Today’s trail riders expect more from their helmets than ever before, and Bell took extra steps to meet those expectations. The new Sixer features 26 air vents with four dedicated ports that sit just above the brow, allowing for maximum ventilation out on the trails. Bell then incorporated a sweat guide pad at the front of the helmet to help prevent sweat from dripping onto the rider’s eyewear. Safety, of course, was a major concern, so Bell designed the Sixer with a MIPS liner, an exposed polycarbonate roll cage and progressive layering made up of varying densities of EPS foam. The Sixer also features the Float Fit Race system that is incorporated into the MIPS liner for a closer-to-the-head fit. Bell designed the Sixer to be compatible with goggles by adding a strap gripper and a four-way-adjustable visor, but made sure the helmet would also mesh well with a variety of sunglasses. Additionally, Bell added a breakaway mount that can hold a camera or light. The Sixer sells for $150 and is available in nine colorways. Riders can choose from among a range of sizes—from small to extra large. Our size-medium test helmet weighed 410 grams.

Field test results:

Bell worked hard on the new Sixer to ensure it would fit a wider variety of head shapes than the previous Super did. All that work paid off, as the new Sixer sat comfortably on the heads of most of our test riders. The helmet has a snug fit, preventing it from tilting side to side or front to back. The visor has four predetermined positions, giving our testers the ability to easily push the visor out of their field of view. During evening rides when we had to race the sun, the visor could be pulled down to shield our eyes. Goggles can easily be stored under the visor with it pushed all the way up. The Sixer fit a variety of sunglasses well, and the optional light/ camera mount was a feature our test riders appreciated. The helmet’s large vents gave us great air flow, whether climbing or descending, and the shell offered great coverage. The Sixer felt light on our heads, and many of our testers said they would have no problem spending the day wearing this lid. Bell offers the Sixer at a reasonable price, considering its many features and attention to safety. If you’re in the market for a new trail/ enduro helmet with ventilation, safety and many color options, then the all-new Sixer is likely a good match for you. www.bellhelmets.com

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