Review: Bell XR Spherical Road Helmet

The Bell XR Spherical Road Helmet is an extremely comfortable, well-ventilated, and secure-fitting helmet. The new “Spherical” Mips technology works well and Bell has integrated it very subtly. Slightly extra weight is the only penalty compared to rival helmets in this price range.

Bell markets this as a multi-surface helmet. If you’re looking for a new lid for the new year, check out our guide to the best cycling helmets.

Bell included “spherical” technology in the name of this helmet, so that seems like a logical starting point.

Spherical Technology is essentially a version of Mips, but instead of a plastic harness, it’s essentially a “Russian doll” helmet. That is, a large outer shell covers a small shell on top of the head. The two are connected by a rubber band, but I couldn’t see it. This allows the inner helmet to move freely in all directions.

Luckily, I didn’t have to directly see if this worked, but given the amount of travel available between the two shells, there’s no reason to doubt how effective it would be.

The main advantage of this system over traditional Mips systems is that it allows helmet manufacturers to place padding in more places. This greatly increases comfort. The plastic harness no longer hits your head directly, and both parts of the helmet are designed specifically for each other, so the system works seamlessly.

The fit is achieved by a cradle and rear dial system. The gap between the ratchets is larger than in many other helmets, but I had no issues with this and was able to easily find a comfortable and secure fit.

You can also move the cradle up or down to further adjust the fit. We found the helmet to hold up very well on a variety of rides, from long road sessions to intensely bumpy gravel rides.

Helmet straps pass through the inner shell and connect to the outer shell. In other words, the entire shell exists between the anchor point and the head. This adds comfort and creates a seamless look, making the straps almost disappear inside the helmet.

The magnetic sliding clip made it easy to put on and take off the helmet even when wearing thick winter gloves.

Considering that you are basically wearing two helmets, the ventilation is also good. This, too, comes from the custom build of the Spherical system and its ability to allow air to flow freely through its 16 vents.

The bell includes some nice little rubber grippers on the front vents for plugging in your glasses. This feels good.

Helmet padding strikes the right balance between plush and non-absorbent, so you won’t stink after a few rides or have sweat dripping down your face on long rides. It also keeps the helmet from hitting your head on rough gravel roads.

At 294g, the XR Spherical Road Helmet is heavier than other helmets in this price range, which is to be expected given the way it’s constructed.

rival

But Stu’s favorite S-Works Prevail is only 21g lighter, despite plenty of carbon and a less-important Mips system.

The Giro Helios Spherical proved to be a hit when tested by Anna Marie. The same she uses Spherical Technology, and while the weight is 20g lighter than she is, at £229, it’s hard to believe that the technology is seamlessly integrated.

If you’re looking for something at this price without the MIPS, you can look at the £229 Limar Air Pro Aero (weighing 233g) reviewed by Jamie.

Overall, I am very impressed with the XR Spherical Road Helmet. Very comfortable, well ventilated and Bell’s use of his Spherical technology is seamless.

verdict

A revolutionary helmet that offers comfort, breathability and seamlessly integrated Spherical Technology