Bell Revolver modular helmet review

[sleazy rider]

One star, tops.

One ride to work and back with it, about 70 miles roundtrip.  I can honestly say - I'm not impressed.  Noisy, cold and leaky for me, even with a balaclava underneath to seal up cracks.  This is by far the noisiest helmet I've owned and will positively require earplugs to use.  The good?  It didn't fog up even when I first started out at 30*.  The other problem is installing the Sena BT unit.  It partially blocks the internal sunshield rocker switch.  I'll be shopping some more towards spring for a real quality replacement helmet, probably going with a new Shoei modular and spending the big $$

[ANZAC]

Makes sense why Bell seems to be dumping these helmets.  They must have another improved version in the works.

[squeezer]

Thanks for the feedback. My Multitec is on its last legs and the price of those Bells is pretty attractive.

[Dan K]

UNfortunate.  I like the way they look. But function over form every time.

[sleazy rider]

UNfortunate.  I like the way they look. But function over form every time.

The only two reasons I went with it - they looked good online and were inexpensive.  The proof was in the riding.  

[Dan K]

The only two reasons I went with it - they looked good online and were inexpensive.  The proof was in the riding.  

Nice features, too.  

Like my Exo-1000 with inflatable cheek pads ala the Reebock Pump and drop down visor that I bought on clearance for $100, and love my Corsair that cost ungodly money (and doesn't even have a drop down visor...)

Now I want a flip front with solid latch and drop down visor...the search continues.

[Dan K]

Shark Evo II ST not loved by all...noisy and heavy per webbike world.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I've had my Scorpion EXO-900 for a few days now and have been really liking it.  They say it's pretty heavy.  It feels heavier in my hand than my EXO-700 or 500 but when I put it on it magically loses that weight and feels really light while on my head.

There were compaints with the release button/latch when they came out.  Not sure if they fixed it yet I guess time will tell.

I wasn't able to use the clamp unit on my SENA SMH-10 I had to use the 3M adhesive one to stick it to the helmet.  The "com door" on the side was nice to be able to just run my wires into the helmet without looking bad.

[jesse v]

My experience with my Bell Revolver (non-modular) has been awesome.

To me, the fact that the windshield absolutely NEVER fogs makes it a top choice.  As for the noise issue... The way I see it, riders should be wearing earplugs no matter how "quiet" their helmet is, so it becomes a moot point.

[Cricket1]

Nice features, too.  

Like my Exo-1000 with inflatable cheek pads ala the Reebock Pump and drop down visor that I bought on clearance for $100, and love my Corsair that cost ungodly money (and doesn't even have a drop down visor...)

Now I want a flip front with solid latch and drop down visor...the search continues.

Dan-

Nolan N90

[Joey Stalin]

One star, tops.

One ride to work and back with it, about 70 miles roundtrip.  I can honestly say - I'm not impressed.  Noisy, cold and leaky for me, even with a balaclava underneath to seal up cracks.  This is by far the noisiest helmet I've owned and will positively require earplugs to use.  The good?  It didn't fog up even when I first started out at 30*.  The other problem is installing the Sena BT unit.  It partially blocks the internal sunshield rocker switch.  I'll be shopping some more towards spring for a real quality replacement helmet, probably going with a new Shoei modular and spending the big $$

Webbikeworld had a fairly good review of it. Have you ever used a modular before? Or are you comparing it to a regular FF helmet?

The Bell is the only modular so far that I've found comfortable, and for less than $100 I may pick one up. I'm expecting noise, but are any modulars quiet?

[sleazy rider]

I've owned Shoei, Scorpion, Zeus and a few others, so I know noisy when I hear it.  

[Justin]

The Bell is the only modular so far that I've found comfortable, and for less than $100 I may pick one up. I'm expecting noise, but are any modulars quiet?

The schuberth c3 is supposed to be super quiet.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/schuberth-c3/

"Schuberth made some dramatic claims for the C3 when it was announced, and they have delivered. The C3 is one of the quietest helmets I've ever worn, flip-up or full-face. If memory serves me correctly, it rivals the Schuberth R1 in this regard."

[camaroz1985]

Here is what I wrote in another thread.

Got them on monday, and they both fit well.  It is a little hard to get my glasses on while wearing the helmet, but they do work.  Might have to modify the padding as I saw someone did on webbikeworld.

Initial impressions are good.  They seem decently made, but there are some glaring issues with the supplied accessories.  First the breath guard on the top of the chin bar hits the rubber seal of the eye port when you open the chinbar.  This can be fixed with a little trimming of the guard with a razor blade, but I think Bell should have fixed this first.  Also my helmet came with a breath deflector/chin curtain that I haven't seen in any of the reviews so far (maybe it was a late addition, my helmet has a manufacture date of 8/11).  It snaps into the vents in the chin bar and kind of wraps around your chin.  There were a lot of reviews that said it needed a chin curtain so maybe this is Bell's answer.  Unfortunately with it installed you can't open the chin bar more than about half way, as in interferes with the upper part of the helmet.  My temporary solution was to remove both the breath guard and chin curtain.

I only took a short ride to work this morning, and I would say the helmet is about as noisy or maybe slightly more so than my HJC IS-16 (on a Versys with a Givi windscreen, and I always wear ear plugs).  There is a lot of air that comes in under the chin bar so I will be trying to get the curtain to work for the winter.  Also the inner sunshield has good coverage of the eye port, but is not dark enough.  I will be getting two dark smoke inner visors (had to do the same for the IS-16).  Also the anti-fog coating seems to work great.  I had to keep the visor on my IS-16 cracked until I get out of town and get up to speed, but the visor on the Revolver can be closed, and left closed even at traffic lights (well until my glasses started to fog up).

All in all I think it was a good purchase, especially for $85.  It is my first modular, and I think I will like it, but I haven't had enough time with my head in it yet to determine that.

Also tomorrow my Scala Rider G4 will arrive and I will give that a try.  I have used the Q2 with my IS-16, but got a good cyber monday deal on a set of G4's and wanted to upgrade to hopefully only have to take one device with me for wireless music and gps.

I have a Q2 available for a very reasonable price if anyone is interested.  I was thinking $75 shipped.

Here are a few pictures I took with my phone.  Sorry for the bad quality.

Helmet


Chin curtain




Talked to someone else who got theirs from the Motorcycle Superstore sale, and it didn't come with the chin curtain.

I used the curtain today on the way into work, and it made a huge difference.  It does hit the weatherstripping above the visor, but a little force and it will go passed, and allow the chin bar to open fully.  I just don't like that, as I would assume it would eventually cause problems with sealing.  I will look into a way to fix it, but don't know how much is possible.  Also I don't know how well an intercom mic would fit with the chin curtain in place.  My G4 comes tonight so I will test it with and without the curtain.

[ANZAC]

Glad to see that Bell added a chin curtain as that seemed to be one of the major gripes from Webbikeworld reviews.  This looks like a last minute add on and their next version will probably be designed better.

[Justin]

One star - that's what I gave it's fit and finish just looking at it in a local store. The shortly after removed them from their shelves. It had to be one of the cheapest "feeling" helmets I have ever tried on.

[Cricket1]

One star - that's what I gave it's fit and finish just looking at it in a local store. The shortly after removed them from their shelves. It had to be one of the cheapest "feeling" helmets I have ever tried on.

What was the advertising campaign back in the 70's?  If you have a $10 head, get a $10 helmet? About the same as a $80-$100 helmet today.  Ironically by Bell! 

[Justin]

 Ironically by Bell! 

back then they were cutting edge - kinda like Harley was in the 50's  

[sleazy rider]

What was the advertising campaign back in the 70's?  If you have a $10 head, get a $10 helmet? About the same as a $80-$100 helmet today.  Ironically by Bell! 

Original retail was much higher.  It was over a year afterwards that they were reduced significantly.

[jeepinbanditrider]

What was the advertising campaign back in the 70's?  If you have a $10 head, get a $10 helmet? About the same as a $80-$100 helmet today.  Ironically by Bell! 

There's lots of helmets that protect just fine for not a lot of money.