Convertible helmets

mike

mike

iMTB Hooligan
What's up with these nowadays? What's working and not? Any standouts?

Not looking for DH protection. I learned that a friend's wife had a bad accident involving her chin/face, and it sounds like it would be easily avoided with one of these types of lids. So I'm shopping for the weezil.

@Mikie, didn't you get a Bell Super 2? How is it treating you? I see the 3 is out now...

TIA for any info!
 
mike said:
What's up with these nowadays? What's working and not? Any standouts?

Not looking for DH protection. I learned that a friend's wife had a bad accident involving her chin/face, and it sounds like it would be easily avoided with one of these types of lids. So I'm shopping for the weezil.

@Mikie, didn't you get a Bell Super 2? How is it treating you? I see the 3 is out now...

TIA for any info!
Click to expand...
I am indeed a bell helmet guy. I have owned the Super 2 and the now the Super 3. Absolutely dig them both. The chin guard off my 2 totally fits my 3. The only thing I don’t like are the pads on the inside of the chin guard left and right. They are so snug to my face that it makes me chew on the inside of my cheeks. @DangerDirtyD has a solution for that as it did the same for him but I did not fully understand what he did to reduce the pad pressure. Calling Wolfie!

Bell fits my noggin real well. I mounted a GoPro mount on the side of the chin guard, works great!

I like the two in one helmet. I’m not the kind of guy to own two helmets. Plus I can easily carry the chin guard on my Camelbak and save it for the chunky drop later!
 
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I have the Bell Super R2 MIPS and like it. Bought from Jenson for $99 about a year ago. The only issue I had was the included cheek pads made me bite the inside of my cheeks, so I removed the larger of the paded inserts from each side and kept the thin pads in there, and it fits me well. Highly adjustable visor, and the multiple vents allow for easy mounting of lights. I never used it without the mandible attached.
 
DangerDirtyD said:
I have the Bell Super R2 MIPS and like it. Bought from Jenson for $99 about a year ago. The only issue I had was the included cheek pads made me bite the inside of my cheeks, so I removed the larger of the paded inserts from each side and kept the thin pads in there, and it fits me well. Highly adjustable visor, and the multiple vents allow for easy mounting of lights. I never used it without the mandible attached.
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Did yours come with two sets of pads? Thin and thick? I pulled my cheek pads and they are only one size. Guess I’m not getting it...
 
Mikie said:
Did yours come with two sets of pads? Thin and thick? I pulled my cheek pads and they are only one size. Guess I’m not getting it...
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Yea, each side had a 1”-thick soft pad, which I discarded, and a thinner 3/8” pad that i kept in there for a snug fit.

Pull the red tab labeled “insert” and inside the pouch were the two pads I described.
DA4D0353-B247-48F6-9B5E-093F636F2366.jpeg


This is the 3/8” pad I kept.
917BB3FF-FCE6-460A-9321-07F271C6A4A3.jpeg
 
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Nice info, guys! Thanks!

I went in for the Giro Switchblade on sale at REI, so no questions asked if it doesn't fit a weasal head. Still 180 clams, yowza. (Burning dividend factor.)

I'm still tuned in here. Hoping to upgrade my own head pro also. TFPU!
 
@mike i just copied you. Just got the switchblade on sale at rei too for 186. Was gonna get the montaro mips for 150 . My old giro feature is almost 5 years old so its probly time. My full face, though very rarely used, is even older. but this thread reminded me about the convertible switchblade, why not go for 2 helmets in one for an extra 30. probably wont use the chinbar much, but even in half shell mode it has more protection than a typical halfshell. I also like wearing a fullface on very cold days to keep my face warm, even if the trail doesnt call for it.
 
My buddy's wife was wearing a Bell Super 2 with chin bar attached when she fell during a clinic at Santiago Oaks. She manage to find the only rock small enough to fit between the chin bar and the helmet brow, but big enough to do serious damage - intruding enough to break her sunglasses and her face. She was airlifted, as I have documented elsewhere.

They both decided to buy the Giro Switchblades for their next helmet. Personally, I think they look a little goofy and a little hot with the full ear coverage, but goofy should always take a back seat to function and protection. They profess to love the lids, and they snap on the chin-bar for most downs.

Here's a shot of the two plus my daughter from a couple of weeks ago.

Scott Juli Ruby Nov 2017.JPG

The real story is Juli's courage to get back at it. She now has a Juliana Rubillon (Bronson) to replace the 5010 from which she was bucked. Pretty bike.

Seems to me helmets with detachable chin bars are good if your rides have definitive periods of climbing, followed by definitive periods of descending - which is certainly the case in Aliso and in many OC locations. If your riding is constantly changing between the ups and downs, and the downs have consequence, then you have the choice dilemma.

I don't like sunglasses under full face helmets, so that would be another factor for me. Goggles and full face, sunglasses and open face. Never stray from this formula! It's in The Rules (well, it's not, but it should be).
 
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Does anyone have the Bell Super 2 and Giro Switchblade?

I'm curious how the two compare. My gut instinct tells me the Super 2 is probably the better buy in terms of replacing a daily use helmet. It looks light and well vented.

The Switchblade looks like something that wouldn't replace a regular helmet for daily use. Just the whole ears being covered all the time looks like more sweat than a Fox Transition (AKA Fox Heat Stroke).
 
Just saw Universal has the switchblade (not in the color i want) for 125, after the one i ordered from rei shipped. D'oh!
of course, i could order one from uc (very few left) and go to rei and return the one, but as my wife pointed out, id probably buy something else while im there so doesnt matter. also if i decide i dont like it rei return is a breeze.
so FYI UC has the best price
 
sir crashalot said:
Just saw Universal has the switchblade (not in the color i want) for 125, after the one i ordered from rei shipped. D'oh!
of course, i could order one from uc (very few left) and go to rei and return the one, but as my wife pointed out, id probably buy something else while im there so doesnt matter. also if i decide i dont like it rei return is a breeze.
so FYI UC has the best price
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Your wife is wise.
 
Never been a fan of the convertible helmets, and not just because they look goofy.

Anything that is made to be removable is going to be less solid than a real full face helmet. And they don't seem to be a great compromise for XC riding either.

If you ride at speeds or on terrain that warrants a full face, I say get a real one.

I have a couple friends who have had bad incidents with the convertible helmets breaking and injuring them. The more serious one involved a piece the switchblade cracking and catching my friends lip. It tore his cheek wide open half across his face. Google Glasgow smile if you want a visual.
 
herzalot said:
My buddy's wife was wearing a Bell Super 2 with chin bar attached when she fell during a clinic at Santiago Oaks. She manage to find the only rock small enough to fit between the chin bar and the helmet brow, but big enough to do serious damage - intruding enough to break her sunglasses and her face. She was airlifted, as I have documented elsewhere.

They both decided to buy the Giro Switchblades for their next helmet. Personally, I think they look a little goofy and a little hot with the full ear coverage, but goofy should always take a back seat to function and protection. They profess to love the lids, and they snap on the chin-bar for most downs.

Here's a shot of the two plus my daughter from a couple of weeks ago.

View attachment 34053
The real story is Juli's courage to get back at it. She now has a Juliana Rubillon (Bronson) to replace the 5010 from which she was bucked. Pretty bike.

Seems to me helmets with detachable chin bars are good if your rides have definitive periods of climbing, followed by definitive periods of descending - which is certainly the case in Aliso and in many OC locations. If your riding is constantly changing between the ups and downs, and the downs have consequence, then you have the choice dilemma.

I don't like sunglasses under full face helmets, so that would be another factor for me. Goggles and full face, sunglasses and open face. Never stray from this formula! It's in The Rules (well, it's not, but it should be).
Click to expand...


They look like the helmets that moto trials riders wear.
 
herzalot said:
My buddy's wife was wearing a Bell Super 2 with chin bar attached when she fell during a clinic at Santiago Oaks. She manage to find the only rock small enough to fit between the chin bar and the helmet brow, but big enough to do serious damage - intruding enough to break her sunglasses and her face. She was airlifted, as I have documented elsewhere.

They both decided to buy the Giro Switchblades for their next helmet. Personally, I think they look a little goofy and a little hot with the full ear coverage, but goofy should always take a back seat to function and protection. They profess to love the lids, and they snap on the chin-bar for most downs.

Here's a shot of the two plus my daughter from a couple of weeks ago.

View attachment 34053
The real story is Juli's courage to get back at it. She now has a Juliana Rubillon (Bronson) to replace the 5010 from which she was bucked. Pretty bike.

Seems to me helmets with detachable chin bars are good if your rides have definitive periods of climbing, followed by definitive periods of descending - which is certainly the case in Aliso and in many OC locations. If your riding is constantly changing between the ups and downs, and the downs have consequence, then you have the choice dilemma.

I don't like sunglasses under full face helmets, so that would be another factor for me. Goggles and full face, sunglasses and open face. Never stray from this formula! It's in The Rules (well, it's not, but it should be).
Click to expand...
Forget all of that... your daughter is adorable. She didn't get ANY of your looks, ha hah!
mtnbikej said:
They look like the helmets that moto trials riders wear.
Click to expand...
Or... a 1960's/70's Spaceman movie...
 
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