Bell Full 9 Helmet: Product Review

Bell Helmets has built themselves around auto racing, motorcycle, and bicycle culture. The helmet brand was established in 1954 and has been killing it for a while now. Their bike division is the newest and fastest growing department in the company. More recently, Bell has really stepped up their game with bicycle helmets, and their latest Bell Super DH, Bell Sixer, and Bell 4forty models look to be some of their best yet. Our favorite downhill rider, Max Morgan, has been racing in a custom Worldwide Cyclery Bell Full-9 helmet for the last couple years now, and so we thought he would be a perfect candidate for reviewing this popular full face helmet. Let's check it out! 

Helmet Specifications

Bell has dug its roots in the motocross world and is known as a leader in helmet design, safety, and innovation in the moto industry. Bell's very successful Moto-9 helmet paved the way for engineers to move all of what they learned in that project over in to the bicycle specific Bell Full-9 helmet. The Full-9 is worn across the board in enduro racing, downhill, and BMX. The helmets meets the ASTM Downhill Mountain Bike Racing safety standard as well as CPSC and CE bicycle safety benchmarks. Beyond that, the Full-9 includes features like Soundtrax built-in speaker pockets and audio cable routing, and an integrated breakaway camera mount. Add in a lightweight carbon shell, a wide field of view, what Bell calls their Overbrow Ventilation intakes and Velocity Flow Ventilation, and you have a class leading downhill and BMX helmet.

Initial Impressions

The first thing you will notice when you first slide on the Full-9 helmet is just how comfortable it is. From the inside out, the EPS foam shape doesn't create any pressure points, and the helmet liner and cheek pads are made with comfortable soft materials with a lot of cushion. I am riding in a size medium helmet and for comparison I would wear a size 7 3/8 fitted baseball hat. 

The carbon construction and finish on the helmet makes this a premium product. The paint work is done tastefully, and the plastic trim around all of the opening look and feel like what you would expect from a top of the line product.

Riding and Performance

I've been riding in the Bell Full-9 helmet over the last three years and I still think it gets a 10 out of 10 for comfort. The helmet fits my held without creating any uncomfortable pressure points anywhere on my head like other helmets I have worn previously. The helmet being so comfortable keeps you from feeling like you have to pull the helmet off after each run so your head can breathe. You will leave this helmet on all day and forget it is even there. 

I've never had to use Bell's Magnefusion Emergency Release System thankfully but it is very convenient pulling out the magnetic release cheek pads to wash them. The helmet liner also just snaps in to place so you don't ever do any fumbling trying to get the liner stuffed back in the helmet. I think I could probably put the helmet liner and cheek pads back in the helmet with my eyes closed. 

This is certainly just my opinion, but I love the styling of the Full-9. The overall shape and powerful lines on the helmet give it a timeless look. Aaron Gwin played a large role in designing this particular helmet back when he was racing for Trek World Racing in 2012 and the Full-9 still looks relevant today. There are only a few helmets that have been able to lead the market for so long, the Troy Lee Designs D3 being the other that immediately comes to mind. 

The field of vision with the Full-9 is just about what I would expect. I never have any vision problems riding in the Full-9 but can't say I have ever felt that way riding in any full face helmet. The chin bar on the Full-9 is a little bit closer than some other helmets out there but I think the styling looks better for it. 

Unfortunately I've had a few big crashes in the Bell Full-9 helmet and it has certainly done its job. I feel safe wearing this helmet and that allows me to feel more comfortable on the bike. The back of the helmet comes farther down the back of your head and the chin bar comes farther down your jaw line to give you more coverage. This makes the helmet feel like it really was covering your head versus just sitting on top. If you do have a big crash and put your head in to the ground, make sure you give your helmet a thorough inspection. Once these kinds of helmets are damaged, they are meant to be replaced.

One of the few negatives I have found with the Full-9 helmet is that because the materials used on the helmet liner and cheek pads are so soft and comfortable, they are also quite hot in the summer time. This helmet gets good airflow for sure, but it isn't the coolest helmet to ride in on those super hot days. 

What's The Bottom Line?

The Bell Full-9 has to be one of the most comfortable helmets on the market. It is a leader in safety and protection, all while delivering timeless style. The Full-9 is a top of the line premium product using a carbon shell and quality materials throughout, the type of product you can expect from Bell. The Full-9 isn't the coolest helmet to ride in on super hot summer days, but I will choose top shelf protection every time at the cost of being a bit hot. 

Check out our full collection of cycling helmets from some of your favorite brands!

About Me

Max Morgan is 26 years old, and lives in Brevard, North Carolina. Max grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started racing downhill at the age of 15. He has now been racing professionally for the last 8 years, competing in the UCI World Cup series and U.S. Pro GRT series. To learn more about Max, check out Max's rider spotlight here! 
Instagram: @mxmorgan77