PRODUCT REVIEW:

BELL MOTO 8

PRICE: $375.95

COLORS: McGrath, Wey, YOT Replica, Manic Graphic ($399.99); Holeshot, Fuego, Razor Wing Graphic; Matte black and matte white ($350.95)

SIZES: XS-XXL

MOTOCROSS.COM RATING: 9

CONTACT: Visit www.bellpowersports.com or call 800/456-BELL

Since motocross began many years ago, Bell Helmets have been synonymous with high quality and protection, as they have long been one of the helmets that first come to mind for many people when they are shopping for a new lid. And with heavy involvement in other forms of motorsports, Bell has plenty of experience when it comes to creating only the best protection available.

A few years ago, they introduced the Moto 8, the next step in the evolutionary process of their Moto line-up of helmets. And this year’s offering has a few improvements done to it that help further compliment the already long list of features found on the helmet. This year, the Moto 8 received updated padding for an enhanced fit and improved comfort, while new color ways were also added to the line up to satisfy even the pickiest rider out there. As for the other features, the Moto 8 is made from an extremely lightweight Kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass TriMatrix composite shell, which has a patented Velocity Flow Ventilation system that helps circulate air better throughout the entire helmet to keep you cool even on the hottest days. Integrated into the shell is a Quickflip visor that is easy to adjust and compliments the ventilation system nicely. Finally, the Moto 8 is—like every other top-of-the-line helmet on the market—SNELL and DOT approved.

To be brutally honest, in the past, we weren’t huge fans of Bell’s previous Moto helmets, but when we first slipped on the Moto 8, it became very apparent that this helmet is a vast improvement over other models. The new padding is super-comfortable, and through out the course of a day’s riding, we never experienced any pressure points to make for an uncomfortable feel. If we had to pick one thing to complain about, though, it would be the visor. Because while it is lightweight and looks cool, at times it felt like we just couldn’t get it adjusted as high as we wanted it to. We’ll admit, though, that we generally do like our visors up out of view and slightly higher than most, so this more than likely will not be a problem for other riders. One thing that we definitely want to comment on is the paint job. This helmet has one of the coolest, most custom looking paint jobs out there for a stock off-the-shelf helmet. And with quite a few to choose from, there’s no doubt that there will be one you like.

RATING

            Obviously, it’s pretty easy to see that we came away impressed with our testing experience of the Bell Moto 8. The new padding makes it really comfortable, the new graphics make it look really cool, and while we didn’t get to crash test it, we are sure that with a Snell and DOT rating, this helmet can stand up to some pretty hard hits. If you’re in the market for a new lid, the Bell Moto 8 is one that you should probably take a look at, because at the end of the day, your head is worth more that $80, so spend a little more on a quality helmet.