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Put on the Event XC, Bell’s New sub $100 Helmet with MIPS

Written by Zach Overholt
11 Comments
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EventXC-MIPS_Mt-Blk-Speed-Fade[2]

The introduction of MIPS was the news a few years ago, but now companies are in a race to offer the technology at lower and lower price points. First introduced as a stand alone technology, the Multi-Directional Impact Protection System started showing up on helmets as a way to lessen the rotational forces applied to the brain during a crash.

After making a sizable investment in the Swedish company in 2014, both Bell and Giro have quickly launched a number of MIPS equipped helmets. While it seems to be fairly easy to include the protection system in an expensive helmet, the real challenge appears to be integrating MIPS into helmets that are available at pricepoints where most riders will be able to afford them. Pointing out that safety isn’t just for the most hardcore riders, Bell is introducing the Event XC MIPS which will be available for just $20 more over the standard Event XC…

EventXC-MIPS_Mt-Blk-Wht-Road-Block[4]

Starting with the same shell found in the standard Event XC, the MIPS version checks in at $90 retail making it the least expensive MIPS helmet in the Bell catalog. Built with their Twin Axis Gear (TAG) fit system, the Event XC MIPS offers 22 vents with built in overbrow ventilation along with a Variable Position Visor for a helmet that should make an excellent choice for XC/trail missions.

Available in S, M, and L sizes, the $90 helmet has a claimed weight of 312g and can be had in Matte Black Speed Fade or Matte Black/White Road Block.

bellhelmets.com
Zach Overholt
5,727 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
9 years ago

Isn’t the Bell Stoker MIPS also $90?

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Ob1Hoagie
Ob1Hoagie
9 years ago

Black helmet in the desert… no thanks ! Bell, please come up with some different colors for us folks that don’t live under clouds, rain and humidity for most of the year…

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JBikes
JBikes
9 years ago

“Let them [wear MIPS]”

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Skier2guy
Skier2guy
9 years ago

Seems to be a race to the bottom price point for MIPS now.

WE are willing to spend $10,000.00 or more on kids orthodontics but as a consumer and an industry we are on a race to buy and sell a $35 or $55 or $90 (now w MIPS) dollar helmet to protect their and our brains which can’t be repaired.

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Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan
9 years ago

Didn’t Giro buy Bell a number of years ago? Not really that relevant but I am curious.

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SomeDude
SomeDude
9 years ago

Yes, Giro and Bell are the under one owner. Not sure which owns which, but they are one. And I have no idea on how long that has been.

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Matthew
Matthew
9 years ago

@SomeDude, Perry: Bell bought Giro back in 1995, if this article is to be believed… http://www.bhsi.org/belg9903.htm (wonder if that URL will get stripped?)

@Skier2guy: What’s wrong with helmets that pass the same standard and have the same features trickled down from more expensive helmets that cost less? As far as I see it, a family that can buy a Bell MIPS helmet for their kid at $90 is more likely to buy that helmet than when POC sold it at twice that before store markup. And it’s a dirty secret that the difference in safety between the $90 helmet and the $180 helmet is negligible since they both pass ANSI or CPSC testing (the difference is in weight and aero benefit, usually).

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anonymous
anonymous
9 years ago

@Skier2guy
And what’s wrong with that? Expensive helmets have a history of not being any safer than cheaper helmets. If MIPs can be put on slightly heavier less ventilated helmets for a lower price, what’s the problem with that?

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What?
What?
9 years ago

Scott has MIPS helmets at $79.99 for over 2 years that are ventilated and lighter then most helmets out there.

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satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
9 years ago

That skier guy needs a MIPS lid

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xtc
xtc
9 years ago

As far as I know, Bell/Giro bought some shares of the MIPS group, so now they don’t need to pay additional fares as competitors. So, I think that is the main reason to lower the prices.

I couldn’t find the article that I read time ago, but this one supports what I said.

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BRG Sports has made a minority investment in the Swedish company that developed the MIPS helmet technology, which is used by several helmet brands including POC and Scott Sports.

A BRG spokesman said MIPS will continue to license its technology to multiple brands. “We are stakeholders, but they still have right to license MIPS to any of our competitors. We don’t have any say in that,” said Dain Zaffke, Giro’s director of marketing. “We really believe in it. We believe it’s a step forward in helmet design.”

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/product-tech/2014/08/25/brg-takes-stake-mips-will-use-helmet-technology#.VXCDeUZFK70

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