Bargain Crazy Thread
Discussion
Wooderson said:
I've just ordered a white M5X in large (I current have a large Arai Chaser)
These helmets have to be the best bargain of the entire thread - great work MTB
AgreedThese helmets have to be the best bargain of the entire thread - great work MTB
For those concerned about the lack of ACU Gold sticker, I'm in an email discussion with the ACU about it at the moment and will update once I get a resolution.
So my M5X just turned up 
Very pleased with it. A bit tighter than my Nolan, but it'll give a bit with some use. Insanely light, easily half the weight of the aforementioned Nolan.
Anyone sussed out the 'draught excluder'? I've fitted it easy enough, but it tries to tear my face off when I remove the helmet. Might leave it off for the moment....
Other than that, lifting the visor is a bit of a mission with no extruded lip to grab. The seal doesn't help either, as it blocks the recess used to push the visor up.
Little things though. For £180 I'm bloody happy with it.
Very pleased with it. A bit tighter than my Nolan, but it'll give a bit with some use. Insanely light, easily half the weight of the aforementioned Nolan.
Anyone sussed out the 'draught excluder'? I've fitted it easy enough, but it tries to tear my face off when I remove the helmet. Might leave it off for the moment....
Other than that, lifting the visor is a bit of a mission with no extruded lip to grab. The seal doesn't help either, as it blocks the recess used to push the visor up.
Little things though. For £180 I'm bloody happy with it.
The Beaver King said:
So my M5X just turned up
Very pleased with it. A bit tighter than my Nolan, but it'll give a bit with some use. Insanely light, easily half the weight of the aforementioned Nolan.
Anyone sussed out the 'draught excluder'? I've fitted it easy enough, but it tries to tear my face off when I remove the helmet. Might leave it off for the moment....
Other than that, lifting the visor is a bit of a mission with no extruded lip to grab. The seal doesn't help either, as it blocks the recess used to push the visor up.
Little things though. For £180 I'm bloody happy with it.
Agree on the draught excluder, I've just left that off, along with the mesh nose thing, as that just seems unnecessary. Very pleased with it. A bit tighter than my Nolan, but it'll give a bit with some use. Insanely light, easily half the weight of the aforementioned Nolan.
Anyone sussed out the 'draught excluder'? I've fitted it easy enough, but it tries to tear my face off when I remove the helmet. Might leave it off for the moment....
Other than that, lifting the visor is a bit of a mission with no extruded lip to grab. The seal doesn't help either, as it blocks the recess used to push the visor up.
Little things though. For £180 I'm bloody happy with it.
Agree on the visor being awkward too, but the anti fog design is amazing so no real need to lift the visor anymore other than habit.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeah, this is why it is a bit annoying as under 30mph I like to have the visor open for slightly better vision. I get the impression the helmet is more geared towards track use, where you won't really be popping the visor up and down.
Still, very happy with it and cheers to MTB for the tinted visor link. I'll probably just fit the tinted one and leave it for sunny day use.
Side note, any one at Shelsley Walsh Bike Festival tomorrow?
k 
Mine has arrived now too - very nice. I do like the red lining - nice contrast with the matt and white outer, not that you can see it with the tinted visor I also ordered. Which is nice. (thanks for the links)
I plumped for a large as I am a large Arai, and the Bell is VERY snug. It fits the top of my head fine so I think the sizing is correct, but the cheek pads make me look like I have got my face stuck in a lift door.
Anyone know if the cheek pads are adjustable in any way? I don't fancy trying to rip them out to look if you're not supposed to remove them!
I plumped for a large as I am a large Arai, and the Bell is VERY snug. It fits the top of my head fine so I think the sizing is correct, but the cheek pads make me look like I have got my face stuck in a lift door.
Anyone know if the cheek pads are adjustable in any way? I don't fancy trying to rip them out to look if you're not supposed to remove them!
ccr32 said:
Mine has arrived now too - very nice. I do like the red lining - nice contrast with the matt and white outer, not that you can see it with the tinted visor I also ordered. Which is nice. (thanks for the links)
I plumped for a large as I am a large Arai, and the Bell is VERY snug. It fits the top of my head fine so I think the sizing is correct, but the cheek pads make me look like I have got my face stuck in a lift door.
Anyone know if the cheek pads are adjustable in any way? I don't fancy trying to rip them out to look if you're not supposed to remove them!
Helmets are supposed to be snug. Just let it break in a little through wearing it. I plumped for a large as I am a large Arai, and the Bell is VERY snug. It fits the top of my head fine so I think the sizing is correct, but the cheek pads make me look like I have got my face stuck in a lift door.
Anyone know if the cheek pads are adjustable in any way? I don't fancy trying to rip them out to look if you're not supposed to remove them!
Took the Bell out for my shortened ride today, and very nice it is indeed. Couple of immediate observations:
The 'snugness' from the cheek area which was borderline uncomfortable when trying it on before now seems to make a lot more sense - either the cheek pads have started to bed in already or I have gotten used to the way it fits. It is not at all uncomfortable in use, just very secure. I am sure my Arai will now feel like a big flappy slab of concrete on my head by comparison.
The nose guard thing that comes in the box, I removed after about 10 mins of riding - I found that it almost perfectly obscured my view of the dash without having to move my head. Not really sure what its purpose is anyway TBH.
The chin wind flap thing, while odd when putting the helmet on or taking it off, you don't notice once on the move. Not sure what benefit it offers in reality but might compare without it sometime.
Vent - a little annoying that it can only be opened or closed by reaching inside the helmet (which you have to do from the visor end if you've got the chin flap thing on), but not a deal breaker. Something that did catch me out though was the direct stream of air coming straight in to your mouth at, err.... some speed when lifting your head from behind the screen - felt momentarily like skydiving! The vents on the Arai seem to direct the air through channels so you do not get a direct stream, so just something to get used to.
The visor - lovely! How can it be a single piece of plastic and not fog up? Some black magic going on there. A bit annoying that there is no tab to help you flick it up when you want to, but because there is literally no fog up at all, you never really feel the need to. Very nice and something you immediately forget about, rather than a pinlock distracting you as it starts to fog up in the corners or by your nose...
Noise - seemed quiet, though I do ride with earplugs so the difference vs. my Arai wasn't massively perceptible to me.
Oh, and it doesn't weigh much at all.
All in all, a nice bit of kit and a cracking purchase at that money IMO.
The 'snugness' from the cheek area which was borderline uncomfortable when trying it on before now seems to make a lot more sense - either the cheek pads have started to bed in already or I have gotten used to the way it fits. It is not at all uncomfortable in use, just very secure. I am sure my Arai will now feel like a big flappy slab of concrete on my head by comparison.
The nose guard thing that comes in the box, I removed after about 10 mins of riding - I found that it almost perfectly obscured my view of the dash without having to move my head. Not really sure what its purpose is anyway TBH.
The chin wind flap thing, while odd when putting the helmet on or taking it off, you don't notice once on the move. Not sure what benefit it offers in reality but might compare without it sometime.
Vent - a little annoying that it can only be opened or closed by reaching inside the helmet (which you have to do from the visor end if you've got the chin flap thing on), but not a deal breaker. Something that did catch me out though was the direct stream of air coming straight in to your mouth at, err.... some speed when lifting your head from behind the screen - felt momentarily like skydiving! The vents on the Arai seem to direct the air through channels so you do not get a direct stream, so just something to get used to.
The visor - lovely! How can it be a single piece of plastic and not fog up? Some black magic going on there. A bit annoying that there is no tab to help you flick it up when you want to, but because there is literally no fog up at all, you never really feel the need to. Very nice and something you immediately forget about, rather than a pinlock distracting you as it starts to fog up in the corners or by your nose...
Noise - seemed quiet, though I do ride with earplugs so the difference vs. my Arai wasn't massively perceptible to me.
Oh, and it doesn't weigh much at all.
All in all, a nice bit of kit and a cracking purchase at that money IMO.
Took mine out for a proper ride on Sunday; great helmet.
It is tight initially, but after 20 minutes it bedded in and now fits like a glove. Exceptionally light; I can fully understand why people rate light helmets now.
Visor is still a bit of a pain to lift with gloves on, but you develop a knack after a while. The field of view is narrower than my Nolan, noticeable when you do a quick shoulder check.
Very quiet when you first put it on, but I've noticed there is quite a lot of wind noise above 30 mph. I think it's to do with the vents on top, some I might try and close them up.
Lovely helmet with a few minor faults. 8/10
It is tight initially, but after 20 minutes it bedded in and now fits like a glove. Exceptionally light; I can fully understand why people rate light helmets now.
Visor is still a bit of a pain to lift with gloves on, but you develop a knack after a while. The field of view is narrower than my Nolan, noticeable when you do a quick shoulder check.
Very quiet when you first put it on, but I've noticed there is quite a lot of wind noise above 30 mph. I think it's to do with the vents on top, some I might try and close them up.
Lovely helmet with a few minor faults. 8/10
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