Bell Sports Helmet User Manual

Owner’s Manual

This Bell helmet complies with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission
(CPSC) Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets. All safety equipment has limits. Read
this helmet manual carefully and follow instructions completely.

Limited Impact Protection

Helmets cannot always protect against injury. Even a very low speed accident can
result in serious injury or death. Any helmet subjected to a severe impact should be
destroyed and discarded, even though damage may not be outwardly visible.

Helmets Can’t Protect What They Don’t Cover

A helmet protects only what it covers. It does not protect the neck or any
areas of the head that it does not cover. It cannot guard against spinal or other
bodily injuries that may result from an accident. Since this helmet is made of
polystyrene foam, there is a chance it may be penetrated by sharp objects.

You Should Always

• Wear your helmet low in the front to protect the forehead

• Fasten your buckle and tighten your chin strap

• Check your adjustments every time you wear your helmet

• Inspect your helmet regularly for signs of wear or damage

• Wear a helmet when you ride

• Wear a helmet designed for your activity

• Ride responsibly

You Should Never

• Wear a helmet that’s been in an accident, even if no damage is visible

• Wear someone else’s helmet

• Wear your helmet with the buckle unfastened

• Wear anything under your helmet

• Wear this helmet while operating a motor vehicle

• Make any attachments other than those recommended in this manual

• Take unnecessary risks just because you’re wearing a helmet

Wear Bike Helmets on Bicycles – Not on Playgrounds

Children should always wear helmets while riding their bikes. But when a child
gets off the bike, the helmet must be removed. There is a hidden hazard of
strangulation if a child wears a helmet while playing on playground equipment.

Parents

A helmet is NOT a toy. DO NOT allow your children to play with it. They can
accidentally damage it or hurt themselves.

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Fitting the Helmet to Your Head

In order for your Bell helmet to work correctly, it must fit and be worn correctly.
Follow these five simple steps to learn how to properly fit and wear your helmet.
You will need a mirror.

STEP 1: Wear Your Helmet in Its Proper Position

Always wear the helmet low in the front to protect the forehead (Figure 1a). Never
wear the helmet tipped back to expose your forehead (Figure 1b).

IMPORTANT: All fitting adjustments MUST be made with the helmet in the proper
position. Failure to do so will result in a poor fit. This will allow the helmet to move
out of position or come off in an accident.

Figure 1a Figure 1b

STEP 2: Adjust the Straps

To adjust the position of the straps:

1. Open the Cam-Lock adjustors (Figure 2). Put the helmet on and slide the straps
through the adjustors until they are located in the correct position as indicated
in Figure 3.

2. Make sure there is no slack in any of the straps when the adjustors are
positioned correctly.

3. Close and lock the Cam-Lock adjustors.

The front and rear straps should join at a point slightly below and in front
of (but not covering) the ears (Figure 3).

Figure 2

Figure 3

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STEP 3: Adjust the Chin Strap

Always wear the helmet with the chin strap buckle fastened and the strap pulled
tight. Figures 4 and 5 show how to fasten and release the buckle. Make sure the
strap is well back against the throat, NOT on the point of the chin. Straps worn on
the point of the chin increase the chance of the helmet coming off in an accident.
Figure 6 shows the proper position of the chin strap.

Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

WARNING! Make sure the loose end of the
strap passes through the rubber “0” ring
(Figure 7). If it does not, the strap may slide
loose and the helmet can come off acciden­tally.

Figure 7

STEP 4: Getting the Correct Fit

The helmet fits correctly when it is held firmly but comfortably in place by the
interior fit pads and the fit system. Identify your helmet’s fit system by matching it to
one of the illustrations below and follow the accompanying adjustment instructions.

A. Conventional Fit Pads (Li’l Bell Shell and Boomerang)

Follow steps 1-3 above. Pads are held in place by hook­and-loop style fasteners. Try any combination of the
different thicknesses provided until the helmet fits firmly
and comfortably.

B. ErgoDial Fit System

Follow steps 1-3 above. Next, press the button on top
of the ErgoDial (Figure 8) with your fingers and turn dial
with your thumb—clockwise to tighten, counterclockwise
to loosen (Figure 9)—to a comfortable fit. The fit system
should be snug, but not uncomfortably tight.

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Figure 8

Figure 9

C. Geared Positioning System (GPS) Fit System

Follow steps 1-3 above. Next, find the GPS gear located at the back of your
head at your occipital lobe (Figure 10). With your thumb, press the GPS dial
upward and turn clockwise to tighten the fit. To loosen the fit, simply press
the GPS dial upward with your thumb and turn counterclockwise (Figure 11).
The fit system should be snug, but not uncomfortably tight.

Figure 10

Figure 11

STEP 5: Checking the Fit and Adjustments

Before using the helmet, make sure it fits correctly, the straps are correctly
adjusted, and the chin strap is tight enough. Put the helmet on in the correct
position. Fasten the chin strap and pull it tight. Stand in front of the mirror.

A. Check the fit. Grab the helmet with both hands and twist it to the left and

to the right. If the helmet fits correctly, the skin on the forehead will move as
the helmet moves. If it does not, the helmet is too loose. Return to Step 4.

B. Check the straps. Grab the helmet with both hands and try to remove it by

rolling the helmet forward and backward as far as you can. Make a seri­ous effort. THIS IS IMPORTANT. If you can roll it off the head completely
in either direction, by rolling it forward so far that it blocks your vision,
or backward far enough to expose the forehead, it doesn’t fit correctly.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until helmet movement is minimal.

WARNING! If you cannot adjust the
helmet to fit properly according to Step
5, DO NOT USE THIS HELMET. Replace it
with a different size or model.

Take a Test Ride

Once you are satisfied that the helmet fits correctly and that all straps are
properly adjusted and tightened, take a short test ride. Pay attention to overall

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comfort and helmet stability while riding. Make any minor adjustments to the fit

A

B

pads and straps to improve comfort or stability.

WARNING! If you cannot adjust the
helmet so that it fits correctly according
to these instructions or so that it is
comfortable and stable while riding, DO
NOT USE IT. Return it to your dealer or
call 1-800-456-BELL for assistance.

Helmets With Visors

Some helmets come with removable snap-on visors. To remove visor, follow these
steps:

1. Pull the ends of the visor loose from the helmet and then lift away from
the helmet.

CAUTION: DO NOT try to remove the visor
by pulling forward on the center. This will
damage the helmet and the visor.

2. To replace the visor, center it on the helmet and then snap the pins (A) on the

visor into the holes (B) in the helmet, Figure 12

Figure 12

Figure 13

For helmets equipped with a Blade™ visor attachment, the receptor holes left
behind by the removed visor may be covered by the small Bell ellipse plugs that
are supplied. Simply snap the Bell ellipse plugs into the receptor holes in the
helmet for a clean, streamlined look, Figure 13.

Caring for Your Helmet

Cleaning Helmets are made of materials that can be damaged by many com-

monly available cleaners. Petroleum based solvents or
cleaners are especially dangerous. They can damage a helmet
so that its protective capabilities are significantly reduced. Many

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