Track Tested.
Introduced back in 1967, the first full-face helmet on the market, the Bell Star has long represented THE standard in head protection, and it has inspired an industry to pursue the science of head protection. Now featuring Bell ProTint photochromic technology on its Panovision Class 1 optics shield, the new Star DLX MIPS is the continuing evolution of that original ethos, and more. Drawing inspiration from the essential needs of the modern racer, and loaded with quality features - MIPS energy management, a Tri-Matrix composite shell, and an X-Static XT2 silver liner - it's a complete rethinking of what a race helmet should be.
- Construction: Lightweight Tri-Matrix shell construction.
- Ventilation: Velocity Flow Ventilation system for maximum cooling.
- Energy management: MIPS Energy Management System.
- X-Static XT2 Silver liner.
- ProTint photochromic shield.
- Panovision shield with Class 1 optics.
- Bell 54 removable cheek pads.
- Integrated speaker pockets.
- StreetView orientation.
- Eyewear compatible.
- Certifications: Snell, DOT.
- Note: Helmet ships with ProTint photochromic shield, other hues sold separately.
MIPS:
Time Is Everything
- For the past 60 years and counting, Bell engineers have researched the forces involved in crashes across a wide range of scenarios. Recent findings have concluded that brain injury received during an angular impact is much more severe, due to higher strain on the brain's tissue. MIPS addresses this strain by allowing the head to slide independent of the helmet for a few milliseconds. This critical moment of time helps to reduce the violence of the brain inside the skull, and can significantly reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury.
How It Works
- MIPS uses a slip-plane system that moves inside the helmet, mimicking the brain's own protection system. This layer is designed to rotate inside the helmet with the intent to potentially slow or reduce the amount of energy transferred to or from the head. Science tells us that if Bell can reduce the strains associated with rotational acceleration, they might reduce the risk and severity of brain injury.
Why It's Important
- When a head rotates quickly and comes to a sudden stop, the rotational acceleration can cause the brain tissue to experience high levels of strain. The stretching of the tissue that can be caused by these motions can result in various types of brain injury. Bell believes that helmets equipped with MIPS technology can provide an additional measure of protection in certain impacts.
The Minds Behind MIPS
- In 1996, Swedish neurosurgeon Hans von Holst began to study helmet construction. He partnered with Peter Halldin, researcher at the Royal Institute of Technology, with a goal to contribute to the evolution of helmet technology. As a result, the company, MIPS AB was founded in 2001 by Hans, Peter and three other specialists in the biomechanical field from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. The company has extensive technological and medical expertise focused on head injuries. They also conduct studies involving injury prediction and the simulation of head and neck injuries using advanced data methods. MIPS AB has extensive and profound knowledge concerning head and neck injuries, a result of 20 years' experience in the area.
