Submitted by
nance
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003
Strengths: a lot of vent-holes, sleak/tready design, reflective outer crust, visor can be removed/attached easily, light as hell, and most importantly, comfortable to wear.
Weaknesses: i guess the price? i was lucky, i purchased my helmet over ebay, but i noticed most people (like a friend of mine) spent well over $100cdn for one ..but trust me, it's well worth the price!
Bottom Line:
you're getting a well rounded helmet: durable, solid, light weight, looks great, but feels nicer on the head!
My favorite helmet, hands down. Perfect fit, perfect retention - doesn't move a bit on the roughest trails. Pull the visor off and you have a decent lid for road riding.
Price Point had these on sale last year - really screwed up by not getting another one.
Similar Products Used: Bell Aquila Pro, Bell Forza, LG Enigma
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Submitted by
Shawn
a Weekend Warrior
from Federal Way, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002
Strengths: Good Looks
Weaknesses: Questionable Durability, inside of helmet pulls your hair
Bottom Line:
I've used this helmet for two years and have lived with it. I wouldn't call this my favorite helmet though. The ventilation is adequate and the looks are sharp but the fit was always an issue. The straps were hard to adjust and the glue securing the strap guides to the helmet would not hold. It was just akward, especially when I've seen helmets with far superior strap setups, I would wonder why Bell cut corners in this department. I bought the Bell Influx and it is a waaaaaaaaaaaay better fitting helmet.
The helmet is well vented and the exterior of the helmet, featuring the stars and stripes, is awesome and is a fantastic way to display your pride and support for the USA. Although the exterior of the helmet excels in terms of eye-catching colors, the interior lacks sufficient padding in preventing your HAIR from being PULLED OFF your head each time you remove your helmet. A previous review mentioned the same problem, only to have it corrected after contacting bell for a replacement pad. I cannot believe this problem has made it past quality control. Having to contact the manufacturer for a replacement pad should not be something a consumer should have to deal with, especially after spending his/her hard earned money on the product. In conclusion, if you enjoy keeping your hair where it belongs…on your head, stay away from this helmet!
Weaknesses: Would be cool if the pads wicked more sweat. Visor ripped off pretty easy (with some help of course)
Bottom Line:
This the 3rd bell helmet ive bought. And i just ordered the 4th one. For me, Bell helmets have proven to be durable and good protectors of the grey matter.
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver CO USA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002
Strengths: Looks nice
Weaknesses: Don't have the hair-pulling problem (shaved head)but the bloody thing won't stay in adjustment!Seems like it's either too tight or too loose.Sticky velcro pads don't stay stuck to body of helmet.This could be due to extremes of Colorado climate,but wasn't a problem with the Giro.
This helmet has to be the worst helmet i have ever purchased. I took a minor crash, nothing to harsh, and the helmet cracked all the way down the center of the helmet. I was extremely pissed, for i had only recently purchased the helmet. If your an easy rider who doesnt take challenges and does nothing but ride easy terrain, and you dont fall, this is the helmet for you. But if you take any risks at all, even the slightest risks, avoid buying this helmet. Overall i was dissapointed in the way this helmet acted for me. It was weak and not durable.
Submitted by
Norge
a Weekend Warrior
from Dundas, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2002
Strengths: Great looks, comfortable fit, all the benefits of higher priced helmets and a good price.
Weaknesses: Fusion retention system allows for slight frontal movement but only if you really give it a firm push from the back.
Bottom Line:
An all around great helmet for price, looks, quality and fit. Whereas my Giro Pneumo is unbelieveable in all aspects (so is the price), this helmet is more than adequate. I tried the Giro Gila and Havoc but found the Havoc uncomfortable on my forehead and the Gila fit close to the Nemesis but overall fit and price made up my mind (I picked it up for 71$ Cdn). The cooling of the Nemesis compared to the Gila is much better but a little lacking when compared to the Havoc. Either way it's a great helmet and if you don't want to spend big $$ the Nemesis comes out the overall winner.
Similar Products Used: Bell Evo Pro, Giro Incline, Pneumo.
Bike Setup: Specialized FSR
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Submitted by
K
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpharetta
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001
Strengths: Air Flow Fit good looks
Weaknesses: stock pads
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up review . Bell has a replacement pad kit that solves the glue in the hair deal with the thin stock pads . They work great , pad better and don't stick to your hair . For all you folks that don't think getting your hair pulled out is a big deal ..wait till you're older and have less of it .. :) And think about it in this day and age should ANY HELMET pull out your hair ? The kit is " KT PAD NEMESIS #750080185 " With the new pads I upgrade the helmet
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from i forget
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2001
Strengths: -Something about the way the pads and the stretchy thing in the back are set up, makes the helmet feel like it was specifically built for you head, in other words, incredible fit. -The cool-max pads are suppose to absorb your sweat and keep the pad cool so it cools you down. It doesn't achieve this with flying colors, but it must work pretty well, since my head is always kept cool. -After riding, being all sweaty, I took the helmet out to see how much cooler (temperature-wise) my head would feel without the helmet. I only noticed an extremely slight difference in temp, while in my last helmet it was a world of difference.
Weaknesses: -Yeah.. those pads do stick to your hair a little when you take it off, but it's not such a big deal, it's not like it pulls the hair right off. -People see your helmet and then look at your bike, expecting it to be an expensive one. Mine is a hardrock. So basically people who see me are impressed, then, disappointed.
Bottom Line:
I got the stars and stripes color because this is a time when we need to show our patriotism (also because the white color I originally ordered had been back-ordered for a month). After trying on a $180 Giro helmet, and then this one, they both felt just as good (The Giro was a bit more cushiony, but I think the Nemises has a better feel, how it fits). This helmet also makes me feel like a pro (or maybe it's the combination of that and the LeMond racing gloves), even though I have a long way to go before the big drops. But whatever this helmet does, the bottom line is that it makes you feel good, it fits good, and keeps your head cool. The stars and stripes color (or the Oh Canada color, for Canadians) also shows people your patriotism, which is great, because most people then won't assume you're a bike snob on a Cannondole Super V Raven Deluxe Super Duper Light 500000x-to-the-y-to-the-z600. I give this thing 3 for value, because even with all the high-tech, no helmet so go for over $50-60 retail. I give it 5 overall, cause this helmet kicks!
Submitted by
Alex Marks
a Cross Country Rider
from Collierville
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2001
Strengths: Really good fit. Stays low on the forehead and just does not move. Easy to adjust. Makes you feel safe.
Weaknesses: Yes, the glue in the top pulled my hair out as well, but only for a couple of times of wearing. Some of you guys must have very weak hair to make such a big deal out of it! I'm not sure about the long term quality....the shell started to come away from the foam a bit. Don't know if this is typical.
Bottom Line:
It's a good helmet, and currently available in a few places with a heavy discount. I think Pricepoint is still cheapest. It saved my skull in the Memphis Tour de Wolf race this year. Anybody who was in that race will testify, the Tour was a total mare of a race...one big opportunity to wipe out big time in the mud...I hit a root or something really, really hard and cracked the side of the helmet, which pissed me off greatly, untill I considered what it may have done to my head in a lesser helmet. Weekend warriors and aspiring racers on a budget should consider this helmet.
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Sugar 3, with chopped down riser bar and Time pedals.
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Submitted by
K
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpharetta, ga
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Strengths: fits good
Weaknesses: pads are too thin glue pulls my hair out no help from Bell
Bottom Line:
I really hate the fact the glue on the pads pulls my hair out every time I wear it . I emailed Bell and their reply was worthless . I tried to wipe it out but it's not water based and Bell said don't use a solvent . To stop the pulling of hair I wear a bandana which make the fact the helmet flows air well a moot point . I added leftover pads from my Trek vapor and that helped some . I'd look else where .
Similar Products Used: Trek Vapor - I wish I had bought another of these
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Submitted by
JONATHAN
a Racer
from manchester, NH, usa
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2001
Strengths: the greatest!!! first helmet to actually fit me!!! got a big dome? well get this helmet! stars and stripes too.. IT LOOKS GOOD ON YA!! keeps the mellon chilled too, gaping vents, have great airflow!
Weaknesses: hair gets stuck to sticky stuff holding pads in.
Bottom Line:
STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, AND GO GET THIS HELMET!
