everything new becomes old? Or maybe it’s all about looking old but feeling new, or vice-versa. Whatever.
In 1954 Bell founder, Roy Richter, created his first helmet out of fiberglass and called it the “500”. In 2010 Bell Helmets has recreated the look of the original while updating to modern safety and comfort features; they call this helmet the “Custom 500”. Hence, everything old becomes new again.
Now most ¾ helmets are big, round affairs that make you look like an extra from the movie “Spaceballs”. Not so with the Custom 500. Bell created the Custom 500 with a low profile design to keep little kids from pointing and asking their mommies why that man over there is wearing a giant golf ball on his head. As you can see from the picture the Custom 500 does have a lower profile than most ¾ helmets on the market.
Being firmly in the full-face helmet camp, I was a little leery of the offer to review the new Custom 500, but I figured that it would be, at the very least, horizon expanding and interesting. Looking through the available colors and designs I chose the RSD Speed Soul helmet although the Orange Flake color was a close second. I was a little surprised to see that there are no plain white, black, or gray colors available.
Immediately upon receiving the Custom 500 I was impressed by the overall fit and finish of the helmet as I have been with all of Bell’s new helmets that we’ve reviewed. The finish is very smooth with the transition points between graphics and base paint resulting in only the most minor of ripples. And yes the graphics are all laid down under a layer (or two) of clear coat.
The interior of the Custom 500 looks like pillow-stitched leather in some pictures but is, in fact, a soft almost satiny material. This lends a very high-end/retro look to the Bell Custom 500 that is lacking in most other ¾ helmets (or helmets of any design).
The helmet strap is well placed and is, and I use this term lightly, “padded” with a faux leather (vinyl? Pleather?) piece that fits between your skin and the nylon strap. I would have liked to have seen a softer material used in this area but the current material isn’t irritating at all. Bell also went away from their magnetic strap-end holder and instead went with the tried and true “little red snap”. Of course, D-rings are used to secure the straps thereby keeping the Custom 500 firmly on your head should things go awry.
For someone accustomed to wearing a full face helmet all the time, wearing the Bell Custom 500 is, well, scary. To be fair any ¾ helmet would feel the same as it’s all about your face hanging out in the breeze that feels so weird. Once I got over the feeling of being exposed I quickly came to enjoy the additional breeze on my cheeks while riding in 90+ degree weather here in God’s waiting room (or as the rest of the country insists on calling it; Florida). The Custom 500 has 3 snaps right on the brow of the helmet so you can attach a visor or shield to the helmet if desired.
One thing I did notice is that, unlike the two full-face Bell’s we have recently tested ( Star and Vortex) which have a neutral to slightly long-oval interior shape, the Custom 500 has more of a round shape. This puts a small bit of pressure on my decidedly long –oval head shape.
Bell has proven that you can get a helmet imbued with classic style without giving up modern protective technology like a fiberglass shell and specially designed EPS foam. Combine that with the slim profile, light weight (34.9oz) and the available “custom” paint schemes of the Custom 500 and you’ve got a helmet that will certainly turn heads.
For more info on the Bell Custom 500 and the entire Bell line go to http://www.bellpowersports.com/main.html
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