Go ahead and scoff, but I'm declaring
the Bell Zephyr to be the Motorcycle Helmet Bargain of
2007.
A Zephyr review was originally suggested
by a webBikeWorld visitor, and, I'll admit, I was
skeptical. The helmet is primarily sold by
Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart? Motorcycle helmets?
But, we've tried 'em all, from the crude
$79.99
Z1R ZRP-1 (which bears more than a passing
resemblance to this Bell Zephyr) to the outrageously
priced (and overweight)
Schuberth
S1, so why not the Zephyr?
Apparently, some Wal-Mart locations (and
other retailers) stock the Bell Zephyr, but not my local
store. So I found this Zephyr online at the
Wal-Mart website; during the ordering process, I
discovered the free "Site to Store" shipping, which
could theoretically save us about 7 bucks.
I
should have spent the money.
Long story, but suffice it to say that
when they tell you that you MUST bring the "internet
receipt" to the store to pick up the helmet, they're not
lying. It took me two separate visits and probably
a half-hour wait time in the store to finally convince
them to let me buy the helmet.
And after all that, when I brought it up to the
checkout, the scanner didn't read any of the
half-dozen or so bar codes on the box. Now you'd think that after all the zillions
of dollars that Wal-Mart spends on inventory control, RFID, JIT, bar coding and the rest that they'd have this
figured out? Jeeeesh!
Anyway, I finally got the thing home,
wrapped up in its weird plastic blister pack (see photo below)
and tried it on.
Hey -- not bad for a 75-buck
helmet!
The Zephyr seems very similar in shape to
the Zox Azuma we reviewed not long ago, and it yet again
confirms to us that Bell is turning out some pretty
decent helmets for the price. We've been
impressed with the resurrected Bell name after trying
the Bell Apex
the
Bell Sprint and even the
Bell Mag-8.
One thing to note is that it seems that the Bell Zephyr is either
being discontinued or possibly made just for Wal-Mart,
because the available sizes on the Wal-Mart website seem
to change quite frequently.
Last time I looked, only size large was
listed, but the Zehphyr shown here is an XL, purchased
only a few weeks ago. So if you want one, better
act soon...although I have occasionally found the Zephyr
for sale in a variety of sizes at other retailers.
OK, so what do you get for $77.73?
Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality
The Wal-Mart Bell Zephyr is available in any color you'd
like, as long as it's black. Yep --
black -- probably the worst possible choice for a helmet
color. Why not white? Who knows... So plan
on buying a handful of cheery or nasty decals -- your
choice -- and go to
town. The helmet is just begging for it, and the
shiny gloss black surface makes a pretty good canvas.
Not much else to say about it -- the
finish is good, it's shiny but the color picks up lint,
dust, dirt and scratches more than it should.
That's not a fault of the helmet, just the color.
All told, it's a solid finish, especially for the
price...a term you'll probably be hearing more than once
during in this review.
I'd call the overall quality very
reasonable and probably more like something found on a
$150-$200 helmet rather than a $78 helmet.
Score: I'll give it a Very Good
(See ratings description in the summary table below).
Helmet Weight
I'll assume that the Bell Zephyr shell is made from
polycarbonate, which is normally heavier than Kevlar or
carbon fiber composite. But the Zephyr weighs
exactly the same as the same-size composite Bell Apex at
1620 grams (3 lbs., 9-1/8 oz.).
This is almost exactly at the median weight of all 74
helmets we've reviewed as of this writing, and it's
actually in good company; only 4 grams lighter than the
Arai Quantum II
and 5 grams heavier than the recently reviewed
Shark S 650,
also with a polycarbonate shell.
See the
wBW
Motorcycle Helmet Weights page for a chart comparing
the Zephyr with every other helmet in the webBikeWorld.com
database.
The Zephyr feels relatively light when I'm riding and
I don't notice the "mass effect" that sometimes happens
when I turn my head quickly whilst wearing a heavy
helmet.
Score: I'll give the Zephyr a Very Good rating
for light weight in a size XL helmet.
The Bell Zephyr is packaged in this strange-looking
blister.
Bell Zephyr helmet liner.
Top vent works well; red piping around eye port gasket
is a nice touch.
Chin vent in open position.
Two rear exhaust vents and DOT labeling.
Bell Zephyr visor removal mechanism.
wBWVideo Tour of the Bell Zephyr Motorcycle Helmet
Internal Shape
The Zephyr, like the Shark S 650 we recently reviewed,
has an interesting fit that is not quite round and
definitely biased towards the "intermediate oval" shape.
This is good news for many, because most helmets in this
price range tend towards a "neutral" fit to satisfy the
greatest number of potential owners.
But many visitors ask us about
low-priced helmets that fit "long oval" or "intermediate
oval" head shapes. If you're one of them, then the
Zephyr may be just what the Doctor ordered.
I think the Zephyr fits true to size;
that is, the XL fits just like I'd expect from an
"intermediate oval" size XL, and it's about the perfect
shape for my head.
The ear pockets on the Zephyr are deeper
than the nearly non-existent pockets on the Shark S 650,
but nevertheless, they are still shallower than most
helmets. So be aware that the shape gives the
Zephyr more of an oval profile up top, above the ears
and a slightly flat profile along the sides.
Round-headed motorcyclists may find this to be
uncomfortable.
The liner is removable (Note: This is a
correction from our previous posting; see the
Comments section
below for more information from Bell Powersports).
It's
made from some type of fairly comfortable fabric of
decent quality. The Wal-Mart website claims that
the fabric is washable. There's enough padding
around the inside, so I don't feel any sharp edges.
See the
wBW
Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page for more information on
fitting a motorcycle helmet and a discussion on head
shapes.
Score: I'll give the Zephyr a Very
Good for fit and trueness of size.
Visor
The Zephyr's visor isn't bad, actually. It seems
reasonably stout and it has 7 detents
to hold it in various positions as it's raised or
lowered. Although the detents aren't as tight as
some, they work reasonably well to hold the visor in
place.
And here's a bonus, not found on any
helmet I can think of: the visor has tabs on both the
left and right sides, along with slight depressions
molded into the helmet shell, which means that it can be
easily raised or lowered with either the left or right
hand.
I'm not sure why or when a motorcyclist
would use the right throttle hand to raise a visor, so
this feature must be designed for ATV or snowmobile
riders, and, in fact, I have seen the Zephyr listed as
an ATV helmet, so there you have it (Editor's Note:
Visitors have reminded us that this feature comes in
handy when stopped at a light with the left hand on the
clutch!).
The visor is relatively easy to remove.
After the visor is raised to its topmost position, a
lever is pulled forward and the visor pops out of the
side. This is illustrated in the wBW Video Tour of
the Bell Zephyr helmet below.
The visor is 2 mm thick and replacement
visors are available in a variety of tints. The
clear visor that comes with the helmet seems to be free
of distortion.
Note that the eye port is slightly
smaller than normal, probably due to what seems like an
older style shell shape. The top-to-bottom
visibility is average, while the side-to-side visibility
is slightly less than normal, in my opinion, due to the
way the shell is cut at the sides. But this is a
very minor issue and does not bother me in normal
riding.
Score: I rate the visor, visor
clarity, operation and removal/replacement as Good.
Noise Levels
I'm pleased to say that I think the Bell
Zephyr is actually pretty quiet, especially for a helmet
at this price.
There's some wind rushing noise, but I
think lower than average noise along the bottom of the
helmet, which is usually affected by turbulence from a
windscreen. I notice no "whistling" noise from the
top vents, which is actually surprising, because some
very expensive helmets have that problem.
Certainly the Zephyr isn't the quietest
helmet I've ever worn, but it's really not bad and, I'd
say, quieter than most.
Note that we always wear correctly
fitted, high quality earplugs and an extra helmet liner
when riding, and we strongly recommend that you always
wear hearing protection also. See the
wBW
Earplugs and Hearing Protection page for more
information on choosing and wearing earplugs.
Note also that
your experience with this helmet's noise levels may be
different, depending upon many factors, including your
head shape and the way the helmet fits; motorcycle configuration; prevailing winds
and more.
Score: I'll give the Zephyr a Very Good
rating for noise control.
Venting and Air Flow
Here's another surprise; the basic chin vent and top
vent on the Zephyr work well and actually flow a decent
volume of air. In fact, I'll say that the top vent
probably flows more air than many other helmets I can
think of whose vents are basically useless.
The
only caveat is that the "ovalish" shape up top does mean
that the helmet has a bit more room up there for me than
a round shaped helmet would have, which probably gives
the air more room to flow along the top of my head.
Nevertheless, the vent mechanisms work
well and, another surprise, the back of the chin bar
includes two holes to vent air from the chin vent on to
the rider's face. These are missing from many,
many helmets, no matter the price, and they are a
welcome surprise on the Zephyr.
The rest of the air from the chin vent
is directed up in back of the visor. A small
breath guard is included with the helmet, but it curves
back and touches my nose, so I removed it and it is not
shown in these photos.
Score: I rate the Bell Zephyr as
Excellent for venting, quality of the vents and air
flow.
Miscellaneous
The Bell Zephyr meets U.S. DOT approval only, according
to the labeling.
The Zephyr has a "D"-ring
attachment chin strap system and the strap does not have a snap to
keep the loose end secure; instead there's an elastic
band around the opposite strap (the end with the
"D"-rings) to hold the loose end. The loose end
seems about 2"-3" longer than normal.
Conclusion Motorcyclists are as varied as the bikes they ride,
and each has his or her own criteria when it comes to
helmets. All I can say is that I have been
pleasantly surprised by the Bell Zephyr; it's not my
first choice for a motorcycle helmet but given an
objective evaluation, I have to say that it has no bad
vices and will probably serve many riders well,
especially those who can not or will not pay the high
prices necessary to get an "intermediate oval" internal
shape from other helmet manufacturers.
Just take my advice and pay the extra
few bucks to have it delivered directly to your home!
Comments? Send them to
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
From "D.D.": "I love it, fits great, light, visually
equivalent to other helmets…I couldn’t believe it was so cheap! It got
good ratings…well done!
I am waiting for the
Reevu helmet to
meet DOT standards…so the money I saved will got to
buying one of those bad boys later!!"
From "D.M.": "I bought mine about 18 months ago at a
Super-Wal-Mart in O'Fallon, Missouri. They had white, black, silver, and
white with graphics. Also multiple sizes. I have also seen them on
EBay recently selling for about $25-$50 still in the packaging.
I've had good luck with it and nobody believes that I
only paid about $90 for it.
I highly recommend it."
From "G.K.": "Another siting! I found several of these
at my local Wal-Mart in Hammond, Louisiana. They had XS all the way up to
XL. They also had White available, with a red and grey flame-like decal.
I believe they were going for $84, and the extra visors were in the $15-$20
range, untinted and tinted, respectively.
My old Bell Pro-Star has seen better days, and I was so impressed with the fit
(a snug, but comfortable Medium) I will be picking one up soon. I'm a
definite long-oval, traditional fit, and am scared to buy online without trying
on first. Glad I found one local, and the plastic is open on the bottom of
the package so you can try it on!
From "T.D.": "Hello, my name is Travis D. from Morganton N.C. I am
writing as to the review of the Zephyr helmet on your site. I got lucky
and found my helmet at the Super Wal-Mart in Forest City N.C. Lucky
because I found a SILVER XL! The helmet as far as I am concerned is an excellent
choice for the price.
They also had a tinted visor available which I purchased as well. Together
it makes a nice looking package. I think your review was very informative
and accurate. But the bubble pack will throw you off a little but don't
let it. For the money you will not go wrong!"
From "Dave H. of Bell Powersports: "Howdy, as the product
manager responsible for its performance, I enjoyed reading your recent review of
the Zephyr. I always learn something reading your reviews and this was no
exception.
Here’s a few points of clarification you could share with your
readers should you find them important from your perspective:
The liner is removable as are the
cheek pads. To remove it, reach under the neck collar and pull the
lower rear edge - it’ll come out just fine. It’s all washable by the way.
The cheek pads snap in.
The exterior shape of the 2nd
generation model you tested is pretty straightforward - we just tried to
make it clean, and the vent and visor feel solid and consistent while
riding. Many vents in the market feel too light - jewel like in store,
but then when you’re rolling down the road with gloves on you can’t tell
whether their open closed or if you’re even touching them.
On this model we focused our efforts
on the interior where we felt like we could improve the helmet feel the
most.
There are several reasons it might
feel like the vents are more functional - and hopefully more comfortable in
all conditions:
▪
When you remove the liner one will be obvious - there’s a bright blue
T-strip of a Drylex-like foam lining the interior that allows the helmet to
loft off the rider’s head a bit more, while connecting the front and rear
vents. I think this gives a bit more room inside too - since we only
can offer 4 sizes in this retail channel.
▪
There is no interior warning label - we print it on the cuff.
▪
There is a fully perforated liner and very little to no glue layers in the
cheek pads or crown pad. We punched the cheek pads to allow the air to flow
through. Glue can be a bit heavy too…
Your riders’ comments are correct about the visor tabs. I
had been frustrated by left-only visor tabs when approaching or leaving lights,
or simply waiting by the side of the road for a fellow rider with only my right
hand free so went with symmetrical on this one. It’s not traditional but
it does keep your hands out of your face.
Wal-Mart only carries our Zephyr helmets in a selection of
stores - roughly 1000. It’s my understanding that their .com carries only
a small selection of the best selling sizes and colors of items hence your
limited selection shopping experience. For a broader selection, stores are
the best bet. There are other color/graphic options available in store.
Why black? It sells the best by far. I don’t
understand it either, but there it is. We do also offer a nice medium
silver option.
We are in the process of rolling out our 3rd generation Zephyr
(completely new exterior shape with several internal changes as well) and you
should find them in stores very soon if not now. The 3rd generation
clamshell packages will be recyclable too. If you do ride with it I’d
welcome your thoughts even it you don’t post a review.
When you create new products for a living, having others stoked
on your product is very rewarding. I’m glad it was a positive experience!
Rubber down, helmet up"
From "T.B.": "That was a very interesting review for the
Bell Zephyr. I have been looking for a good, inexpensive backup helmet as
well as an extra for the unprecedented occasion for when my wife might let me
take her for a ride.
Anyway, I just wanted to toss you a reason for a motorcyclist
and a visor lift tab on the right side. When I’m at a stoplight with my
left hand holding the clutch open and my visor starts to fog, I have to either
kick in to neutral or reach across my face with my right hand and try to lift
the strong first detent on my X-11. It is a big distraction for me,
especial when watching out for other folks doing crazy things.
Also when my visor is open, I prefer to shut it before I get
rolling, but with the tab on the other side, I have to wait until the clutch is
out in first or second gear.
I wish there were a lift tabs on both sides as the norm.
Thanks for all you great reviews. They really help in finding the great
gear and products."
From "B.M.": "I agree with your evaluation of the Zephyr
regarding the quality of fit, etc. However, there is one caveat for those
of us who wear glasses. Unlike my Shoei, there is no "slot" in the cheek
padding to make it easy to slide your glasses on after putting on the helmet.
BTW, I found my Zephyr at the discount store Tuesday Morning.
As you said, limited colors, pearl white and red graphics and limited sizing, SM
and MD. But the best part was the price, $29.99. For that price I
can live with a few inconveniences, and fortunately for me I wear a medium."
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.