Bell is one of the most recognisable names in motorcycle helmets, with a history that stretches back to the early days of modern crash helmet development. From retro open-face helmets to full-face road lids, adventure helmets and serious motocross designs, Bell has built its reputation around protection, innovation and distinctive American helmet style.
Originally published as a brand history piece, this updated 2026 guide looks at where Bell came from, why the brand still matters, and which current Bell motorcycle helmet might suit your riding best.
At Moto Central, we stock a wide range of Bell helmets, covering road, retro, adventure, urban and off-road riding. Whether you want a premium race helmet, a classic Custom 500, a retro full-face Bullitt GT, or a motocross helmet such as the Moto-10, Bell remains a brand with a genuinely broad range.
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Why Bell Helmets Still Matter
Bell has always had a strong identity. The brand is not just about one type of helmet. It has heritage open-face designs, race-focused full-face helmets, aggressive street helmets, adventure lids and off-road helmets for motocross and enduro riders.
That variety is one of the reasons Bell remains relevant. Some brands are strongest in one category. Bell has a story across several. The Custom 500 speaks to classic open-face riders. The Bullitt GT appeals to retro full-face fans. The Pro Star and Race Star Flex DLX focus on performance road riding. The MX-9 Adventure MIPS covers adventure use, while the Moto-10 and MX-10 ranges are built for serious off-road riding.
Quick answer: Bell helmets are worth considering if you want a brand with serious heritage, distinctive styling and a wide range covering retro, road, adventure and motocross riding.
A Brief History of Bell Helmets
Bell’s story traces back to the 1950s, when Roy Richter began focusing on safety following the dangers he had seen in motorsport. Bell’s early helmets helped shape the direction of protective headgear, particularly in racing and motorcycle use.
One of Bell’s most famous early designs was the 500, an open-face helmet that became closely associated with classic motorcycling and motorsport. Later, the Bell Star became a landmark helmet as one of the early full-face designs, influencing what modern motorcycle helmets would become.
Bell has also been closely tied to racing culture, stunt riding, cycling, motocross and motorsport more widely. That mix of heritage and performance is still central to the brand today.
Bell Helmet Range in 2026
The current Bell motorcycle helmet range is broad, so it helps to split the models by riding style. Some are built for premium road and track performance, some are aimed at retro road riders, while others are designed for adventure or off-road use.
| Category | Bell Models | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Premium race / performance | Pro Star, Race Star Flex DLX | Sportsbike riders, fast road riding and track use |
| Road / full-face | Eliminator, Lithium MIPS, Lithium | Everyday road riding, commuting and modern street use |
| Retro full-face | Bullitt GT | Riders who want classic style with full-face coverage |
| Adventure / dual-sport | MX-9 Adventure MIPS | Adventure bikes, mixed road use and light off-road riding |
| Retro / open-face | Moto-3, Magnum, Custom 500, TX501, Scout Air | Classic, cruiser, custom, retro and urban riders |
| Convertible / urban | Broozer | Riders wanting aggressive urban styling and removable chin-bar flexibility |
| Motocross / off-road | Moto-10 Spherical, Moto-10 MIPS, MX-10 MIPS | Motocross, enduro and serious off-road riding |
Premium Race and Performance Bell Helmets
Bell’s premium performance helmets are aimed at riders who want lightweight construction, aerodynamic stability and a more focused sports riding feel. These are the helmets to look at if you ride a sportsbike, enjoy faster road riding or want a helmet with a more race-led character.
Bell Pro Star
The Bell Pro Star sits at the top of Bell’s performance road helmet range. It is aimed at riders who want a premium, race-focused full-face helmet with serious materials, sharp styling and a high-performance feel.
This is the Bell helmet to consider if you want one of the brand’s most advanced road helmets. It suits riders who value performance, reduced weight, aerodynamic shape and a more focused riding position.
Best for: riders wanting a premium Bell race helmet for sports riding and track-focused use.
Bell Race Star Flex DLX
The Bell Race Star Flex DLX is another strong option for riders looking at premium road and sports helmet performance. It carries the Race Star name into a serious road-focused package with the styling and feel you would expect from Bell’s higher-end full-face helmets.
It is a good choice for riders who want a performance helmet but do not necessarily need to go all the way to the very top model in the range.
Best for: road riders and sportsbike riders wanting a premium Bell full-face helmet with performance focus.
Road and Full-Face Bell Helmets
Bell’s road helmet range includes more accessible full-face options for everyday riding, commuting and street use. These models are less purely race-focused than the Pro Star or Race Star, but still carry Bell’s distinctive styling.
Bell Eliminator
The Bell Eliminator blends full-face protection with bold Bell styling. It has a strong street character and suits riders who want something with more attitude than a plain commuter helmet.
The Eliminator is especially appealing if you like retro-influenced styling but want a more aggressive, road-focused full-face design than a pure heritage helmet.
Best for: riders who want a distinctive full-face road helmet with strong Bell styling.
Bell Lithium MIPS and Bell Lithium
The Bell Lithium MIPS and Bell Lithium are modern full-face road helmets aimed at riders who want practical everyday performance from Bell.
The Lithium range makes sense for commuting, road riding and riders who want a modern full-face helmet without stepping into the higher-end race helmet category. The MIPS version adds Bell’s MIPS-branded option for riders who specifically want that version of the helmet.
Best for: everyday road riders wanting a modern Bell full-face helmet.
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Retro and Heritage Bell Helmets
Bell’s retro range is one of the most important parts of the brand’s identity. These helmets appeal to riders who want classic style, custom-bike character and a link back to Bell’s early helmet designs.
Bell Bullitt GT
The Bell Bullitt GT is a retro full-face helmet inspired by Bell’s classic helmet heritage. It is designed for riders who want old-school full-face styling, but still want a helmet that feels usable on modern roads.
The Bullitt GT works especially well with modern classic bikes, custom builds, cruisers and retro-styled motorcycles. It is the sort of helmet riders choose because they want character as well as coverage.
Best for: riders who want a retro full-face Bell helmet with classic styling.
Bell Custom 500
The Bell Custom 500 is one of the most recognisable open-face helmets in the Bell range. It carries the spirit of Bell’s early 500 helmet and remains a popular choice for riders who want a classic open-face look.
It suits cruisers, scooters, modern classics, custom bikes and riders who value airflow, visibility and simple retro style.
Best for: riders who want a classic Bell open-face helmet with strong heritage appeal.
Bell Moto-3, Magnum, TX501 and Scout Air
Bell also offers several other retro and open-style helmets, including the Moto-3, Magnum, TX501 and Scout Air.
The Moto-3 brings classic off-road styling into a retro helmet shape. The Magnum and Scout Air suit riders looking for open-face simplicity, while the TX501 adds a heritage-inspired adventure/scrambler feel.
These helmets are ideal for riders who care about style, bike matching and a more traditional riding aesthetic.
Best for: custom, classic, retro, cruiser and scrambler-style riders.
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Convertible and Urban Bell Helmets
Bell Broozer
The Bell Broozer is one of Bell’s more aggressive urban-style helmets. Its design stands out because it gives riders a bold look with removable chin-bar flexibility.
This helmet suits riders who want something visually different from a standard full-face helmet. It is especially appealing for urban riders, custom bike riders and anyone who wants a helmet with serious attitude.
Best for: urban riders who want aggressive Bell styling and convertible-style flexibility.
Adventure and Dual-Sport Bell Helmets
Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS
The Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS is Bell’s adventure-focused helmet for riders who want a mix of road, touring and off-road-inspired practicality.
Adventure helmets need to balance several jobs. They need enough comfort for road use, enough ventilation and visibility for varied riding, and styling that suits adventure bikes and dual-sport machines. The MX-9 Adventure MIPS is a strong option for riders wanting Bell adventure character without going into a full motocross-only lid.
Best for: adventure riders, dual-sport riders and riders wanting a peak-equipped Bell helmet for mixed use.
Motocross and Off-Road Bell Helmets
Bell has a strong off-road identity, and its motocross helmets are aimed at riders who need ventilation, goggle compatibility, protection and stability during hard off-road riding.
Bell Moto-10 Spherical
The Bell Moto-10 Spherical is one of Bell’s premium motocross helmets. It is designed for serious off-road riders who want a high-end helmet with advanced off-road-focused construction and performance.
This helmet is aimed at riders who spend proper time in motocross, enduro or aggressive off-road environments and want a helmet built specifically for that kind of use.
Best for: serious motocross and off-road riders wanting a premium Bell MX helmet.
Bell Moto-10 MIPS and MX-10 MIPS
The Bell Moto-10 MIPS and Bell MX-10 MIPS continue Bell’s off-road helmet focus, giving motocross and dirt riders more options depending on budget, preference and fit.
These helmets are designed around the needs of off-road riding, including airflow, goggle use, peak design and a shape suited to active riding.
Best for: motocross, enduro and off-road riders looking for Bell MIPS-equipped helmet options.
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Which Bell Helmet Should You Choose?
The right Bell helmet depends on how you ride. Bell’s range is broad enough that two riders can both choose Bell and end up with completely different helmets for completely different reasons.
| Rider Type | Best Bell Models | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Premium sports rider | Pro Star, Race Star Flex DLX | Performance-focused full-face helmets for faster riding |
| Everyday road rider | Eliminator, Lithium MIPS, Lithium | Modern full-face options for road and commuting use |
| Retro full-face fan | Bullitt GT | Classic Bell styling with full-face character |
| Open-face rider | Custom 500, Magnum, Scout Air | Classic open-face feel and Bell heritage |
| Scrambler or retro off-road look | Moto-3, TX501 | Retro-inspired styling for classic and custom bikes |
| Adventure rider | MX-9 Adventure MIPS | Peak-equipped adventure design for mixed riding |
| Urban / custom rider | Broozer | Aggressive style and removable chin-bar flexibility |
| Motocross rider | Moto-10 Spherical, Moto-10 MIPS, MX-10 MIPS | Off-road-focused ventilation, shape and goggle compatibility |
What to Look for When Buying a Bell Helmet
Bell has a wide range, so the most important thing is choosing the helmet that fits your riding rather than just choosing the design you like most.
- Helmet type: choose road, retro, adventure or motocross depending on how you ride.
- Fit: the helmet should feel snug and stable without painful pressure points.
- Safety approval: check that the helmet is suitable for UK road use where required.
- Visor or goggles: road helmets use visors, while motocross helmets usually require goggles.
- Weather protection: open-face and retro helmets may offer less coverage than full-face road helmets.
- Ventilation: especially important for off-road and summer riding.
- Bike style: Bell helmets often appeal because the styling matches the bike.
Why Buy Bell Helmets from Moto Central?
At Moto Central, we stock the current Bell helmet range online and in our Leicestershire showroom. Because Bell covers so many different categories, it is worth comparing models properly before choosing.
A Bullitt GT, Custom 500, MX-9 Adventure MIPS and Moto-10 are all Bell helmets, but they are built for very different riders. Trying helmets on and checking fit is still the best way to avoid buying the wrong lid.
If you are not sure which Bell helmet suits your bike, head shape or riding style, visit us in store and we can help you narrow it down.
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Final Thoughts
Bell has earned its place in motorcycle helmet history. From the early 500 and Star designs to modern road, retro, adventure and motocross helmets, the brand has always had a strong identity.
In 2026, Bell is still a great choice for riders who want something with heritage, character and range. The Pro Star and Race Star Flex DLX suit performance riders. The Bullitt GT, Moto-3 and Custom 500 appeal to retro fans. The MX-9 Adventure MIPS covers adventure use, while the Moto-10 and MX-10 ranges are aimed at serious off-road riders.
The best Bell helmet is the one that suits your riding style, fits your head correctly and gives you the right balance of protection, comfort and character.
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