Gear Reviews: Bell MX-9 Adventure Helmet

Since all my previous riding experiences were street based, I had no idea how important it would be to have a helmet suitable for taking things off road. The first time I did my first off road trek was shortly after I got my GS and I still had not purchased anything that was even remotely "adventure" oriented aside from the bike itself. The helmet was a Shoei RF1200, the gloves were gauntlet style, and my boots were some variation of a Dianese street boot. I had done some Googling and found some trails in Cary State Forest not too far from where I lived, so I donned all my street gear and off I went thinking I was going to be alright.

Being as wet behind the ears as I was, I had no idea what I was about to get in to. It had to be around August, which is right smack in the middle of one of Florida's rainy seasons, and it must have rained quite a bit a few days prior with the state of things. There were mud pits and water holes abound upon my arrival. But not to fear! I was on an adventure bike, right!? Many lessons were learned that day like "just because you have an adventure bike doesn't mean bomb into a water crossing when you really don't know how to do it yet" and "if you try to wear a RF1200 on an adventure ride into the woods in Florida in August, you just might suffocate and die." Don't get me wrong, the RF1200 is probably one of the best helmets I've ever had, but it's most certainly meant to be worn when you're moving at a good clip; not when your stopped trying to get your new-to-you heavy bike out of the mud and you have to keep the visor closed so your eyes don't get attacked by mosquitoes.

I met my wife for coffee afterwards and regaled her with the fun I did actually have, but I needed a new lid to better facilitate adventuring that wasn't going to break the bank. A little bit of research and a visit to good old Revzilla and I found the Bell MX-9 Adventure.

The MX-9 has been my adventure helmet for about 2 years now.

I was overwhelmed at first because I had never even though about looking for an adventure helmet and had no idea what to look for in one. The price point also had me on edge because the only real adventure helmets I had ever seen were either Shoei or Arai and I certainly didn't have the money to shell out for one of those. Luckily, the adventure market is booming and manufacturers are jumping all over it providing a multitude of options for buyers to choose from. 

So why the MX-9 Adventure?

I'll admit, one of the first things I was looking at was the price. At $200, there weren't many helmets that had decent reviews that could beat it. Coupled with my ZillaCash and an additional dark tinted visor, my bottom line at checkout was something like $230-$240. Compared to the hefty price tags of the Shoei and Arai lids, regardless of how bad I wanted one, the Bell was looking pretty attractive.

As far as fit and finish go, I chose this helmet because I tried on the regular MX-9 (not the adventure trim) at my local Cycle Gear and it fit my head like a glove. I would probably be considered long oval and large is usually the size that I go for. As far as the Cycle Gear guy was concerned, the adventure was exactly the same as the one I had on, it just had a visor. A lot of the reviews mentioned it and the salesperson confirmed it as well, but even with the visor on the adventure model, a decent set of goggles could be worn. White was one of the solid color options that kept my overall price down (I think the other was gray), but there were a few other liveries available that will add a few extra dollars if you choose to go with those.

When I got my Shoei, I was amazed at the increase in peripheral vision compared to my previous helmets. You can imagine my attitude toward experiencing the view from an adventure helmet. With the chin bar so far away from your face and a visor that can pretty much flip up and almost completely out of the way, the view port is massive. Ventilation wise, it's pretty open to the elements. The only vent that can actually close is the main chin bar vent, but I really only open that on the hottest of days or if I'm off road.

While it does check the boxes for most of my requirements, I did have to sacrifice some things for the sake of price. For starters this IS NOT a quiet helmet by any means. The shape is only so aerodynamic, even with the peak in the "low" position, so ear plugs are a must for longer rides. While the visor and visibility are huge, the top of the visor does not sit against the seal of the helmet, allowing water to drop into the helmet from your forehead. This leads to small pools of water collecting in the little pooches Bell had to implement at the bottom of the visor to correct for optics. In Florida this can be quite bothersome since it rains more often than not. There are other visor options out there, including one made for snowmobiles that equates to a non-removable PinLock system to prevent fogging. Something to consider if you live in northern climates.

There is room enough for a communications system if you have one. I was able to fit my dinosaur of a Sena SMH-5 system into the helmet in about 15 minutes, taking my time. My Sony ActionCam mounts fit well to, although my favorite helmet view is right on the peak. If you have any other dongles or accessories, I'm sure there's plenty of real estate on the MX-9 to add them. There's plenty of room for stickers, too so you can easily add horsepower to your ride with minimal effort.

Even though this helmet has served me very well over the past two years, I'm in the market for something a little higher tier. It's not that I don't like it anymore, but I'm looking for something a tad quieter, has a better seal on the visor, and perhaps has a modular element. Alas, the MX-9 has been wonderful up to this point and doesn't show any signs of giving in anytime soon. If you have the coin to splurge on an Arai, Shoei, or even a Schuberth, go right ahead. But if you're looking to get something entry level that can get the job done, the Bell MX-9 is my recommendation to you.

If you're interested in looking into the specs directly from Bell click here.