Bell Helmets has taken yet another step in bringing innovative safety technologies to the masses with the announcement that MIPS, or Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, will be offered within several of its higher-volume helmets. The technology, first offered within Bell Bike helmets, is designed to manage energy from rotational and angular impacts, and will now be available in three tried-and-true Powersports helmets this fall – MX-9, MX-9 Adventure and Qualifier DLX. Qualifier DLX marks the first time that MIPS will be available within a street motorcycle helmet.
“It’s our belief that ‘high tech’ doesn’t have to equate to ‘high price,’ and we’re demonstrating that by bringing MIPS technology to these helmets,” said Chris Sackett, Vice President of Bell Helmets. “We have led the charge for safety technology for 60 years, and our mission continues to be one of providing high-quality safety features to riders at every level.”
MIPS uses a slip plane system that moves inside the helmet, mimicking the brain’s own protection system. This low-friction layer under the impact liner is designed to rotate inside the helmet with the intent to potentially slow or reduce the amount of energy transferred to or from the head. The MIPS liner is connected to the outer liner by four elastomeric bands that provide 10-15 millimeters of movement in all directions.
When a head rotates quickly and comes to a sudden stop, the rotational acceleration can cause the brain tissue to experience high levels of strain. The stretching of the tissue that can be caused by these motions can result in various types of brain injury. MIPS addresses this strain by allowing the head to slide independent of the helmet during the most critical milliseconds of impact. The slide that occurs during that critical moment of time helps to reduce the violence to the brain inside the skull, and can significantly reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury.
MIPS is the latest advanced safety system to enter Bell Helmets. In 2014, Bell Helmets introduced the Flex Impact liner in its Moto-9 Flex and in 2016 it was added to the Pro Star and Race Star. The Flex Impact Liner features exclusive “progressive layering” technology – a system of three unique protective materials – is designed to address low-, mid-, high-speed and rotational impact velocities to deliver Bell’s most comprehensive level of protection
For more information: www.bellhelmets.com.
