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Comfort and Safety Collide at $900: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review
Comfort and Safety Collide at $900: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review
Apr 18, 2025 2:01 AM

  My 95-year-old grandpa is often the toughest, smartest guy in the room. He raced motorcycles across the Mojave Desert and flat-bottomed boats across the Missouri River, survived Rocky Mountain snowstorms on horseback, and even built a house at age 60. The man valued reliable gear and taught me the adage, You get what you pay for.

  But even with that wisdom, I initially scoffed at the price tag of the RENEN x BELL Moto-10 Krone motorcycle helmet: $900!

  After 3 years and thousands of miles on dirt of wearing the Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet across California, Oregon, and Mexicos Baja California Peninsula, how’s that sticker shock treating me? Im very sure now: You get what you pay for.

  In short: The Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet is a premium motorcycle helmet for off-road riding. It packs upgraded Spherical MIPS technology to minimize rotational impact forces, a premium and rare safety feature. With attractive finishing touches and magnetic jaw pads, a cooling liner, ventilation ports, broad field of vision, and sleek, aerodynamic shell, this helmet is an excellent investment for the long haul.

  Read the full Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet review below or compare it to our other top picks in the Best Motorcycle Helmets buyers guide.

  Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Check price at Amazon

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review1

  Specifications Impact Management: Spherical Technology (Power by MIPS) Extras: Padded, lined helmet bag included Construction: Segmented 3K Carbon Shell Visor: Fully adjustable flying bridge visor with air intake vents Ventilation: Thermal exchange airflow system Weight: Size Medium: DOT/SNELL: 1600 g, ECE: 1390 g Certification: DOT, SNELL 2020, ECE Pros Incredible construction Industry leading protection Beautiful aesthetic Cons Heavier than other carbon helmets Wind noise Sean Galaway

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review2

  (Photo/Cody Mathison) Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review My expectations for this motorcycle helmet were sky-high — as they should be. You should expect an elevated experience from the jump at this price point. Fortunately, Bell delivers.

  For years, I wore this motorcycle helmet during late-season snowstorms in Oregon, all over Eastern California, and extensively in Baja, Mexico.

  On the hottest days, I found the airflow and liner better than other helmets. The ample air intake ports and exhaust ports really keep the air moving over your head. The Bell Moto-10 Spherical was among the coolest helmets Ive ever worn, and I really wished I had had it on my ride across Africa a few years ago.

  When I first received this helmet, I was blown away by everything, from the packaging to the product. It arrived in a plush, velvet-lined carry bag. The carbon finish and subtle graphics were stunning. I was thoroughly impressed, and I hadnt even put the helmet on yet!

  Upon pulling it on, I found the fit consistent with other Bell helmets in its off-road line. The adjustable visor is integrated and sleek. The jawpads connect via magnets. The chin strap has a magnetic keeper, too. The liner is soft, smooth, and redesigned from the Moto-9 to distribute pressure more evenly across the top of the head.

  While its heavier than some of the other carbon offerings from other manufacturers, this model feels light and certainly lighter than my old Moto 9S Flex (Bells previous high-end carbon offering). In contrast, the fit and finish are superior in every measurable way. All that is well and good, but we buy helmets to be safe.

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review3

  The Moto-10 provides all-day comfort; (photo/Cody Mathison) Overall Fit Bell Helmets fit me well. I wore a Moto-9S Flex for a month-long ride across the best dirt Africa offers. I was generally happy with that helmet aside from the liner that has a pad right at the top of the head that caused a slight pressure point — but thats more about my weirdly shaped head than the helmet.

  Furthermore, the helmets within Bells offerings each fit a bit differently. For example, the size measurements for the Bell MX-9 Adventure helmet differ from the Moto-9 and Moto-10 models. So, check the size chart whenever youre picking up a new lid.

  I say all this to drive home the point: if a helmet doesnt fit you, nothing else matters — fitment over features, fitment over price, or fitment overall.

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review4

  The NMR bumpers extend down below the shell and protect against common collarbone injuries; (photo/Cody Mathison) MIPS Goes Spherical: Safety First Bells Moto-10 Spherical earned safety ratings from all the major safety certification bodies: DOT in the U.S., SNELL, and ECE in Europe. Ill avoid the rabbit hole of which ratings are better for real-world riding. (OK, its ECE, in my opinion, which shows through ECE helmets being significantly lighter.) But Bell covered its bases and achieved safety marks from everyone, which avoids the debate and nuance altogether. 

  MIPS has become a household name at this point, licensing its technology to manufacturers of helmets for all kinds of sports. When Bell was developing its new flagship model, it partnered with MIPS to raise the bar of protection even further, launching Spherical MIPS technology with this helmet.

  Like other helmets with MIPS, the Moto-10 Spherical is designed to limit the impact of rotational forces on the brain. Spherical technology takes this even further by allowing the shell and outer layer to rotate around an inner layer in a crash. This offers another layer of protection compared to the standard MIPS platform (often a simple inner liner that slides).Paired with the Spherical MIPS system is a dual-density liner that has you covered for high- and low-speed impacts.

  Unique to the Moto-10 is what Bell calls the NMR (no missed races) bumpers. This is a softer EPP material that extends down on each side below the shell. The purpose of this material is to protect your body (specifically, the collar bones) from being impacted by the helmet in a crash. Ive thankfully never had to test this feature, but Im thankful its there!

  Additionally, Bell offers magnetic cheek pads that can easily be removed in case of a serious crash. This is also a great convenience when removing cheek pads for cleaning or installing a communication system.

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review5

  The author reaping the rewards; (photo/Cody Mathison) Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review: Excellent Airflow Cooling Liner The outside of the helmet has a segmented 3K carbon fiber woven shell. This allowed Bell to create channels within the helmet that maximize airflow.

  They call this its “Thermal Exchange Airflow System,” which is a fancy way of saying that this helmet keeps air moving over your head. Its actually been designed to take in the air coming in the front and suck the hot air that your sweaty head is producing out the side and back exhaust ports.

  A lot of companies make claims like this about moto helmets — but I can attest to how cool this helmet felt in the hottest of conditions. But dont take my word for it: multiple pro championship-winning supercross and motocross athlete Cooper Webb says that when he wears the MOTO-10, I can feel the sweat running down my forehead then getting pushed across my brow and away from my goggles. 

  Another factor that helps this helmet excel in hot weather is the Virus CoolJade Liner, which utilizes recycled jade to create a natural cooling effect. Some big claims say that this reduces your skin surface temperature by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Im not sure I believe that claim, but the liner is premium-grade, moisture-wicking, and did its job well.

  Ive used this motorcycle helmet many times in hot desert conditions, and Ive always been thankful for the airflow and cooling it offered!

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review6

  Wide open, feeling safe, looking good; (photo/Sean Galaway) Aerodynamic Shape, Broad Lens, Magnetic Pads On my most recent ride in Baja, one of our go-to routes had been gated and locked. Our pleas with the ranchero owner were unsuccessful, so we re-routed by taking a 30-minute jaunt on the highway.

  Often, on a multiday dual-sport trip, youll find yourself in these situations, so its nice to have a helmet like the MOTO-10 that performs well at high speeds. The combo of the segmented aerodynamic shell and the integrated visor provides super low drag for a helmet in this category. 

  Bell calls the goggle port on this helmet panoramic.” And I think its aptly named. Paired with my go-to goggles — the Amrega from 100% — the viewing experience out of this helmet was clear, wide, and unobstructed. The last thing you want to worry about is a chin bar or visor being a distraction when youre focusing on the road ahead.

  Though the helmet doesnt have specific cut-outs for ear speakers, Ive been running a Cardo system, which worked well and was easy to install. I was grateful for the magnetic cheek pads in this helmet, especially when I needed to make quick micro-adjustments to the speakers to ensure correct positioning.

  This is another example of how Bell thought of features for this helmet that I didnt know I wanted until I had them!

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review7

  Premium features, premium looks; (photo/Cody Mathison) Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Qualms One of my few complaints with this motorcycle helmet is its weight. It is almost half a pound heavier than full carbon offerings from other manufacturers. Now, did I know this until I looked it up? No, I never noticed the extra grams while wearing this helmet, which Ive done nearly exclusively for the last couple of years. Am I curious to see what one of these super-light helmets feels like now? Yes, I am.

  The other issue I have with this helmet is noise. The downside of having such incredible ventilation is that I got quite a bit of wind noise at high speed. I run earplugs whenever I ride, but it was still noticeable compared to other off-road helmets I’ve tested.

  Conclusion: Who Should Buy? Bell has more than 100 years of helmet-making to its name. The Bell Moto-10 Spherical feels like the culmination of that legacy. Its a premium helmet that will keep you safe and cool when riding hard, whether on the motocross track or down your favorite back roads.

  

  

Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review8

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Comfort and Safety Collide at 0: Bell Moto-10 Spherical Helmet Review9

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