In 2014 Bell celebrates its 60th anniversary, marking more than half a century of constant development in the business of protecting the heads of both amateur and professional individuals in almost every walk of the sports universe.
And since such a great moment is the perfect occasion to draw more attention from both media and potential customers, it’s simply wonderful to see Bell showcasing some of its secrets. So Chris Sackett, Bell Powersports Business Unit Director has invited media for a tour of the company’s Scotts Valley headquarters and to have a look at “behind the scenes” Comprehensive Impact Testing action.
With transportation and powersports becoming faster and more aggressive, it was only natural that the demands of increased head protection grew, too. Most of the countries and states which enforce mandatory helmet laws also require that they meet or exceed certain safety standards.
DOT and Snell in the US, ECE in Europe, AS, and more recently - CRASH in Australia, JIS in Japan, plus the likes of SHARP in the UK, these standards are all aimed at the same target: making the helmets as safe as possible, by means of better protecting rider’s heads in case of a crash.
Bell employs more than 50 dedicated engineers, designers and testing professionals to make sure their helmets deliver the level of protection they’re advertised to provide. This means repetitive testing in multiple scenarios, and trying to replicate real-life conditions, instead of simply simulating the most convenient ones.
And you’ll probably be surprised to see Bell technicians crashing a helmet twice in the same position, replicating a double hit on the road, an unfortunate, yet common mishap. And if you also think you’ve just seen young Woody Allen, it’s nothing wrong with your head; I saw him, too.
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