Where Do We Go After the Bell Super?
Authored by: Stan Sedillo, PCI #1736T-B, EMSCI #449T-B, Port of Seattle Police Department, IPMBA Board Member At-Large (Marketing)
Every piece of gear has a lifecycle. Most equipment eventually wears out, gets replaced, or fades into obscurity. But every now and then, a piece of gear earns legendary status through years of proven performance.
For me, that piece of equipment is the Bell Super 3R.
In 2020, a brutal bicycle crash could have ended my career—or much worse. The Bell Super absorbed the impact and quite literally saved my life. Because of that, it will always hold a special place in both my gear locker and my memory.
For years, the Bell Super was the gold standard for bicycle patrol helmets. Its removable chin bar revolutionized the concept of a dual-purpose helmet, allowing officers to transition from routine patrol to crowd management or public order deployments without changing equipment. It was versatile, dependable, and built to withstand real-world abuse.
Unfortunately, even great equipment reaches the end of its production life. As the Bell Super lineup becomes increasingly difficult to find, the question naturally becomes:
Where do we go from here?
Enter the Leatt Enduro 3.0 and 2.0
If you're looking for the closest successor to the Bell Super, the Leatt Enduro 3.0 and 2.0 deserve serious consideration.
The first thing you'll notice is how far helmet engineering has evolved. While the Bell's removable chin bar worked well, attaching and removing it often required a bit of force and finesse. The Leatt system is significantly more intuitive, allowing the chin bar to be removed and reinstalled quicker and easier.
I don't replace trusted equipment lightly.
After years of relying on the Bell Super during routine bicycle patrol and demanding Bike Response Team (BRT) deployments, my expectations for any replacement were exceptionally high.
Although I've only been running the Leatt for a relatively short time, it has exceeded those expectations in several key areas.
All-Day Comfort
Whether configured as an open-face helmet or with the chin bar installed, the Leatt is noticeably more comfortable during extended wear. Pressure points and hot spots that often develop during long shifts are virtually eliminated, making it an easy helmet to wear from briefing until end of watch.
Faster Configuration Changes
The redesigned chin bar attachment system allows officers to transition between configurations with minimal effort. Whether preparing for a public order assignment or returning to standard patrol, the process is fast, intuitive, and dependable.
Uniform-Friendly Design
Equipment procurement is often complicated by uniform standards. Leatt simplifies that process by offering the Enduro in a clean, professional, all-black finish. There are no bright graphics or accent colors to work around—just a duty-ready helmet that integrates seamlessly into agency uniform requirements.
The Bottom Line
The Bell Super ecosystem hasn't completely disappeared. Limited new-old-stock of the Bell Super 3R and Super DH can still be found, and the Bell Super Air R remains in production for the time being.
However, for agencies and individual officers looking toward the future, the choice is becoming increasingly clear.
The Leatt Enduro 3.0 and 2.0 deliver the versatility that made the Bell Super so successful while improving on comfort, ease of conversion, and day-to-day usability. Better yet, they're available at a price point comparable to where the Bell Super traditionally sat, making them a practical option for both individual purchases and agency fleet upgrades.
The Bell Super earned its reputation through years of exceptional service, and for many of us, it will always be remembered as one of the finest bicycle patrol helmets ever made.
But equipment evolves—and after extensive real-world use, I believe the Leatt Enduro has earned its place as the next standard for bicycle patrol.