Bell USA Helmet Shields Master Chart, Snell 1990 to SA2020

Note 1: This table covers Bell helmets going all the way back to the SA90 generation, but Bell has stopped making all shields for helmets earlier than SA2010. The information on older helmets is included here for reference only. We do not have a way to get shields that are out of production, but the information here should help you to decide if you should bid on that eBay auction or let it pass.

Note 2: This information applies to Bell USA helmets only. Bell USA and Bell Europe offered different helmets during the SA2000 and SA2005 generations (with one exception), and although the shield reference numbers and model names are sometimes similar, they are not the same. The reunited company offered a "one-world" helmet lineup for the SA2010 generation, so SA2010 and newer helmets are the same for the USA as for the rest of the world.

Kam-Lok vs SRV: Bell helmets from SA80 through SA2000 (and some SA2005) used the Kam-Lok positive detent pivot system. The slot in front of the pivot screw has three notches, and a tab washer engages that slot. Kam-Lok helmets go "CLICK-CLICK-CLICK" and stay in place when you open them. The SRV pivot (adopted from the Bell Europe "SE3" design) was introduced on a few models in the middle of the SA2005 generation. The slot in front of the pivot screw is smooth, and a second screw holds a friction washer in the slot. SRV shields do not make a ratcheting noise when they go up or down. More information on Kam-Lok and SRV Pivots (including photos of each style).

More information on Bell USA vs Bell Europe

Bell spun off their European division as an independent company many years ago. While Bell USA remained faithful to the traditional Kam-Lok detent system, Bell Europe eventually developed a friction-lock system. The new European shields still used 3-digit reference numbers, but with the prefix "SV". Bell Europe began changing to an all-new 1-digit reference number with the prefix "SE" when the two companies reunited for the SA2005 generation.

At first, this resulted in Bell USA offering the (formerly) Bell Europe GP2 and GT2 helmets (SA2005) with the European "SE3" and "SE5" shields. Starting in 2006, Bell USA began redesigning several of their American models to accept their own version of the friction-lock system which they called SRV (not to be confused with the European SV system). These new Bell USA shields had the familiar 3-digit reference numbers, but with the suffix "SRV". SA10 and SA15 Bell helmets use a mix of these last "SRV" shields and "SE0_" shieds (2-digit reference number with "SE" prefix).

SRV is not the same as SV. No helmet officially sold on the American market ever used an "SV" shield.
SE03 is not the same as SE3. The only helmets officially sold on the American market which took the SE3 shield were the GP2 (SA2005 only) and carbon-fiber HP3 (SA2005 and SA2010).