American motorcycle helmet manufacturer Biltwell last year released its Lane Splitter urban/enduro helmet in Australia and will soon add the retro Gringo.
It’s one of many previously unavailable helmets coming to our market after the changes in certification allowed European ECE22.05 helmets to be worn in Australia.
While Biltwell helmets have American DOT certification, only the Lane Splitter also had Euro approval.
Company spokesman Mike ‘Otto’ Deutsch says the Gringo now has Euro approval.
Biltwell GringoTheir Bonanza open-face helmet should follow soon.
Biltwell has been making helmets in Temecula, California, since 2005 for the midrange market.
We have reviewed their Lane Splitter that costs just $459, but feels like a premium helmet.
Biltwell Lane Splitter Rusty Butcher is DOT and ECE approvedThe seamless shell is Biltwell’s proprietary Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene plastic which has no true melting point and is the strongest of all plastics.
Its impact resistance doesn’t vary with temperature and it ages well. It can also be recycled.
Biltwell hasn’t been assessed by the UK’s SHARP helmet rating system, so we can’t vouch for its safety level.
Gringo
The Gringo comes in two models.
You wear the base model with goggles because it doesn’t have a visor. It should be cheaper than the Lane Splitter.
The Gringo S has a normal flip-up visor.
Biltwell Gringo SBoth will be available in a wide range of colours and graphics.
They include a shock-absorbing EPS inner shell, removable hand-sewn and diamond-stitched liner, and a double D-ring chin strap.