Biltwell Responds to Customers with New Gringo Helmet
After lots of feedback from consumers and motorcycle enthusiasts, Biltwell designed and developed their newest model of helmets. Biltwell’s new Gringo helmet has a retro style, and a solid construction. This full face helmet offers DOT protection. It is really affordable from $159.00 and offered in pumpkin-head, gloss antique white, gloss black, and matte titanium. Sizes range from XS to XXL.
You don’t have to worry about losing your street credit with this helmet!
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Features of the Biltwell Gringo Helmet
This helmet fills an empty sector of the helmet market, with no real competition. The only place you could find similar helmets may be thrift stores and swap meets. You would still need to get these helmets reupholstered and there is no assured safety with worn or used helmets. Features include a seamless injection-molded ABS outer shell, shock-absorbing EPS inner shell and a hand-stitched comfort liner with open-cell foam and brushed Lycra construction. The Gringo does not have a tight seal or features like other modular flip-up helmets.
Retro Style, Good Protection
Like the motorcycles we ride, often hard-tails, owner built, older machines, most of today’s modern helmets don’t match the charm of the custom machines of old. The open feeling and view you get from ¾ helmets are second to none, however, the full face helmet adds a chin bar and some protection for your eyes. It also can make your longer rides more enjoyable.
Biltwell has nailed the retro style yet built their helmets to a high standard. The interior of the helmet is soft, supple felt padding and fabrics. It fits more like a novelty helmet but with superior protection.
Fit of a ¾ Helmet
It has a different fit than the uniform fit of most full face helmets. The strap of the helmet is adorned with Lycra and features a flat D-ring fastener with adjustable snap and retainer. It is awkward and is uncomfortable for long rides. The fit is true to size and gives you a secure, snug feeling. The Gringo has a small/medium eye port. Rubber or chrome accent edging on the shell and eye port make it functional and stylish. It is big enough to wear goggles, but the opening is a tight fit.
Wearing glasses will open up your field of vision, or use a shield. The visibility from is going less than other full face helmets but it is not problematic. Noise is pretty much standard with no more or no less than any other helmet available. It is heavier than a 3/4 helmet, but lighter than a lot of full face helmets. It is basically a ¾ helmet with a chin bar. The graphics and finished quality of the helmet is impeccable and outstanding.
Little Competition, Good Price
Priced at just $149.95, As this is the first DOT full face helmet to keep within the cafe or bobber aesthetic, and even just as a really cool vintage design, the fit and finish of the Gringo make it incredibly desirable to anyone who likes the look and wants something different. The face shield doesn’t adapt with the sunlight, there is no way to customize the temperature, and it is not tested for noise and performance. With Gringo you get the aesthetic of times gone by, and the safety of today. You won’t miss any performance and won’t even know you are wearing the helmet after a few minutes. Quality is apparent and the styling is very cool.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
Compare it to the Bell Bullitt:
First, the helmet is at two times the price of the Gringo. It has magnetic visor tabs that make it a breeze to flip up the screen to expose your face to the elements in the saddle. The extensive range of visors available with a wide range of colors and finishes in both bubble and flat shields. The addition of air vents also separates the Bullitt from its air vent-lacking counterpart for a better long distance helmet. Despite its lack of internal padding the Bullitt sits a lot better on your head than the Gringo due to its more refined design. Unlike the Gringo, the Bullitt is ECE 22.05 European Safety Rated which means it is has undergone a little more scrutiny in its crash testing but it is also DOT rated for good measure.
Compare it to the Daytona:
What many may not have noticed is that Daytona Helmets has released a Gringo competitor to the market. The Retro Ride is Daytona’s answer to the Gringo.
Weighing in at 2lbs 6.2oz, the Retro Ride is about 4oz lighter than a similarly sized Gringo. The difference on the scale is slight, but in your hand it feels much lighter. The shell is fiberglass contributing to low weight. It is also advantageous in accidents as it will crack, dispersing energy, rather than just flex, like a polycarbonate/ABS (plastic) shell.
The interior of the helmet is not as fancy as the Gringo. The lining is less plush and made of a lower quality nylon/polyester material on the sides of the pads. The cheek pads are larger than the Gringo’s, but added padding kept the helmet more stable at highway speeds. The Gringo tends to lift slightly when cruising along at 80mph.
The overall shape of the helmets are similar, although the Daytona is slightly shorter front to back and has a smaller eye port. It doesn’t limit your field of vision and makes for a slimmer profile on your head. Internal head-shapes are just about the same. The Daytona is more oval shape than the Gringo, but equally comfortable around town and on the highway. If you have a round shaped head, go with the Gringo. A more narrow head shape should go with the Daytona.
One of the cool features of the Daytona is that it comes with a flip up face shield. I will preface this by saying the face shield is terrible quality. It’s super flimsy and cannot be removed easily. It is held on the helmet with two rubber grommets stuck on two plastic nipples that are affixed to the side of the helmet. This is a major downfall because you cannot wear it without the shield unless you are fine with having black plastic pieces hanging off the side of your helmet. Though it is flimsy and permanent, the shield is super handy. After riding for two hours in the pouring cold rain with no front fender, you’ll be glad you have it. Your head will be the only dry part of your body. Securing it with the snaps at the bottom of the shield is difficult. Most riders tend to ride with only one snapped for ease of use. Having a shield that you can raise and lower with ease is a nice feature on a retro helmet. Bubble shields often fly off when checking blind spots, and are not portable. Having a flat shield fixed to your helmet may not be such a bad thing after all, and you’ll be glad you got it when it starts raining.
Over all the Biltwell is a better helmet. It feels nicer, is more versatile, and is certainly worth the extra $30. The Daytona, though, is not to be overlooked. I think once they release some more colors (black and white is the only color available right now) it will catch on. If they made the shield completely removable and dropped the price to $99 they would have a real winner. After riding in it for about a week I really like it. It seems to do better on the highway than the Gringo, but I credit that to the shield, not to any aerodynamic advantage. The thicker pads and shield also make it a great cold weather helmet. Since the Shield is not air tight, it doesn’t fog up and defogs quickly once you start moving.
Reviews of Biltwell Gringo Helmet
“The fit and finish on the Gringo is excellent! It fits me better than any helmet I’ve ever tried on. I love the vintage look of the helmet, but was afraid it would feel too heavy. I just received it and to my surprise it’s lighter than my very thick half helmet it’s replacing.”-Robert.
“Biltwell helmets are unmatched by dozens of lesser knockoff companies. The quality is first rate. I live in a helmet optional state and have gone without for years. The design and comfort this helmet offers has changed that for good. Even with a bad disc in my neck, the helmet doesn’t create undue stress and the weight is perfect. I wear it without shield and I’m amazed that there is minimal buffeting.”-Jesse.
“Can’t get better than flat black! I like the shape and look of this helmet so much I bought a second one for my girl!”-Jeremy Hush.
“Got the helmet and bubble shield from my mother-in-law for x-mas. I would not trade it for anything but would suggest you buy yourself one…”-Jason Kessler.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
More reviews…
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=52302.0Now You Decide!
With an overall look at the competition, reviews from consumers, and the specifications and technical features, now it is up to you decide. Place your order today!