Biltwell Gringo Helmet Review [2023]

Remember the old-school vintage motorcycle helmets? Their simple yet elegant design was perfect for everyone and loved by all.

If one has experienced the graceful look of Retro motorcycle helmets of the 70s, they can’t be forgotten. Luckily, the classic vintage helmets are still available with the same retro look and many modern features. Getting classic vintage-style retro helmets becomes easy with Biltwell Gringo helmets.

Biltwell is known and appreciated for bringing style, functionality, and quality to the market at reasonable prices. They’re working to bring the glories of the past into the future in the form of their popular Gringo helmet series. Biltwell Gringo helmets are a perfect mix of retro-style comfort and modern-required safety. If you’re a lover of vintage helmets, then Biltwell Gringo will become your favorite everyday helmet.

Biltwell Gringo Helmet Features Review

Biltwell Gringo helmets have several up-to-mark features which you need to know about. So, without further ado, let’s discover everything these helmets have to offer!

Shell Material and Design

The outer shell of the Biltwell Gringo helmet is constructed from thermoplastic ABS material, which makes it strong yet lightweight. Besides, the hand-sewn Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) safety liner provides a secure fit without compromising comfort.

On top of that, the rounded shape of the Gringo helmet makes it easy to fit almost all head shapes. In short, they’re the best vintage helmets for street riding as they provide safety with comfort.

Safety Features

The old version of Gringo helmets had certification from the US Department of Transportation only. But now, Biltwell upgraded the DOT-certified Gringo helmets with ECE certification for European roads as well.

The shock-absorbing EPS inner shell material ensures that the helmet remains intact on your head and keeps your head safe in any collision.

Lycra Padding

The Lycra lining of Gringo helmets is hand-sewn with diamond-stitched quilted open-cell foam padding. The removable fleece Lycra comfort inner liner offers great sweat absorption and makes moisture evaporate faster. Gringo helmet’s cheek pads are also brushed with fleece Lycra touchpoints to provide a snug fit and make them sit comfortably on your head.

Also, there are molded inside corners of its EPS design that can store many different kinds of audio and microphones components, so you can truly enjoy your ride.

Chin Strap

A D-ring chin strap also features brushed fleece Lycra touchpoints with an adjustable strap end retainer. It provides added comfort along with a snug fit and prevents any slippage during your ride. It also makes sure that the Gringo helmet remains on your head during an accidental mishap.

Besides, its molded urethane chin bar pad is constructed from thermoplastic and EPS liner, which helps to disperse forces in case of a frontal impact, hence providing extra safety for the wearer.

Ventilation

A Biltwell Gringo helmet’s great interior offers plenty of ventilation, but only without a visor. The airflow is possible from a single hole available on both sides, besides one front opening, which allows for direct airflow. However, if the front eye-port is closed with an inserted visor in extremely hot weather, the helmet can become too hot to wear.

In warm weather, you can get comfortable rides in this helmet without inserting the face shield.

Comfort and Sizing

The comfort given by the Biltwell Gringo is unrivaled. Its soft Lycra padding provides a comfortable fit and feel. This Lycra lining provides good absorption, which is perfect for hot rides. This is also removable, allowing you to wash it as required. The addition of audio and microphone compartments adds to the joy of your journey.

Biltwell Gringo helmets offer six sizes along with multiple colors and styles. So, you can easily pick one according to your head size. However, we recommend ordering a Gringo helmet that’s a size smaller than what the size chart suggests. It’ll be a little tight at first, but it should fit you well after wearing it 2 – 3 times. The plus point is its rounded shape, which is designed to fit most people’s heads.

View

The Gringo model of Biltwell doesn’t come with a visor, but it does have five snaps around the eye-port to insert a snap-shield if you want. In addition, you can choose from multiple shield options provided by the Biltwell company to get a custom helmet of your own choice.

On the other hand, you can use motorcycle goggles instead to avoid a closed shield cage. Keep in mind to double-check that your goggles match the helmet size before hitting the road.

There is no compromise on the visibility in this Gringo helmet, as you can see everything from its wide eye port while riding on your two-wheeler.

Noise Control

When it comes to quietness, Biltwell Gringo is much better than many open-face helmets. However, if you’re comparing it to modern helmets, then of course its simple design won’t provide that much noise control.

Those who buy Gringo aren’t looking for some advanced features; they love Gringo due to its simplicity and vintage feel. No worries, you can still get a comfortable ride in this helmet with earplugs on.

Price

Biltwell Gringo is one of the best full-face retro-style helmets available on the market with a reasonable price tag. With the comfort these helmets provided, along with their certified safety standards, they offer a lot more than other full-face retro helmets do.

Although a Biltwell bubble shield or Blast shield are sold separately, they can easily be installed thanks to the five snaps available around the Gringo’s eye-port.

Specifications at a Glance

What We Like:

• Vintage design with hand-painted finish
• Injection-molded ABS outer shell
• Breathable
• Shock-absorbing EPS liner
• Fleece Lycra padding
• Adjustable chin straps
• lightweight
• Hand-sewn liner
• DOT and ECE-certified
• Easy visor installation system
• Audio and communication devices compartment
• Biofoam EPS chin bar pad

What Don’t Like:

• Noisier than most modern helmets
• Less head ventilation

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Final Thoughts

A Biltwell Gringo helmet is all about getting your retro-style look to roam around on the street. Its snug fit with a generous amount of soft padding, granting a sense of protection to the rider while on the road.

If you want to go for a simple and visually appealing helmet, then this Gringo model is for you. It’s not only functional and useful, but it’s also attractive.

When you buy this Gringo helmet, make sure to get the Bubble shield as well; you won’t regret it.