Biltwell Gringo S ECE Full Review and Super73 Test Ride
Today we're gonna check out the Biltwell Gringo S ECE, a full face retro helmet that we've paired with the modified 48v Super73 Z1. Before the Super73 Z1 arrived, I picked up a Ruroc RG-1 DX Core helmet, one of the most popular, and divisive helmets available for those who ride electric vehicles. They've been popularized immensely by One Wheel, Evolve and Super73 riders. I admit, I did get caught up in the Ruroc hype but I also thought it was a pretty strong, well constructed helmet in addition to it's unique look. After riding with it for awhile, I still think it's a great helmet in both design and performance. However, one of the biggest criticisms that it receives, is that since it's a snowboard helmet, it won't really protect you in a crash because it's not a true full face helmet. This part is technically true but there aren't a lot of documented cases where the Ruroc RG-1 has failed specifically in a Super73 crash. Now I never really went past 20mph on the stock Z1 so the Ruroc felt appropriate for those speeds. Now that my Z1 has been modified with a new controller and a 48 volt battery. Now I can easily hit a top speed of 30mph and sometimes 35 to 36mph on a slight downhill. At those higher speeds, I don't feel as confident that the Ruroc would protect me in a crash. So I started looking for a proper full face helmet and that's when I discovered the Biltwell Gringo S ECE which I bought for $100 on a closeout sale.
The outer shell is made from injection-molded ABS and is ECE-certified which means it's passed stricter safety guidelines than DOT.
The Gringo is a really beautifully designed retro helmet with an amazing, glossy finish. I picked up the hazard orange because of how much the color pops and matches with the colorway of my Z1. It's also much more eye catching and visible to vehicles than my black Ruroc. The second thing you'll notice is the wide port for maximum visibility. With the Ruroc, the field of view is a bit more limited because of the size of the goggles. The outer shell is made from injection-molded ABS and is ECE-certified which means it's passed stricter safety guidelines than DOT. It also features a flip-up polycarbonate face shield which unfortunately does have a major issue if you have the generation 1 face shield. But more on that later. Inside, the helmet features a three piece expanded polystyrene safety liner that fortifies the structure of the helmet but can also dissipate the force of an impact during a crash. There's also a molded urethane chin bar pad and removable cheek pads made from brushed fleece lycra that can absorb and evaporate perspiration. The chin strap is held together with two d-rings and a button clasp which isn't easy to take on and off but is perfect for safety. Finally it has molded recesses within the EPS that allow you to install a bluetooth coms system.
So my head measures about 58 centimetres which is a size Large in the Biltwell sizing chart. This is about right as it does fit comfortably, considering I have a more round shaped head rather than oval.
Now let's talk about the fit. So my head measures about 58 centimetres which is a size Large in the Biltwell sizing chart. This is about right as it does fit comfortably, considering I have a more round shaped head rather than oval. However, the cheek pads do push up against my face giving me the chipmunk look which might diminish slightly as I break in the helmet. This can also be fixed by purchasing thinner cheek pads from the Biltwell site. As far as helmet noise, I'm not riding a motorcycle, I'm riding a Super73 so noise is not an issue at the speeds I'm going. And as you've probably already noticed from the looks, there's only two places of ventilation in the Gringo, the front where the shield is and the bottom by the chin area. There is where the Ruroc has an advantage since it has more modern style ventilation ports, plus it's also a snowboard helmet. But, despite the lack of venting ports on the Gringo, I don't really find myself getting too hot, especially when I'm riding as air flow seems very consistent under the chin area. But honestly, if you're looking into a retro style helmet like the Gringo S, you're mainly in it for looks more than anything. The lack of venting holes is really what gives it the classic retro look which I like. Okay, so let's get back to the face shield. As I mentioned, I bought the Gringo S on a closeout sale for a hundred bucks and now I know why it was priced so cheap. The generation 1 face shield has a major delamination issue which causes the coating to flake off. This has been fixed in recent models but if you do purchase one with a defective shield, Biltwell will replace it free of charge. All things considered, this is not a bad deal for $100.
The Biltwell Gringo S ECE offers the greatest level of protection in a simple, minimalist design.
This is a great looking helmet and the hand painted hazard orange is really eye catching and vivid. It matches perfectly with the retro Super73 minibike aesthetic which is simple and classic. Best of all, I have a better peace of mind since the Biltwell Gringo S ECE offers the greatest level of protection in a simple, minimalist design. A solid recommend.
