The el Fuerte is the latest lid from the team at Biltwell, it’s the DOT approved new model in their line up and it replaces the Hustler 3/4 face helmet that has itself become ubiquitous in the custom motorcycle scene over the past few years.
Tucano Urbano are a quiet company that comes out with well designed and quite appealing gear, this helmet is a good example of their work and is the sort of lid you could wear on anything from a 50cc Vespa to a Harley Cafe Racer and not look at all out of place.
Last month we began talking to Icon Motosports and Old School Helmets about a unique new project, we wanted to take steps to solve a dilemma facing safety conscious, vintage motorcycle enthusiasts. Specifically, the fact that it’s currently impossible to buy a retro full face helmet that passes any international helmet certification standard.
Blauer isn’t a helmet brand you encounter all that often outside of Europe, they make great lids though and tend towards the use of more advanced materials in their construction.
The Bell 500 Helmet Series has proven to be exceedingly popular, the combination of retro design with modern safety standards is an alluring blend for many motorcyclists, especially those who prefer the 3/4 face helmet style.
I think it’s interesting to see people experimenting with the fundamental shape of helmet design, generally speaking all helmets are semi-circular with some variation on a neck and face opening, you never see square or trapezoid helmets (and for very good reason).
When it comes to helmet design, no one beats Ruby. This French company produces some of the best looking lids currently in production and before you dismiss them as mere toys, you might be interested to know that they’re certified by both the US DOT and the stringent European ECE 22.05.
I love Biltwell helmets, I have one and wear it daily, I also swear by them to any who ask. The only way to make it better would be a custom paint job by Old School Helmets,
Something about the classic bubble shield makes me nostalgic for a time before I was born, the visors were initially made famous in the 60’s and have been a popular helmet addition ever since.
As an avid motorcyclist I have always been reassured if slightly baffled by helmet standards, if seems odd that there is more than one standard and as you dig deeper you learn that different standards have vastly different requirements and not surprisingly, there is serious controversy about what’s best.