Ever since I bought my Duke 390 in November 2013, I was looking for a lid to match my ride. The Vega helmet I was using (rather abusing) before that had served well over 5 years and we were both sick of each other. As expected, I was looking for something in orange, to compliment the dominant shade of my machine.

I saw a helmet by LS2 that had a few streaks of orange and was quite cheap at 3000 bucks, but it just didn’t look that cool to me. But as soon as my eyes fell on this beauty, I knew this was the one! Oh that shape, that color, and those graphics, just perfect. It was one of those rare moments when I was turned on by a non-living object. And that’s how this SQL Metal Man helmet review came to be born! 

SOL Metal Man helmet review: Comfort

The SOL SL68s II Metal Man helmet, or just Metal Man for short, is an amazingly snug creation. I bought the medium size, which took some getting used to in the beginning. My cheeks were smushed together, forcing me into a duck face. As the inside got shaped according to my ginormous head, things started getting very comfy. I have now driven around 2000 kms with this helmet, and am simply in love with it.

There are 18 air vents on this helmet, yes you read that right. It took me a while to find all the 18 openings, but they are easy to feel when you are riding. There is a constant ruffle in the top of your head and around the face, not a nuisance, but a pleasure.

Even on the baddest roads, plus riding the suspension-less Duke 390, the helmet doesn’t move an inch. It is quite heavy though, so I got some headache in the beginning, which went away with time. Also, I guess I have weirdly huge jaws, so on very long rides the D ring straps give me some jaw pain. Overall, there’s nothing bad in the comfort department that can’t be ignored.

SOL Metal Man helmet review: Safety

The best for the money! The visor is always stable, the helmet itself feels like it is made of solid steel, and the whole package makes your squishy head so much less prone to exploding.

The best part about the helmet would be the D ring strap. Most helmets come with that seat-belt type fastening system, that isn’t that safe if you ask me. The D ring system is tried and tested, and gives you the freedom of how loose or tight you want the helmet to fit, every time.

There visor is optically neutral, hence no ghosts on the road. The shape is quite aerodynamic too, so speeds above 160 kmph on the Duke don’t feel that quick. All in all, the SOL Metal Man ticks all the right boxes in the safety department.

SOL Metal Man helmet review: Looks

A helmet’s primary function is NOT just to look good, but it is always an added advantage. I have never seen any helmet, even the 40k Arai ones, that look as good as this one. There is a detachable piece on top, with an outward flowing shape that makes it look outstandingly cool.

I bought the orange color, and the graphics on this thing are simply out of this world! So much detail, it is just a treat to look at.

SOL Metal Man helmet review: Verdict

The SOL Metal Man helmet is a gem, very comfy, very safe, and so dashingly beautiful. I got it for 5700 bucks from Let’s Gear Up, Bangalore, which is a wonderful place to buy your biking stuff and talk to some real bikers. I have seen it available online for around 5500 bucks, but I would strongly suggest you try before you buy.

RiderZone recommends SOL Metal Man helmet to every orange bike owner.