Royal Enfield Mettle Helmet Review: Introduction

Royal Enfield recently sent us its Mettle helmet for a long-term review. On paper, it’s an interesting helmet for all the right reasons and a few debatable ones. It comes with a Pinlock 30 anti-fog insert fitted out of the box, removable liners, and speaker recesses. Priced between Rs 7,500 for the plain matt black version and Rs 8,000 for the gloss colourways with graphics, the Mettle sits in a crowded segment dominated by dedicated helmet brands.

Helmet Name: Royal Enfield Mettle

Sizes Available: XS-XL

Price: Rs 7,500 (Plain), Rs 8,000 (Graphics)

Colours available: Matt Black, Matt Grey with Graphics, Gloss White with Graphics

Specs:

Shell material - Thermoplastic (polycarbonate) and ABS blend

Fastner Type: Double-D Ring

Certification - ECE 22.06, ISI, and DOT

Weight - 1800g ± 50g

Size tested - M

Visor - Clear visor with Pinlock 30 anti-fog insert (standard) with an internal drop-down tinted visor

Ventilation - Chin vent, dual top intake vents with rear exhaust ports

Liner - Removable and washable inner liners

Bluetooth compatibility - Speaker recesses for intercom systems

Pros - Latest ECE 22.06 certification; weight is not noticeable while riding

Cons - Small eye port affects visibility; glasses compatibility isn’t great; sun visor mechanism feels clunky

DESIGN

The Mettle follows a fairly straightforward full-face helmet design, without leaning heavily towards sport or touring aesthetics. The shell looks clean and functional, though in the M size tested, the outer shell is noticeably large. This becomes evident when you look closely at the gap between the padding, liner, EPS and the outer shell. Visually, it feels more substantial than it needs to be.

FIT & SAFETY

It meets the latest ECE 22.06 standard, along with ISI and DOT certifications – expected at this price point. Fit, however, is a mixed bag. While the helmet is relatively comfortable overall, the cheek pads felt noticeably tight initially, especially when compared to other helmets I use in the same M size. This tightness also makes it difficult to wear spectacles comfortably – something that isn’t an issue with others.

The helmet’s quoted weight of around 1850g is one of the highest on paper, but in use it doesn’t really feel its weight. Even over multiple riding days, it didn’t cause obvious neck fatigue, the weight distribution has been handled well.

INITIAL RIDES

I used the Mettle helmet on the Royal Enfield Tour Of Sikkim 2025 ride spanning 8 days and around 650km. Given the cold conditions, all the vents were kept shut for most of the ride. As a result, it’s difficult to comment on airflow or ventilation effectiveness at this stage.

One area that stood out during real-world use was the eye port. The viewport is on the smaller side, and this creates noticeable blind spots on the left and right. Even when performing over-the-shoulder checks, peripheral visibility feels restricted.

While the internal drop-down tinted visor is a useful addition, the actuation mechanism isn’t the smoothest. The slider on the left side of the helmet feels a bit clunky to use, especially with gloves on, and lacks slickness.

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

With warmer weather riding planned, the next phase will focus on ventilation performance, long-term comfort, and whether the fit loosens up with use. A more holistic picture should emerge once the helmet sees daily commutes and extended highway runs.