Hang it up!

[glwestcott]

Love my 1100RT, but what was BMW thinking when it made a helmet lock system that couldn't be used if the cases were mounted on the bike? :banghead I have looked at lots of alternatives. Liked the license plate holder locks, but didn't want to pay $40 plus. Thought the deal that you slip under the case handle before locking was cool and made one for myself, but got ticked off because I always had to look through the case I had put it in to find it when I wanted to use it. Finally, duh, I thought about one of those little helmet locks that you used to add to a bike by just mounting them wherever you wanted. Looked through the JC Whitney site and found one for $9.00. Pics that follow show what I'm talking about.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glwestcott/detail?.dir=/f6c6scd&.dnm=112bscd.jpg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glwestcott/detail?.dir=/f6c6scd&.dnm=ea2escd.jpg&.src=ph

I usually ride alone, so I only mounted one, but if my wife rode with me, I would add one on the other side of the top case as well.

[saab93driver]

I used to use D-ring helmet lock until I came out one day to my bike to find that someone used a knife to cut the strap leaving me with only the D rings and part of a strap. I realize that makes the helmet useless, but that was little comfort to me as I was then helmetless.

I now either take the helmet with me or lock it through the chinbar with a cable lock.

[PAULBACH]

Saw this solution to secure helmet storage (http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Pacsafe-Helmet-Bag-p-17648.html) in Vermont. When the bag is closed no one knows what is inside.

[kreinke]

You can get great helmet locks ABSOLUTELY FREE.

1. Go to your local police department
2. ask for these (http://www.projectchildsafe.org/instructions.cfm)
3. use them to lock whatever item you want to wherever you want on your bike. I have guns and kids but used the extras to lock my soft bags and helmets to the Roadster.

[FredRydr]

Saw this solution to secure helmet storage (http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Pacsafe-Helmet-Bag-p-17648.html) in Vermont. When the bag is closed no one knows what is inside.I suspect most would know what was inside! :)

Fred

[Callmethebreeze]

Then again, there might be a bowling tournament nearby.....
:D

Breeze

[BONEY]

If my bags are full, then I just open the side case and put the d-ring side of the helmet strap into the case and close/lock it. It's as secure as any other helmet lock, and has the added benefit of the helmet sitting upright on top of the bag where it is less likely to get undesirable things in it (whatever they may be).

[glwestcott]

If my bags are full, then I just open the side case and put the d-ring side of the helmet strap into the case and close/lock it. It's as secure as any other helmet lock, and has the added benefit of the helmet sitting upright on top of the bag where it is less likely to get undesirable things in it (whatever they may be).

Boney, I gotta go out and try that one. Would be even cheaper and easier than my solution.

[bubbagazoo]

Check out Lidloc (http://www.lidloc.com/) . This looks like an extremely secure system and from what I can tell, a little less coordination than is required to hookup directly through the system case handles.

[MCMXCIVRS]

If my bags are full, then I just open the side case and put the d-ring side of the helmet strap into the case and close/lock it. It's as secure as any other helmet lock, and has the added benefit of the helmet sitting upright on top of the bag where it is less likely to get undesirable things in it (whatever they may be).

That's exactly what I've been doing lately. I have a length of cable made up with an eye on each end that I can use to wrap through the chin bar and secure to the helmet lock hook under the seat. I have to spend time digging it out, unwrapping it, then coiling it up again afterwards, so trapping the strap in the case is easier.

[BradfordBenn]

I have a small cable style bicycle lock that I use to lock the 'Stich and the helmet to the rear rack or frame of my RT.

[Motor31]

Love my 1100RT, but what was BMW thinking when it made a helmet lock system that couldn't be used if the cases were mounted on the bike? :banghead I have looked at lots of alternatives. Liked the license plate holder locks, but didn't want to pay $40 plus. Thought the deal that you slip under the case handle before locking was cool and made one for myself, but got ticked off because I always had to look through the case I had put it in to find it when I wanted to use it. Finally, duh, I thought about one of those little helmet locks that you used to add to a bike by just mounting them wherever you wanted. Looked through the JC Whitney site and found one for $9.00. Pics that follow show what I'm talking about.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glwestcott/detail?.dir=/f6c6scd&.dnm=112bscd.jpg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glwestcott/detail?.dir=/f6c6scd&.dnm=ea2escd.jpg&.src=ph

I usually ride alone, so I only mounted one, but if my wife rode with me, I would add one on the other side of the top case as well.

The situation with the helmet locks is nothing new to BMW. I have the same situation on my 90 K75RT. If the bags are on the helmet lock is covered up. :wave

[knary]

You can get great helmet locks ABSOLUTELY FREE.

1. Go to your local police department
2. ask for these (http://www.projectchildsafe.org/instructions.cfm)
3. use them to lock whatever item you want to wherever you want on your bike. I have guns and kids but used the extras to lock my soft bags and helmets to the Roadster.

umm... isn't that a wee bit dishonest?

[kreinke]

umm... isn't that a wee bit dishonest?

Nope. I have many guns. They give you six to a kit and I have 11 guns. Then I bought a computerized safe and keep the hanguns in there so the cable locks are no longer necessary for those. So I have three surplus locks now.

[knary]

Nope. I have many guns. They give you six to a kit and I have 11 guns. Then I bought a computerized safe and keep the hanguns in there so the cable locks are no longer necessary for those. So I have three surplus locks now.

Right. You have guns. It makes perfect sense for you to acquire them. But if someone doesn't have guns, going to the local PD for locks for their helmets on the pretense that they need them for their non existent guns is less than honest.

[glwestcott]

Right. You have guns. It makes perfect sense for you to acquire them. But if someone doesn't have guns, going to the local PD for locks for their helmets on the pretense that they need them for their non existent guns is less than honest.

But, if the POLICE give them to you, it must be right :deal

[kreinke]

Here's an even better deal. Step by step process

1. Go tell the Five-O that they are for guns you're going to buy.
2. Get six then tell your wife you got these locks free as a gift (which you did) but now you need guns to put them on (a gun lock is a terrible thing to waste).

Tell her you're going to buy six guns:
qty item
1 .45 ACP colt 1911 (for you)
1 .380 (for her)
1 410 pump for quail hunting (actvity to keep you out of the bars)
1 12 ga with multiple chokes for turkey-goose,etc
1 30-30 lever action for deer hunting
1 7mm for that trip mule deer hunting in Wyoming you've always wanted

3. Naturally she'll low-ball you and say "No GUNS" but you should be able to negotiate somewhere between 1 and 4 guns leaving between 2 and 5 surplus locks.

4. You could just buy all six guns then when she complains sell them and use the money for motorcycle accessories.
:thumb

[PAULBACH]

Inspiring! Imaginative! Pure Elegance. And, you are helping the Local LEOs bring safety and security to our communities in these difficult and traumatic post 9-11 days. :wink

I love your planning.

[hondarider]

A heavilly armed populace is the key to protecting democracy :usa

[kreinke]

When you make the pitch for the hunting weapons in particular make the case that you want free-range health food. Venison is much lower in fat anc cholesterol plus no drugs were administered.

You'd also be doing fellow motorcyclists (and cage drivers) a publice service by reducing the critter population.

1. you didn't lie to anyone
2. you got guns
3. you got helmet locks

Everyone wins

[jyambrovich]

I bought one of the Lidloc trinkets and have found it to be a great solution to this issue. It's VERY secure and unlikely that somebody would futz around with it enough to break the case handles off or cut the helmet straps.

I've also found (though it isn't locked up) that when I don't have my side cases mounted I can run the helmet straps through the front mounting hole that the case mounts to on the bike. Simple and works well when I ride to work. Parking lot is fairly small and anyone that doesn't belong there would quickly find themselves confronted by a very inquisitive bunch of co-workers (what the HE** are you doing there?!?!?)

[jacco]

I used to use D-ring helmet lock until I came out one day to my bike to find that someone used a knife to cut the strap leaving me with only the D rings and part of a strap. I realize that makes the helmet useless, but that was little comfort to me as I was then helmetless.

Man... That's sooo stupid. :banghead

[dbrick]

That's exactly what I've been doing lately. I have a length of cable made up with an eye on each end that I can use to wrap through the chin bar and secure to the helmet lock hook under the seat. I have to spend time digging it out, unwrapping it, then coiling it up again afterwards, so trapping the strap in the case is easier.Same for me, but the cable is only about 10" long, so it fits easily either in a Darien pocket or in the underseat storage, between the rider's manual and the top. Slips right in.