The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Locking Up Your Motorcycle Helmet the Easy Way
August 17, 2009

The stock helmet lock on my 25-year-bike recently broke. Unfortunately, the lock broke with my passenger’s helmet still locked up. Out of necessity, I picked it. To my amazement, it only took me a few minutes using my key ring. Now, I can open it with the tool I made from the key ring as quickly as with the actual key.

I had been concerned about the feasibility of the lock anyway because it attaches to the d-ring of the helmet strap, which seems inadequate. One can always cut the strap.

In addition, the helmet hangs over the end of the exhaust pipes. Finally, the helmet hangs upside down exposing the inside of the helmet to the elements, particularly rain. Who can predict those summer rainstorms?

All this prompted a look into an alternative helmet lock.

For maximum safety, I prefer to use a full-face helmet that is both DOT and Snell approved, so I do not need to use the d-ring on the strap to secure the helmet. Besides, I would prefer not to. Instead, I can loop a cable through the face of the helmet.

I do not like to carry my helmet around. When I am at a rally in the summer, I do not want to wear my leather jacket around either, so I also want to lock it up too.

Now, 99.9% of the time, there really is no need to lock up my helmet or jacket. Most bikers respect each other’s property. Still, my bike is not always around bikers. I do not know why a soccer mom or her son or whoever might want my helmet, but someday, somewhere, someone is going to steal it. It is just too expensive to risk that.

A simple solution is a cable lock. If it is vinyl coated it protects helmet and bike from scratches. I can secure the cable to any solid part of the bike; even loop it through the rear wheel if I had to.

If the cable is long enough, I can secure jacket and helmet, and maybe even those of my passenger. A combination would save me from having to carry another key, but then, I am already carrying a bike key. One more will not kill me.

If the cable is retractable, it can be stowed away easily, but retractable cable locks tend to be too short or too bulky. I like to keep things simple whenever possible.

A cable lock can be left on the bike for daily use. I keep mine coiled around the handhold below the passenger seat when I am not bagging it.

Kryptonite offers a wide range of locks for bicycles, powersports, and snowsports. Master Lock also offers a variety of locks. I like these:

• KryptoFlex Lighted Key Cable (a little thick at 10mm but I the light would be great at 1 am);
• Master Lock Python Adjustable Locking Cable (more flexible at 8mm thick and the length of the cable can be adjusted when locked, which helps to keep your items from falling off the bike).