philipmat
New Member
I wanted two things from my helmet securing solution:
1. For Zero Dollars (or Zero any other currency at current exchange rates... and math)
This is more of a you get what you paid for and if you have a hot engine it can be a very expensive zero:
This solution uses either of the two seat tabs and has the helmet hang by the D-ring:
Not a bad solution if you have nothing else, the engine is cold, there's no rain, and no squirrels looking to turn your helmet into their winter storage (or bathroom).
2. For roughly $2.26 (but in reality a couple of good hundreds)
Now we're getting somewhere: cable locks for cheap ...anchored to expensive Bumot luggage.
I noticed that the top lock of my Bumot panniers has enough room to allow a cable through, like so:
Bill of goods:
1. 2-foot worth of 3/32 vinyl covered cable: 2 x 0.32 = $0.64
2. A set of 3/32 ferrules: $1.62
3. This one's a bit tricky because to cramp the ferrules you need a swagging tool and that's over $20 unless your Home Depot has one laying around (they probably do), in case tool cost is $0.
If you pre-measured, you can do this in a single visit to Home Depot/Lowe's. It's as easy as 1) cut cable 2) loop through the ferrules 3) cramp the ferrules with the swagging tool.
The cable looks like this, with at least one loop big enough to go through the Bumot hinge:
The looped cable is small enough to go into my jacket pocket.
Fair warning: a 3/32 is thick enough to deter opportunity theft, but not thick enough for a determined thief.
3. For $2.90 (+ tax)
Same concept, but create a loop that uses the seat to lock the helmet in place:
Same bill of goods as #2, but this time uses 4 feet of 3/32 vinyl coated cable.
Bonus: you can always keep the cable safely stowed under the seat when not in use:
Same warning: a 3/32 is thick enough to deter opportunity theft, but not thick enough for a determined thief.
4. Worthy of a menthion because it's also $0 (but also same couple of good hundreds)
Using the Bumot pannier or top case loops and fastening the helmet strap to them.
This is not as much a secure solution but it's a better solution than leaving your helmet on the seat or on the mirrors, particularly on a windy day (don't ask me how I know).
For truly $0, it could also be done using the hand-guards or handlebar, but I don't particularly care for how the helmet hangs.
I can post some instruction on how to make the cables if anybody needs them.
- Be cheap, but feasible
- Require no extra key beyond the keys I already have.
Combination-lock solutions seem to either have small numbers that were hard to see, especially in the dark, or they are too large (to accommodate larger rollers).
1. For Zero Dollars (or Zero any other currency at current exchange rates... and math)
This is more of a you get what you paid for and if you have a hot engine it can be a very expensive zero:
This solution uses either of the two seat tabs and has the helmet hang by the D-ring:
Not a bad solution if you have nothing else, the engine is cold, there's no rain, and no squirrels looking to turn your helmet into their winter storage (or bathroom).
2. For roughly $2.26 (but in reality a couple of good hundreds)
Now we're getting somewhere: cable locks for cheap ...anchored to expensive Bumot luggage.
I noticed that the top lock of my Bumot panniers has enough room to allow a cable through, like so:
Bill of goods:
1. 2-foot worth of 3/32 vinyl covered cable: 2 x 0.32 = $0.64
2. A set of 3/32 ferrules: $1.62
3. This one's a bit tricky because to cramp the ferrules you need a swagging tool and that's over $20 unless your Home Depot has one laying around (they probably do), in case tool cost is $0.
If you pre-measured, you can do this in a single visit to Home Depot/Lowe's. It's as easy as 1) cut cable 2) loop through the ferrules 3) cramp the ferrules with the swagging tool.
The cable looks like this, with at least one loop big enough to go through the Bumot hinge:
The looped cable is small enough to go into my jacket pocket.
Fair warning: a 3/32 is thick enough to deter opportunity theft, but not thick enough for a determined thief.
3. For $2.90 (+ tax)
Same concept, but create a loop that uses the seat to lock the helmet in place:
Same bill of goods as #2, but this time uses 4 feet of 3/32 vinyl coated cable.
Bonus: you can always keep the cable safely stowed under the seat when not in use:
Same warning: a 3/32 is thick enough to deter opportunity theft, but not thick enough for a determined thief.
4. Worthy of a menthion because it's also $0 (but also same couple of good hundreds)
Using the Bumot pannier or top case loops and fastening the helmet strap to them.
This is not as much a secure solution but it's a better solution than leaving your helmet on the seat or on the mirrors, particularly on a windy day (don't ask me how I know).
For truly $0, it could also be done using the hand-guards or handlebar, but I don't particularly care for how the helmet hangs.
I can post some instruction on how to make the cables if anybody needs them.