No helmet lock?

[Lee R.]

Am I getting this right? No factory-equipped helmet lock on FJRs? I can't find one, and the owner's manual is mute on the topic.

I rummaged around on the site and ran across a thread that referenced part #26H-21308-00-00, apparently an add-on deal. Is this what we use (at $40 a pop)? No way to get my helmet locked to my Gen3 keyed-alike to my ignition?

 

[Knifemaker]

Um, the FJR does have a helmet lock. (Actually two of them)

Refer to your manual. They are called "side cases".

Some folks do buy what are called "top cases" and use those to lock up their helmets.

You can also lock up your gloves, your riding jacket, and even your riding boots if you so desire using them.

 

[FJR Flyer]

My Shoei Qwest doesn't fit in the side cases. A guy on the Forum sell brackets for helmet locks that bolt onto the subframe rail. Any standard helmet lock can attach to it.

 

[BigOgre]

And with a little more digging you'll find you can make it all work with one key. One or two here figured out how and took the time to document it for us. Many took advantage of this info, including myself, but then again many haven't so maybe we can assume it's a non-issue after awhile. Yeah, it seems odd that a bike of the FJR's caliber doesn't come with an old-school external lock but if that's the biggest complaint about the bike, I'll throw the designers a pass.

 

[BkerChuck]

First world problem. Having to cancel your own turn signals is more of an annoyance.......

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Mr. Townsend on this forum has made locks in the past, and I bought two of them. They are of very high quality, and work great.

And you're right, no helmet locks on a sport touring bike is a glaring oversight on the part of Yamaha. Hell, even my 20 year old crotch rocket has hooks under the seat. You take the key, remove the seat, slip the D-ring of the helmet on to the hook, and re-install the seat. The helmet hangs beside the side panel, and is locked to the bike.

And really, people think an acceptable solution is to put them in the saddlebags? REALLY? I guess next time I'm on a trip, and have my saddlebags full of clothing, shoes, and Canadian whiskey, and need to lock my helmet, I can just empty the saddlebag, put all my stuff on the seat or on the ground, and lock my helmet in the saddlebag. Ta-Da!

The solution is to see if Scott Townsend still has any locks left. He's aces.

 

[Knifemaker]

And really, people think an acceptable solution is to put them in the saddlebags? REALLY? I guess next time I'm on a trip, and have my saddlebags full of clothing, shoes, and Canadian whiskey, and need to lock my helmet, I can just empty the saddlebag, put all my stuff on the seat or on the ground, and lock my helmet in the saddlebag. Ta-Da!.

Um, my post was meant as a joke BTW. .... Also...

Some helmets don't have D rings. If someone wants your helmet those standard locks won't stop them.

The few times I NEEDED to lock my helmet to the bike beacuse the cases were full, I used a small cable lock. A longer one works on two helmets and you can lock them through the eyeport, which is more secure.

I see folks that just put their helmets over their mirrors or just put them on the seat. Guess they figure no one will take them?

And I'll admit, I've owned several bikes that had helmet locks, but I never used them. Just always carried my helmet with me.....

 

[RichDoyle]

I never used those built-in helmet locks, other than giving them a try. Yes I tried, Lord how I tried to like them. Some were placed such that it was hard to use them at all. Those that were usable inevitably wanted to hold the helmet inverted. Not the smartest thing in the rain or with seagulls around. And if you were traveling with some baggage on the seat you had to remove your stuff to pull the seat to use the locks.

My Neotec II has no D-rings anyway. This is not all that uncommon. But given an empty side bag it goes in there - or in the top case, which is less likely to be empty. If the bags are full for now I carry it with me. This would only happen on a trip of course. I plan to get a cable lock to be run through the face shield opening.

 

[Lee R.]

I'd read that FF helmets wouldn't squeeze into the FJR's bags. Tried a few just now (AGV Top-Vent, LS2 Rapid, and Sparx S-07) and they all fit. So that's great for when I've got a saddlebag empty and available, but less great if they're full. And so far (just got the bike) I've left the top case off (because I've never had one before and it's shadow startles me occasionally while riding, lol!).

Kinda liking the cable lock idea - gonna look into that. Anything's better than hauling my helmet into the head at every rest stop, looking for someplace (relatively) clean to hang it or set it down. Or holding it while attempting a one-handed leak, in leathers!

 

[Harald]

I have the helmet lock/powerlet brackets from TownsendsFJR. They are made to attach Helmet Guardian locks to them and then you'll have helmet lock(s) in the traditional location(s).

The Helmet Guardian locks can be rekeyed to fit your bike key. I wrote up a nice article on doing that years ago, but lost my picture host so it's less useful now.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=28363&hl=guardian

If you're interested, I can probably recreate the post WITH pictures.

Since doing that work, I went to Nolan helmets with ratchet straps so the lock can't be used in the traditional way. But I assembled a long, thin cable with small loops on each end that I can thread through helmet eye ports and jacket sleeves and then lock all of it to the helmet locks. Works great.

 

[JamesW]

Go to a firearm retailer/store and you should find cable locks for firearms, works for helmets.

 

[RichDoyle]

Go to a firearm retailer/store and you should find cable locks for firearms, works for helmets.

Our sheriff's office gives them away for free.

 

[Lee R.]

Free lock from the gov't is mighty tempting - that's what I call putting my tax dollars to work for me.

This might be good:https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wire-Combination-Bicycle-Lock/292787676519?hash=item442b816567:g:eNAAAOSweTlbxkXr

Primary advantage being it's a combination lock: one less key to haul around/lose.

As far as security level goes, anything more than that necessary to deter casual theft would be kidding oneself. If someone's out there with the right tools and looking to steal a helmet, they're gonna get it. Of course your real theft deterrent at a rest stop is a prospective thief's fear of being observed in the commission.

 

[Lee R.]

Since doing that work, I went to Nolan helmets with ratchet straps so the lock can't be used in the traditional way. But I assembled a long, thin cable with small loops on each end that I can thread through helmet eye ports and jacket sleeves and then lock all of it to the helmet locks. Works great.

Good point about some newer helmets not having D-rings. The effect this would have on locking up helmets with the conventional frame lock hadn't even dawned on me. My new LS2 Rapid does indeed have a ratchet. And I just the other day ordered a couple LS2 Strobe modulars that likely are the same. So a cable of some sort seems likely.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Lee R. posted: I'd read that FF helmets wouldn't squeeze into the FJR's bags. Tried a few just now (AGV Top-Vent, LS2 Rapid, and Sparx S-07) and they all fit. ... Kinda liking the cable lock idea - gonna look into that.

My Shoei Neotec won't fit in the hardcase with the Sena attached. Got one of Mr. Townsend's brackets and a generic Chinese helmet lock, and that's what I'd recommend. MAKE SURE the helmet lock has a key slot oriented to fit the FJR key, or you'll have two keys on your moto-keyring.

(Which is just another 1st world problem.)

By the way, wifey's FZ-07 has a "helmet lock" that's a vinyl-covered cable with two loops.

When we ride together, the cable goes through the helmet D-rings, and the cable loops get locked to the bike. Works great.

 

[Harald]

And another option for locking a long cable to the bike is to attach some kind of hook under the seat that you can loop the cable ends around and then pop the seat back on.

I've also heard riders that open a sidecase and stick the helmet strap inside and then relatch the case, which holds the helmet. Not sure how much force would be required to force the strap out of the closed case?

 

[RichDoyle]

The GIVI SR357 is perfectly fine for looping a cable (and bungees and whatnot) to secure stuff. I hadn't thought about a gun lock cable until it was mentioned here. I had grabbed a handful when I picked up my CCL a few months back. Works great. An extra key is no hardship. I already have a Givi key NOT hooked on the same ring with my ignition key, as I sometimes have occasion to open the top case without powering off the electrical system.

 

[Knifemaker]

I have a short cable lock that came with my Kimber .45 that's perfect for one helmet, and a "Bell" bicycle cable combination lock that works great for two helmets or one and a jacket.

A simple long looped end cable and a padlock could conceivably lock up two helmets and two jackets.

Lowes or Home Depot sells plastic coated cable by the foot, along with the lead? Crimp on furrels, so you could can customize your own cable.

 

[JamesW]

Go to a firearm retailer/store and you should find cable locks for firearms, works for helmets.

Our sheriff's office gives them away for free.

Go to a firearm retailer/store and you should find cable locks for firearms, works for helmets.

Our sheriff's office gives them away for free.

yes, some years ago I passed out a bunch of law enforcement freebees cables at our pnw tech session.