WHERE TO SECURE THOSE DAMN HELMETS!

Have you ever found yourself after parking your beloved Harley and then not knowing what to do with your helmet? Do you place it on the seat, to later when you're not around fall on the ground and chip, or worse yet have someone else decide your helmet is much better than theirs, so they take it! Yeah I know, what's the big deal taking it with you. Well, have you ever sat in a booth for lunch with three other riders and their helmets? Didn't think so, because if you have, you wouldn't have asked! Keep in mind that you can click on any image and it will open much larger! By-the-way, those with Tour Paks (King or Chopped) can move their Pak forward or backwards approximately 2" by removing the same 5 bolts in the photo and moving the entire Pak to the second set of mounting holes on the mounting bracket.

Helmets protect the head and neck in the event of a crash. Most motorcycle heads injuries are the result of, you guessed it, not wearing a helmet at all! So they protect the head, is there anything positive about lugging one around all day long, well other than you can always tell the wife, "No more purchases, I gotta carry the helmets!" Seriously, if you are like us and like to tour with your Harley, then you don't have room in the saddlebags or tour pack to secure your helmets. Carrying them around all day long is a pain in the butt! So many are seen either resting on the seat of the motorcycle waiting to fall and damage or on the ground.

Helmet locks have been available for purchase for many, many years. These locks can be easily mounted to the engine guards, saddlebag guards or frame tubes, but they come at a price of appearance. Where to mount these buggers that is out of the way, useful when needed and might create a conversational piece? On our first Ultra Classic, purchased used from a guy near Orlando, Florida he had the helmet locks mounted under the tour pack! They were out of sight, useful when needed and started many a conversation on our rides.

I didn't take the time to purchase helmet locks for our 2008 Ultra and have since sold that for a 2008 Road Glide. Recently we had the detachable tour pack installed and I will show you the list of materials needed and what is involved in securing these locks under the tour pack. Any anyone that knows me, if I can do this, hell anyone can!

Materials needed include helmet locks (dah!), part #45732-86 Harley catalog $18.95, 7/8" to 1-1/4" diameter tubing, preferably solid plastic dowel, though a piece of PVC capped off on both ends would also work. You can choose to use a drill press (I recommend it), drill through the center of the dowel, from one end to the other. If using PVC then drill through the center of both caps. Use PVC cement/cleaner to adhere end caps on (again if using PVC). Use a 1/4" drill bit for the holes. Thanks Don for locating the needed dowel at Grainger Part #1UTW2 (1 inch diameter) . You can order this item in different lengths. One example is a length of one foot for $3.70. If using a 1-1/4" part #1UTW6 one foot length is $5.97. This is extruded Nylon 6/6.

Finally it is done! After cutting the extruded nylon dowels to 2-1/4" in length, drilling a 1/4" hole down the length of the dowel and getting the few pieces of hardware (3-1/2" Phillips head bolt, washers and nylon lock nut $4.64), all I needed to do was mount it on the Tour Pak. In all I have less than $45 total cost including the dowel, locks and hardware. Now the helmets will be out of the way when dining out with friends or simply traveling with tour and saddle bags full of clothes and other necessities.

If you should come up with a useful idea, making rides more enjoyable, please share it! We are all in this together. Enjoy another riding season and remember to always be on your "A" game when you ride (Be Alert by being drug free and having plenty of rest. Be Aware of ever changing road & weather conditions along with other drivers. Ride within your Ability, not someone elses and bring a positive Attitude to every ride)!