Topic: Don't trust people - pointless rant

[Borkunit]

Well, I finally got the bike to a ridable state.  Took it up to the hardware store a couple of miles down the road to get some odds and ends to mount my turn signals.  Arrived at the store, jumped off the bike to check the oil leak that I had attempted to fix.  I put my helmet on the mirror while I was crouched down on the ground.  Got up to go into the store and remembered my helmet.  "Aw, this is a pretty good neighborhood.  It'll be fine for 10 minutes."  Nope.   Come out of the store 10 minutes later and its gone.  Finally got a hold of the wife to come pick me up.  Now I am at home waiting until a friend gets back home so I can get a loaner from him.  Sigh.  Guess I learned my lesson.

I guess I could turn this into a productive thread and ask about what everyone does for helmet retention.  Any ideas?

-Zak

[angeldeville]

 after having my bike knocked over a few years back when someone stole mine off the mirror. I usually bring it with me.
sometime i use the stock retention tab.

[ElCheapo]

I have never had this happen with gear but I did have it happen about 8 years ago with a carton of smokes that were on my dash - windows down on a hot day.  With any luck they were stuck by a bus as they crossed the street on thier way home. 

[calired67]

I usually use the stock retention tabs. Sometimes if it is just a quick in and out I just carry it. In Cali where I live I used to just wear it in on the quickie runs but now that could get a fellow shot. I am a firm believer in karma and know that taking your helmet will cause him problems.

[ElCheapo]

I believe this is the reason I bought a modular helmet that the full face part flips up. I hate messing with it and having to take a helmet off. I guess I got one because I am a bit lazy. This is also the reason I bought a skid lid to make it easier to carry with me.

[flyin_]

I keep a light coiled bicycle lock on my bike with one of those cheep 4 number locks built into the ends.  It works perfect through the chin bar or D ring on the helmet and through your bars, or anywhere else on the bike.  I just run mine through the handlebars and through the chin bar and leave the helmet on the mirror.  There is enough slack to run through the sleeves or legs of my riding gear and lock that to the bike also. 

I have a hard time trusting in the general decency of humanity so I always lock my sht up.

[tramp]

if i want to keep it i take it with me
even in a little town where i live kids will take things just because

[cafehonda]

Amen brother. With the exception of the fine folks on this site, I never trust anyone. 

[cb350f_rider_73]

I usually take my helmet with me.  It's handy to adjust the chin strap all the way out and use the helmet as a sort of shopping basket (not to mention the cashier usually will do a double take at this). 

[nickjtc]

Good points all. I like a flip-front helmet for the same reason. The lockable cable works well for securing your jacket if you don't want to take it with you; just run the cable down the sleeve.

In reality, of course I choose to be a bit of a cynic and think that some people are vindictive b@#$*@ds, and will wreck your stuff if they cannot steal it. So in most cases I will take my stuff with me whenever I park the bike.

A friend locked his helmet on the hook under the seat and came back to the bike to find that someone had pissed in it!

[Borkunit]

Wow... I didn't even realize that there was a retention clip of any sort on this bike.  I think in the future I'll just be taking it with me in any case.  As pointed out by several people here, if they can't steal it, they'll destroy it (Pissed in the damn helmet?  Was that really necessary you dirtbag??).  I, too, was in a destructive mood as I scanned the area around the bike for someone carrying a white helmet.  Not to sound like too much of an e-thug, but he should be glad that I didn't find him. 

It was just an HJC CL14.  Paid $130 a couple of years ago, but I have found the same model on the web on clearance for $90.  At least I have a loaner from a friend so I can still get a little riding in before I go on vacation.

Thanks,
Zak

[Stevearino]

Thought you had heard it all, right???

I was riding with a bud, stopped and locked the helmets on the bikes through the D-rings.  Both Shoie RF-900's.

Luckilly, my head was bigger than the theifs, as the strap had been cut off low to the D-ring from my buddies bike.  Simple enough to repair I guess.

Take it with you, or keep it in sight.

PS better yet... years ago ('86), I had just passed through the Lincoln tunnel and was sitting at the light to turn right onto 42nd street.  Sport bike pulls up next to me, nice, new, rider with no helmet.  Two guys jump out of the low boy box van in front of him, cold cock the rider, throw the bike in the box van, pull pistols out and wave them at everyone looking, and take off.  Just another reason to wear your helmet.

[cbjunkie]

geez where in the hell do you live? and uh, why?

[StevieMac]

the strap had been cut off low to the D-ring from my buddies bike.  Simple enough to repair I guess.

This one I've heard

PS better yet... years ago ('86), I had just passed through the Lincoln tunnel and was sitting at the light to turn right onto 42nd street.  Sport bike pulls up next to me, nice, new, rider with no helmet.  Two guys jump out of the low boy box van in front of him, cold cock the rider, throw the bike in the box van, pull pistols out and wave them at everyone looking, and take off.  Just another reason to wear your helmet.

And just another reason to ride something most people think is worthless I suppose 

[merc2dogs]

Good points all. I like a flip-front helmet for the same reason. The lockable cable works well for securing your jacket if you don't want to take it with you; just run the cable down the sleeve.

In reality, of course I choose to be a bit of a cynic and think that some people are vindictive b@#$*@ds, and will wreck your stuff if they cannot steal it. So in most cases I will take my stuff with me whenever I park the bike.

A friend locked his helmet on the hook under the seat and came back to the bike to find that someone had pissed in it!

   That's one of the reasons we used to make sure the helmets were locked up so they couldn't be used as a toilet,  make sure the open side is down and against the bike, even if you have to buckle it around a shock.
 
    My helmets are normally good helmets, but I take pains to make sure they are trashy looking, even painted scuff marks on them so they look like they've been hit before, no one wants to steel a trashed out helmet. Keep my ''pretty' helmets, normally cheaper ones since they spend most time on the shelf,  for special occasions.
  Never realy did like shine new helmets for some reason, maybe cause I'm a carpenter and never trust a carpenter with all new tools and belt

Ken.

[74cb750]

Geezzee!
Every time I get off the bike I just stick it on my tail light.
Maybe the morons think it's a large light?

Never had it stolen up ere in Vermont. This could be because
everyone around knows I'm "Crazy" and am always shooting
guns off.
peace,
michel

[cafehonda]

A reputation for heavy artillery is often the best insurance.

[aptech77]

A .223/5.56mm in the ass is a great point maker. Damn shame it comes with unwanted problems, even if they had it comming!

[nickjtc]

Along the same lines, about people not respecting your stuff: a friend, who rides a VFR750, was out on a trip on Vancouver island, and pulled up at a roadside hostelry for a break. There was motorcycle specific parking supplied, but alongside was a sign which said 'Jap-Scrap not welcome here'.

Being the trusting (naive??) soul that he is my friend parked up and went inside for a meal. He noticed several 'cruiser-type' individuals inside, but did not think anything of it. When he came outside he found his bike lying on its side with significant cosmetic damage to one side of the fairing. Someone had pushed it over on the sidestand side, which messed up the automatic sidestand cut-off switch, too. So the rest of his ride was a nightmare of intermittent electrical problems, and having to look at his scuffed up pride and joy.

What to do..................?

[GroovieGhoulie]

geez where in the hell do you live? and uh, why?

The Lincoln Tunnel indicates NYC, I believe.

To paraphrase Star Wars (regarding NYC):

"You'll never find a more wretched hive of Scum and Villiany". 

[eldar]

Thats when you write a nice large not saying this is what happens when you are an #$%* and then push over all their bikes. It serves them right.

[cb650]

Had a helmet locked to the bike and someone cut the strap.   Long ago in H/S. 
Seen a hardly the other day with the helmet locked to the front disk.
Like to catch someone dumping any bike.   Scared the F out of a couple teens rolling carts into cars years ago.  Pricks



                     Terry

[Terry in Australia]

Just brush-paint your helmet pink with "I'M A FAG" emblazoned across the back, and I reckon it'll still be there when you come outta that store mate!

[GroovieGhoulie]

Just brush-paint your helmet pink with "I'M A FAG" emblazoned across the back, and I reckon it'll still be there when you come outta that store mate!

Friend of mine did something similar.  He worked construction and owned all of his own tools (as you normally do).  Well he had his name all over his stuff but it kept getting stolen by less than reputable individuals.  Big-dollar stuff too, like power-drills and circular saws.

Do he went out, replaced all the stolen tools and instead of writing his name on the tools, in big pink letters he wrote: "I LOVE DONNY OSMOND" on of them. 

None of his tools were ever stolen ever again. 

Of course, he had to walk around the jobsite with "I LOVE DONNY OSMOND" written all over his tools, but when you've sunk a ton of cash into instruments of your trade, well, he didn't care.  As long as they weren't stolen.

[cbjunkie]

back doing carpentry there was a plumbing sub who spray painted everything bright pink...it worked!