Riding a motorcycle is supposed to be freeing.
Out on the open road, the confines of a car behind you.
A challenge that most riders have to consider, though, is what to do with your helmet when you’ve parked your bike?
We’ve compiled a list of things to do with your helmet when you’re parked at your destination.
5 Things to Do With Your Motorcycle Helmet When Parked
1. Lock It to Your Bike
This seems like the easy option since there are many different bike locks available on the market.
It’s convenient for any rider because you don’t have to lug your helmet around with you at your destination.
If you have a $30 half helmet, locking it to your bike might be a no-brainer. Whereas, if you have a $700 full-face helmet, locking it to your bike might be a risk you don’t want to take.
That said, riders should consider a few things if going this route:
- Where are you parking your bike?
- Is it somewhere that you feel safe leaving your helmet out in the open?
- Is there a lot of foot traffic?
- What kind of lock do you have?
- What kind of helmet do you have?
If you’re parking at a private residence where you know everyone, leaving your helmet locked to your bike is probably fine.
If you’re parked in a busy parking lot in an unfamiliar area, you might want to consider taking it with you. While most people aren’t walking around with bolt cutters, locks can still be cut off bikes and your helmet can disappear.
Further reading: Best motorcycle helmet lock
2. Store It in a Saddle Bag, Tail Bag, or Top Box
This is another seemingly easy option, especially if you already have the bags on your bike and can easily lock them.
That said if you don’t have bags you have to consider the added cost of purchasing and installing them on your bike. If you have bags that don’t lock, you run the risk of your helmet or any other personal effects you store in them being stolen.
You also have to consider the bags and type of helmet you have.
A half helmet can usually fit into a saddle bag or tail bag, but it will likely be a snug fit and use up valuable space.
An open-face, full-face, modular, or dual-sport style helmet may fit in a top box, but again, at the cost of valuable space.
Another consideration is how easy it is to remove those bags from your bike. If you have a bag that could be removed easily, you won’t want to store anything of real value in them.
3. Store It in a Backpack
Backpacks for motorcycle riders have come a long way in recent years. This is a great option when you’re going somewhere for a prolonged period of time, or you need to keep your hands free.
Whether you want to store the helmet inside or outside of the backpack, there are options that will fit any size helmet. A great feature about these backpacks is that they can still be worn or attached to your bike while you’re riding, so they provide added storage both on and off the bike.
While more popular with the sport, adventure, and dual-sport riders, these backpacks can still be used by standard, cruiser, and touring riders. There are a number of different styles of backpacks available.
Some have large main compartments that zip closed around a full-face helmet. Others have nets, straps, or soft bags on the outside that hold the helmet snug to the backpack’s exterior.
You’ll want to consider the size of your helmet and what size backpack you’re comfortable wearing on and off the bike.
4. Store It Inside Your Destination
If you’re going to a destination like a restaurant, concert, casino, or to a large event, see if they will allow you to check your helmet like you would a coat. This keeps your hands free for the duration of your time there and allows you to be worry-free knowing your helmet is safe.
You can also check to see if your destination has lockers for guests to store personal effects (like a gym). This may require you to call ahead to see if they do a coat check or if their lockers are large enough for your helmet but that simple call could save you a headache down the road.
If you’re going to work or a friend or family member’s house, bringing it inside is a simple option that removes the worry of what might happen to it.
5. Attach It To Your Jacket or Vest
Some riding jackets and vests have D-rings that allow you to attach your helmet right to you.
While this may not look great and might be slightly annoying or uncomfortable, it does allow for a hands-free way for you to take your helmet with you without the use of additional bags.
This may not be an ideal solution if you’ll be away from your bike for a prolonged period of time, but may be a great solution for a quick stop for groceries, stretching, or a hike.
6. Carry It With You
More than likely, this is not the ideal option. If you’re going to the store or destination where you’ll be away from your bike for a long period of time, you probably don’t want to carry your helmet around with you.
That said, this is the easiest option if you don’t want to purchase any locks or bags. This would be an ideal option if you’re running inside somewhere quickly or where you might be sitting down and can set it down next to you.
There are also dedicated helmet bags available that are designed specifically for the safe storage of your lid which can protect against scratches and other damage.
Wrap Up
Every motorcycle rider will be faced with the decision of what to do with their helmet when they arrive to their destination.
Regardless of the option(s) you choose, it’s in a rider’s best interest to consider the type of bike they have, the type of helmet they have, where they’ll be going, and what makes the most sense for their circumstances.