Moved the Helmet Lock to Front Mud-Guard

If I have my saddle bags on, I can't use me helmet lock. So I moved it to the front mudguard. 

Here is the helmet lock from the rear, you need the key in it to remove it. As you can see there is on lug to hold it secure and a hole for the bolt to go through, that also holds it.



Here are the 2 holes drilled, that are need to relocate it where you want it. I put it on the front guard.



Here it is installed, much easier to use.



I know some will say oh that is not as safe as where it was but it is safer for me. Firstly the guard there is very thick and strong. Secondly I can use it now, where it was I couldn't. Also I will be reinforcing the rear of the guard with sheet metal where it as at a later date.

I am now happier and it was simples, took 20 minutes to do.

unless someone was to break the front mudguard I think it's fine where you put it and if your going to reinforce the mudguard then even better I probably wouldn't bother lol but I am a bit lazy hehe. Good job and made it usable not useless wear it used to be

 Nice one davey, good job done there 

Good idea and job Dave! the helmet lock in it's original position is bloody useless with bags on, which most cruisers have! 

Glad you like it, simple but affective.

best mods always are

Yet another cracking idea Dave!

In the top picture I can see you have bought something from Hogparts for £19.62p. Cmon davey spill the beans and tell us what it is. Seems like the old davey is finally back, 2 mods in one day, reminds me of the days when you had so many mods in your signature that they took up half a page when you posted 

captain crash wrote:

In the top picture I can see you have bought something from Hogparts for £19.62p. Cmon davey spill the beans and tell us what it is. Seems like the old davey is finally back, 2 mods in one day, reminds me of the days when you had so many mods in your signature that they took up half a page when you posted 

Only some more highway pegs to replace the ones damaged when I had my RTA 20 moths ago. Nothing to adventurous.

PS, I put them on today & stripped a few electrical switches not mentioned anywhere on site as preventative medicine. So that made 4/5 mods done today, not 2. 

As already said, Sounds like the old davey is finally back 

I have only one time succeeded to use the lock for securing my helmet, without losing my patience and giving up.

My helmet has the quick release buckle, and I can only mount the lock through the small loop you pull to release it.

How do you guys lock it ?

Very well may also do this, it would be nice to use my lock, rather than an alternative  cable lock. 
Kim I think you are unfortunate, my quick release, seat belt latch type of helmet has a D ring. Could you not put the belt through the locking pin, just before the quick release possibly? Jut securing your helmet so that a quick grab doesn't allow them to take it, is often enough. If the criminal minded want something, they will get it.

Ken1964 wrote:

If the criminal minded want something, they will get it.

Yeah including the bike that its locked to 

Great idea dave! 

To that Dave ! .... A great practical low-cost modification.

Only possible issue could be the inner clearance of fastener to tyre, especially after adding any reinforcement (Would suitable 'penny' washers provide a useful reinforcement solution ?), - but I'm sure you will have thought of that. Only really mentioning the clearance issue so others are aware.

Glad to hear you are getting back into the swing of things .... best wishes Yam

Damn clever, never thought of moving the actual lock! DOH! just thought of it as redundant, as I have SB too. Will be moving mine in the near future, will save carrying the feckin thing around Tesco's. Cheers Dave.......................Again proves the point about donations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Hey Dave

Absolutely superb idea Dave, will be doing this mod on my M800 next week, I cant believe where Suzuki put the lock as most cruisers use saddlebags and the lock is then redundant, a very clever mod Dave 

Andy

Cheers Andy. I was always wanting to use the lock but never able to. Love it where it is now, just be careful that you leave enough clearance for the dropping suspension. It only needs a few mm but that is easily overlooked on a mod like this.

Cheers Dave, when I mark it for drilling I will get my wife to use her assets to compress the suspension   just to check  lol

Hi guys

Done my M800 this morning, took the mudguard off the bike because i would have drilled the tyre    thanks Dave i have now got a helmet lock that i can use, I put some big washers on the back to provide some extra support and some blue loctite on the bolt, nice easy mod 

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Andy  

Nice job Andy    just a pointer for anyone doing this mod: don't get loctite on the plastic fender, it makes it brittle and rots it away, use it very sparingly on the threads only and wipe any excess of straight away.

Good job Andy 

Looks like it was made to go there!

Good one Andy, glad you can use it once more.

Haven't used a helmet lock since the eighties after coming back to my bike & finding just the buckles & a couple of inches of strap locked in place - oh how I chuckled !!!!  

Took mine off as it spoilt the line of the brace - but seeing this thread has made me think about putting where you have Dave.  No point with my last couple of lids as they were quick release, but the Bell is a tradition double-D ring

No worries, we are here to assist each other with ideas. 

Finished my post 2010 M50/M800 helmet lock conversion.  I put the lock on the fairing to the front of the suspension tube where it is really accessible.  Also put it on with the lock pin uppermost and the closed in portion of the lock to the front to reduce water being blown into the lock itself.  That way, when the lock is open the small part of the lock pin sticks up and you can put your D-ring over it and it will hang there while you close the lock.

I had considered putting the lock on the trunk box mounting bracket I've just fixed to my bike.  Wisely I held the helmet and D-ring in place where I was thinking of putting the lock and there just wasn't enough space to get the helmet close enough to the lock because of the saddlebag below and trunk box above.

Now the lock is very accessible, hangs the helmet clear of the ground, and isn't too obtrusive.

That's a more useful place 

Great job.

Good useful mod.

Here's yet another take on this excellent idea....

First a word about removing the lock.... Here's a close up of the original bolt:



So you need one of these to remove it...


I didn't have one, but toolstation sell this nifty set for less than four quid...



Once you've decided where to relocate the lock, you'll need to drill 2 holes - one for the bolt and one for a lug on the back of the lock.

As I like to stick my lid shiny side up on the sissy bar (in case it rains) I put the lock on the sissy bar luggage rack...




And if wanted, I could use it to secure any luggage with a looped cable.

To dave, for having the brainwave in the first place

  Mal .......

Looking at the photo now, I may flip it the other way up, might look more aesthetically pleasing.........

Yes, that's better...

Good placement Mal 

Nice one Mal, that's given me an idea 

Well thought out Mal 

Good one Mal!

Both good modifications for any bike