What To Do With Your Motorcycle Helmet When You Go Somewhere

For those of you the commute to work on your bike or go somewhere with the intent to be off your bike for an extended period of time, I’m sure you are wondering what to do about your helmet right? As I’m sure you are aware, lugging your helmet around can quickly become a royal pain in the a**.

So what should you do with your motorcycle helmet when you go somewhere? There are really only two options:

  • Carry it with you
  • Place it on your bike (either locked or unlocked)

The rest of this article takes a closer look at these two options comparing the pros and cons of each.

Should you carry your motorcycle helmet with you?

Whether or not you should carry your helmet with you depends on 3 things:

  • personal preference & peace of mind
  • where you park
  • Length of time you are gone

Peace of mind

Keeping your helmet in sight to will reassure you that it is not being stolen or being tampered with by other people. Therefore, I recommend carrying your helmet with you to reassure yourself it is fine.

Parking location

If you park in a sketchy area then it might behoove you to take your helmet with you compared to parking next to a security guard. However, there are no guarantees it will remain safe.

How long you will be gone?

Some people will leave their helmet on their bike unlocked if they are only gone for a short period of time. If you will only be away from your bike for about 5 minutes then you should be ok with leaving it on your mirror. It usually unlikely that someone will steal it in that short amount of time but again, you never know.

The drawbacks to carrying your helmet with you

What is the downside to carrying your motorcycle helmet with you? It can be a real nuisance to carry it with you because of the overall size. It is not a very convenient object to tote everywhere you need to go. It may take up more space than is available.

Also, if you are forgetful like me, you may forget that you set your helmet down somewhere. It sucks having to retrace your steps back to where you think you might have left it.

Should you leave your helmet with your motorcycle when parked?

As a new rider, you may be concerned about leaving your motorcycle helmet on your bike. I’m sure you spent a lot on your helmet so you want to keep it from getting stolen.

I recommend leaving your helmet on your motorcycle if you will only be gone for a short period of time or if you have a lock for your helmet. However, just because you locked your helmet to your bike does not mean people won’t mess with it.

Another thing to mindful of when leaving your helmet outside on your parked bike is the possibility of insects crawling into it. One experience of having a spider surprise you when you put it back on may change your mind about leaving your helmet on your motorcycle.

The best place to put your helmet when you get off your bike

Where should you put your helmet when you get off your bike? If you do not want to carry it with you, the safest place to put your helmet is over your mirror. However, you do not want to simply place it on top of the mirror. Instead, you want to thread the rearview mirror through your helmet visor.

Check out the video below to get a better idea of how to safely place your helmet on your bike without damaging the interior.

Placing your helmet this way prevents damaging the interior padding and liner of your helmet. It also prevents the wind from knocking it off. If someone accidentally bumps into your helmet while walking by your bike, it will remain firmly wrapped around your mirror.

What to do with your motorcycle helmet when you go grocery shopping

If you plan on taking your bike to the grocery store to buy some food, what should you do with your helmet? You can use it as a shopping basket if you are only picking up a few items.

It does a great job holding smaller items such as fruits, snacks, and vegetables. You can then transfer it to your backpack for the ride home or place the food in your bike storage compartments.

When is it safe to leave your helmet unlocked on your bike?

In reality, it is never actually safe to leave your helmet on your bike unattended or unlocked. It can be stolen at any moment if you are not paying attention.

About 95% of the time I carry my helmet with me. The only time I’ll leave my helmet on my motorcycle unlocked is when I’m with other riders. When you are in a group, it usually deters people from stealing your helmet. Plus there are more people to watch out for your bike and helmet.

Keeping your bike and helmet in sight at all times is also another way to make sure your helmet is safe. When you go teat, sit next to a window where you have a clear view of your bike at all times so you can keep an eye on it.

I also tend to leave it on my bike when I’m gone for a short amount of time, such as running to the bathroom or buying a quick snack. There’s no guarantee that it won’t get stolen when it is out of sight. I always make sure I’m gone no longer than 10 minutes and have not had any issues.

For those of you who would rather lock your helmet to your bike, it may not even be safe then. If someone has wire cutters or metal shear cutters they can easily cut the lock and take your helmet. If you lock your helmet through the D-ring, someone can use scissors to cut the helmet strap it is attached to.

Can you lock your motorcycle helmet to your bike?

Yes. You can lock your motorcycle helmet to your bike using a helmet lock or gun lock. Some bikes also have a clip designed into the seat to lock your helmet to the bike using the D-rings on your helmet.

What if your helmet does not have a D-ring or the clips to lock your helmet? You will need to purchase a gun lock or helmet lock to secure it to your bike.

Best way to lock your motorcycle helmet

One of the best ways to lock your motorcycle helmet to your bike that I have come across is to thread a gun lock or cable lock through the visor of your helmet and a passenger peg. It does a better job of theft-proofing your helmet compared to simply locking it using the D-ring attachment.

The advantage of threading a cable lock through your visor prevents someone from easily cutting or slicing the D-string strap to steal it. The only way to steal the helmet now would be to use a bolt cutter or cable cutter.

Check out the video below. Something like this will secure your helmet with convenient storage.

Should you lock your motorcycle helmet?

If you plan on leaving your bike for a long period of time then yes, you should absolutely lock your motorcycle helmet. I like to lock mine when I’m away from my bike if I know I’ll be gone for 15 minutes.

However, locking your helmet does have its downsides:

  • It could be stolen – this can happen any time any where regardless if it is locked or not.
  • Insects can compromise it – You do not want to have insects crawling on your face while driving.
  • Rain can ruin the interior – If your helmet is attached hanging upside down, it will make for a great catch basin of rain

When should you lock your helmet to your bike?

I’d recommend you to lock your helmet whenever you are away from your bike. It is best practice to make this a habit. This is especially critical if you plan to be away from your bike for an extended period of time.

Can a helmet be stolen if locked to your bike?

Yes. Your helmet is not protected from theft even when it is locked. People can easily cut the strap or remove a part of the bike with the right tools. Unfortunately, there are people out there that will take advantage of any chance they get to steal an expensive helmet.

How to carry your motorcycle helmet when off the bike?

There are a few ways to carry your motorcycle helmet when you are off your bike. I have listed three of the most common ways below:

  1. Carry it in hand
  2. Strap it to a bag
  3. Put it in a helmet bag or backpack

You can easily carry your helmet in your hand. Most helmets do not weigh more than three pounds so it is fairly light to haul around. However, if you need both hands to hold something then it becomes cumbersome. You are at risk of dropping it.

Strapping it to a duffle bag or your backpack is a way to carry it securely. You can loop the strap of your duffle through the visor. You could also use a carabiner and strap to attach it to a handle of your backpack.

A third option is to purchase a helmet bag. This will keep your helmet safe and easily portable. You can even toss your gloves, goggles, and other accessories into the bag.

This is the motorcycle bag for your helmet that I use. It is super durable and convenient. This is one of the best motorcycle helmet bags on the market.

What to do with your motorcycle helmet when you go to a restaurant?

There are a few things you can do with your helmet when you go to a restaurant. I have listed the ideas below:

  1. Place it under your seat to keep it out of the way
  2. If you are in a booth you can place it next to you
  3. Place it in a free chair
  4. If there is extra room on the table you can put it on the surface but keep it away from food and water
  5. If there is a coat rack in the restaurant, you can place it through the visor
  6. If it is a fancy restaurant you can ask the hostess or coat check to hold it

Best places to park your bike so your helmet won’t get stolen

Your helmet can get stolen at any time and anywhere. Therefore there is really no good place to park your bike to prevent helmet theft.

However, I do try to keep my bike in lighted areas at night and also park it where I can keep my eye on it. I suggest you do the same.

How to fly with your motorcycle helmet

If you plan on taking a vacation and need to bring your helmet, what is the best way to bring it on the plane? Can you take it as a carry-on? Do you need to check a bag for your helmet?

I recommend taking your helmet as your personal item. Your helmet will act as one of your carry-on items. Note that you will not be able to fit comfortably underneath your seat so you will need to place it in overhead storage.

Airport security will put it through their scanner but rarely causes an issue. I have never been questioned about it nor have I ever seen anyone else run into problems with security regarding their helmet. I recommend carrying it in your motorcycle bag.

You can also check it with your luggage before boarding. Make sure to place it in motorcycle helmet storage container or bag to prevent it from getting scratched. This is an expensive piece of equipment so you need to make sure it is protected at all times.