Saddle bag locks

[Ingramml]

I am thinking of putting a DIY saddle bag lock on my bags. Do you guys think that invites more problems than it prevents?

[Magnum Magna]

My alarm has keep people out of my bags. I have come back to my bike with one of the two buckles unbuckled.

[hootmon]

I've never heard of anything being taken out of bags or off of bikes here in Floriduh..
It is not unusual for my wife and I to leave our helmets on the bikes...
I'm not saying it never happens and we don't do it everywhere, but I have lots of friends and never heard a bad report...
I do have a pad lock on my sissybar bar I use sometimes for the helmet, since the Magna has such a suckie helmet lock.
Darn Texans! LOL

[Magnum Magna]

since the Magna has such a suckie helmet lock.
Darn Texans! LOL

What does Texas have anything to do with it?

[lragan]

Yeah, Hoot:  The bike was designed in Japan, for Pete's sake!!  So is everything east of Floriduh "Texas" or what???

I can't use the stock helmet lock anyway, on either of my '96 bikes, because the left bag covers it.  Not that I would use it, since the helmet would lay against the hot pipe!!  I presume this lock is a holdover on this frame from the Shadow, which only has pipes on the right.

My Leatherlyke bags each have a wimpy hook just inside the lid at the back, so that when the lid is closed a buckle attached to the hook secures the buckle and strap.  I feel certain that if anyone really wanted the helmet, they could take it, but it might make enough racket to alert bystanders, assuming anyone was around, or would care enough to respond.

Of course, if I had a $500 Shoei instead of my economy model helmet, it might be a different story...

[magnagregcan]

I removed my helmet lock to install a custom license plate bracket.

The plate is mounted vertically, at a slight angle, with a narrow full length chromed LED light on the outermost edge.

The light was from Custom Dynamics about 5 years ago, and don't know if it's still available.

Sorry, nothing to do with saddle bags (I have none).

[LIMagna]

I use the helmet locks on my LeatherLyke's.  They're not going to stop any determined individual but then again not much will if someone is willing to cut the strap.  A heavy wire lock through the chin bar on a full face would probably be the best deterrent if you're really concerned about theft. 

[tedkraus]

For many years I used a small bike lock to attach my helmet to the bike when in parts of town and places I felt that was needed. Always worked for me, I mean the lock would have been easy enough to cut but it attracts attention. I would go for it the DIY saddlebag locks.  I mean a small lock is better then no lock, and may deter people from "poking in" to see if anything is worth stealing.