There will be times when you don’t want to keep your helmet with you while you’re eating at a restaurant, or there may be times when you need to bring along another helmet, for a riding buddy or a date. Because of situations such as these, learning how to secure your helmet to your motorcycle with a holder will come in handy.
Fortunately, there are several options to choose from, whether you decide you’d rather learn how to lock your helmet to your motorcycle, you want to wear a helmet backpack, or you want to use a bungee system to secure the extra helmet. Whatever option you choose, make sure it allows you to easily and securely and attach your spare helmet, so you can keep one on hand at all times.
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Choose Wisely
Not every attachment option will work for your style of bike or helmet. If you just had your bike painted, then you’ll want to be extra careful with the type of holder you use, since some will allow the helmet to swing freely when you ride.
If you’ve just had your chrome redone, then you’ll also want to be more choosy about how and where you attach the helmet. Fortunately, I’ve found several attachment options, so you’ll be able to find the perfect solution based on your bike, budget, and helmet style.
For more info on helmet features and accessories, don’t miss my article on How to Select the Right Visor for Your Motorcycle Helmet.
Net
A helmet cargo net is made out of tough, thick elastic cords that feature several hooks located around the edges. These nets are available in a variety of sizes and feature different styles of hooks. Some of the hooks are straight metal, while others will come equipped with a thick rubber coating, which is designed to protect your bike’s paint job and will also prevent damage to the helmet, should a hook or two come loose.
To use, just place the helmet on your bike’s pillion seat, place the net over it and tightly secure it to your bike via the hooks. These nets are available in a variety of styles, so you can haul more gear than just an extra helmet, but if you’re looking for a net to haul your helmet only, then go with a smaller net and one that has a tighter knit. Check the strings of the net and make sure they’re evenly placed over the helmet, preventing it from slipping out if you gun it or ride over bumpy terrain.
Lock
A helmet lock is always a good choice for securing your helmet to your bike and preventing a thief from taking off with it. However, if you have a new paint job, then a lock may not be the best choice since it’s not designed to prevent a helmet from moving when you ride. Instead, these locks are a better choice in terms of security. However, they can work in a pinch if you already have a lock on hand.
Modified Net
If you’re not thrilled at the idea of using hooks on your bike, since it can potentially damage the chrome or your paint job, then you can simply take the hooks off the net. To secure the net to your bike, simply remove the bike’s seat and place one side of the next under the rear seat, and securely place the seat back on the bike.
Take the helmet and place it on the seat, carefully stretching the net over the helmet. The other sides of the net should be hooked to different points on your bike, such as under the tail’s subframe spools, or one of the foot pegs.
Use Your Passenger Seat
Most bikes these days will come equipped with helmet hooks that are located directly under the passenger’s seat. To secure the helmet, you can choose from a couple of different options.
However, most riders can agree that the best way to secure the helmet is to hook the D-ring on the helmet’s strap over the hook, allowing your helmet to rest on one side of the bike. Next, simply secure the seat. Make sure you pay close attention to where the helmet rests since it can potentially damage your paint job if it’s allowed to move around a lot when you’re riding.
Sissy Bar
If your bike has a sissy bar, then you can use it to secure your second helmet. To do, just secure the strap around one of the sissy bar’s posts. Make sure you secure the helmet tight enough to prevent the helmet from moving around when you ride. You can also secure the helmet in place using a bungee cord, for an extra level of protection.
Grab Bar
If your bike has handholds or a rear grab bar, attach the helmet strap through it. Get it as tight as possible to prevent it from moving around while you ride. Keep in mind that it may end up rubbing against your bike’s body, which can scratch your paint job.
Carrier Strap
You can find a variety of carrier straps online. These helmet carrier straps come equipped with a couple of D-rings on one end. To use this type of strap, you’ll remove the rear seat and place the strap across the bike, then replace the seat.
Next, put the helmet on top of the seat, with the chinstrap secured. You can run the strap around the helmet’s chinstrap, pulling it together tightly using the D-rings.
Elastic Strap
Similar to the cargo net option, the elastic strap will come equipped with a couple of hooks. These straps often consist of a total of four elastic straps that are bound together, with a hook attached to each end. You’ll secure each of the hooks to whatever type of surface is available, such as the rear foot pegs or the grab bar.
You can arrange the straps to secure the helmet tightly in place and adjust each strap to ensure a tight fit based on the size and style of the helmet. These highly adjustable straps allow you to use this type of helmet holder for a wide variety of helmet styles.
Backpack
If you don’t want to attach anything directly to your bike to secure an extra helmet, then shop around for a bike backpack. These backpacks come equipped with a large storage compartment that’s designed to hold a helmet. This option will also allow you to carry around any extra gear you may need, which is always a plus.
However, if you’re hauling a large full-face helmet, such as the Typhoon Modular Motorcycle Helmet, the pack can feel pretty bulky and awkward, so you may not have any extra space to store other types of gear. To learn more about full-face helmets and the different size options available, click here to read my buyer’s guide.
Saddle Bags
If you want to haul more than just an extra helmet, purchase a large set of saddle bags, just make sure they’re deep enough to accommodate the size of your helmet. These bags are made out of a variety of materials including canvas and leather, or a hard shell pannier design.
Canvas is often the most affordable option. Make sure you pay attention to the bag’s dimensions before you buy, to determine if it’s large enough for your helmet, especially if it’s a full-face model.
Product Recommendations
Fuel Bungee Cord Cargo Net
Our Rating:
This versatile cargo net is the perfect option for the rider on a tight budget. It’s made out of high-quality bungee material and comes with a total of six hooks, offering a wide range of attachment options.
The tight knit will prevent your helmet from slipping out during high speeds or when you’re riding over uneven or bumpy terrain. The net stretches out easily, providing ample space for an extra helmet, jacket, and other personal items.
HJC Deluxe Helmet Bag Black
Our Rating:
This helmet bag is made out of weather-resistant material and comes with a Velcro fastener, a deep six-inch pocket, and PVC backed nylon for improved durability. The built-in D-ring allows you to attach the helmet bag to a variety of points on your bike, including the sissy bar, or rear seat.
Givi Xstream T487 Backpack
Our Rating:
This is one massive helmet backpack that is expandable from twenty-four liters up to thirty-two liters. It comes complete with an integrated helmet holder, a waterproof design, rain cover, reflective panels that make you and your bike highly visible at night, and a chest and waist strap for ultimate security and safety, even with a full pack.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to learning how to secure your helmet to your motorcycle with a holder. These options will work with any type of budget, helmet size and style, and attachment points. The products I’ve included here earned high user ratings for durability, ease of use, and pricing.
In the end, make sure you choose a method that works for you, your helmet, and your bike. If you don’t have rear pegs, grab bars, a sissy bar, or you’re worried about your brand new paint job, then use saddle bags or a helmet backpack, both of which are definitely safer options. Any of the options I’ve covered here will get the job done if you use the helmet holder correctly.
