Since I got my Vulcan 900LT I’ve been trying to figure a good way to lock my full face helmet/helmets onto the bike. It comes with a helmet lock under the seat, but it's hard to use with one helmet and near impossible with two. I looked at the different choices, including a license plate frame lock, and the handlebars locks, but decided I wanted to use the current under the seat lock, so I wouldn’t have to carry additional keys. After some pondering I came up with the following.
I went to the Depot of Homes and bought 4’ of ¼” plastic covered cable, a set of ¼” cable ferrules (includes 2 ferrules), and a pack of ¾” heat shrink tubing. I also used electrical tape I already had at home. The total cost for these materials was under $5.00. Picture 1 shows the materials.
I first trimmed about 1.5” of plastic cover from each end of the cable (1” would probably be enough.) Then I folded the cable in half, with the open sections in the middle (not at one of the ends. I took the first loop, hooked it on a firm anchor (I used the handle on my vise), and twisted it about 7-8 times. Then I slid the ferrule onto the stripped end. While holding on to the twisted end, I took the loop out of the vise handle and hooked the other loop of the cable on, and twisted it like I had done with the first end. I then inserted the second stripped end onto the other side of the ferrule (this was the hard part). I then crimped the ferrule to secure the cable, and used electrical tape to cover all exposed metal. See picture 2.
Afterwards, I slipped the heat shrink tubing over one end and over the ferrule area, and shrank it using a lighter flame. The ¾” tubing was too big, it shrank fine over the ferrule area but had gaps over the cable area, so I finished it with more electrical tape. I used yellow so it will be easy to see in the saddle bag. Using smaller diameter tubing will make the additional tape unnecessary. See picture 3.
I now have a 12” length of braided ¼” cable with loops at each end. I can run the cable through one or two helmets, hook the loops under the seat, and lock it in place with the seat. Pictures 4 & 5.
Note that the black cable coming down is for my battery charger. It has nothing to do with this project.
I still only have to carry one key, and securing one or two helmets is now much easier than before. My next project is to repeat the process with a cable about 8’ long, so I can end up with a 30” length that I can use to lock my jacket and helmet if I ever need to. I'll be able to use the left over ferrule and heat shrink tubing, so the cost of the 30" cable will be about $3.00. The beauty of this system is that it takes practically no space in the saddlebags, and requires no additional locks.
I went to the Depot of Homes and bought 4’ of ¼” plastic covered cable, a set of ¼” cable ferrules (includes 2 ferrules), and a pack of ¾” heat shrink tubing. I also used electrical tape I already had at home. The total cost for these materials was under $5.00. Picture 1 shows the materials.
I first trimmed about 1.5” of plastic cover from each end of the cable (1” would probably be enough.) Then I folded the cable in half, with the open sections in the middle (not at one of the ends. I took the first loop, hooked it on a firm anchor (I used the handle on my vise), and twisted it about 7-8 times. Then I slid the ferrule onto the stripped end. While holding on to the twisted end, I took the loop out of the vise handle and hooked the other loop of the cable on, and twisted it like I had done with the first end. I then inserted the second stripped end onto the other side of the ferrule (this was the hard part). I then crimped the ferrule to secure the cable, and used electrical tape to cover all exposed metal. See picture 2.
Afterwards, I slipped the heat shrink tubing over one end and over the ferrule area, and shrank it using a lighter flame. The ¾” tubing was too big, it shrank fine over the ferrule area but had gaps over the cable area, so I finished it with more electrical tape. I used yellow so it will be easy to see in the saddle bag. Using smaller diameter tubing will make the additional tape unnecessary. See picture 3.
I now have a 12” length of braided ¼” cable with loops at each end. I can run the cable through one or two helmets, hook the loops under the seat, and lock it in place with the seat. Pictures 4 & 5.
Note that the black cable coming down is for my battery charger. It has nothing to do with this project.
I still only have to carry one key, and securing one or two helmets is now much easier than before. My next project is to repeat the process with a cable about 8’ long, so I can end up with a 30” length that I can use to lock my jacket and helmet if I ever need to. I'll be able to use the left over ferrule and heat shrink tubing, so the cost of the 30" cable will be about $3.00. The beauty of this system is that it takes practically no space in the saddlebags, and requires no additional locks.
