V7III Helmet Latch and Underseat Storage

[della moto]

I just got a V7iii and am a little shocked that it doesn't have those basic features. I'm trying to figure out how to lock a helmet to it and what to do to solve the no-storage issue. At a minimum, I want to carry my registration, insurance, gloves, shoe guard thing, and a tire pressure gauge. What do you all do?

[Kiwi_Roy]

Under the seat
If your helmets have a D ring hook it to something under the seat and close it.

[Dimitri_Harkov]

Yeah, there really is a surprising amount of space under the seat.
Good enough for an extra T-shirt, a small first aid kit, brake disc lock, a cargo net and a few tools in my case.

A very good idea, Kiwi_Roy. Never thought of that.
I guess one could easily adapt the USB port mounting point to attach some sort of helmet strap holder there.

Cheers,
D.

[Davida56]

Try here - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwje16z0nqvyAhVDCc0KHYXuBuUQFnoECAQQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildguzzi.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D92421.0&usg=AOvVaw3CyU3W0tUM-GEOWwAedSAP

[Davida56]

or here - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiXg_nfoKvyAhUWVc0KHTJIB44QFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildguzzi.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D110907.0&usg=AOvVaw2Cr7OX1dvjUpNcMtmLTdU0

[egschade]

Or get a helmet lock - $10 on fleabay.

[sickora]

For my V7III, I went with the fancy Sato helmet lock you can get for ~$60.   Don't make the same mistake I did. Because of the plastic side panels that extend,  It was never an easy time to get the D ring in the lock, and after a year, the lock broke anyway. (It's spring loaded and the spring went).   I then went with a $10 gun cable lock.  I can hook it around the frame and the D ring or strap, put the key on my keychain, and not worry about it anymore.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I took a heat gun to the fender under the seat and made it about 20% deeper, just got it toasty warm then pushed it down with a block of wood.
I carry the manual, or at least the English portion, threw the French half away, the toolkit supplemented by a full set of Allen wrenches and additional ring/open ended wrenches, the longer ones I cut to length, a USB charger, test light and a few spare bolts.
The 3 lights, one for each relay, a diagnostic aid.
I carry my insurance in a little metal pocket screwed to the underside of the seat using some of the threaded fittings there.
I think I posted a little barrier I fitted to stop things moving around.
Under the left hand side cover is my Bluetooth heated gear controller, there's quite a bit of space under the side covers for additional tools but I don't have the need for that at the moment. Perhaps a wheel wrench carved out of 1/4" aluminium

[Bulldog9]

For my V7III, I went with the fancy Sato helmet lock you can get for ~$60.   Don't make the same mistake I did. Because of the plastic side panels that extend,  It was never an easy time to get the D ring in the lock, and after a year, the lock broke anyway. (It's spring loaded and the spring went).   I then went with a $10 gun cable lock.  I can hook it around the frame and the D ring or strap, put the key on my keychain, and not worry about it anymore.

If riding without side cases (only on the Griso), I use a Tank Bag. I have a tank ring Givi on the Griso and a nice small magnetic Givi I use on the Mello Yello Stornello.  In the rare cases I am riding and feel the need to lock up my helmet, I'll use the stub that sticks off the frame (visible when you remove the seat) and put the D ring  through it (if that helmet has one), and put the seat back on. I also keep a small cable bike lock in the tank bag. As I have a dozen gun cable locks, that is a great idea. I have almost ZERO underseat storage on the Stornello, and less on the Griso.

My grandfather (NYC Cop who was also a MC Cop) Used to laugh at me when I would lock my helmet. He would say "Two kindsa people in the world, those who wear MC helmets and those who don't. Those who wear would never steal one, those who dont, have no need to." Generally I will only lock up my helmet if leaving the bike all day in an unsecure location. 25+ years in the NYC, and 10 in the DC area, and I've never had one stolen 'YET'.

[Kiwi_Roy]

The low life around here will steal a worn out helmet if it's left in a back street, ask me how I know, going to the supermarket or out in the open I just hook it over the handlebar.

[della moto]

Under the seat
If your helmets have a D ring hook it to something under the seat and close it.

That's the point... My helmet has a D-ring, but I don't see anything to hook it to.

[della moto]

For my V7III, I went with the fancy Sato helmet lock you can get for ~$60.   Don't make the same mistake I did. Because of the plastic side panels that extend,  It was never an easy time to get the D ring in the lock, and after a year, the lock broke anyway. (It's spring loaded and the spring went).   I then went with a $10 gun cable lock.  I can hook it around the frame and the D ring or strap, put the key on my keychain, and not worry about it anymore.

Thanks for the product review. I appreciate it. As for the gun cable-lock workaround, the no-storage issue comes into play.

[della moto]

or here - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiXg_nfoKvyAhUWVc0KHTJIB44QFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildguzzi.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D110907.0&usg=AOvVaw2Cr7OX1dvjUpNcMtmLTdU0

Thanks. I had seen that before. How did you fabricate that piece? Also, it seems like that hole with the threads at least a half inch below that bar of the frame. Did you put some sort of spacer there, or the bolt and the piece you've fabricated are on an angle?

[della moto]

If riding without side cases (only on the Griso), I use a Tank Bag. I have a tank ring Givi on the Griso and a nice small magnetic Givi I use on the Mello Yello Stornello.  In the rare cases I am riding and feel the need to lock up my helmet, I'll use the stub that sticks off the frame (visible when you remove the seat) and put the D ring  through it (if that helmet has one), and put the seat back on. I also keep a small cable bike lock in the tank bag. As I have a dozen gun cable locks, that is a great idea. I have almost ZERO underseat storage on the Stornello, and less on the Griso.

My grandfather (NYC Cop who was also a MC Cop) Used to laugh at me when I would lock my helmet. He would say "Two kindsa people in the world, those who wear MC helmets and those who don't. Those who wear would never steal one, those who dont, have no need to." Generally I will only lock up my helmet if leaving the bike all day in an unsecure location. 25+ years in the NYC, and 10 in the DC area, and I've never had one stolen 'YET'.

Not locking the helmet to the bike is not an option for me. Until I figure out a solution for the helmet and the few things I need to secure in the bike, it's going to limit my ability to go out and do stuff on it.

My other ride is a sportbike which has plenty of storage under the passenger seat, two helmet latches, and a toolkit! This is nuts, ha.

[della moto]

Yeah, there really is a surprising amount of space under the seat.
Good enough for an extra T-shirt, a small first aid kit, brake disc lock, a cargo net and a few tools in my case.
Cheers,
D.

Cheers, D., but are we talking about the same bike? You fit that stuff under the seat of a V7III? Where? How?

[della moto]

By the way, is there a way to multi-quote? I appreciate the replies. I just haven't figured out yet how to quote and respond to more than one at a time.

[Dimitri_Harkov]

Cheers, D., but are we talking about the same bike? You fit that stuff under the seat of a V7III? Where? How?

Just put it below your seat. No trick.
The seat's lower side is more or less hollow for most of it's length, so you can easily 'pile up' things down there.
Just make sure you put the 'harder' stuff near the air intake and no cloth or plastic sheets as not to block it.

Cheers,
D.

[Kiwi_Roy]

1/8" aluminium plate is great for making little brackets or hooks but you need a vice to clamp it while you cut with a hacksaw or my favourite fine tooth coping saw.
you can also use extruded bar but it tends to be brittle if you bend it sharply. Aluminium polishes nicely with a buffing wheel and holds a nice shine.

I used 1/4" for the two Top Box side rails and borrowed a band saw to cut them out.
I never drill holes in my bikes but any spare threaded holes are there for the use of.

[sickora]

Thanks for the product review. I appreciate it. As for the gun cable-lock workaround, the no-storage issue comes into play.

You can absolutely put a cable lock under the seat. I've got two small cable locks, and a larger bicycle lock I use to lock up my jacket if I don't want to wear it when I go someplace. I've got a 2019 V7III stone, so we have the same amount of storage. It is certainly not much, but you can definitely fit a few small things. 

[della moto]

You can absolutely put a cable lock under the seat. I've got two small cable locks, and a larger bicycle lock I use to lock up my jacket if I don't want to wear it when I go someplace. I've got a 2019 V7III stone, so we have the same amount of storage. It is certainly not much, but you can definitely fit a few small things.

You're right. As Dimitri pointed out, there is the hollow space in the underside of the seat to smash stuff down. When I took the seat off and saw the fuses, airbox, the rear fender, and no sort of tray or whatnot, that wasn't my first instinct, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks.

[della moto]

1/8" aluminium plate is great for making little brackets or hooks but you need a vice to clamp it while you cut with a hacksaw or my favourite fine tooth coping saw.
you can also use extruded bar but it tends to be brittle if you bend it sharply. Aluminium polishes nicely with a buffing wheel and holds a nice shine.

I used 1/4" for the two Top Box side rails and borrowed a band saw to cut them out.
I never drill holes in my bikes but any spare threaded holes are there for the use of.

Nice work, Roy.