Don't carry your helmet on your head.

[bikemike]

I've found myself stuck in a new bad habit.

I put all my gear on then head out to the garage and check the bike before riding off. On the way I often carry a few things, either for the garage, or to lob in my topbox. So I put my helmet on my head to keep an extra hand free.

Don't do this. You may forget to do up the strap.

How do I break this habit? I have forgotten maybe 4 times in the last month!


Helmet on, strap up.

[Motu]

Helmet is the 2nd to last thing before I swing a leg over.Helmet on,then gloves - I'm ready to go.Break the routine and you get it wrong.Habits are boring,but some things need to be automatic.

[sleemanj]

Simple, if your helmet is on, do up the strap, don't put it on without strapping it on.

And don't forget to do a pretakeoff check right before you start rolling, gloves cinched, helmet strapped tight and comfortable, jacket comfortable, laces secured etc... all things that can make for a bad day if you forget.

[Laxi]

Simple, if your helmet is on, do up the strap, don't put it on without strapping it on.

yep! pretty basic shit really

[TOTO]

put the rest of the stuff on your head and carry the helmet in your hand

[Mom]

Routine. Same thing each time you get on your bike. Mine goes a bit like this, start my bike, jacket on and done up, helmet on, sunglasses on, gloves on. Get on bike, kickstand up, select first and go.

Never changes, just becomes automatic.

[oldrider]

Routine. Never changes, just becomes automatic.

That comment, my good woman, could be a bit disturbing ..........! ...........

[Sidewinder]

ive done it at the track and got out tryn to do it up lol. thank god they check that shit on the dummie grid on race days.

its kinda like needing your mum to dress you

[Zerker]

done it once.
2 feet down the road before I realised it.
routine is setup nicely now though.

why don't you leave your helmet on your bike? or in the garage, it's one less thing to carry. that or strap it up when you put it on :P

Zerker

[CookMySock]

It used to happen a lot for me until I got a helmet with a ratchet clip. Now its so quick and easy to do it up and unclip it, it gets done, even with gloves on.

Steve

[Danae]

Whenever I put my helmet on the strap goes on too...my pre ride routine seems similar to what's been posted already.

[p.dath]

I tend to go and put my helmet and gloves beside my bike when at home. Then go and get the rest of my kit on.

Then when I come back out to my bike it's the last things I put on.

[That looks like fun]

As an apprentice mechanic (a lifetime ago) I was taught a rule and it applied to a very important thing. That thing was called (no not a helmet strap) a sump plug. It was a very important piece of the engine Its purpose in life was to stop the lubricating stuff (or oil as we called it in the trade) from falling out the hole (drain hole it was called, darned if I ever learnt why). To do this it needed to stay in the hole
The rule of the sump plug is very simple, If you take it out, leave it out. When you put it back in, tighten it up
Same rule can be used for other important things too, like lets say for example a crash helmet Now repeat after me, if I take it off leave it off. When I put it on, I do it up

[Usarka]

Helmet is the 2nd to last thing before I swing a leg over.Helmet on,then gloves - I'm ready to go.

And there is nothing more embarrasing with a group of riders than putting your gloves on first,

[gegvasco]

Try this - before putting the leg over think "Strap, zip, lock"

Strap = helmet done up properly
Zip = pockets zipped up
Lock = disc lock off, luggage locks on

Obviously the luggage thing is appropriate to your setup (eg. zips, buckles etc).

Strap, zip, lock

Strap, zip, lock

Strap, zip, lock

Of course, some might also want to use this reminder before throwing the leg over in other circumstances as well