Janus Motorcycles of Goshen, Indiana, caters to riders who favor light, simple, classically styled motorcycles. While the company’s machines channel a much earlier era in motorcycle history, Janus has a growing list of available models, with a range of options to give each machine a “one-off” look, along with apparel and accessories. One of the newest accessories Janus offers is a piece of gear that I find particularly important. The Janus Motorcycles helmet lock is uniquely functional, with a beautiful finish and precise fitment.
Finished in black satin powder coat with a laser-etched Janus logo on the body and constructed of a die-cast steel body with a spring-loaded steel bolt and steel mounting clamp, the unit is built to last. The lock mechanism is accompanied by two keys, and the mounting clamp includes two flexible spacers to allow the lock to mount securely on handlebars or round frame tubes ranging from 3/4-inch to 1-inch in diameter.
The mount has a unique design. Instead of two non-reversible screws that are exposed when the lock is in use, as with some other helmet locks, the Janus clamp can be closed with a single hex socket head bolt that is under the lock’s curved bolt (the chromed hook that goes through the helmet’s D-rings to lock into the lock’s base) when it is closed. This makes the fastener inaccessible when the lock is in use. When exposed, the hex socket head bolt can be loosened, allowing the lock to be repositioned or transferred to another motorcycle.
Installation on my 2007 Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster was completed in about 10 minutes, including time to shoot some images. Opening the curved lock bolt provides access to one of the two hex socket bolts that hold the lock together; a hex key is provided. Back the hex socket off far enough to provide access to the second hex socket and remove that one to allow the clamp to be placed around the mounting bar. As the Sportster has a one-inch-diameter bar, the spacers for a smaller bar were not needed.
Snug up the bolts to allow readjustment of the lock’s position for the best helmet attachment, then tighten the hex sockets. I put a few drops of WD-40 into the lock mechanism to complete the installation.
The Janus helmet lock has some advantages over other locks I have looked at. The Janus lock comes with bi-directional keys, rather than the usual unidirectional key. Unidirectional keys can be a hassle because they must be oriented properly to insert. That can be difficult when a helmet is in place, particularly in low light.
Another disadvantage of some other locks is that the key must remain in the unlocked position to reinsert the bolt and lock the helmet on, and it must then be manually turned to the locked position after the bolt is pushed in.
Although that would seem easy enough, in practice, it is not necessarily the case. If the bolt is not fully inserted into the lock body, the lock may swing open, and the helmet may fall.
If the lock is not spring-loaded, it can be awkward to open while holding the key in the unlock position. With the Janus lock, the key need not be in the lock when the lock is closed to secure the helmet; just place the helmet’s D-rings into the curved bolt and push the bolt into the base until it clicks into the locked position.
Some helmets, such as the AGV Streetmodular, have a ratchet-style buckle rather than the traditional double-D ring chinstrap fastener. In that case, I get a large, heavy-duty key ring and attach it to the chin strap, threading it on the same way a key would be attached; cutting or modifying the chin strap is not necessary.
The Janus Motorcycle helmet lock is a stylish way to secure your helmet to your motorcycle when you can’t be around to monitor it. The fit and finish are excellent, and the entire unit is well thought out. For $25, it’s a functional touch of customization that also looks good.
