I demand commiseration!

[Ed89]

I parked at Waikiki zoo, went over to Starbucks to get some studying done.  Came out 2 hours later, helmet gone.

The needy citizen forced apart my seat enough to unhook the helmet.  Threw my gloves on the ground.  It was a really old and beat up and smelly Shoei RF-R that I bought in 96.  I didn't even think anyone would want to steal that.  Oh well, time for a new helmet.  The seat is also jammed now.  I suppose I'll have to fix that tomorrow.

Things I have to put up with to ride.  Keep the rubber side down!


Cheers,
e.

[dsmirnov83]

Didn't realize you could do that :dunno: ... sorry for your loss, but it sounds like you get to do the thing we all love best.   Shop for bike stuff!!!

About the jammed seat; slide it forward and back to loosen the pegs, not side to side. And don't try opening it with your only key, you can make a copy from a "suz 12" blank. Call some local hardware stores and just ask them if they have them (not all do). Good luck.
Cheers
-Denis S.

[Jared]

I know how much that sucks... I had a helmet stolen off my bike too....


BUT.... you bought the helmet in 96.... If memory serves the Polystyrene -type inner shells only really hold up for about 5 years and then they recommend that you replace them as they won't protect your head as well after that...(ever notice how old styrofoam coolers get really brittle?)...

So maybe someone did you a favor (in a really crappy way...). It still sucks alot...


As far as your seat... have someone try to turn the key while you take your fist and smack down on the seat right on top of the latch mechanism. If they didn't mangle it too bad that might get it loose....

Good luck..

[Ed89]

Thanks for the sympathies.  :lol:  I'll definitely try the seat removal tips from you guys.  I did actually break a key once struggling with the seat latch.  My only key then.  Took both pieces to ACE Hardware and they managed to make a new key out of the two pieces.  After that experience, I now have 3 keys for the GS.  :mrgreen: The generic blank is kinda soft.

The helmet is beat up.  As I said, I am surprised that anyone wanted to even steal it.  Maybe it was dark and all they could see was the SHOEI sticker.  Who knows. :dunno:

Ride safe!

Cheers,
e.

[manofthefield]

I did actually break a key once struggling with the seat latch.  My only key then.  Took both pieces to ACE Hardware and they managed to make a new key out of the two pieces.  After that experience, I now have 3 keys for the GS.  :mrgreen:

I used to work at an ACE and had to make one new key out of two broken pieces one time.  The stupid lady was picking rocks out of her minivan tire, and she was shocked that her key broke! :lol:   Then the stupid &@%^$ was wondering why it took me so long to make a copy. :guns:   But it apparently worked.  The nice thing about workin at the hardware store was that I had many copies of all my keys, so I never had to wear out the originals.

[b1k3r 3li+3]

man i dun leave my helmet on bike unless its for a quick minute or so were as i have the bike in my site. if off bike longer i take my helmet with me.  Heard horror stories of trash, cig butts, etc put into helmets left on bikes.  I will not risk having that done, to smart for that shaZam!  :lol:

[Ed89]

man i dun leave my helmet on bike unless its for a quick minute or so were as i have the bike in my site. if off bike longer i take my helmet with me.  Heard horror stories of trash, cig butts, etc put into helmets left on bikes.  I will not risk having that done, to smart for that shaZam!  :lol:

I hear you.  There is an amazing amount of petty crime in Honolulu.  So let this be a caution to those who are coming here for vacation.  Hawaii is a very beautiful place if you have not been to a tropical island before, and is really well worth a visit.  But this is not sanitized ala Disneyland.  In the last 6 months or so, I have had my apartment broken into, conned at Waikiki (lots of them weirdos and cranks and shifty characters on Waikiki), and now got my helmet borrowed.    Still, being able to ride all year round and play soccer every week next to Waikiki across from the beach is worth the drawbacks.

Anyway, the seat latch was damaged.  The guy must have used a lot of force to pry my seat open.  The brass (?) top piece on the latch mechanism was bent, the rivets holding it were done for, and the spring loaded latch inside was also bent!    Luckily he/they had more brawn than brain, because there is no damage that indicate any leveraging tool (screwdriver, etc.) was used.  Just brute force.  Actually, there was a patch of dried bird dropping around that area that is a little "cleaned up".  So they guy must have some bird crap on his hand for his trouble.  Take that!  :mrgreen:

It was nothing some TLC couldn't fix.  The latch is good again now.  In fact, better than it was before with the sticking point gone.  

Ride safe!

[john]

People will steal anything I'll tell ya  

FWIW I never leave the helmet on the bike.  I take it with me.  I have heard too many stories like yours...