You have mentioned one of the most inconvenient things about motorcycles for me and it has been a struggle to think of solutions.
For a while I would just bring a backpack or my Chrome Messenger bag and I would take off my overpants and put it in my bag and just wear my jacket and carry my helmet with the gloves inside. That was ok for about 6 months until I got completely tired of it, so eventually I schemed and saved until I could afford a Givi toprack system. It is this locking hardcase that extends off the rear tail of your motorcycle. The case locks to the bike, and it also locks closed. My case can fit 2 full sized full face helmets in it. What I normally do though is put my jacket, gloves, and overpants and shove all those in my case and just carry my helmet around (besides, carrying a helmet makes you look cool).
Something I’ve also been doing lately is carrying a steel cable bicycle lock inside my givi case. That way if I already have some stuff in my case I can thread the cable through my jacket/pants/helmet and lock all of them to my motorcycle forks. I’ve done this a couple times so far, and it might look a little strange to leave all your clothes on the bike, but so far I haven’t had any gear stolen and it all seems fairly secure. Just make sure to take anything valuable out of your jacket/overpants pockets before you lock them up!
I find that if you can find a way to stash the overpants than you have won more than half the battle since they are the most akward to wear around town. A possible solution (but one too expensive for me right now) is to get pants that you would be comfortable with off the bike. I know BMW sells some Santiago pants and some Summer pants that look really great off the bike. The summer pants even zip in half at the legs and become shorts! Most BMW gear is just too pricey for me which is why I haven’t pulled the trigger on any of that gear yet.
In conclusion I almost always carry my helmet with me, and I find sometimes it can be useful. When I go to the movies I use my helmet as a little basket and carry my candy and popcorn in it, I do the same thing at the grocery store if I don’t plan on getting too much stuff.
Hope all that helps.
Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin
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