Gifts for Motorcycle Riders That Earn a Place in the Garage
Riders are hard people to shop for. Most of them already own the gear they trust, and they chose it after long evenings of reading and comparing. They also have strong opinions about everything that touches the bike. The good news is that the riding life has plenty of small needs and a few old traditions, and a thoughtful gift can land on either one.
This guide collects gifts for motorcycle riders that hold up after the wrapping paper is gone. It starts with practical gear and experiences and moves on to keepsakes. A few answers to common questions close it out.
Know the Rider Before You Buy
A commuter who rides to work in all seasons needs different things from a weekend rider who waits for a sunny Sunday. A touring rider who crosses several states each summer thinks about comfort and luggage. Someone new to riding is still building a kit and will appreciate the basics far more than a novelty.
Pay attention to the bike as well. A rider on a cruiser lives in a different culture from a rider on a sport bike, and an adventure bike owner may spend half of every trip on gravel. If you can, glance at the garage before you shop. Whatever looks worn out or borrowed is a good hint.
One firm rule applies to almost every rider: leave the helmet to them. Fit is personal and sizing varies from maker to maker. A helmet is also the piece of gear riders guard most closely. The same goes for riding jackets and boots, which need to be tried on.
Practical Gifts That Get Used Every Ride
Practical gifts tend to become favorites, because a rider reaches for them on every outing. A few that rarely miss:
- Heated gloves or a heated vest, which stretch the riding season into the cold months
- A Bluetooth helmet communicator for navigation prompts and conversation with a passenger
- Reusable earplugs made for riding, since wind noise at highway speed tires the ears quickly
- A good tire pressure gauge that lives in a jacket pocket or under the seat
- A packable rain suit that folds small enough to ride along on every trip
- A quality bike cover for the rider who parks outdoors
Experiences make excellent gifts too. An advanced rider course sharpens skills even for people with decades in the saddle, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers courses through training sites across the country. A track day with instruction is a thrill for a sport bike rider. For a touring couple, a night at a motorcycle-friendly inn on a famous scenic road is a weekend they will talk about for years.
Small Traditions and Keepsakes
Riding culture is full of small customs. Riders in the US greet each other with a low wave of the left hand as they pass. Many also carry a small bell on the bike, a guardian bell that legend says keeps road gremlins away. According to the tradition, the bell works best when someone else gives it to you, which makes it one of the few gifts that is supposed to come from a friend.
Keepsakes work well for riders because so many of their best memories happen far from home. A framed map of a favorite route, marked by hand with the stops and the dates, hangs well in a garage or a den. A printed photo book from a long trip makes a lovely surprise for a riding partner.
A Motorcycle Keychain They Will Carry
A rider's keys go everywhere the bike goes, which makes a keychain one of the few gifts that rides along on every trip. Our motorcycle keychains each carry a standard bike in side profile, die-pressed into full-grain leather above a line riders actually say. "Rubber side / DOWN" is the parking-lot farewell, a wish to keep the tires on the pavement. "Wind / THERAPY" names the reason for the ride.
For a woman who rides, "Lena / RIDES HER OWN" puts her own first name above the phrase many women riders use for themselves. You type her name when you order, and it takes the place of Lena on the front. Each keychain is stamped on one side only and made by hand to order, with free US shipping.
Leather color is the other choice. The deep shades suit riders well, with black and dark espresso as the classic picks. On black leather the blind deboss shows best in low slanting light, and gold foil can be added at checkout for a design that catches the eye. Full-grain leather darkens and softens as it rides in a jacket pocket through a season.
Gifts for the Whole Riding Household
Many riders share the road with someone, and gifts that include the passenger or the person at home go a long way. The wider car and motorcycle keychains collection holds designs for the rest of the garage, from the family mechanic to the new driver who just earned a license.
For the couple who plans every vacation around a long ride, our road trip travel keychains carry lines like "Take the / BACK ROADS" and "Long way / HOME" under a route shield or an open road. A pair makes a fitting present before a big summer trip, one fob for each set of keys.
Timing helps too. Many riders bring the bike out of storage in spring, and a gift that arrives just before the first warm weekend feels perfectly placed. Since every keychain is made by hand to order, it pays to order early ahead of a birthday or the holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good gifts for motorcycle riders who seem to have everything?
Look for things that wear out or get left behind, such as riding earplugs or a fresh rain suit. A riding course or a track day suits the experienced rider, and a motorcycle keychain with a line they say often is a keepsake they will carry on every ride.
Should I buy a helmet as a gift?
It is usually best to leave the helmet to the rider. Fit and comfort depend on head shape and on the maker, so a gift card to a gear shop is the kinder option if a new helmet is on the wish list.
Can a motorcycle keychain carry a name?
Yes. The "RIDES HER OWN" design takes her first name on the front, in brush script above the capitals. Keychains are stamped on one side only.
