Gifts for Motorcycle Riders That Don't Need a Fitting
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 19 hand-picked ideas
Riders are easy to spot even off the bike: the helmet carried into the coffee shop, the habit of checking the forecast three times before a weekend, the way they glance at every motorcycle in the parking lot. Buying for them looks simple, because a rider needs so much gear. In practice, the most important gear is the hardest to buy for someone else.
So this page starts by explaining why helmets, jackets and gloves are best chosen by the rider, and what you can do instead. Then it moves to gifts for looking after the bike, gear for longer rides, pocket-size gifts under $25, and things for the garage and the off-season when the bike is parked.
If they love cars as well, see gifts for car lovers. Riders who wrench on their own bikes may find more garage ideas in gifts for woodworkers and DIYers.
Know exactly who it's for?
Tell Truly about them in a sentence. You'll get ideas picked for them, each with a reason why.
Giftruly is reader-supported. When you buy through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we pick
The short list
Helmets, jackets and gloves: let them choose
Protective gear only protects if it fits, and fit is personal. Helmets are made for different head shapes, from round to long oval, and a helmet in the right size but the wrong shape can cause painful pressure points within an hour, or sit loosely enough to move in a crash. Riders should try helmets on in person, check for a DOT label (many also look for ECE 22.06 or Snell ratings) and replace one after any impact or when it gets old; many manufacturers suggest about every five years. Jackets, pants and gloves need to fit in the riding position, with armor sitting over the shoulders, elbows and knees where it belongs.
If they need new gear, offer to pay and go shopping together, or give a gift card to a motorcycle gear shop with a note saying what it's for. Another excellent gift is a training course. Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses run across the country, from the Basic RiderCourse for new riders (which can count toward the license test in many states) to advanced courses that experienced riders say sharpen habits they didn't know they'd lost.
Looking after the bike
Riders tend to care about their bikes the way some people care about pets. These gifts help with the routine maintenance and storage that keep a motorcycle healthy, and none of them depend on the rider's size.
- 1
Motorcycle Battery Tender
~$35
A smart charger that keeps the battery topped up while the bike sits, through winter or a busy month. Motorcycle batteries are small and drain on their own, and a dead one is the most common reason a bike won't start in spring. Riders usually leave a quick-connect lead attached so plugging in takes seconds. If the bike has a lithium battery, make sure the charger supports it.
- 2
Motorcycle Chain Lube and Cleaner Kit
~$18
Cleaner, chain lube and a brush for the regular job of keeping a drive chain from wearing out early. Chain riders go through these products constantly, so it's a welcome consumable gift. Check first, though: many cruisers use a belt drive and some touring bikes use a shaft, and neither needs chain lube.
- 3
Motorcycle Rear Paddock Stand
~$75
A stand that lifts the rear wheel off the ground for chain cleaning, tire checks and storage. It's a big help for sport and naked bikes, but it only works with the right fittings: spool bobbins on the swingarm or the pads that slide under it. Bikes with a center stand don't need one, and single-sided swingarms need a special version, so confirm the model first.
- 4
Waterproof Motorcycle Cover
~$40
A cover that keeps rain, dust, bird droppings and sun off a bike parked outside or in a shared garage. It also keeps the bike out of sight, which helps with theft. Remind them to let the exhaust cool before covering, unless the cover has heat-resistant panels, and check the size suits the bike, especially if it has a tall windscreen or luggage.
Gear for longer rides
Once a rider starts doing day trips and weekend tours, they need ways to navigate, communicate, carry things and fix small problems far from home.
- Our favorite5
Motorcycle Bluetooth Helmet Headset
~$110
A headset that mounts on the helmet for navigation directions, music, calls and rider-to-rider intercom. For anyone who rides with a partner or a group, intercom changes the experience: no more hand signals at every turn. The speakers need to fit in the helmet's ear pockets, and intercom between riders often works best with the same brand, so ask what their riding friends use. Some helmets are designed for a specific built-in unit.
- 6
Magnetic Motorcycle Tank Bag
~$55
A bag that sits on the fuel tank with a clear map pocket on top, handy for snacks, a rain layer and a phone. Magnets only work on steel tanks, and many modern bikes have plastic or aluminum tanks or plastic covers over them. Check with a fridge magnet before you buy; if it doesn't stick, look for a strap-on or ring-mounted bag instead.
- 7
Motorcycle Phone Mount with Vibration Dampener
~$30
A handlebar phone mount with a dampener between the mount and the phone. The dampener matters: Apple has warned that strong motorcycle vibrations can damage the image stabilization in iPhone cameras. Good for a rider who navigates by phone. Check their handlebar diameter and whether the mount suits their bars or mirror stem.
- 8
Motorcycle Tubeless Tire Plug Kit
~$25
A compact kit with a reamer, plugs and CO2 cartridges to fix a nail puncture at the roadside and ride carefully to a shop. It turns a ruined day into a short delay. It only works on tubeless tires, and many spoked wheels use inner tubes, so check the sidewall or ask before buying. A plug is a get-home fix, not a permanent repair.
- 9
Compact Motorcycle Tool Kit
~$35
A small roll-up kit with the wrenches, sockets and bits most bikes need for roadside adjustments, sized to fit under a seat or in a tail bag. The tool kits that come with motorcycles are often flimsy or missing. A sensible gift for anyone planning longer trips.
Pocket-size gifts under $25
Small, cheap and used on almost every ride. Ideal for stockings or a birthday card.
10.Motorcycle Kickstand Pad ~$10
A puck that goes under the kickstand on grass, gravel or soft summer asphalt. It stops a parked bike from sinking and tipping over.
11.Digital Motorcycle Tire Pressure Gauge ~$15
An angled gauge that reaches valves between spokes and rotors. Pressure matters a lot on two tires, so riders should check it often.
12.High-Fidelity Earplugs for Riding ~$15
Wind noise at highway speed is loud enough to damage hearing over time. These cut it while keeping traffic sounds clear.
13.Helmet Visor Cleaner and Microfiber Kit ~$12
A cleaner made for coated visors, which household glass cleaner can damage. Bugs come off easily and the view stays clear.
14.Windproof Riding Neck Gaiter ~$12
Blocks the cold draft that sneaks in at the collar on early-morning rides. Thin enough to wear under any helmet.
15.Motorcycle Disc Brake Lock with Reminder Cable ~$22
A lock that clamps onto the brake rotor, with a bright cable to the handlebar so they don't ride off with it still attached.
For the garage and the off-season
For the months when the bike is parked and the rider is restless.
- 16~$25
Wall-Mounted Motorcycle Helmet Rack
A rounded wall holder for a helmet, with hooks for a jacket and gloves. Better than hanging a helmet on a mirror, which can dent the liner.
Motorcycle RidersHomebodiespractical - 17~$35
Waxed Canvas Tool Roll
A tough canvas roll for a rider's own favorite tools, which ties shut and stows under a seat. Ages nicely with use and grease.
Woodworkers & DIYersCar Loverspractical - 18~$17
Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
Two friends ride from London to New York, the long way. A winter read that will have them planning a trip, and the TV series is fun too.
Motorcycle RidersTravelersfun - 19~$17
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The 1970s classic about a father and son's motorcycle trip. More philosophy than repair manual, so give it to a thoughtful reader.
Motorcycle RidersBook Loverssentimental
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
Riding rules for gift-givers
Don't buy a helmet, jacket or gloves as a surprise. Fit is personal and safety depends on it; offer a gift card or a shopping trip instead.
Learn what they ride. Chain, belt or shaft drive, steel or plastic tank, tubeless or tubed tires: each changes what will be useful.
Check how they ride. Commuters, weekend canyon riders and long-distance tourers need different gear.
Training is a gift. An advanced riding course is something many riders would value but rarely book for themselves.
Need help matching gifts to their bike? Describe their riding to our gift finder.
Motorcycle gift questions
Can I buy a motorcycle helmet as a gift?
It's risky. Helmets need to match both head size and head shape, and the rider should try them on. A gift card to a gear shop, or a trip together to try helmets, is the better way to give one.
What's a good gift for a new motorcycle rider?
A Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, a battery tender, a tire pressure gauge, a kickstand pad, riding earplugs and a disc lock are all useful from the first season. Help with buying properly fitted protective gear is also a great gift.
What do you get a motorcycle rider who has everything?
Try a tubeless tire plug kit for long trips, a helmet intercom if they ride with others, an advanced riding course, or a book like Long Way Round for the off-season.
What are cheap gifts for motorcycle riders?
A kickstand pad, a digital tire gauge, visor cleaner, a neck gaiter, high-fidelity earplugs or chain lube all cost under $25.
One last idea that costs nothing: ride with them, or ride along. Riders love company on a good road, and if you don't ride, being the person who drives the chase car with the cooler, or who meets them at the diner at the end of the loop, is a gift they'll remember long after the gadgets.