I hate Christmas shopping and as a result, I almost always wait until the last minute and go online shopping crazy in the week before Christmas. Does this sound familiar?
Even worse, sometimes the holidays pass without me being able to find something for everyone on my list. Thankfully, post-holiday deals are out there for those of us still looking for some great holiday bargains.
Cycle Gear gift cards make a wonderful last minute motorcycle gifts. You can even buy them online. While some people think gift cards don’t carry enough emotional context, it’s hard to always know exactly what accessory or gear someone needs or wants. Gift cards like these ensure your giftee gets exactly what they are looking for.
If you are stuck and don’t know what to get the biker on your Christmas list, then got to Cycle Gear’s Great Gifts section for riders and non-riders. This section will give you some quick ideas for great biker gifts. They have suggestions for motorcycle apparel, DOT helmets, saddle bags, and other biker stocking stuffers.
Imagine going to a bar and asking the bartender to make you a stiff drink. He comes back with a concoction and when you ask what it is, he says it’s called a Suicide Mojito. Would you drink it? What if your grandmother brought you dessert and said this is her world famous suicide chocolate cake. Would you eat it?
I’m not eating, drinking, or riding anything that has the word suicide in it.
Suicide shifters on motorcycles are relics from the mid 20th century and are not found on any current production motorcycles in the world. Why? Because they are too damn dangerous. Often bikes with suicide shifters did not have front brakes and required the biker to take his hand off the handle bars to shift. Not cool.
Motorcycle fabricators make their own suicide shifters for extreme custom bikes because suicide shifters cannot be purchased in the motorcycle aftermarket. If you are thinking about building a custom motorcycle, forget about the suicide shifter. They are too dangerous and only good in bike shows.
I have to admit, whenever I ride I put on a pair of Lucky Brand Jeans and hit the streets. I never considered wearing anything else because, that’s just what I like to wear.
But there are lots of options.
- Xelement Jeans: These stylish jeans come in many varieties and start at about $30. They have regular heavyweight jeans and racing style motorcycle jeans with removable inserts. Xelement also has some of the lowest price leather motorcycle pants on the market. Leather pants are not for everyone and are not for all climates but I have been told they are among the most comfortable and durable pants for motorcycling.
- Diamond Gusset Motorcycle Jeans: These jeans are soft and considered among the most comfortable jeans in the motorcycle market. The diamond gusset gives these jeans some extra space in the seat area making them very comfortable when seated for long periods. Priced under $40, these jeans are a winner.
- Dickies Jeans and Pants: Dickies makes heavyweight jeans and pants mainly for industrial usage. Bikers have discovered these inexpensive and durable jeans to be a much better option than wearing expensive fashion oriented jeans.
- SHIFT Lodown Motorcycle Jeans: This company is pretty new to the motorcycle apparel market but their baggy, slightly heavy jeans are great for riding and relaxing. At approximately $70, they are not overly expensive either.
- Joe Rocket ‘Steel” Jeans: While these jeans look and feel more like regular jeans, they have a feature that may be hard for some bikers to get used to. The fit of these jeans can best be described as ‘low rise’ as the waist sits lower than most jeans. This may make these jeans a less than desirable choice for some bikers.
- Duluth Trading Company Fire Hose Loggers: These jeans are made from the same canvas material as fire hoses but soft and supple. These somewhat oversized jeans are generous in the leg and waist areas and have enough leg room to accommodate protective armor. Priced under $50 these jeans are great especially for riders in cooler weather areas.
- Maverick “Sidewinders” Polartec Polar Flannel Lined Jeans: These jeans are perfectly geared for bikers in cold weather climate. The flannel lining not only keeps the rider warm but feels great against the skin. Looking great, staying warm, and only paying $60 is a great way to enjoy a motorcycle ride when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.
You can always jump on your bike in your favorite jeans but I think it makes sense to add a few pairs of motorcycle specific jeans or pants into your apparel collection.
Every biker has his or her own style. That style is expressed through their bike, motorcycle apparel, and attitude.
I live in sunny South Florida so instead of wearing full leather motorcycle jackets, I tend to wear vests. To me, the motorcycle vest is one of the best and coolest motorcycle accessories a biker can own. I have several and depending on my mood, I wear each one of them almost equally.
But not all vests are created the same.
When I first started riding I ordered what I thought was a cool vest and when I tried it on, I knew right away I was going to return it. With that vest on, I looked like a member of the Village People and that was not the look I was trying to achieve.
It doesn’t matter what I think. Each biker has his or her own style and what doesn’t work for me may be the best choice for someone else. Personally, I like the bulletproof style vests and vests that have a crew neck. I also only wear leather vests because to me, they look the best.
If you don’t have any vests, put them on your Christmas or birthday list.
I’m all for being in the Holiday spirit but some things just don’t go together.
For example, the other day I saw a guy riding a brand 2009 Yamaha Warrior with a pair of Croc Clogs on. Not cool. In my opinion, he might as well have been wearing an alien costume.
The same goes for bikers wearing Santa Klaus hats. OK, I understand why they do it but I just don’t like it. I’ve even seen a biker with a Christmas wreath attached to the front of his bike. Again, not cool at all.
I did a little research and couldn’t really find a lot of options for bikers who want to show they are all about the Holidays. I did find a few t-shirts that every Christmas loving biker should have a wear every Holiday season. In fact, I ordered mine yesterday.
I know it’s the Holidays and maybe I should soften up my attitude a bit. On second thought, no I shouldn’t. Bikers should always look cool and wear cool and appropriate biker gear all year long. If you see me riding, I will be riding with my “Bad Santa” shirt on and hopefully you will too, underneath a leather jacket of course.
It’s getting late and many folks, myself included, have not finished Christmas shopping. Don’t worry, it’s not too late but you have to act fast.
During my normal web surfing and motorcycle magazine reading, I came across a motorcycle accessory that is really cool and frightening at the same time. To me, this would make an excellent biker gift. In fact, I bought one for myself!
Cruiser riders who opt to wear half motorcycle helmets will love the Mauls from Solid State Covers. Not only do they protect riders’ faces from bugs and debris, they look incredibly menacing. Next Halloween, I also plan on wearing it to scare the heck out of the kids in my neighborhood. It’s very unique and I have not seen a biker with this item yet.
Couple this gift with a new half helmet from HeadTrip and your biker will be very happy with his or her Christmas. You may have to opt for expedited shipping at this point but it will be worth it.
The economy is doing badly and we all know it. We also know that there is very little we can do to improve the situation. It is what it is.
That doesn’t have to mean that life has to stop.
There is no reason for people who have the ability to pursue their hobbies to completely put the breaks on the things they love. Sitting at home stuffing your mattress with every extra dime is not the solution. Life is too short for that.
For bikers, this is especially true. There is absolutely no reason why motorcycle lovers cannot have their cake and eat it too.
I am not suggesting that it makes sense to go out and buy the latest and most expensive 2010 motorcycle on the market. I’m suggesting that bikers get tough and creative during these times. There are lots of ways to continue riding even if you are experiencing some financial hardships.
- DIY: Instead of taking your bike to your local motorcycle mechanic for every little thing, take some time and learn to do basic motorcycle maintenance yourself. You’ll find that with your owner manual and a good motorcycle shop manual, you’ll be able to figure most things out yourself.
- Trade Down: Instead of getting rid of your bike completely, trade down to a less expensive bike. That way, you can continue to ride and get some cash in your pocket. No one wants to trade down from a Harley Road King to a Honda VTX but at least you are still on the road.
- Project Bikes: Finding low cost project motorcycles and parts is easier than you might think. With some guidance and a few books, you can probably accomplish 75% of the work yourself.
- Swap Meets: Some of the best deals on parts can be found at swap meets, flea markets, and motorcycle salvage yards. You can find the parts that you need at a fraction of the cost at motorcycle retailers and online stores.
- Research: Don’t make a quick move regardless if you are buying, selling, upgrading, or downgrading your bike. There are deals out there regardless of your situation. Get online and check out all of the best sources out there before making a decision.
The hallmark of the biker world is creativity. Thinking outside of the box can help you get through this tough economic time while keeping your love of motorcycles rolling strong.
I have purchased dozens of motorcycle related products from a wide variety of online sources. Sites like Scootworks, Meancycles, and Leatherup are among my favorite.
I have to admit, before I got to any of those sites, I check Craigslist first.
Craigslist is not a motorcycle site or a social network. Craigslist is a bulletin board site organized by country, state, and city that allowing regular people to post ads regarding a wide variety of subjects ranging from jobs, activities, and personal ads.
The ‘For Sale’ section of the site is very robust and individuals can find a wide variety of items and rock bottom prices. This is especially true regarding motorcycles and motorcycle related products. In this economy, many people list their motorcycles for sale for much needed cash. This means great deals for anyone who has some money and a need for a motorcycle product.
Whenever buying a used motorcycle or product, make sure to do your due diligence. Craisglist is filled with honest people but unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulous buyers and sellers that will try to take your money.
With a little caution and common sense, you’ll be pleased with the experience.
Unfortunately, motorcycle insurance is not required as a condition of ownership. As a result, not all motorcyclists have coverage in case of damage or theft.
To me, this makes absolutely no sense. Even used motorcycles cost several thousand dollars. And after a few upgrades and motorcycle accessories, that bike can easily have a combined value of $10,000 -$20,000.
What’s even crazier is that motorcycles are incredibly easy to steal. Wheel locks are easily broken, pop the bike into neutral, roll it up a bike ramp into a truck bed, tie it down, and your bike is gone in 60 seconds flat. Motorcycle theft has been relatively flat over the past few years but in today’s challenging economic climate, motorcycle theft is surely going to rise. Stolen bikes without a GPS tracking device are almost never recovered.
With a few clicks of a mouse or a phone call to your vehicle insurance provider, you can get a quote and see if it fits your budget. Progressive Insurance and Geico seem to be two companies vying for motorcyclist insurance dollars. It may be worth checking out.
I guarantee that the insurance premium will be cheaper than having to replace your bike out of pocket.
At motorcycle events and gatherings, bikers frequently try to outdo each other. This usually takes place through their bikes. Bikers spend thousands of dollars to make sure their bike makes their friends a little bit green with envy. Bikers also try to outdo each other with motorcycle apparel and accessories too.
One thing is for certain, bikers love to show how much they know about bikes, the motorcycle industry, current events, and people.
One of the best ways to stay on pace with happenings around the motorcycle world is to subscribe to a few motorcycle magazines. There are dozens of magazines that take on all types of subjects like motorcycle reviews, new products, accessories, how to guides, people, events, races, technology, featured custom builders, and much more.
Magazines like Iron Horse, American Iron, Motorcycling, Motorcyclist, V-Twin, and Ultimate Motorcycling are a few to check out. With a little online research, you can find the right motorcycle magazine for your taste.
One of the best parts of most of these magazines is the feedback or reader comments sections. It’s great to hear from the experts but even better to hear from everyday bikers.
