Gary’s Christmas gift guide 2021 for the ultimate motorcyclist [Two Top 5s!]

It’s an annual event or dilemma, depending on your point of view – choosing the right Christmas present to get that special motorcyclist, be it a spouse, significant other, lifelong rider, best screwdriver friend, or whatever.

Santa Claus Photo Credit: Andrew Lozovyi, deposit photos

For budgetary reasons, we do not consider extravagant gifts such as a new motorcycle. A bike could fit the bill for any rider you can think of, although you may find it difficult to pick the right one for someone else.

Instead, I focus on gift ideas that can be made with an effort that leaves room for the gift buyer for groceries and clothing. I’ll also be focusing on gift ideas based on products that we got insight into through virtue reviews here at UltimateMotorcycling.com.

Think of these as general ideas. You might prefer different brands than what we looked at, but the type of product is a great idea. In addition, the availability of certain models or item styles may change as newer models appear. Technology-based, software-dependent gifts may also have subscription or update fees or conditions that affect costs and usage.

I have not tried to rank the ideas in terms of cost or desirability. The use of the “top five” is completely subjective to me. In other words, I’m just throwing out a few ideas to help you gift, and I’m sending those ideas along with my best wishes for a safe and happy holiday!

1. Klim Ai-1 Airbag West. Safety first, right? Because of this adage, we’ve put one of the more recent types of safety innovations in powersports at the top of the list. It was only a few years ago that the idea of ​​a portable airbag emerged on the racing scene. Reviewed June by the Editor at Large Neil Wyenn, the Klim Ai-1 Airbag West is a potentially life-saving addition to any driver’s personal protective equipment. However, it is a safety device that requires more owner attention and gear than the basic motorcycle jacket Neil well describes in his review. However, the benefits of this type of advanced protective equipment can far outweigh the cost or associated drawbacks.

2. Fanttik X8 Apex tire inflator. Second, security. In addition to your personal protective equipment, the machine you entrust your life to is an important part of a safe journey. Top of the list of things that need to be right every time you drive is your tires. They are the only connection you have to the road, so inflating must meet the manufacturer’s specifications for optimal performance. While checking and maintaining tire air pressure can be a bit of a chore, the nuisance factor can be reduced. Ultimate motorcycling Editor Don Williams recently announced the Fanttik X8 Apex tire inflatorwhich goes a long way towards making the job quick, easy, precise and, above all, portable!

3. Badass Moto Gear Ultimate All Season waterproof motorcycle cover. Let’s face it, even if you’re sitting in your garage or shed, the motorcycle you spend cleaning and polishing can get rough and dusty. Undoubtedly, if you need to store it outdoors, this machine needs economical all-weather protection. Associate Editor Teejay Adams tested the Badass Moto Gear Ultimate waterproof all weather motorcycle cover and discovered that it was checking all the boxes for water and wind protection. It also has practical features, including front end marking, reflective outer strips, windshield abrasion protection, heat protection material in the muffler areas, concealed pockets for the lock and alarm system, and a bottom edge safeguard to prevent the wind from getting into a sail.

4. Tactica M.250 Hex Tool Kit and M.100X Bundle: Motorcyclists love space-saving, multifunctional gadgets – because we need them. I’ve been reviewing a bit of equipment called Tactica M.250 Hex Tool Kit and M.100X Bundle and found these items handy, compact and versatile. In addition, they are TSA-compliant, so you can easily take them with you in hand luggage when traveling by air!

5. Muc-Off motorcycle waterless washing and protection set: At the end of the day, at the end of the day, one of them is often cleaning up your drive. But a full bucket-and-hose wash job may not be on schedule. Perhaps all it takes is just a quick clean of the site to remove bug spills and street grime. Neil has this problem with that Muc-Off motorcycle waterless wash and protection set and found the waterless approach worked well as it no longer required unrolling the hose and filling a bucket for a quick cleanup.

These are just five of the many state-of-the-art pieces of equipment we recently tested. For many more inspiring ideas, be sure to visit Gearbox / parts Section of this website.

Special bonus gift ideas

I also have the finest new and classic motorcycle literature in ours Equestrian library Section. As with my gift ideas above, all of the top five choices are completely subjective and vary widely from one gift recipient to another. However, here are my top books in five arbitrary categories of motorcycle literature based on the books we have reviewed in the past.

1. History of the motorcycle company: Indian Motorcycle: 120 years of America’s first motorcycle company. Darwin Holmstrom is by far the most authoritative and complete Indian Motorcycle story I have ever seen. Indian Motorcycle: 120 years of America’s first motorcycle manufacturer In addition to being an excellent book for Indian motorcycle owners, it is a great resource and insightful read on one of America’s historic corporations.

2. History of motorcycle racing: The Daytona 200. No one can write more authoritatively about top-class motorcycle racing than someone who has actually participated in it. The Daytona 200 Author Don Emde isn’t just a competitor on this fabled event – he’s the 1972 Daytona 200 winner. That made him part of the only father-son duo to win the Daytona 200 – his father, Floyd Emde, won in 1948 on board an Indian. Along with our review of this book, look for bonus coverage of Emde’s award-winning book. The Speed ​​Kings – The rise and fall of motorsport and Find the trail of the cannonball.

3. Adventure travel: Ubuntu: A woman’s motorcycle odyssey across Africa. Australian Heather Ellis has an epic story to tell. It’s a breathtaking solo motorcycle adventure tour story and a test of personal strength, resilience and courage. Ubuntu: A woman’s motorcycle odyssey across Africa is the first of two books telling Ellis’ incredible journey from Australia to South Africa, her transit of the African continent north to Western Sahara. At the end of this first part of her odyssey, it seems that the journey through Africa was safely mastered, despite the many dangers to which it was exposed. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until much later in London that she discovered that this was not the case.

   Timeless on the Silk Road: An Odyssey from London to Hanoi: Timeless on the Silk Road: An Odyssey from London to Hanoi is the continuation. It tells the harrowing story of how she ended her return from England to Australia on the ancient Silk Road through Asia while battling a potentially fatal disease.

4. Motorcycle memories: Head Check – How it feels to ride a motorcycle. Jack Lewis impresses with his journalistic style, which is honest and yet emotional at the same time. He tells a story with the clarity and articulation of words that would make Hunter S. Thompson smile. His anthology of stories is about much more than just riding a motorcycle; Head Check – How it feels to ride a motorcycle is a lens that focuses on living a full life, but is not always easy. Despite everything, Lewis maintains a great sense of humor with a little irony.

Humor / anthology: The best of Peter Egan. “Readable, relatable, real. These fundamental qualities have made Peter Egan one of the most widely read writers of our time. ”This is how I characterized Egan’s work in my review of his latest book. The best of Peter Egan, and it’s true. His worldview is calming, calming and funny. He admits his mistakes with low-key humor and a literary wink that shows he knows we all made the same mistakes, so it’s fine – we’re all in the same leaky boat. He also takes us on motorcycle adventures that most of us will never experience but can instead enjoy from the safety of our own home through his lucid stories.

Happy Holidays from everyone Ultimate motorcycling.