The Motorcycle Gear Gift Guide

Riders are wonderful to shop for — they always want more and better gear — but two rules save you from a well-meant miss. First, the two most personal items, a helmet and gloves, depend on an exact fit, so unless you know their size and head shape, gift the choice(a gift card or a "let's go pick one") rather than a specific size. Second, everything else — comms, protection, layers, accessories — makes a fantastic, low-risk gift. Here's what to buy, sorted by budget.

Under $50 — the reliable stocking fillers

You can't go wrong here. A pair of ventilated riding gloves (if you know their size) from our summer gloves picks, a Pinlock anti-fog insert for their visor, quality earplugs, a helmet-safe cleaning kit (see our cleaning guide), or a base layer all land well. Small, useful, and things riders rarely buy themselves.

$50 – $150 — the thoughtful upgrade

This is the sweet spot. A budget Bluetooth intercom from our budget intercoms roundup transforms their ride with music, calls and navigation. A CE Level 2 back protector (see best back protectors) is the safety upgrade most riders skip and would never regret receiving. A good pair of leather gloves or certified riding boots also shine here.

$150 – $400 — the serious gift

At this level you're buying real protection. An armored jacket from our jacket ranking, a flagship mesh intercom for the group rider, or, if you truly know their fit, a mid-range certified helmetmakes a gift they'll use every ride. For the big-ticket safety leap, an airbag vest is unforgettable.

The two things to gift carefully

A helmet and glovesonly protect if they fit, and fit is personal — the wrong size or head shape is worse than useless. If you don't know their exact measurements and shape, gift the experience of choosing: pair a card with our size chart and helmet rankingso they can pick the right one. It's a better gift than a beautiful helmet in the wrong size that sits on a shelf.