As it is now the 1st of December (or later), we are allowed to mention Christmas. Am I still allowed to say Christmas? Should it be the holiday season or the one that made me laugh the most – the gifting season.
Yule – derived from the Norse word jól, is a celebration of the winter solstice, so we could consider it a pagan festival. Whatever the colour of your denomination … here are 25 ideas – one for every day – for things you might wish to drop hints about.
Alternatively, suppose you know a motorcyclist, and somehow this page magically turned up in your browsing history. In that case, there is a good chance they are making a polite suggestion as to what would brighten the dark days of December.
And remember, nothing dampens the season of goodwill more than the words – “Have you got the receipt?”.
There are prices from less than a tenner to those lucky enough to be considering a complete set of SW-Motech Adventure Luggage. In addition, there are vouchers for rider coaching, heated gloves, tail bags, intercoms … all sorts of goodies at a range of prices.
Absolute Clarity – Some of the links below are affiliate links. We might get a few quid from the retailer if you use the links below. It doesn’t alter your price – that is the same either way.
I can hear John at Bike Social … “I get paid a salary …” – Merry Christmas, John.
There are numerous different makes to choose from, but Motul is a well-known brand and a good quality chain lube.
Avoid buying no-name or look-alike cans from supermarkets. Chain lube is clever stuff and a lot goes into the formula
No garage shelf is complete without a can of Bulldog BDX. The fancy words describe it as a “highly efficient, versatile and effective lubricant/penetrating product“. All true, but the short version is, it is the stuff you need for all sorts of jobs.
No one ever accused us of being politically correct, and for those of us with an open and humorous mindset, we have a collection of T-Shirts.
100% ringspun combed cotton. Ribbed collar. Taped neck and shoulders. Twin needle sleeves and hem.
Available in white or red, these make sense if you like getting off motorways when you tour. If you have ever tried pushing a motorcycle, not to mention the luggage – to the next petrol station, then you know how perfect a gift these make.
There is deal on at the moment on the white ones – I’ve just ordered mine.
A sample kit across the range of Diomyx valeting products. We tested one of these kits a few months back and were impressed by the Lega wheel cleaner, Halo degreaser and Vedere glass polish.
Nothing wrong with the rest of them, either.
Stretchy. Unisex. Base layer pants, tights, leggings, call them what you will. Adds an extra layer of air to keep out the cold and makes textile or leather more comfortable to wear.
These are so much better than a battery charger. They are a 5-step battery optimiser, with a running cost of less than £3 per YEAR.
Ideal for keeping the battery fresh while hibernating over winter and for keeping the battery tip-top the rest of the year.
Two of us in the office have these and love them. Mention a tour to Roger, and it is the first thing he goes looking for.
There is an article – Comfort Air Seat Cushion – on the website if you would like to know more
Outstandingly bright and highly conspicuous LED light upgrades for indicators. These are plug-and-play even if you have a CANbus-enabled motorcycle. Prices range depending on function and upgrade type.
There is more information in Weiser Technik here.
Very cost effect Bluetooth intercom for those that don’t need the fancy functions. Built-in FM radio. Connects to your phone or GPS for music or navigation instructions.
Simple to fit. Excellent battery life. If you need an intercom that does the core things well – this is it.
If your motorcycle has a chain, you should fit a Scottoiler. I’ve had one fitted to my Tracer 9GT from new, and I’ve adjusted the chain twice in 14,000 miles.
You can regulate the flow of oil to get the perfect level of lubrication for the conditions. But essentially, these are set-and-forget wonders.
Coaching session for those who have just passed their CBT. Lots of feedback – in bite size chunks – to start building road craft. Coaching, not teaching helping to improve confidence and ability.
Session will last between 2 and 3 hours, with regular stops. Please check your location is covered.
A vented jacket in Winter (in the Northern hemisphere) – Well, here is the logic.
Last summer, when it got hot, you could not get these for love nor money. Everyone had sold out. How smart are you going to feel getting ahead of the rush, ready for the warmer days ahead?
Many tail bags are too tall to make getting on and off the bike easy. Some look out of place on a sports bike, but even sports bike riders need somewhere to put their sandwiches.
What sets this tail bag apart from the others is the clever way it uses the taper on the saddle to help secure the bag.
I’ve got one of these, and they are cosmic. Excellent quality. Stays fixed on place with the easy mount straps. Waterproof. Tough as nails.
Easy to strap across the pillion seat. Cracking alternative to panniers when you need to carry more.
If the motorcyclist in your life rides all year, these will make them very happy. Heated grips are good, but these are better.
There is more information in this article – Heated Gloves
Dave is a true convert to the G301 “lobster” style gloves, although the G701 are slightly better during long rides in the pouring rain.
The same benefits as the Scottoiler V-System above, but this fancy electronic version which doesn’t require any modifications to the motorcycle. Simply connect to the battery.
Rather than being vacuum powered, this version connects to the battery and gives you fine control over the amount of oil delivered to the chain.
Calling the Sena 50S an intercom is like calling the Mona Lisa a nice painting. As well as connecting to both your GPS and your phone via BlueTooth, they have a mesh intercom facility that connects to hundreds of other Sena units simultaneously.
In 2022 the speakers and microphone were upgraded by Harmon Kardon. You can read our detailed review here
The definitive article when discussing tail bags. 65-litre capacity. Waterproof, plus it comes with a waterproof inner bag just to be certain. Tough as nails. Shaped to fit on a rack or across the pillion seat. Easy to tie down.
If you need more than this – You need metal luggage.
The TomTom Rider and the Garmin XT are the two most popular motorcycle GPS units. The Garmin has a bigger and better display, while the TomTom has a better average-speed camera warning system.
Both will get you where you are going. You can read our comparison review here
Bespoke one-to-one coaching for those wanting to further enhance their road riding skills. Smoother – Faster – Sharper is the mantra. We use Jewell Motorcycle Training in early spring each year, to knock away the winter rust. [Article Here]
We also have a discount code – FOTV20 – that will get you 20% off this coaching session.
The Garmin XT and the TomTom Rider 550 are the two most popular motorcycle GPS units. The Garmin has a bigger and better display, while the TomTom has a better average-speed camera warning system.
Both will get you where you are going. You can read our comparison review here
The same Sena 50S intercom described above, but in a twin pack and an easy way to save money. As well as connecting to both your GPS and your phone via BlueTooth, they have a mesh intercom facility that connects to hundreds of other Sena units simultaneously.
In 2022 the speakers and microphone were upgraded by Harmon Kardon. You can read our detailed review here
There is a full review here, but the bottom line is that Helite Air Vests are magnificent. Not only do they protect your back and chest and stabilise your neck, but you also don’t have to pay a subscription for the protection.
That is worth saying again – No batteries to go flat. No monthly subscription on top of the cost of the air vest. All day, everyday protection.
From adventure racks with top cases to complete sets of go-anywhere luggage. The water and dust-tight TRAX ADV premium aluminium cases are outstandingly well-made.
All of the fittings are included, but you will need to know the make, model and year of the motorcycle when you order.
