There’s a bewildering amount of gear available for riders these days—we’ve never had it so good. And with Christmas looming, the tills are starting to ring.
So we’ve put together a tight selection of gear and gifts that are exceptionally popular with our readers, or likely to strike a chord with the motorcyclist in your life.
We aim for quality rather than quantity when choosing which products to stock, and the gear we sell is tested. If it’s not up to scratch, it doesn’t make it in.
If you want to treat yourself this Christmas, or would like to drop a hint to your significant other, check out these gift ideas for motorbike lovers. They’re all products we personally rate: they do the job well, are built to last, and look good too.
Menze Kwint x Bike EXIF enamel mugs We’re huge fans of the Dutch artist Menze Kwint. And we’re also the kinda guys who can’t get through the morning without several cups of coffee. So we asked Menze to design a pair of enamel mugs for us—one ‘light’ and one ‘night.’
These sturdy 9 cm (3½-inch) mugs are made by a specialist in Poland, and are designed to last. The ceramic decals are baked into the enamel during manufacturing—a more expensive but much better process than using flimsy graphics, which often come off after a few turns in the dishwasher. £39 for a set of two. [Sold out]
Racer Forge heated gloves Heated gloves have always sounded like a great idea, but the reality is usually disappointing. Who wants to ride around with giant Star Trek props on their hands?
The CE-rated ‘Urban’ glove from Racer Forge is the complete opposite: premium goat leather gives you plenty of feel for the controls of your bike, and it doesn’t seem thick enough to see you through the depths of winter. But it has a waterproof Polymax membrane and zipped cuffs.
When you push the button on the cuff, the heating element is fired up—running across the back of the hand, all the way down to your fingertips. A Li-Ion rechargeable battery is conveniently stored in the cuff, offering impressive life for such a small package.
The £195.00 glove has three settings, giving you between three and six hours of heat. (There’s an additional ‘Boost’ mode, handy for high-speed motorway riding.) So throw away those padded winter gloves that feel like you’re riding with a king-size duvet wrapped around your hands: these gloves will keep your extremities toasty for hours of riding on the coldest days. [Now discontinued]
Biltwell Gringo S The Gringo needs no introduction and has been selling like hot cakes for around five years. So what’s it doing here?
Well, the latest ‘S’ version has a hinged visor. And Biltwell has updated the design of both Gringo styles to get ECE 22.05 certification—so both models are now road legal in Europe and the UK.
The visor is now made using injection-molding technology, the EPS foam has been improved to absorb more impact, and the chin bar has received a big overhaul. Despite this, it’s still a slim, lightweight helmet with a comfortable fit, and great pricing too. [Buy]
REV’IT! Stewart jacket Quality leather jackets do not come cheap. If you’re looking for a well-made jacket with classic styling, the £310 Stewart needs to be on your shopping list. The fit is smartly tailored, the buffalo leather will age beautifully, and you get Seesmart level 1 armor in the shoulders and elbows. (There’s a pocket for an optional Seesoft back protector.)
A detachable thermal liner will keep you warm when riding on colder days, and adjustment straps and a trouser connection zipper will keep you snug. Our customers love this one unreservedly. [Buy]
Nexx XG100R helmets Vintage and ‘retro’ looking helmets are a dime-a-dozen these days. At launch, the XG100 set itself apart though, with an almost rectangular eye port, a striking vertical chin vent, and a cool visor system that clips onto the helmet with snap buttons.
NEXX has just updated the XG100 with an ‘R’ version, removing the peak and replacing the snap-on visor with a rotating shield and anti-fog lens. It gives the lid a sleek, racy look that works amazingly well with the beefy chin bar.
The XG100R weighs an impressively light 1200 grams, thanks to a shell made from a composite of carbon, Kevlar and fibreglass. The paint and finish is excellent, and our favorite color is the ‘Record Cream/Red’ combo shown here. Even better, the XG100R is made in Portugal and is DOT, ECE and NBR (Norma Brasileira) approved. [Buy]
100% Barstow goggles Since the early 80s, the 100% brand has been synonymous with motocross Americana. Today, it’s got the goggle market on lockdown. The Barstow goggle is the favorite of our customers, with impressive technical specifications and stunning classic looks.
We’ve just got the latest styles in, and they’re all quality products—based on the off-road goggles of yesteryear, but constructed using the latest technology, and offering a curved fit for a great field of vision.
The plush face foam has a fleece liner, and a silicone-coated strap will hold your goggles firmly in place on your helmet. Just be aware that the Barstow is a big unit, and the viewport of your helmet needs to be big enough for it to fit. A Bell Moto 3, Shoei EX-Zero, or any helmet with a similarly sized viewport will be fine. [Buy]
Bike EXIF Motorcycle calendar How could we not mention this one? Thirteen months of the world’s best customs, beautifully shot, on a large-format wall calendar. It sure won’t fit in a stocking, but it’ll make anyone who likes Bike EXIF very happy. [Buy USA]
