Christmas Gifts for Motorcycle Riders: Ideas They’ll Actually Use

Shopping for a rider is harder than it looks. They already own the helmet they like, the jacket they trust and the gloves that finally fit. They are picky about gear for good reason, so a random gadget from the checkout aisle usually ends up in a drawer. The best Christmas gifts for motorcycle riders are the ones that fit the life around the bike: the garage, the workbench, the long ride and the stories that come after it. Here are ideas that work, from small stocking stuffers to something big enough to hang on the wall.

The photo at the top was taken in Washington, D.C., in September 1937 by the Harris & Ewing studio. It shows Mrs. Sally Halterman sitting on her motorcycle in front of the Lincoln Memorial. According to the original caption, she was the first woman to get a motorcycle license in the capital. She stood 4 feet 11 inches, weighed 88 pounds, and the caption joked that she was “one-third of the machine.” The D.C. Motorcycle Club initiated her as a member that same year. Riders have always been a determined bunch, and she proves it.

Start with how they ride

Before you buy anything, think about what kind of rider you are shopping for. A commuter who rides every day needs different things than a weekend cruiser or someone who spends more time wrenching than riding. Pay attention to the brand on the tank, too. Riders are loyal. A Harley person may not want a Triumph gift, and a Ducati fan will notice if you get it wrong.

Also look at what they already talk about. Do they plan trips? Do they restore old bikes? Do they hang out with a club on Sunday mornings? Those clues lead to better gifts than any list can.

Christmas gifts for motorcycle riders under $50

Small gifts can still be useful. Here are a few that most riders will actually use:

• A good tire pressure gauge. Tire pressure matters more on two wheels than four, and a quality dial gauge lives in the jacket pocket for years.
• Microfiber towels and a bike cleaner. Riders clean their bikes more than anyone cleans a car. Fresh towels never go to waste.
• Heated glove liners or a neck gaiter. Winter riding is cold, and a thin layer helps a lot.
• A riding log or map book. Plenty of riders like to track their trips by hand, with dates, mileage and the places they stopped for lunch.
• A gift card to their favorite shop. If they are picky about parts, let them pick.

Be careful with safety gear, though. Helmets in particular need to fit a specific head, and most riders want to try one on first. If your rider wants a new lid, a gift card to the dealer is the safer choice.

Gifts for the garage and the workbench

Most riders spend as much time in the garage as on the road. That makes the garage one of the best places to aim a gift. A rolling creeper seat, a wheel chock, a magnetic parts tray or a set of good T-handle hex keys will all get used. A motorcycle lift is a bigger gift, but it saves a lot of sore knees.

Then there are the walls. A bare garage wall is a missed chance, and this is where vintage porcelain signs come in. For a hundred years, motorcycle dealers and repair shops hung porcelain advertising signs out front because the fired glass finish held its color through sun and rain. Today riders hang them over the workbench for the same reason. They last, and they look right next to a bike.

Porcelain signs as Christmas gifts for motorcycle riders

A sign is one of the few gifts a rider will see every single day. It also says something about them. Pick the brand they ride, or the brand they dream about.

For fans of America’s oldest motorcycle names, the Indian Motorcycles biker logo porcelain sign is a strong pick. Indian was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1901 and built the Scout and the Chief. This sign is a 12 inch round with the Indian logo at the top, in red, gray, yellow and black, with porcelain on both sides.

For the British bike crowd, the Triumph Motorcycles garage service porcelain sign puts a Triumph right in the center of a 12 inch face. Triumph began building motorcycles in Coventry, England, in the early 1900s, and riders on both sides of the Atlantic have loved the name ever since. It belongs over a bench with a bike up on the stand.

Match the sign to the bike

We carry porcelain advertising signs for most of the big names, so you can match the gift to the rider:

• Harley-Davidson riders: the Sturgis Rally skull sign is for anyone who has made the trip to South Dakota. It has a skull and the rally name, and it looks right in a biker garage.
• BMW riders: the BMW Motorcycle “Drive Safely and Reliably” sign suits the long-distance touring crowd.
• Ducati fans: the Ducati Meccanica Bologna winged logo sign nods to the company’s home city.
• Scooter people: the Vespa Servizio sign, with its Florence 1946 lettering and Italian colors, is for the rider who loves a scooter more than a big twin.
• Road trippers: the Route 66 “Get Your Kicks” motorcycle sign is a natural for anyone who has ridden the Mother Road or wants to. We also wrote about Route 66 history and its roadside signs if you want the backstory.
• Tire and gear nerds: the Goodyear Tires “Motorcycle Man” sign has a rider right on the face.

Experience gifts riders remember

Some of the best gifts are not things at all. A track day, an advanced riding course or a guided tour can mean more than another piece of gear. Many dealers and riding schools sell gift certificates for skills classes, and even experienced riders come out of those classes better and safer.

You can also plan a trip. A night at a motorcycle-friendly lodge on a famous road, tickets to a vintage bike show or a museum visit can turn into a story they tell for years. Pair it with a sign from that place and the gift lasts long after the trip is over.

Tips for picking the right gift

Here are a few simple rules that save a lot of returns:

• Skip anything that needs a size unless you know it for sure. Jackets, boots and helmets are personal.
• Check the brand. Look at the bike in the garage, the patches on the jacket or the shirts in the closet.
• Think about the space. A garage or man cave has room for a sign. A small apartment might need something smaller.
• Buy early. December shipping gets slow, so order wall gifts before the middle of the month.

For more ideas in the same spirit, see our list of gifts for car guys and our guide to man cave and garage decor themes.

More vintage porcelain signs for riders

You can browse every brand in our motorcycle signs, including the Harley-Davidson signs, plus our wider collection of garage signs. If you are not sure how to put one up, our guide on how to hang porcelain signs covers drywall, brick and garage studs. And if you wonder why porcelain beats a printed panel, read our comparison of porcelain vs. tin signs.

We ship from Houston, Texas. US orders ship for a flat $10, and international shipping is available at checkout. If a sign is not right, you have 30 days to return it. We pay the return shipping, and you get a full refund.

Indian Motorcycle, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, BMW, Ducati, Vespa, Goodyear and the other names in this post are trademarks of their respective owners. This article is gift ideas and commentary only. We sell porcelain advertising signs, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any company named here.

FAQ

What do you get a motorcycle rider who has everything?

Aim for the garage or the experience. A porcelain sign of their favorite brand, a riding course or a trip on a famous road all work, because riders rarely buy those for themselves.

Are porcelain signs good Christmas gifts for motorcycle riders?

Yes. Porcelain is glass fired onto steel, so it holds its color in a garage for years. A sign of the brand they ride is personal without needing a size.

Should I buy a rider a helmet as a gift?

Usually not. Helmets need to fit a specific head shape, and most riders want to try one on. A gift card to their dealer is a safer choice.

When should I order a motorcycle gift for Christmas?

Early December at the latest. Carriers slow down near the holidays, and larger items like signs take a few days to arrive.

The featured photo is “First of fair sex to obtain motorcycle license in Capital,” Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C., September 1937, from the Library of Congress, with no known restrictions on publication. You can see the full photo at the Library of Congress.