Ah, the holiday season. The air is crisp, the roads are often dusted with an unforgiving layer of salt (or, in my case, snow), and for those of us who live and breathe two wheels, it’s a time to retreat to the garage, fire up the shop heater, and dream of next season’s rides and projects.
But Christmas is also a time for giving and receiving. And if your family is anything like mine, the gift-giving process is a wonderfully ritualistic affair. Every year, without fail, there are three distinct categories: something to wear, something you need, and something you want.
This year, I thought I’d share my personal, slightly optimized Christmas list. If you’re struggling to find the perfect present for the gearhead in your life, or perhaps just need a few ‘subtle’ hints to leave lying around, consider this your inspiration. It’s a list curated not just for style, but for extending the season, tackling stubborn projects, and ultimately, making the ride better.
Things To Wear: Battling the Elements
The North East of the US is a gorgeous place to ride, but the season is short and the shoulder months are brutal. My goal is always to maximize my seat time, and the only way to do that is with proper, multi-layer gear. This year, my focus is on comfort, warmth, and replacing some gear that’s just plain worn out.
Icon Ghost Puffer
Speaking of extending the season, I live in an area where the snow has already started falling. A heavy-duty, warm jacket that still allows for safe, comfortable riding is an absolute necessity. Something that merges the casual, low-profile look with genuine protective features is the sweet spot—and the Icon Ghost Puffer seems to nail that brief perfectly.
The beauty of a modern piece like this is the integration of top-tier armour into a chassis that doesn’t scream “I’m wearing a suit of armour” when you walk into a coffee shop. It’s designed to be functional on the bike but also look perfectly normal off it. For the cold-weather urban rider, a jacket that offers genuine insulation and is built from durable materials means you can squeeze out a few more weeks of riding on either side of winter.
This jacket is built on a durable 600D ripstop polyester chassis with internal reinforcements and features a comfortable, relaxed fit perfect for urban use. Safety is handled by the low-profile D3O® Ghost Level 1 shoulder and elbow impact protectors, complemented by a D3O® Viper Level 1 back impact protector. For warmth, it is fully insulated with 180 g polyfil, while zippered chest and back vents provide essential airflow for warmer weather riding, ensuring it’s a truly versatile garment. [LeMans Corporation.]
Biltwell El Dorado ShirtJack
When I first got the Biltwell El Dorado Shirtjack, I was skeptical. At $124.99, it far exceeded the cost of a basic sweatshirt. For an item that was intended for under a technical jacket, I questioned whether it was worth the investment. The answer, after a few cold-weather rides, is a resounding yes; it absolutely is worth it.
The fleece-lined internals are significantly warmer than a typical cotton hoodie, and the outer shell provides far better wind resistance than a flimsy sweatshirt. It’s the perfect piece for days when you need just a little extra warmth without adding bulk.
Its construction utilizes an abrasion-resistant 7.5 oz. 76% cotton/24% nylon twill shell, backed by a 100% polyester fleece body lining for warmth. The smooth 57% polyester/43% Repreve lining on the sleeves ensures ease of movement. Details like heavy-duty nickel-plated ring snaps on the placket, cuffs, collar, and pocket flaps are practical, and the hidden snaps on the collar tips are a godsend, eliminating flapping at high speeds. For storage, the shirtjack includes two exterior pockets with snap flaps on the chest and two lined hand pockets hidden on the outer seams, along with a rugged interior pocket featuring an elastic loop for key fob storage. The construction is finished with high-quality polyester single-needle, double-needle, and overlock stitched seams throughout. My only regret is having it in just one color. [Biltwell Inc.]
KLIM Blak Jak Leather Boots
I’ve been riding in the same pair of riding shoes for the last 10 years. They have been an absolutely trusty companion, but the worn-out soles have officially turned them into a slip hazard. I gravitate toward boots that look casual and understated but still provide robust protection and crucial riding features, I’m looking to the KLIM Blak Jak Leather Boot.
These CE-rated boots feature reinforced toe and heel construction for enhanced safety, combined with a midweight lasting board for both riding and walking comfort. They incorporate 3mm XRD® Impact Protection Foam on the tongue and ankle pads and feature a sturdy welted rubber outsole construction. Practical features include perforated leather for breathability, metal lace eyelets, an asymmetrical shifter pad on the left foot to prevent premature wear, and a breathable, moisture-wicking antimicrobial liner. The design is finished with low-profile embossed logos, a removable insole, and an entry assist pull loop for daily convenience. [KLIM]
Things You Need: Solving Stubborn Problems
This category is for pragmatic gifts, the things that solve a genuine problem or fill a critical gap in the riding experience. These are items that, while maybe not as glamorous as a new exhaust, will make a tangible improvement to the ride, the project, or the peace of mind.
Roadside Assistance
Anyone who has ever done a long motorcycle trip with me knows that my luck isn’t great, a function of riding long distances on old, unreliable motorcycles. I’ve been fortunate enough to fix chains and rebuild carburetors on the side of the road with just the basic tools in my roll. It’s character building, but sometimes, repairs just aren’t feasible. This is where roadside assistance becomes the absolute best solution.
Memberships, such as the BMW MOA and the American Motorcycle Association, include it as part of their member benefits. Companies like AAA and Harley-Davidson Insurance have motorcycle-specific programs that provide assistance when needed. When evaluating which service you’d like, review what is included in the program. When selecting a program, be honest with yourself about your needs: are you crossing continents, or just commuting around town? A prepaid membership for someone is a gift of genuine, on-the-road security and an indispensable travel companion. [BMW Motorcycle Owners of America]
Beeline Moto II
When building my current custom motorcycle, I inadvertently removed some wires leading to the speedometer in the main wiring harness. Since then, I’ve relied on cell phone speedometers and basic bicycle GPS units, but I’ve always wanted a more comprehensive, dedicated, and technology-driven solution. My search has led me to the Beeline Moto II.
This device is everything I want in a compact navigator. It’s not a full-screen display but rather a brilliant, glanceable display that focuses on clear turn-by-turn directions, speed, and ETA. For custom bikes or older machines where a traditional speedo setup is either damaged or, in my case, aesthetically unwanted, the Moto II is an elegant replacement.
The Beeline Moto II offers turn-by-turn navigation with clear, glanceable directions, plus speed, ETA, and a unique arrow display to keep your focus on the road. The display is brilliant in any condition, featuring an ultra-bright, full-colour screen with double the resolution and size of its predecessor, along with anti-glare and hydrophobic coatings.
Built for the elements, Moto II is IP67 rated for waterproofing, shockproof, and ready for any road punishment. It mounts to any motorcycle, features a long-lasting battery life, and offers fast, universal USB-C charging. Controls are handled by big, tactile, glove-friendly buttons. Beyond navigation, it provides real-time ride metrics, global rider support across eight languages, and a “Compass Mode” for off-road exploration. It even helps you stay safer by providing speed limit alerts where available, offers smarter routing options, and logs every ride automatically in the Beeline app. [Beeline]
Monstercraftsman Chain Tensioner
My custom chopper project, bless its heart, has a design flaw. One I created during the build process that leads to chain slap. This is not just an annoying sound; it’s a sure-fire recipe for premature chain wear. To save my drivetrain, a proper chain tensioner is a non-negotiable need.
I’ve been eyeing the Monstercraftsman Chain Tensioners. What I love about this particular piece is the combination of rugged, no-nonsense engineering with a touch of nostalgia as it uses a reissued vintage Powell Peralta G-Bones skate wheel for the roller. This is the kind of detail that elevates a purely functional part into a piece of nostalgia from my youth. It’s a clean solution eliminating a major mechanical headache and ensuring I can ride with confidence without my chain trying to beat my frame to death.
The Monstercraftsman tensioner features powder-coated black steel brackets, arriving as a fully assembled, ready-to-bolt-on unit. It attaches securely with a simple bolt-on design using two mounting holes, and features durable stainless steel hardware and a spring. A newly designed pin stop prevents over-travel of the tensioner swingarm, and the entire unit benefits from expert TIG welding for superior strength, proudly handcrafted in the USA. [Monstercraftsman.]
Things You Want: The Dream Projects
This is the category where practicality takes a backseat to passion. These are the gifts that kickstart a new project, fulfill a long-held aesthetic fantasy, or dramatically improve the quality of my most sacred pieces of gear. This year, my wants revolve around customizing controls and upgrading gear I don’t like.
Scorpion EXO XT9000 CARBON TRAILHEAD
I have been largely disappointed in my current adventure helmet. It’s a base model that promised a variety of features at a budget price, but has fallen short on pretty much all of them—from poor visor sealing to excessive buffeting at speed. When it comes to head protection, the trade-off for budget simply isn’t worth it. A high-quality helmet is the most critical piece of gear.
The Scorpion EXO XT9000 CARBON TRAILHEAD is the helmet, having been featured in several other Bike EXIF articles, is a helmet I’ve often been researching. It’s a true dual-sport offering, built from an aircraft-grade, resin-infused 3K Carbon fiber shell. This isn’t just about looks; the advanced material, TCT-Ultra™ 3K Carbon fiber, reduces weight while maintaining superior strength and impact dispersal. For adventure riding, the CAD-refined aerodynamics are key, resulting in a streamlined profile that minimizes both lift and turbulence for a smoother, quieter, and more stable ride. Safety is further enhanced by an advanced multi-layer EPS system with strategically placed channels for increased airflow.
The helmet includes an optically clear MaxVision® Pinlock® ready face shield. The wide eye port allows for greater peripheral vision and accommodates most brands of goggles when the shield is removed via the tool-less system. Another unique feature is the Airfit® liner inflation system, which allows you to customize the fit of the cheek pads, which also helps significantly reduce wind noise and lift. [Scorpion EXO]
Hardtail Frame Section
I have a few project bikes on the lifts, most notably a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead and a Yamaha XS650. For me, the first part of any custom build is the frame. For me, nothing beats the classic, raw lines of a hardtail frame. It dictates the entire stance and aesthetic of the final build. Getting a professionally fabricated hardtail section from a company like Voodoo Vintage is the ultimate project kickstarter.
Their kits, such as the MK24 for the XS650 or the MK-50 for the Shovelhead, provide an engineered solution to transform a stock frame without the need for a frame jig. They are cut, bent, and ready to be fit and welded, giving the builder a huge head start on achieving that perfect chopper profile. Both kits simplify a traditionally complex custom fabrication job, making the hardtail transformation achievable for the serious home builder. [Voodoo Vintage]
Jockey Shift Conversion
I love clean handlebars. Bikes with no front brakes, and a foot clutch and hand shift setup (a ‘jockey shift’) speak to my soul, and not my sense of practicality. It’s a look that speaks to a certain minimalist, focused style of riding. While I lack the time to custom-fabricate a full setup right now, there are brilliant turnkey solutions available from brands like Beck Built Fab, Prism Supply Co.
The joy in these kits is that they offer a complete, bolt-on solution to a custom job. A Beck Built Fab kit for my Yamaha XS650, or a Prism Supply kit for my Sportster. Both options are designed with high-quality components and hardware, transforming the primary control input from a foot-operated shift/hand-operated clutch to a hand-operated shift/foot-operated clutch. The Beck Built Fab XS650 Hand Shifter is a specialized solution for the popular parallel twin platform, known for its precision linkage. The Prism Supply Co. kit is designed specifically for the Sportster platform and is purchased in two parts: the Jockey Shift Kit and the Foot Clutch Kit, ensuring a complete conversion for Harley’s compact V-Twin.
While they address different motorcycles, they share the same DNA: premium hardware and design. These solutions transform a standard bike into a true custom machine. It’s a mechanical upgrade that delivers a huge stylistic payoff. [Beck Built Fab] [Prism Supply Co.]
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