HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

Holiday Gift Ideas

Do you have that special someone you would like to make smile come this Christmas morning? Perhaps your spouse, good riding buddy or handy-dandy mechanic. How about you, Pokey? We think you should treat yourself to something great come this Holiday Season! Here are some of the neater products, books and gizmos out there in Motorcycleland to help with your gift-giving. Happy Festivus!

What better way to start off your Christmas morning than a cup of good, strong coffee. Better even if the bag it came in has a motorcycle on it. We came across the Racer Coffee Company while strolling around Laguna Seca this past summer. I was looking for some joe and there they were slinging up some seriously great coffee at their booth. We immediately fell in love with their vintage-style labels and their blend names: Vintage Black, Apex, Whiskey Throttle, Dakar and The Corkscrew – all with appropriate art to go with them. We have been buying from them regularly and if you love coffee as much as we do check Racer Coffee Company out on the web: www.racercoffeecompany.com

Since its release in 2018, the rst edition of Michael Scott’s Valentino Rossi: Life of a Legend has been a solid part of the living room coffee table. Anyone who knew anything about MotoGP could not help but to pick up this colorful book. But after all this time it, like Rossi himself, the book has been retired – replace by the obvious. The revised and updated copy of Valentino Rossi: Life of a Legend brings us up to date on the Doctor’s life over the last half decade and leading up to #46 stepping away from the track; but thankfully not the sport. If you are a fan of Tavullia’s favorite son then Scott’s latest edition is a must. From the day he was born into a racing family on February 16, 1979, Rossi was destined for racing greatness. Rossi started his international racing career in 1996, riding for Aprilia in the 125cc class, and won his rst World Championship the following year. Rossi’s career would see him go on to win nine Grand Prix World Championships, score 87 wins in 500cc/MotoGP, and many more accolades. His MotoGP career is almost without peer. Life of a Legend is visually stunning and this well-written biography covers this incredible racer’s journey, his victories, rivalries, and transitions from brand to brand. See his incredible battles against the likes of Max Biaggi, Sete Ginbernau, Dani Pederosa, and Marc Marquez, and why they inspired three lms (Faster, Fastest, Hitting the Apex). Get to know Rossi’s incredible charm and wit, and why he has achieved rock-star status among racing fans. If you are fan of the man then pick up Scott’s book – it is highly recommended. Selling for about $30 on Amazon.

This might be the one riding accessory that you never think of – until the one that you are using snaps like a twig. As we have said many times taking care of your gear is a good thing. Black & Gray’s Hi-Per Hangers are some of the toughest gear hangers on the planet. There are several different versions of these, but all will easily hold 150 lbs of gear. Created from powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel, and molded plastic they look as tough as they are. Add in Black & Gray’s Power-Clips with rubber-tipped jaws to hold your heaviest riding gear without damage. The Hi-Per Hangers start from $45 @ blackandgray.com.

The Explorer’s Library combines the two New York Times bestselling guides from Atlas Obscura, packaged in a slipcase that evokes the timeless allure of travel. It is the perfect gift for the person who lets curiosity be their compass, who is alive to the world in all its possibilities. Atlas Obscura will bring you to some of the most fascinating and oddest places on the planet and Gastro Obscura will feed you tasty and not-so-tasty morsels equal to your adventures. We have been fans of Atlas Obscura for years and you will often nd them being linked on The Backroads Report. It is one of Dr. Seymour O’Life’s favorite books and websites. You can nd the set on Amazon for $85.

If you have a newer BMW machine you really should take a look at CruzTools Roadtech B2 Tool Kit. For its fairly tidy roll and relative lightweight, this Tool Kit is a must have if you spend any real time on the road, as it is perfect for road-side repairs and adjustments. This kit includes a 34mm axle wrench and a fourstage hex axle adapter with 10mm, 12mm, 19mm, & 22mm sizes in one compact tool. It also includes 6 torx keys, 5 hex keys, 4 metric wrenches, a mini ratchet with 2” extension and 4 sockets. The kit is rounded out with a 6-in-1 screwdriver, locking pliers, adjustable wrench,

Page 34 Page 34 BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2022BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2022 cable ties, mechanics wire, duct tape, thread locker, and a tire gauge. The tools stay organized in a heavy-duty roll-up pouch easily stashed in the bottom of a saddlebag. All of CruzTool’s products come with a Lifetime Guarantee – no questions asked. For $139.95 you are not going to match this at Home Depot or Harbor Freight. You can nd CruzTools @ touratech-usa.com.

If you ride one of today’s modern ADV machines – BMW, Triumph, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha or KTM - you might have noticed that, as tough as some of these rides are, their stock handguards have always been a bit lacking. MachineArtMoto’s ADVance Guard v2, multi-functional hand guards are uniquely designed to provide broad coverage and easy adjustability to adapt to a variety of temperature and weather conditions. The tough composite frame material is engineered for resilience against impact forces. ADVance Guard‘s patented multi-functional adjustability has distinct rider comfort bene ts, and their unique appearance enhances all motorcycle brands. Built with a Twin Spar Aluminum Frame, the ADVance Guard height adjustable Sliding Shield and removable front Insert permits more air ow over hands and arms which enables you to easily adapt to conditions without the need for tools. We have been using ADVance Guards for a few seasons now and their quality and design are exemplary. We have it on good word Santa has these on his sleigh. They start at a little more than $200 - log onto machineartmoto. com to see if they have the perfect set and colors for your machine.

Would it not be nice to have clear and clean communication as you ride into the next season? The Cardo Packtalk Edge is just what you need to nd under the tree this year. These units are tough as nails and no matter what you throw at it, your waterproof Cardo Packtalk Edge will take the beating and keep you connected. Rain, shine, mud, dust or snow. It uses a brilliant Air Mount that is so simple and very secure. Just bring your Packtalk Edge near the magnetic mount and it will snap right on. The sound is powered by JBL with new and powerful 40mm highde nition speakers engineered to perfection by JBL’s experts, with an improved music processor and three redesigned audio pro les. It utilizes their own Dynamic Mesh gen 2 system taking the world’s best motorcycle intercom, and made it better. For up to 15 riders at a range of up to one full mile. You can buy them as a single unit for $350 or a paired set for $629. To nd out more log onto www.cardosystems.com.

This latest version of the zumo series motorcycle-based GPS is a true workhorse. The ultra-bright 5.5” display is brighter than previous models and can be seen in any light. It’s also glove-friendly with crisp HD resolution in landscape or portrait mode. The unit is a breeze to install, and with the backlight set at 100% brightness, the battery lasts up to 3.5 hours, and it can go up to 6 hours on regular settings. The unit comes with preloaded street maps for the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Bahamas. You’ll have access to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery around the world with direct-to-device downloads via Wi-Fi connectivity2 and no annual subscription. The Garmin zumo XT GPS easily pairs with your smartphone and bluetooth communication systems and this unit will last you many, many years and hundreds of thousands of miles. The Garmin zumo XT GPS can be found from various sources for around $500. Find it @ garmin.com

LDCOMFORT POWER SLEEVE • DESIGNEDFORTHE HEAT, BUT SUPERBINTHE COLD TOO… We all know Mother Nature is a ckle bitch. Cold mornings can give way to broiling afternoons. Hot valleys give way to cooler and cooler temperatures as we ride higher into the surrounding mountains. There have been plenty of times when I start my day’s ride in a chilly briskness, only to have it end up hot and humid after lunch. Sure, I could just carry some different tee shirts and base layers – I certainly have the room – but I have come across a better and easier idea. The Power Sleeves from LD Comfort. LD comfort has been around since 1999 when Mario Winkelman invented LDComfort Riding Shorts. He was looking for a far more comfortable and less chaf ng material to be used as a base layer. After months of research, Mario created riding shorts that had no seams in the seating area, a stretch material to form t to the body avoiding any wrinkles or folds, and leg openings extended closer to the knee. This custom-designed fabric, which keeps the rider’s skin dry, proved the ultimate answer in Long Distance Comfort – thus the company name. But comfy shorts are not all LD Comfort offers. We recently discovered a pair of Power Temp Cool Sleeves. These sleeves slide up and over the arm and work both in the hot and the cold. They are close- tting and designed to hold water in the outer fabric layer while air is funneled up the sleeves and into the main section of an outer jacket. Simply saturate the Power Temp Cool Sleeves and pull them over each arm and then replace the outer riding jacket. Rehydrate when needed to maintain the cool air bubble in the outer jacket. They are effective for temperatures up to 120 degrees. We don’t doubt it, but I like the idea of having and using them in the cooler weather as well. No real need to carry a few different shirts – Power Sleeves turn a short sleeve tee into a full sleeved base layer in seconds - and look like you are simply wearing two shirts ball-player-style. Power Sleeves come in three sizes and orange and black for just $29.99. Visit ldcomfort.com for their full line of products.

Nelson Rigg expands their Rigg Gear Hurricane Adventure line with new and improved collection of seven pieces of 100% waterproof gear. This rugged, stylish two-tone grey/ black luggage features the patented Rigg-Strap mounting system included in all new items. The Hurricane collection is made from a 100% waterproof, UV-coated tarpaulin PVC featuring electronically heat welded seams, to keep your contents dry and free from dust regardless of the weather or terrain you encounter. For compact packing each new item has an air purge valve. All of the Hurricane bags have re ective accents for better visibility. Starting at $99.95, you can check them out@ nelsonrigg.com

Looking for day-to-day luggage for your machine… Take a look at the Mini eXpandable SuperSport Tank Bag & Starr Rear Seat Bags from RKA. The tank bag attaches with RKA’s excellent 3-point system that works incredibly well and allows for ease of fueling as well as holding the small tank bag just where we want it, and there are two style from which to choose, depending on what will work better with your particular machine. All of RKAs luggage is made out of a 600 Denier solution dyed polyester and use durable YKK-Zippers and the interiors are 3/8 -inch foam combined onto a 200 denier coated nylon. The Tank Bag has a Portal to run power for USB or cell phone charging. There are two compartments – a spacious lower and a very convenient upper that incorporates a mesh compartment – perfect for paper work and other documents - and a handy pen / ashlight holder as well. It also has a shoulder strap and strong rubberized handle if you need to carry it off the motorcycle. The 10-Liter Mini eXpandable SuperSport Tank Bag sells for $175. For a bit more carrying capabilities check out one of RKA’s Rear Seat Bags for the back of the saddle. RKA has four choices; their 18-Liter Expandable Star II Rear Seat Bag seemed to t just right, with the expandable section easily stowing a few days’ worth of sundries and most of the other stuff we have grown to want and need on the road. Visit rka-luggage.com to see their full range.

Last minute gift needs? How about a Backroads’ Subscription? Makes a great stocking stuffer, grab bag or Secret Santa gift. backroadsusa.com/subscription