It’s not what you get but what you give. So we put together some pointers for the significant others in your life to make sure their thoughts are in the right place when thinking about motorcycles and the holidays. Here’s Cycle World’s Anti-Gift Guide 2015.
Empty Promises There is nothing a rider loves more than creating a new rider. Nothing. Not even vegans derive more pleasure from converting a non-believer. One, because the more motorcyclists the better. Two, it offers another willing partner in crime for rides and irresponsible project scenarios. But we heard your spiel last year. So what’s stopping you? I mean, 2016 is basically already here. Let’s go get you MSF’d up and out on two wheels, now!
Posuer Paraphernalia Say motorcycle to people, and they default like an errant Google search result: “Did you mean a Harley?” They’ve also seen the mugs, shirts, and SOA scowls canvas the local strip mall for years and years. Therefore, the rider on the gift list always gets a Harley mug, shot glass, born to ride hoody, or SOA cut. I will take a lifetime sentence of socks and only socks if it means I will not get an SOA cut in my stocking. This is a well-intentioned gift and we love you for it, but other motorcycles exist too. Ask the rider in your life what he or she rides, and being that we’re all apostates of the badge on our tank, we’ll gladly tell you—I have a drawer of Triumph-branded Lucky Brand shirts to prove it. Pray for me.
Ill-Fitting Gear This is the best of a worst-case scenario. You took time, significant effort, and thought, to go track down a piece of equipment to keep a rider safe. The hazard is, if it doesn’t fit, it can’t do its job. Ill-fitting gear is the single biggest problem for riders because either there are few options that fit them, or they don’t know how it should fit—especially if they are just starting their riding career. Also, the nuances of good vs. bad gear take time to understand, and can mean costly purchasing mistakes along the way. Our advice, take the rider in your life for a little trip after the holidays to your local brick-and-mortar shop, or spend time with them online doing the research. That way, they’ll leave with gear that will do the job and is right for their needs. Plus, motorcycle dealers would love to see you during the off-season, and will probably have some killer deals too.
Auto Parts Store Gift Cards Put bluntly, motorcycles are different than cars. Sure, there are some things that we can use here, but if you really want to keep a rider happy, just spring for some gas. Best news, you can pick this up at the absolute last minute and they're none the wiser. It’s the win-win hero for the last-minute holiday gift.
A Lecture Holiday dinner tables are a contentious place. A ripe playground of opinions, political discourse, and passive-aggressive slights. There’s no place like the warm embrace of the holidays that makes us more comfortable to go for the jugular and spread the gospel of your favorite unfavored politician. No target is more ripe for a dressing down than the family motorcyclist. We get it, there’s not very many of us, and you think motorcycles are worse than terrorist refugees for this country. But please refrain from the usual fare of, “You’ll die” or “I know Carl’s wife’s brother’s sons died” or my personal favorite: “I wish we could run them off the road.” For us, riding is life and not so much something we do as much as who we are. The holidays are a time for togetherness, so remember, under that helmet, we’re all just people, and maybe give the gift of alertness and put your phone down before making a lane change, shall we?
By Cycle World
Empty Promises There is nothing a rider loves more than creating a new rider. Nothing. Not even vegans derive more pleasure from converting a non-believer. One, because the more motorcyclists the better. Two, it offers another willing partner in crime for rides and irresponsible project scenarios. But we heard your spiel last year. So what’s stopping you? I mean, 2016 is basically already here. Let’s go get you MSF’d up and out on two wheels, now!
Posuer Paraphernalia Say motorcycle to people, and they default like an errant Google search result: “Did you mean a Harley?” They’ve also seen the mugs, shirts, and SOA scowls canvas the local strip mall for years and years. Therefore, the rider on the gift list always gets a Harley mug, shot glass, born to ride hoody, or SOA cut. I will take a lifetime sentence of socks and only socks if it means I will not get an SOA cut in my stocking. This is a well-intentioned gift and we love you for it, but other motorcycles exist too. Ask the rider in your life what he or she rides, and being that we’re all apostates of the badge on our tank, we’ll gladly tell you—I have a drawer of Triumph-branded Lucky Brand shirts to prove it. Pray for me.
Ill-Fitting Gear This is the best of a worst-case scenario. You took time, significant effort, and thought, to go track down a piece of equipment to keep a rider safe. The hazard is, if it doesn’t fit, it can’t do its job. Ill-fitting gear is the single biggest problem for riders because either there are few options that fit them, or they don’t know how it should fit—especially if they are just starting their riding career. Also, the nuances of good vs. bad gear take time to understand, and can mean costly purchasing mistakes along the way. Our advice, take the rider in your life for a little trip after the holidays to your local brick-and-mortar shop, or spend time with them online doing the research. That way, they’ll leave with gear that will do the job and is right for their needs. Plus, motorcycle dealers would love to see you during the off-season, and will probably have some killer deals too.
Auto Parts Store Gift Cards Put bluntly, motorcycles are different than cars. Sure, there are some things that we can use here, but if you really want to keep a rider happy, just spring for some gas. Best news, you can pick this up at the absolute last minute and they're none the wiser. It’s the win-win hero for the last-minute holiday gift.
A Lecture Holiday dinner tables are a contentious place. A ripe playground of opinions, political discourse, and passive-aggressive slights. There’s no place like the warm embrace of the holidays that makes us more comfortable to go for the jugular and spread the gospel of your favorite unfavored politician. No target is more ripe for a dressing down than the family motorcyclist. We get it, there’s not very many of us, and you think motorcycles are worse than terrorist refugees for this country. But please refrain from the usual fare of, “You’ll die” or “I know Carl’s wife’s brother’s sons died” or my personal favorite: “I wish we could run them off the road.” For us, riding is life and not so much something we do as much as who we are. The holidays are a time for togetherness, so remember, under that helmet, we’re all just people, and maybe give the gift of alertness and put your phone down before making a lane change, shall we?
By Cycle World
