The Best Motorcycle Accessories for the 2017 Riding Season
At its essence, owning a motorcycle is about being different. While riders’ tastes vary from street and sport bikes to cruisers and touring bikes, one thing rings universally true: All motorcycle enthusiasts love accessories. Be it clothing or gadgets, tailoring your accessories to your own needs and personality sets you apart from the rest of the pack. Here’s a look at some of this year’s best motorcycle accessories.
1. Tools
Tools are always good to have on hand, and there are tons to choose from. Everything from multi-tools and tire and tube repair kits to micro-sized jump start packs can keep you riding when you encounter issues on the road.
2. Look Mom, No Hands
If you’re riding with a group, you can ditch the hand signals by getting a Bluetooth headset and intercom set. There are a lot of companies making sets that feature voice prompts, voice-aided nav and even pairing with your phone so you can take your tunes with you on the road.
3. Carry On
Let’s face it, motorcycles aren’t ideal when it comes to cargo. Saddle bags help store small things, but when you need to bring a pair of shoes, a change of clothes or other large items, you’re stuck using a nylon backpack that can flap in the wind and make for a less than pleasant ride. Hard plastic body bags are not only more aerodynamic, but can also store everything from a weekend’s change of clothes to a laptop, iPad and other devices.
4. Get a Grip
Whether you ride with a GPS or just like to have your phone visually accessible, a handlebar clamp is always a great accessory that makes life easier. There are a variety of options that allow you to mount your GPS or phone to your bike in minutes, so you and your gear can get on the road without delay.
5. Lube Shop
One of the parts that gets the most wear on your bike is the chain. If you ride far or fast, an automatic chain oiler is always a great thing to install. Using technology from MotoGP, these devices keep your chain oiled while you ride and can be controlled from a bar-mounted display that allows you to adjust the flow.
While you may think of jackets and helmets first on your list of accessories, there are lots of other ways to customize your bike and improve your riding experience.
Check out all the motorcycle and powersport parts
Image courtesy of Flickr.
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Erich Reichert View All
Erich Reichert has been an editor and on-air personality in the radio control car hobby for 12 years. A certified car nut since birth, he has written for internationally published titles such as RC Car Action, RC Driver and Xtreme RC Cars, as well as Stuff Magazine, Road and Track and Super Street. He's covered everything from product reviews and tech articles to high-profile lifestyle pieces and celebrity interviews. Erich found his passion for writing after a successful career as an art director, working with brands such as Pepsico, NASCAR, MTV, Nintendo, WWE, Cannondale Bicycles and HBO. He's also a father, an avid hockey fan and an FIA race license holder who enjoys hiking, playing drums and movies.