Cruiser Riders 2017 Christmas Guide: Good Gifts For Bad Boys And Girls

Cruiser riders might look like big, bad, tough guys and girls with their loud motorcycles and black leather riding gear but deep down they're just a bunch of softies with hearts as big as their V-twin engines and are often the first to donate to charity or support those in need during Christmas time. So even though they often look like they'd belong on Santa's naughty list they deserve some good gifts and this buyer's guide will give you some ideas as to what to get them.

Battery Tender

Most cruiser riders try to spend every waking hour on the saddle of the motorcycle but sometimes they run into long stretches of downtime. Extended periods of downtime can lead to a dead battery when it comes time to fire the bike back up if the battery isn't properly maintained. The Battery Tender has become a staple in many garages across the country for keeping batteries in good running order.

Deltran, the maker of the Battery Tender line, offers this High Efficiency Super Smart Tender Plus which covers most 12-volt batteries. As an automatic charger, this unit has a four step process for properly maintaining a battery: initialization, bulk charge, absorption mode and float mode. Once fully charged, the Battery Tender will automatically kick into float mode to prevent overcharging and damaging the battery. For convenience it comes with both a ring terminal connection that can be left on the bike (eliminates the need to continually remove the seat or obtain access to the battery) and quick connect alligator clips.
[mageProductLink sku="321-2100-ca" title=""]Deltran High Efficiency Super Smart Battery Tender Plus-12V[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $73.95, currently on sale: $55.99

Motorcycle Helmet

It used to be that cruiser riders mostly wore half helmets or beanie style helmets, these days however more and more riders are looking for better overall protection and are slipping on fullface motorcycle helmets. More specifically, cruiser riders have been gravitating towards fullface helmets with a distinct sinister look and Biltwell's new Lane Splitter helmet fit that bill perfectly and therefore has quickly found a strong following. Comprised of Biltwell's proprietary ABS outer shell, the Lane Splitter sports a mix of old school motocross and sci-fi bad guy styling.

The Lane Splitter has a large eye port for excellent peripheral vision and sports an optically precise visor that eliminates distortion. High flowing vents are found front and center on the prominent chin while an outlet in the back allows for warm air to be pushed out. The interior features a hand-sewn removable brushed Lycra liner with contrasting diamond stitched quilted open cell foam padding as well as pockets in the ears for speaker pods. Of course the helmet is available in black, but Biltwell also offers white, bronze, red, as well as three flat color ways: silver, titanium, and black. Swapping to any of the various colored visors that are available for the Lane Splitter is a breeze thanks to its easy to use hinge system.
[mageProductLink sku="072-0101-9933" title=""]Biltwell Lane Splitter Full Face Helmet[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $249.95

Riding Shirt

Don't be fooled by this flannel, it's not your typical lumberjack attire. This is actually a purpose-built motorcycle shirt that was designed by Speed and Strength with abrasion resistance in mind. The Black Nine Reinforced Flannel is available in three colorways and is constructed of a cotton and polyester blend for comfort and a relaxed fit. In the event of a slide, the shoulders and elbows have been beefed up with DuPont Kevlar thread used for the stitching to help prevent ripping or tearing in the sleeves. This motorcycle shirt features the look of a traditionally-styled, button up flannel but comes with the added security of a hidden YKK main zipper that keeps the shirt from blowing open at high speeds. There are also snaps in the collar to prevent the collar tips from whipping the rider in the face.
Speed And Strength Black Nine Reinforced Shirt: MSRP: $99.95

Throttle Assist

Save the wrist, give 'em a throttle assist. This one device can mean the difference between a great long distance ride and a grueling long distance ride. Not all motorcycles come with fancy cruise control systems so long rides with the wrist cocked back on the throttle can lead to fatigue, soreness, or numbness in the hand and wrist. Kuryakyn's Premier Affordable Throttle Assist is a simple solution to what can be an aggravating problem. Designed to fit most cruisers, the unit comes with different rubber inserts to fit motorcycle grips from ranging from 1-1/8" outside diameter to 1-3/4" outside diameter. A flick of the thumb lock holds the throttle in place and allows the rider to loosen up their grip and relax as they give their wrist and hand some rest. This throttle assist is easy to install and can be mounted to the handlebars with basic hand tools in about 10 minutes.
sku 025-6218
Kuryakyn Premier Affordable Throttle Assist:
MSRP: $34.99, currently on sale: $31.49

Micro Start

It can be extremely frustrating to take a long motorcycle ride, find a beautiful piece of scenery, and then pull out your cell phone only to realize the battery is dead. Keeping your phone charged while riding a motorcycle isn't difficult, you can add a charger to your electrical system, but then you can't take the charging capability with you off the bike. The Micro-Start XP-3 Personal Power Supply is a great solution to off the bike phone charging plus extremely useful for so much more. Delivering a big punch in a small package, the XP-3 measures 5" x 2-7/8" x 1", weighs 12 ounces but packs enough juice to jump start a car, most V8 trucks, and most importantly, motorcycles. The kit comes with a host of accessories such as a jump start clamp, 4-into-1 USB cable that includes tips for Micro USB, Mini USB, Apple 30 pin, and Apple 8 pin connections, and an organized carrying case. With a full charge you can charge most cell phones six times or a tablet twice. The unit also has a built in three mode high-power 110-Lumen LED Flashlight with two flash patterns including a S.O.S. flashing beacon. With the ability to carry this personal power supply in a saddlebag, fairing storage compartment, or pants or jacket pocket this could get a rider out of some dead(ly) situations.
[mageProductLink sku="321-3003" title=""]Antigravity Batteries Micro-Start XP-3 Personal Power Supply[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $119.99

Sissybar bag

Long road trips require at least one or two changes of underwear and as you can guess, motorcycles don't have ton of onboard storage-actually most have none. In order to carry extra clothes, riding gear, and whatever else they might need many cruiser riders choose to use a sissybar bag. The BR3400 Sissybar bag from Saddlemen is a popular model because it's made from quality materials, offers a good amount of storage, and is very versatile. In fact, while it's called a sissybar bag, with Saddlemen's Versa Mount system the bag can actually be secured to a cruiser style motorcycle that doesn't have a sissybar. Offering UV protection and weather resistant, this sissybar bag can tackle all conditions and keep gear dry and safe. The large main compartment is big enough to carry a fullface helmet as well as several days' worth of clothing and an internal organizer helps keep smaller item from getting scattered all over the place. There are five additional exterior pockets that can be expanded to pack in a ton of extra stuff. One of the really nice features of this piece of motorcycle luggage is that its internal structure system helps the bag keep its shape making it a great backrest even when empty.
[mageProductLink sku="356-3515-0107" title=""]Saddlemen BR3400 Sissy Bar Bag[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $200.00

Seat pad

Even the best motorcycle seats can leave a rider feeling saddle sore after a couple hundred miles. A simple way to change up a motorcycle seat to provide comfort is to add a top pad like Saddlemen's Tech Memory Foam Gel Seat Pad. With its flexibility the pad can be stored in a saddlebag or sissybar bag and then pulled out as needed or with its easy-to-use strap system be left on the bike and then removed when done riding for the day. The top of the seat pad features channeling to promote air flow and reduce hot spots. A memory foam layer molds to the rear end and provides soft cushioning while the visco-elastic saddle gel enhances the cushion effect, reduces vibration, and evenly distributes weight to eliminate hip pointers and discomfort at the tailbone. The seat pad is available in two sizes to fit various seats, the large measures 10-1/2" long x 15-1/2" wide, and the extra-large measures 12-1/2" long x 15-1/2" wide.
[mageProductLink sku="356-0810-0521" title=""]Saddlemen Tech Memory Foam Gel Seat Pad, Large[/mageProductLink], MSRP: $99.00
[mageProductLink sku="356-0810-0520" title=""]Saddlemen Tech Memory Foam Gel Seat Pad, Extra-large[/mageProductLink], MSRP: 109.00

Drink holder

A lot of motorcycle riders like to kick start the day with a piping hot cup of coffee but as you may have noticed, motorcycles don't come with cup holders. This Snap-N-Go Drink Holder from Kuryakyn solves that problem. Designed to fit 1" handlebars or to be mounted on either the clutch or brake perch mount the drink holder can be attached to a wide range of motorcycles. To keep form spilling the drink holder has a ball end mount that allows the cup/cup holder to stay upright as the motorcycle leans. The snap-n-go feature makes it easy to remove the cup holder portion of the mount off the bike and then snap it back into place. Included with the kit is an insulated coffee cup.
[mageProductLink sku="025-1486" title=""]Kuryakyn Snap-N-Go Drink Holder[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $39.99, currently on sale: $35.99

Tank Bag

While a sissybar bag is great for long trips, a tank back is perfect for everyday use. Chase Harper's 1150 Magnetic Tank Bag is ideal for just about any cruiser rider. By unzipping one zipper the bag can expand vertically form 3" to 9" to provide 17.93 liters of storage space-enough for some tee-shirts and even a pair of jeans. The bag can either be magnetically secured to a metal gas tank with its super strong rare earth magnets or tied down to the top of the tank with its included adjustable quick clip straps. A clear map pocket on top allows you to go the old school paper route but is also smartphone touch compatible if you want to see turn by turn directions on your phone. Velcro allows the map pouch to be taken off the motorcycle without having to remove the entire bag. There's a compartment with foam that can be custom cut to secure tools and other necessities. An internal organizer under the lid keeps smaller and important items within quick reach.
[mageProductLink sku="152-ch1150magblkbcnw" title=""]Chase Harper 1150 Magnetic Tank Bag[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $134.95, currently on sale: $112.99

Rok Straps

These little straps can come in handy in a pinch without leaving a scratch. With their ability to stretch yet remain taut once secured, Rok Straps can be a motorcycle rider's best friend as they allow them to secure just about anything to their bike. The straps are extremely strong, they can secure loads up to 100 pounds, and with their flat design they won't "roll" like bungee cords tend to. Rock straps have looped ends that can be used on a variety of attachment points on a motorcycle and female/male quick clips in the center. Once secure the straps can be adjusted from 18" to 60" to accommodate a various sized loads a rider might need to carry while running errands.
[mageProductLink sku="225-2014-001" title=""]Rok Straps Heavy Duty Adjustable Tiedowns[/mageProductLink]: MSRP: $24.99

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