7 Dos and Don'ts of Harley Rider Gift Giving
Buying gifts for the biker in your life doesn't have to be hard. Here are some tips of what to get and not to get if you are shopping for a Harley-Davidson rider.
1. Don't Get Cute
Who invented the cute but tough biker plush toy? Sure, I am a big bear of a man, kind of hairy, but really soft and cuddly when you get to know me, but I don't want a teddy bear in black leather and denim. When I tour I do have a plush cow that often comes along, but that has more to do with the strange story of how I got it (traded 2 cigarettes while drunk to a bum in New Orleans in 1995) and the sentimental value it now has. Maybe these bears make good gifts for kids if their mom, dad, uncle, aunt or grandparents ride?
2. Do Get Practical
There is nothing wrong with giving someone a practical gift. Most guys who ride are pretty no nonsense about things, and they would rather get a gift they actually like and can use than one which is a complete surprise, but utterly useless. So don't be afraid to ask for a list of exactly what they would like for Christmas, their birthday, your anniversary, etc. A big assortment of detailing supplies and a lot of rags is never a bad idea either, because bikes do get dirty (unless they prefer it that way).
3. Don't Buy a Gift Basket
Gift baskets almost always favor presentation over what is actually in them. You end up paying $100 for $30 worth of random stuff you can buy at the grocery store and a $5 basket which isn't good for anything. There is nothing "biker" about the one pictured either, despite the Harley-Davidson branded cheeses, and a motorcycle shaped picture frame. If you were to make your own gift basket, and use a useful vessel like a duffel bag or tank bag, it would make a much better gift.
4. Do Buy Tools
Good quality tools are always appreciated, no matter if the recipient is in the shop every night, or barely tinkers with their bike. Seriously, you almost can't go wrong with tools, because even if it is something they already have, they can always use a spare. The tool pack on the left is a co-branded Harley-Davidson Snap-On travel kit that goes for more than $200. At less than half that (and with twice as many tools) is the Windzone kit, which also included the kickass skull on the case. You do get what you pay for, but most people think Snap-On is a bit overpriced. The most important thing to remember is this: Most Harleys use SAE inch size wrenches and sockets, not metric.
5. Don't Buy H-D Knock Offs
Harley-Davidson has licensed their brand name, bar and shield logo to about a billion different products over the years, not that this alone indicates a good gift. But any official product is better than the trillions of unauthorized trying to ride the coat tails of Harley fandom. The three items pictured are all from the Bradford exchange, which also sells plenty of licensed collectibles, but these three are not H-D products: "Ride Hard, Live Free" and "Freedom Choppers" collection. They don't seem to be made in the USA despite the eagles and flags, and they are not inexpensive. I must admit, the detail of the tire and grip on the stein is kind of cool, but not for $100.
6. Do Buy Gift Cards
Gift cards are a great idea, if you get them from somewhere they love to shop. Your local Harley dealer always has great looking gift cards and envelopes or boxes to present them in. Cycle Gear sells exactly what it say in their name, from cruiser style, to neon sport bike style, to dirt bike gear, and they have locations all over the country, plus a great website. Revzilla is strictly online, but they pretty much sell every aftermarket part your riding friend is likely to want. J & P Cycles is an old school cruiser parts supplier who has jumped on the band wagon and gone into the 21st century with an easy to browse website. Or, just casually ask where they like to shop and chances are you can get a gift card from there.
7. Don't Buy Gear
It really is hard to buy gear for a biker. Most people who ride are very particular about what they want to wear, or not wear. Some are kind of superstitious, having had bad luck in some brand of gear, or survived a nasty crash and now are loyal to one brand. The riders in the picture are just two examples of the different styles of gear Harley riders will wear. Unless you can get exact details on what they want and what size and what color, forget it. Just go with the gift card.
When the time comes to give your bike the gift of routine maintenance, the how to section of HDForums.com will show you how.
