Best Gifts for New Motorcycle Riders
Someone who just passed their test is riding with gaps in their gear they don't know about yet. These seven gifts close the gaps without guessing a size — plus the three big items you should fund rather than buy.
How this is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gear we recommend, and we’ll tell you plainly when to skip a pick. Full disclosure.
A new rider has usually just spent everything on the bike and the license, then bought the cheapest gear that looked the part. That is not a criticism — everyone does it — but it means the kit has gaps, and the rider does not know where. The good news for you is that the gaps are predictable, the fixes are cheap, and almost none of them depend on knowing a size. Every pick below is gear we already rank on this site; here it is explained for the person buying it.
First, the three things to fund rather than buy
Helmet, jacket and boots are the big-ticket items a new rider needs most and the ones you must not buy blind. A helmet has to match head shape as well as size — it is the most important thing they own, and the fitting is the whole point. A riding jacket is cut close so its armor stays in place, so a size out is wrong in the one way that matters. Boots are decided by heel lift and calf fit, which no chart shows. For any of the three, the better gift is the budget plus the offer to go along. Our beginner gear guide shows what to look for when you get there, and what gear costs gives you a realistic number to fund.
Everything from here down is safe to buy.
The gap they don’t know about: the back pad
Nearly every budget riding jacket ships with a soft foam rectangle in the back pocket. It has passed no impact test and carries no rating; it is there to fill the pocket. A back protector insert that carries a CE EN 1621-2 Level 2 rating — the higher of the two tiers — replaces it with armor that has been tested, and it goes into the pocket the jacket already has. This is the best gift on this page and the one most new riders never buy for themselves. One check: measure the back pocket of their jacket, or buy the insert made by the jacket’s brand. Our CE armor ratings guide explains the levels.
Back protector insert — CE Level 2
Leatt 3DF Level 2 Back Protector Insert
CE EN 1621-2 Level 2- Why it lands:
- A CE EN 1621-2 Level 2 back insert for around fifty dollars — the top impact tier at a fraction of the price of a premium plate. Leatt's 3DF foam is soft in the hand and stiffens on impact, so a new rider will actually leave it in the jacket.
- Who it suits:
- Any new rider with a budget jacket — which is nearly all of them.
- Check before you buy:
- Two sizes (SM/MD, LG/XL) and a generic insert shape: measure the jacket's back pocket first, or ask them to. Foam retains more heat than a vented plate, which matters in hot climates.
Price as of September 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
The gap they will thank you for: earplugs
New riders rarely know how loud a helmet is at highway speed, or that the noise is fatiguing and, over years, damaging. Filtered earplugs lower the wind roar while leaving traffic and engine audible, and ears do not need sizing. Once a rider tries them they do not go back.
Earplugs
Alpine MotoSafe Tour Earplugs
- Why it lands:
- Cuts highway wind roar without sealing the rider off — Alpine publishes a 17 dB SNR figure for the filter. Reusable, washable, and small enough to live in a jacket pocket, which is the difference between owning earplugs and wearing them.
- Who it suits:
- Every new rider, full stop. The safest pick on this page if you know nothing else about them.
- Check before you buy:
- Nothing to size. If they mostly ride fast roads, the same plug's Race filter carries a higher 20 dB figure; for a new rider, the Tour is the right one.
Price as of September 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
For the one who rides in a hoodie
Some new riders have not bought a riding jacket at all yet, or wear a fashion “biker” jacket with no armor. You cannot fix that with a jacket you have not sized — but an armored base layer goes under whatever they wear, is sized like a normal shirt, and puts certified protectors on the shoulders, elbows and back. It is not a substitute for a real jacket (mesh has almost no abrasion resistance on its own), but it is a large step up from nothing.
Armored base layer — CE Level 2 (listing)
Wicked Stock Mesh Armored Shirt
CE Level 2 (listing)- Why it lands:
- A stretch mesh shirt with removable protectors the listing states as CE Level 2 — the higher impact tier — worn under a hoodie, a denim jacket or an unarmored leather. Washes like a normal shirt once the armor is out.
- Who it suits:
- The new rider who has not bought a real riding jacket yet, or wears one without armor.
- Check before you buy:
- Sized like a shirt — use their normal size. The CE claim is the maker's listing, not an independent lab's. Say plainly, when you give it, that it goes under a jacket rather than replacing one.
Price as of September 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
For the one who rides in jeans
Which is most new riders. Ordinary jeans protect nothing in a slide, and the cheapest fix is a strap-on knee and shin guard that goes over or under the jeans they already ride in. Straps adjust across most adult legs, so there is no size to get wrong.
Knee and shin guards
Scoyco CE Level 1 Knee and Shin Guards
CE Level 1 (listing; standard not named)- Why it lands:
- Knee and shin coverage with a hard TPU shell, listed as CE Level 1, that straps on over jeans. For a rider with no leg protection at all it is the whole difference, for the price of a tank of fuel.
- Who it suits:
- The new rider in jeans — and the honest answer is that this is nearly all of them.
- Check before you buy:
- The listing says CE Level 1 but does not name the standard, and strap-on guards can rotate on the leg. If you want the version they will wear every day, the soft-sleeve knee armor on our under-$150 page is the step up.
Price as of September 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
A first intercom
Navigation prompts in the helmet are genuinely useful for someone still learning routes, and a rider-and-passenger intercom is a good first unit. Intercoms mount to almost any helmet, so this is a safe gift with one question attached: if they have started riding with a group, ask what brand the group uses — the mesh networks from the two big brands do not talk to each other, and a group rider needs the group’s brand. Our intercom buying guide covers the rest.
Intercom — first unit
Sena 5S
- Why it lands:
- The cheapest Sena that still has the big Jog Dial — the control wheel a beginner can work in gloves without looking. Sena publishes 18 hours of talk time on a 1.5-hour charge, with Bluetooth for calls, music and navigation prompts.
- Who it suits:
- A new rider who rides alone or with one regular partner; the rider-and-passenger case is exactly what it is built for.
- Check before you buy:
- Sena publishes a two-rider intercom — it will not run a group. If their friends are on Cardo, look at the Cardo Spirit on our under-$150 page instead. Universal helmet mount.
If you can find out their glove size
Hands go out first in a fall, reflexively, and the gloves many new riders start with are thin. A real leather glove with a hard knuckle is a big step up and does not cost much — but gloves are fit-critical, so this pick needs their size. A photo of the tag inside a pair they own is enough. If you cannot get it, skip this one.
Leather gloves — only if you know the size
Joe Rocket GPX 2.0 Leather
- Why it lands:
- Goatskin leather palm and back — real abrasion resistance — with a hard knuckle protector, at a price where most gloves are thin textile. Short cuff, so it works with whatever jacket they end up with.
- Who it suits:
- The new rider still wearing budget gloves, work gloves, or none.
- Check before you buy:
- Runs true to size, and you must know the size. Do not guess.
Price as of September 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
The small thing: a shield cleaning kit
New riders reach for household glass cleaner on a visor, and ammonia attacks the polycarbonate. A pocket-size shield-safe kit is a cheap way to head that off, and a natural add-on to any of the gifts above. We tell riders that soap and water works just as well — this buys the version they will carry.
Shield cleaning kit
Muc-Off Visor, Lens & Goggle Cleaning Kit
- Why it lands:
- A pH-neutral, solvent-free spray that Muc-Off publishes as safe on polycarbonate, plus the microfibre cloth that actually prevents scratches, in a size that lives in a tank bag or a pocket.
- Who it suits:
- An add-on for any new rider, and the right thing to pair with the earplugs.
- Check before you buy:
- Genuinely optional — mild soap and lukewarm water do the same job for free, and our cleaning guide says so. What it replaces is the ammonia-based glass cleaner people reach for by instinct.
Price as of September 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Two gifts with no size at all
- A rider training course. The skills a license test does not teach — emergency braking, cornering, hazard reading — are exactly what a new rider is short of, and a structured course is the thing experienced riders most often wish they had done sooner. We do not sell or link courses; find the provider recognized in their state and give it as a voucher.
- A gift card plus an afternoon. For the helmet, the jacket or the boots: the budget and the offer to go along to the fitting. Read our helmet sizing guide together on the way. It is not a lesser gift. The fitting is the gift.
How to read our safety notes. We have not crash-tested any of this gear — nobody honestly can on a review budget. Every helmet and armor pick names the certification the maker publishes (DOT, ECE 22.06, SNELL, or a CE level), which we read from the listing on a dated visit. Certification is the floor, not a guarantee; fit and condition matter as much as the sticker. What the standards actually mean.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best gift for a new motorcycle rider?
A CE Level 2 back protector insert. A new rider almost always buys a budget jacket, and budget jackets ship with a foam back pad that has passed no impact test. A certified insert replaces it for the price of a dinner out, drops into the pocket the jacket already has, and is the single biggest protection upgrade they can make. Check the jacket's pocket size first, or buy the insert made by the same brand as the jacket.
Should I buy a new rider a helmet?
Not as a surprise. It is the most important thing they own, and that is exactly why it has to be fitted in person — head shape matters as much as size, and a helmet in the wrong shape is uncomfortable within twenty minutes and cannot be returned once worn. Give the budget and go to the fitting with them; our helmet sizing guide is what to read on the way.
What does a new motorcycle rider actually need?
A certified helmet, gloves, a jacket with CE armor, boots that cover the ankle, and a real back protector — in roughly that order of priority. Most new riders have the first four in some form and are missing the fifth. Our beginner motorcycle gear guide covers the full kit by budget, and this page picks the gifts that fill the usual gaps.
Is a rider training course a good gift?
One of the best there is, and it needs no size. A structured course teaches the emergency braking and cornering skills that a license test does not, and it is the thing experienced riders most often say they wish they had done sooner. We do not sell or link courses; find the provider your state recognizes and give it as a voucher.
Why do the prices on this page change?
Because this site does not store prices. Every button shows a live, date-stamped price from a daily retailer check, which expires after 48 hours rather than going stale. Where no verified price is available, the button says 'Check price' instead of showing a number.
Sources
- NHTSA — How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Helmet — NHTSA consumer guidance on DOT certification and spotting novelty helmets (accessed July 21, 2026)
- 49 CFR 571.218 — FMVSS No. 218, Motorcycle helmets — The US federal helmet standard: peak-acceleration, penetration and retention requirements; applies to all on-road motorcycle helmets (accessed July 21, 2026)
- NHTSA — Motorcycle Helmet Effectiveness Revisited (DOT HS 809 715) — Helmets ~37% effective at preventing rider fatalities (accessed July 21, 2026)
Keep reading
Beginner motorcycle gear: a head-to-toe guide
Exactly what a new rider needs to buy first — helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and armor — by budget, with one certified pick per category.
Read the beginner guideBest motorcycle gifts under $50
The stocking-stuffer tier — earplugs, certified armor sets, limb guards and the under-helmet layer.
See the under-$50 giftsHow much does motorcycle gear cost?
Three head-to-toe kits at three budgets, priced live — the page to read if you are funding a big item rather than buying it.
See the three kitsBlack Friday & Cyber Monday motorcycle gear deals
Funding a helmet or jacket for November? What historically discounts, what rarely does, and what to buy now instead.
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