Best Premium Motorcycle Gifts

Mesh intercom — our top pick

Cardo Packtalk Edge

Why it lands:

The intercom serious riders point to: Cardo's second-generation mesh self-heals across a moving group, the JBL speakers are the best audio in the class, and the magnetic mount makes it a two-second fit to any helmet. Over-the-air updates keep it current.

Who it suits:

A rider whose group runs Cardo, or a solo rider you want to give the best-regarded unit to.

Check before you buy:

Brand first: if their group is on Sena, this leaves them out of the conversation. Premium price, especially if you are buying a pair for a couple. Universal helmet mount — the helmet brand does not matter.

Mesh intercom — with crash detection

Cardo Packtalk Pro

Why it lands:

The top of Cardo's range and the only unit here with crash detection, plus the largest speakers Cardo fits (45 mm). It runs the same mesh network, range, battery life and waterproof rating as the Edge — what you are paying extra for is the sensor and the drivers.

Who it suits:

A solo or long-distance rider whose family would value the crash-detection feature; a rider who already has the best of everything else.

Check before you buy:

Cardo publishes that crash detection needs the unit, a connected phone and cloud data coverage, and is offered for selected regions and on-road use only — it is not a guarantee of anything. If they mostly ride in a group, the Edge above does the same job for less.

Mesh intercom — the Sena pick

Sena 50S

Why it lands:

Sena's flagship mesh unit with Harman Kardon speakers and the signature Jog Dial — the big control wheel riders can operate in winter gloves without looking. Sena publishes 13 hours of mesh talk time and a 2.5-hour charge.

Who it suits:

A rider whose group runs Sena, or anyone who has said they prefer a dial to buttons.

Check before you buy:

Brand first, again: Sena mesh and Cardo mesh do not join. Universal helmet mount. If they want Sena's newest hardware rather than its best-known unit, the 60S EVO sits above it on the same network at a higher price.

Airbag vest — electronic, worn under the jacket

Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma

Why it lands:

The most protection available in a self-contained vest: full-torso coverage including the shoulders, Alpinestars' crash-detection algorithms, and no tether or subscription. Worn under the jacket they already own, so it changes nothing about how they look.

Who it suits:

A fast-road, long-distance or track-day rider whose jacket has room underneath — textile touring jackets usually do.

Check before you buy:

Sized, and worn under a specific jacket: you need their size and to know the jacket is not a tight race-fit leather. It is the most expensive protection item on this site. Buy where exchanges are straightforward, and expect them to try it on with the jacket before the tags come off.

Airbag vest — tethered, worn over the jacket

Hit-Air MLV2

Why it lands:

A mechanical airbag with zero electronics: a coiled tether clips to the bike, and separating from it pulls the CO2 cartridge. Certified to EN 1621-4:2013, the actual airbag standard, at Level 1 for the back. A reflective shell adds real visibility at night.

Who it suits:

A rider who will never remember to charge anything; a commuter; the most forgiving airbag to give, because it is adjustable and goes over whatever they wear.

Check before you buy:

They must clip in every ride and unclip before dismounting — some riders take to that and some do not. Level 1 at the back is a step below the electronic systems' published Level 2 performance; the trade is simplicity.

Full-body protector — chest and back CE Level 2

Leatt 3DF AirFit Hybrid

Why it lands:

Chest certified to CE EN 1621-3 Level 2 and back to EN 1621-2 Level 2 — both the higher tier — plus shoulders and elbows, in ventilated foam that stays flexible until it is hit. Worn over a base layer, so it fits under any jacket or jersey.

Who it suits:

ADV, dual-sport and off-road riders; also a street rider whose jacket has no chest protection at all.

Check before you buy:

Sized S to XXL on the torso — a reasonable guess from their jacket size, but buy where exchanges are easy. More coverage means more heat than a simple back insert; it is a cool-weather or off-road piece for most.

Heated gloves — 12V bike-powered

Gyde by Gerbing Vanguard 12V Heated Gloves

Why it lands:

These run off the motorcycle's own 12-volt system rather than a battery in the cuff, so the heat lasts as long as the ride does — no dying four hours into a cold day. A powersport-specific glove, not a repurposed ski glove.

Who it suits:

A rider who does long cold-weather rides or winter touring, where a rechargeable battery would give up before they arrive.

Check before you buy:

You need their glove size and the maker's size chart. It is tethered — a lead runs from the glove to the jacket to the bike's battery, so it is a wired setup rather than a grab-and-go one. No CE EN 13594 rating is published for it; this is a warmth glove first.

Waterproof gloves — GORE-TEX, CE-rated

KLIM Badlands GTX Long Glove

Why it lands:

Built for the day that starts at 40 degrees in the rain and does not improve: a GORE-TEX membrane laminated so it cannot shift inside a soaked glove, insulation on the back of the hand only so the palm still feels the levers, and a published CE Level 1 KP rating that KLIM puts in the product name itself.

Who it suits:

The adventure or touring rider who rides in weather they did not choose — the person who has been caught out.

Check before you buy:

Glove size required (SM to 3X). A long gauntlet worn over the jacket cuff, which some adventure jackets are not cut for — check what they wear. Insulated, so it is a cold-and-wet glove, not an all-year one. By far the most expensive glove we rank.