Motocross Holiday Shopping Guide

Motocross Holiday Shopping Guide

Buying gifts for the motocross enthusiast just got easier thanks to Race Chapman.

Dec 12, 2017 by Dan Beaver
Motocross Holiday Shopping Guide

By Race Chapman

With Christmas fast approaching, many people are scrambling to think of interesting gifts to get their loved ones. For someone who doesn't ride motocross, the obsession of a rider or fan of the sport can be a bit overwhelming. 

So what type of gift would be good for the average motocross enthusiast?

Why, a new bike, of course.

KTMs are all the rage, although Husqvarnas might be preferable to those of more alternative tastes. Then again, some riders are loyal to particular brands, so it's best to be wary of that and know your audience. All in all, a new bike would be a great stocking stuffer — if you have access to a really big stocking — and will only cost about as much as a nice used car.

In all seriousness, there are lots of little things that a racer will appreciate and not instantly ask for a return receipt.

Outsiders will walk into a bike shop and be bombarded with flashy colors, dozens of seemingly identical brands, and exorbitant price tags on the most meaningless-looking bits of plastic and metal. If they know a rider well, they will know that one flashy jersey will be seen as a total goon brand, whereas another will be fawned over like it's made of pure gold.

In truth, most racers favor titanium and carbon fiber over gold. But what would make a good, thoughtful present without a visit to the friendly neighborhood loan officer?

Frankly, it's probably best to avoid bike parts or gear. Most riders are extremely selective about that type of thing, and certain brands can be seen as embarrassing to bring to the track.

Helmet Cams

Fortunately, a moto-related gift can be just as exciting to receive. Most racers love having helmet-cam footage of their exploits, and the prices on these devices can range anywhere from $50 to $800.

Similar to those are the myriad analytic devices. These can track lap times, heart rate, speed, model GPS data, and overlay visually with camera footage. It's something most riders would like but wouldn't necessarily buy on their own. The only downside is the high price, as an example the motocross-specific LITPro is about as much as a high-end GoPro at $500.

T-Shirts, Hats, & Stickers

If there's one thing motocross racers and fans love, it's advertising that they love motocross. A T-shirt or hat featuring their favorite rider or bike brand is often an easy $20-$30 gift, and it's one that they will be happy to wear over and over. After all, one can never have enough track shirts!

But a more customizable option are the little personalized "hub" stickers. These can be had from most motocross graphics companies for $20-40 for a pack of 10 with custom racing number, name and colors. Racers love slapping them on the rear window of their truck, on the hubs of their bike, the back of their phone, and anywhere else a 2" by 2" sticker will fit.

Bike Stands & Mats

Custom bike stands or mats can be ordered as well, at a cost of about $100. Custom stuff with their number, name and preferred colors will pretty much always be welcome.

Professional Photos

A glossy, full-sized photo can be a fun thing to have as well. Most riders have a thousand digital photos, but they mostly sit idly on a hard drive. It might be tricky to find a good candidate to have printed, but a nice photo on thick, glossy paper makes for a really cool and interesting gift. Plus, it can't be lost to the sands of time and hard drive failure. Just make sure that the photo is a good enough resolution to avoid blurriness or artifacts.

Race Fuel

Race fuel is insanely expensive, and if your rider uses it, they will appreciate a can of good race gas like a sommelier will appreciate a fine wine. This can be a pricey gift, and it's imperative that the right fuel is bought, because the wrong type can be harmful to a motor.

If you want a fun alternative, a "race fuel" scented candle can be had for $20-30. They also come in "premix" option for those that love two strokes!

However, some might prefer to have gear or parts for the bike, in which case there are still some good options without having to ask directly.

Boots & Helmets

New boots and helmets are always needed by any motocross rider.

You can't have too many, and there are different applications for each style. But these can be dangerous to buy, because the good ones are extremely expensive (in the $600-plus realm), and most riders are very picky about them.

It is probably best to steer clear of those, unless you know precisely the brand, color, size and model desired. But at that point, where's the surprise?

Gear

Gear can be a better option, because it is a little more obvious as to what they might like. Gear is also much cheaper than boots and helmets, with the best brands running about $250 for a set.

Any rider with a Facebook or Instagram account is guaranteed to have countless pictures of them with gear on. From there you can determine which brands, colors, and styles they prefer.

Even cheaper gear (some can be had for under $100 a set) is usually welcome, because all gear will wear out and need replacing eventually anyway. It's good to have an extra set of cheap stuff to throw in the rotation (and add an extra week or so before gear laundry day).

Goggles

Goggles are perhaps the ideal candidate for a motocross gift. First off, they're one size fits all, which is hard to come by in the world of apparel. Second, you can easily determine the brand they like from photos. And last, while goggles are much cheaper than sets of gear, boots, helmets, or tires, they are surprisingly expensive and therefore most riders don't have a huge amount of them. Plus, they can have all kinds of different lenses, and it's nice to have a "nighttime" set and a "daytime" set as well as a set for sand, mud, hot, cold, and so on.

The most expensive goggles usually run about $100, but most normal riders wear goggles in the $20-$50 range.

Bike Parts

But what if your rider has more than enough gear and apparel? Never fear, if there was ever a never-ending vacuum for money, it is the motocross bike.

Getting bike parts can be a very difficult proposition. First off, unless you're a rider yourself, you probably wouldn't be able to tell which parts on the bike are old or aftermarket. And unless someone tells you explicitly, it's basically a complete shot in the dark as to what they actually want or need.

Tires are probably the most neglected wear item on otherwise well-maintained motocross bikes. Professionals ride with brand new tires every time they race, and change them regularly on their practice bikes. A set often runs between $150 and $200.

It's best to try to get a look at the tires on their bike — it will say the brand, model and size on the side of the tire. But if that isn't feasible, then ask what type of tires they run on their bike — most wouldn't suspect that a gift was being prepared.

Grips are another wear item that are always populating a rider's shopping cart. Most riders can tell what brand and style a grip is by looking at it, but for the average person it would be nearly impossible to identify. If you know which grips they prefer, they are typically under $20 for a pair.

Whether you're buying moto-related items, gear, or parts for their bike, it's time to get out there and buy your loved ones some motocross gifts. God knows their wallets need the break.