Best Motorcycle Accessories For Motorcycle Riders in 2022

A big part of the fun we all have riding our bikes is perfecting them with the right motorcycle accessories. Whether it’s chrome pipes and flashy rims or cargo space for a journey around the world, choosing the best motorcycle accessories is how we make our bikes our own.

But with so much to choose from, it can be hard to figure out the right parts and accessories for you. Fortunately, we can help with that.

Best Motorcycle Accessories Based on Your Motorcycle

Ultimately, nobody but you can tell you which accessories you need. Every rider is unique, and there’s a wide array of motorcycle accessories online.

However, there are some motorcycle accessories that tend to go well with certain types of bikes. Here are our top tips for some of the most popular types of bikes:

Street/naked accessories

• Urban security: Bikes like these are often ridden around town, so make sure you can really lock it up securely when it’s parked. Start with disk locks and chains and work your way up.
  
• Everyday comfort: These bikes are a popular choice for commuters or other daily riders. If you’re gonna ride it often, it makes sense to spend those hours in the saddle comfortably. Replacement seats, grips, handlebars and pegs can all change how you feel on your bike.
  
• Traffic safety: If you’re going to ride often in the city, you’ll want a lot out of your gear. Top-notch protection is key because city riding can get hairy at times. Comfortable fit and breathability since you’ll be wearing the gear often. And don’t underestimate the importance of style – who wants to pop in to the local cafe or the office looking like an astronaut? Try a sleek black leather jacket instead.

Cruiser/chopper

• Classic style: Cruisers have a unique look and lifestyle all their own, so putting together a good outfit is half the fun. Biker accessories like black leather jackets and vests, leather boots, patches, and other types of premium gear are a must! And that goes for your bike as well. Spiked handlebars? Chromed-out bits? Let your imagination soar. Harley Davidson accessories contain tons of good-looking and well-made pieces that you’ll love no matter what bike you ride (but it’ll help if it’s a Harley).
  
• Travel comfort: Cruisers are great for long group rides or trips with a pillion rider. Either way, you’ll want to equip yourself to go the distance. Comfortable seats, cargo space, wind fairings, handguards and handlebar vibration dampeners are just a few ways to make your ride more comfortable. Many leading cruiser manufacturers offer additional parts and accessories for their bikes. Indian motorcycle accessories in particular include a wide assortment and some beautiful options.
  
• Secure your pride and joy: You might feel safer when riding with a group, but if you invest a lot into your bike, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t get messed with. Make sure you boost your security with locks and other tools.

Sports bike

• Optimal handling: Sports bikes are all about the art of riding, so some of your most important accessories may be the ones that improve handling. Handlebars and handlebar grips, fairings, and footpegs are just a few accessories that can improve how you handle your bike. And that’s before going into performance parts like engine, drive chain, or suspension tuning, but that’s beyond the scope of this article.
  
• Safety performance: At higher speeds, you need the best safety gear you can get. Abrasion-resistant leather safety gear is a must, and make sure it has tough plastic sliders. These are especially essential on your gloves. And don’t forget comfort. You don’t want to develop an itch, cramp or blister while pushing your performance machine to the limit.
  
• Specialty racing accessories: You’ll get the most out of your sports bike by taking it to a racing track to safely unlock its full potential. As you get more serious about racing, things like tire warmers, engine monitors, and motorcycle trailers may come into play.

Touring

• Comfort is key: Touring bikes are all about covering long distances and enjoying the trip, so comfort is one of your top priorities. Seat upgrades, handguards, footpegs (including additional footpegs for full leg extension) can be a good place to start. You can also extend the length of your travel season by getting heated grips, heated gloves, or heat pad inserts for your jacket or pants. Most touring bikes will probably have boxes or bags for your stuff, but if they don’t – get them!
  
• Gear that goes the distance: You need to wear gear that keeps you safe and comfortable and can keep up with you. Get a full set of gear with a membrane to keep dry, but keep a waterproof coverall in your bags for when it really comes down. Zip-out insulation inserts are a plus. We suggest going for premium gear that won’t fail you in the middle of a long-distance journey. There’s nothing that can ruin a trip like a big hole ripping open in your crotch!
  
• Travel assistance: There are lots of unique motorcycle accessories made just for long-distance journeys. You can get a tank bag with a clear top insert for maps, but make sure you have an all-weather holder for your smartphone or GPS as well. Others can include an easy-access travel bag to pay for tolls or to keep a traveler’s pocket dictionary!

Dual sport

• Adapt to your environment: Depending on how much time you plan to spend offroad, you may want to equip your bike to optimize for certain obstacles. There are lots of dirt bike accessories out there that can serve you well. Different motorcycle tires are better for sand, gravel, mud and other surfaces. Handguards are always a good idea but will be essential for woodland tracks where your fists might get battered by branches. In rocky terrain, skid plates and radiator guards are a must. If you’re riding in a desert, leave the rainproof gear at home and bring something that will breathe or protect you from the hot sun.
  
• Premium protection: Unless you’re a dedicated offroader, you will probably need a premium set of gear that keeps you safe on and off the road. It needs to protect you at highway speeds but also let you breathe when your body starts working hard offroad. It’s a good idea if it keeps you dry if you get caught by the rain. Dual sport or adventure boots will combine anti-abrasive properties with strong foot, ankle and shin protection in case you put your foot down in front of a rock or a log.
  
• Self-sufficiency: If you go offroad, it can be hard for help to reach you if something goes wrong. An expanded tool kit handy can help perform temporary repairs to get you back to a road where you can call for a mechanic. Ropes or ratchet straps can help stand a motorcycle up or drag it out of the mud if you or your buddies get stuck. 

Best Motorcycle Accessories for Men

From a functional standpoint, most rider gear is either unisex or comes in both men’s and women’s sizes. Style, however, is where rider accessory choices might differ. There’s lots of modern motorcycle gear that can look good or even pass as regular clothing without sacrificing safety. 

• Armored shirt: A motorcycle base layer is great for both comfort and safety because it uses CE-rated textiles. It captures the timeless, carefree look of a heavy denim shirt while keeping you safe.
  
• Leather motorcycle boots: Everything rugged looks great on a bike, but these motorcycle boots are comfortable and stylish enough to look good on the pavement as well. More importantly, however, they have the anti-abrasive properties and foot support to keep you safe if you fall.
  
• Motorcycle gloves: Leather looks good but gets hot. Textile stays cooler but rarely looks good. The best compromise, then, is these motorcycle gloves.
  
• Leather jacket: A sleek, modern leather motorcycle jacket like this is an essential piece of motorcycle gear. It’ll keep you safe and comfortable and you’ll look good doing it. There are exceptions, however. Offroaders may want something lighter, stiffer, and more breathable, while bonafide bikers may want something a bit flashier or rugged.

Best Motorcycle Accessories for Women

The number of women riders is increasing every year, and gear manufacturers have taken note. Finding the right fit for your body type is about more than just style and comfort. Usually, the better your gear fits, the safer it is.

There’s going to be women’s or unisex gear out there for every woman motorcycle rider under the sun, so be sure to get something you like.

• Leather jacket: Sleek, black, modern leather motorcycle jackets are a staple of rider safety and style. They look good on anyone and they’ll keep you safe, so all that’s left is finding your size and favorite style.
  
• Motorcycle bomber jacket: If leather’s not your style, there are textile jackets out there that also look good and keep you safe. This women’s motorcycle jacket is a great choice, and it’s also very stealthy – unlike with a leather jacket, nobody will be able to tell you rode in on a bike.
  
• Motorcycle sneakers: A good pair of women’s motorcycle boots will be comfortable, secure, and they’ll look good, too. Sneakers will also work with almost any style you’d want to wear on a bike. Like the bomber jacket, they’re also a good choice if you don’t want to be obvious about the fact that you’re riding.
  
• Belt: Wearing motorcycle safety gear doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize. But a motorcycle belt is more than just an accessory. If you want to ride when it gets cold, you’ll want a looser fit that you can wear thermal leggings with. Your belt will make sure your loose-fit pants stay where they’re supposed to when you’re not wearing leggings underneath.
  
• Motorcycle jeans: Even if you feel confident in leather motorcycle pants, they can get hot and uncomfortable in the wrong weather. And depending on your look, motorcycle jeans might look even better while still offering excellent protection. There are all sorts of styles to choose from for every rider.

Conclusion

There’s no question that you can find the exact right motorcycle accessories online. After you buy what you really need, stay attentive to your own needs while riding so you know what’s next. If the wind keeps bothering you, maybe it’s time to get a fairing. If you’re getting wet while riding, maybe it’s time for a waterproof jacket or rain gear.

You can never have too many motorcycle accessories and motorcycle gear!

FAQ

Q: What are some must-have motorcycle accessories?

A: First, check with local or national traffic regulations. In most countries, a motorcycle helmet and sturdy boots are mandatory. Even if they aren’t, riding without these is a bad idea. Here’s what else is a must-have for riding:

• Eye protection: If your helmet doesn’t have a visor, you still need to cover your eyes. At high speed, a passing bug, a pebble or even a grain of sand in your eye could spell disaster.
  
• Motorcycle jacket: Motorcycle jackets will protect your vital organs, shield you from the wind and the elements, and keep you warm. Get one with good ventilation and it’ll keep you happy for years and years.
  
• Motorcycle pants: We operate our motorcycles using our legs. It makes sense, then, that we want to keep them safe and comfortable. If you’re not convinced, we suggest reading about road rash – what can happen when motorcycle riders fall without having protective pants on.
  
• Motorcycle gloves: Gloves are a no-brainer. Without them, your hands might grow too numb to feel the brakes, clutch or throttle. They’ll also keep your hands safe in a fall (especially if you have palm sliders).
  
• Your smartphone: From navigation to emergency contacts if you get stranded or fall, a smartphone is going to be incredibly useful. Keep it with you when you ride.

As for accessories for your bike – that depends largely on what your bike is and what you plan on doing with it.

Q: What motorcycle accessories should you get for a long riding trip?

A: There are lots of things most riders might not think of taking on a long motorcycle journey. In addition to your basic set of motorcycle safety gear, you should bring:

• Seat upgrade: If you want to keep up a good pace, you’re going to spend a lot of time in the saddle. Your comfort can impact your alertness and energy levels as you rack up the hours, so a comfortable seat is essential.
  
• Rain gear: You can never know what each day will bring. Keep some rain gear easily accessible, because rain can come on quickly and you may get drenched with nowhere to hide.
  
• Hearing protection: Most helmets aren’t too great with wind noise protection. For long rides, the prolonged noise can become an issue or even a health problem. Some simple hearing protection like ear plugs will mute the wind while leaving you able to hear car horns and other louder noises.
  
• A toolkit: Breaking down a long way from home can be stressful. You’ll have no idea who to call or how to find their contacts. Be your own first line of defense – learn your bike’s most common maintenance tasks, bring the tools you need, and consider bringing small spares for anything that might fail after a while.

Q: What are must-have seasonal motorcycle accessories?

A: Every season poses its own challenges to riders:

Summer seasonal gear:

• Mesh armor: Dirtbiker armor consists of sturdy armor pads integrated with a mesh shirt keeping it all together. While they offer inferior abrasive protection for high-speed spills, they offer excellent impact and low-speed protection. Plus, they can’t be beat when it comes to ventilation.
  
• Modular helmet: Modular helmets offer the complete protection of a full-face helmet with the opportunity to stay cool at red lights or at the pump. You’ll get way more fresh air than by just flipping open your visor.

Autumn/spring seasonal gear:

• Rain gear: Both seasons often feature frequent downpours. Be prepared with some rain gear that packs back down into a small package when you don’t need it.
  
• Thermal gear: Go for a motorcycle jacket with a zip-out thermal insulator. Temperatures vary in these seasons, and a frigid morning might give way to a balmy day. Make sure your gear can keep up.

Winter gear:

In addition to thermal gear, we suggest:

• Heated inserts: For really cold weather, you can get glove, jacket, pant or boot inserts that warm you up using a battery or your bike’s power. That’s not just a luxury – cold riders will be less responsive, and cold fingers will be slow on the brake, clutch and throttle.
  
• Winter tires: Ice and snow are twice as dangerous for motorcycles. We’ve only got two tires, not four, and ours are narrow. If there’s ice and snow on the ground and you can’t stay home – metal-spiked tires are best, and knobby off road tires come in a distant second place.