2017 Holiday Gift Guide Part 2: $50-$100

A rain suit is an important piece of riding gear, but it doesn’t need to break the bank. At $89.95, the Nelson-Rigg AS-3000 Aston Motorcycle Rain Suit checks all the right boxes. The two-piece construction with a soft polyester outer shell lined with PVC means it’s completely waterproof plus easy to don and doff. The jacket has a full-length zipper with a hook-and-loop-secured storm flap. The zippered back ventilation system will help keep the suit from turning into a steam room while the soft corduroy neck liner will prevent abrasion. The pants have adjustable suspender straps and feature heat-resistant material to provide a modicum of protection against engine and exhaust heat. Reflective piping aids in nighttime conspicuity. The Nelson-Rigg AS-3000 Aston Motorcycle Rain Suit is available sized S-4XL in three colors: Black/Black, Black/Hi-Visibility Yellow and Black/Hi-Visibility Orange. The Nelson-Rigg AS-3000 Aston Motorcycle Rain Suit can be purchased here.

Winter riding can strain your ability to keep warm, and the fingers are usually the first place to suffer. The Tourmaster Cold-Tex 3.0 gloves, at $59.99, offer a price-conscious means of keeping your digits nimble on the controls. The 600-denier polyester upper covers 200g DuPont Thermolite Plus insulation and features padded knuckle protection. The palm and thumb are constructed out of goatskin leather with an integral padded palm patch and a leather throttle guard between the thumb and index finger. The exterior is both waterproof and breathable while the interior is lined with 100g polyester fleece. The thumb and index fingers even get touchscreen-compatible conductive overlays. You can buy the Cold-Tex 3.0 Gloves here.

While CruzTools offers several tool kit options – in both metric and SAE configurations – within the specified price range, we’ll be looking at the CruzTools RTM3 Roadtech Metric Tool Kit which features an $89.95 MSRP. Although primarily designed for metric cruisers, the RTM3 will work for most metric bikes since it has a wide variety of quality tools – not that pot metal junk included in many OEM tool kits. Look at what the RTM3 manages to hold in a 3.5-in. x 9.5-in. roll-up polyester pouch: Combination wrenches (8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm), 8-in. adjustable wrench, mini ratchet, 2-in. extension, sockets (8mm, 10mm, 12mm), hex keys (3mm-6mm), 6-in-1 screwdriver, 2-in-1 spark plug socket (5/8 x 13/16), gap gauge, locking pliers, electrical tape, cable ties, mechanics wire, threadlocker, and a tire pressure gauge. With this in your tank bag or saddlebag, you’re ready for almost anything you might need. Find out more here.

Not all riders are blessed with a garage to park their beloved motorcycle in, and that’s where the CoverMax Deluxe Motorcycle Cover can save your bike’s finish. The top portion of the cover is made from water resistant 420-denier 100% polyester with Polyurethane (PU) coating while the bottom is made from a 65% polyester/35 % cotton mix with a heat resistant PU coating. All seams are heat-sealed and weatherproof. A soft liner protects the delicate windshield, and a top vent prevents the build-up of moisture under the cover. Elastic cords are sewn into the cover to provide a snug fit, and large grommets provide a place for hooking anti-theft devices. A storage bag is included. The CoverMax Deluxe Motorcycle Cover retails between $69.95-$84.95 in sizes M-XXL. Order from your favorite online dealer.

Backpacks offer a practical way to carry stuff when you ride, but not all packs are created the same. The $99.95 Alpinestars Roving Backpack checks in at the very top of our price range, and it has plenty of features to appeal to the daily rider. The low profile pack has 18.75 x 11.75 x 5.75-in. dimensions which yields a 20 liter capacity. The exterior is constructed of polyurethane-coated poly-fabric for durability and water resistance. A laptop sleeve and organizer pockets hold personal items. The A-Stream anatomical back panel incorporates air channels plus 8mm padded 3D airmesh for ventilation and comfort while riding. The front of the pack features an adjustable chest connector and belt connector for a secure fit. The included rain cover has reflectors for conspicuity. Learn more here.

You might think that you can’t get the warmth of heated gear for less than $100, but you can. The Aerostich Electric Warmbib can make a surprising difference on a chilly morning ride. The bib itself is constructed of an outer layer of Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric to cut the breeze that can slip by your jacket’s zipper. The inner side is insulating micro-fleece that wraps all the way around your neck for chafe-free comfort. Now, let’s consider the radiant heating that is sandwiched between the two layers of the bib. Mmm, that’s nice. The Aerostich Electric Warmbib includes all wiring necessary for your bike and can be purchased in either the regular size (for folks 5 ft. 10 in. and under) and tall for those who exceed those measurements. The Warmbib can be purchased direct from the Aerostich website for $97.00.

Aerostich Kanetsu Electric Warmbib – Review

Just think, for a mere $50.95 you could prevent your next tour from being upended by a flat tire. The Stop & Go Pocket Tire Plugger Plus CO2 Inflation is a complete flat repair kit that will get you back on the road in no time. It’s even MO Tested. A vinyl 8 x 5 x 1-in. pouch holds the kit which contains 15 mushroom plugs and all the hardware required to make a clean installation. Additionally, the four CO2 canisters should be enough to fill your average motorcycle tire enough to get you to a source of compressed air. You can buy the Pocket Tire Plugger Plus CO2 Inflation here.

Plugging Away: Stop&Go Vs. Dynaplug Tubeless Tire Repair

In today’s ever more distracting on road environment, you need something to help the smaller profile of a motorcycle stand out. The GearBrake Smart Brake Light Module helps by lighting the brake light whenever a motorcycle decelerates rather than waiting for the rider to apply the brakes. The GearBrake is available in two models, flashing and non-flashing, giving the rider an option of what type of message is being sent. The flashing model signals with a 2-second pulsing alert, then solidly illuminates the brake light until you release the brake. Although many bike models have a plug-and-play application available, there is a universal mount version for bikes that are not directly supported. The GearBrake Smart Brake Light Module retails for $99.95 and is available here.

You never know when you could encounter a dead battery. We recently helped a rider who’d inadvertently left his ignition on at a track day. Without the Weego 22 Jump Starter in our tool box, he’d have missed the session. The Weego 22 has been improved for 2017 with the inclusion of Smarty Clamps which use LEDs to signal proper connection, reversed polarity, or overheating. In addition to jump starting motorcycles, the Weego 22 is claimed to start over 95% of the cars and trucks on the road today. The Weego can also be used to charge USB devices or as a flashlight. As the technology has matured, the price has dropped to $99.99, making it eligible for this list. Buy your Weego 22 Jump Starter here.

Wait, a full-face DOT and ECE approved helmet for $100? We were surprised, too. That’s why we tested it here. The ST-17 features an EPS inner liner and an injection-molded ABS outer shell. The comfort liner is removable and washable. The the ST-17’s Venturi Intake & Exhaust System (VIES) keeps the rider’s head cool by channeling cooling air across the rider’s scalp. One premium feature that we typically wouldn’t expect to find in an inexpensive helmet is the ST-17’s drop-down tinted polycarbonate sun visor. Of course, the clear shield is replaceable, and the lack of required tools to do so is a plus. The Pilot ST-17 helmet is available in sizes XS-XL in your choice of Black, Matte Black, Silver or White. Available here.

MO Tested: Pilot ST–17 Helmet Review