Eight Essential Motorcycle Accessories
Gadgets for motorcycle riders? Some riders aren’t convinced.
In all old motorcycle
movies, you never see anyone with a motorcycle gadget, gizmo, or accessory.
That being said, if the technology was available to those outlaws, who’s to say
we wouldn’t have seen Brando and his crew embracing high-tech motorcycle
gadgets?
Thankfully, times have
changed. New motorcycle gadgets are more useful to riders than ever before. As
a result, riders are finding various gadgets, gizmos, and accessories that
improve riding safety, comfort, and – ultimately – enjoyment.
However, with so many
great items on the market, what are the must-have gadgets for motorcycle
riders? It wasn’t easy, but we’ve picked out what we believe to be the 8 best
motorcycle gadgets.
1. EARPEACE MOTORCYCLE
EAR PLUGS
Riding is a noisy
business. In fact, an ICE motorcycle has a decibel level of between 65-115 dB.
While this is lower on an electric motorcycle, the constant exposure to the
roar of your bike’s engine could lead to long-term hearing issues.
Therefore, you need
some protection. However, not just any old ear plug will do. Traditional ear
plugs protect your ears, but they also numb your awareness and prevent you from
hearing vital sounds, such as:
A horn honking
Screeching
tires
Ambulances
Like we said, vital
sounds.
This is where the
EarPeace Motorcycle Ear Plugs come in. Their noise-canceling technology filters
out both the wind and your engine, but they still allow you to hear the sounds
you need to ride safely.
Earpeace moto earplugs Furthermore,
they’re made from premium, hypoallergenic, medical-grade silicone. This means
that they’ll easily mold to your ears, won’t fall out, or get uncomfortable –
no matter how many miles you clock up.
2. BIG EAR INC CUSTOM
MOTORCYCLE EARPLUGS
If you didn’t hear us
the first time, here’s another set of ear plugs.
EarPeace’s ear plugs
are a good jumping off point, however, if you’re a serious rider, you may want
hearing protection that’s tailored to you. There are a lot of custom motorcycle
earplugs out there, but we recommend Big Ear Inc Custom Motorcycle Earplugs.
They offer a noise
reduction range of +/- 27-32 dB and are available in nine different
eye-catching colours. On top of that, they are available for under $100.
big ear inc custom
motorcycle earplugs
If you do decide to go
with Big Ear, keep in mind their ear plugs take 30 days to build. Moreover, as
they’re made on-site, they’re only available from their local providers. That
being said, they have locations dotted all around Canada and North America.
3. SOMEWEAR GLOBAL
HOTSPOT
How off the grid do you
ride?
If you’re a fan of
touring, long road trips, or dirt biking, you’ll be all too familiar with the
dreaded ‘no service’ bar (or lack of bars). And while this level of
disconnectivity is partly the reason you’re straddling a two-wheeled beast in
the middle of nowhere, it can throw up some difficulties.
To make sure you’ve got
a backup internet source, you should consider a WiFi hotspot. And, if you’re
after something small and well-suited to the outdoors, the SomeWear Global
Hotspot is a good place to start.
Unlike most satellite
messengers, SomeWear’s Global Hotspot attaches directly to your cell phone.
Then, through their smartphone app, your phone is able to receive an internet
connection, send SOS messages, and share or look up your GPS coordinates – even
when you’re out of service. What’s more, it’s only 4 inches in size, 4 ounces
in weight, and completely waterproof.
Somewear global hubspot
This is welcomed news to those who find traditional satellite messengers too
fiddly and clunky and would prefer to use their cell phone in an emergency.
However, it’s not cheap. The device itself is $350. After that, you have the
factor in the monthly Iridium service fee. This starts at $8.33 a month and
goes up to $50 a month. It’s a lot to pay for peace of mind.
Nevertheless, if you
are an off-the-grid rider – it’s well worth it. (Just please make sure your
phone is charged!)
4. INSTA360 CAMERA
According to the Damon
team, one of the must-have gadgets for motorcycle riders is the Insta360.
Whether you’re looking
to record footage from your first motorcycle track day, shoot some shots on an
upcoming road trip, or start your own motorcycle YouTube channel – the Insta360
is the best camera for the job. Here are some of the key features of the latest
Insta360 OneR:
60 frames per second
GPS tracking
AI powered flashcut and
editing
360º range
insta360 camera
The aforementioned OneR
is also only 1 inch in size and completely waterproof. Furthermore, Insta360’s
store now sells a motorcycle bundle that features all the accessories you need
to get some slick riding videos.
5. QUAD LOCK 360º PHONE
MOUNT (W/ VIBRATION DAMPENER)
Back in the days of
playing Snake on a Nokia 3310, who could have envisioned that this device would
eventually be your motorbike’s record player, map, and weather forecast?
Mobile phones are now a
rider’s best friend. However, if they aren’t properly secured to your bike,
they can quickly become roadkill. Therefore, you need an A+ phone mount. The Quad Lock Handlebar Mount is tailor-made for keeping
your cell phone safe, even when you weave through traffic like that pixelated
serpent. It has a patented dual-stage locking mount and, due to its 360º arm
rotation, you can mount it in a number of different positions. quadlock 360º phone mount What’s more, if you
don’t have an Insta360 – or a similar portable camera – the quad lock comes
with an extension arm. So, if you do decide to record your ride, you’ll become
Tarantino on two wheels.
PRO TIP: We recommend
you buy a vibration dampener to accompany the phone mount. Without one, the
vibrations from an ICE motorcycle could damage your phone and the quality of
any videos or pictures you take on the road will plummet.
6. KLIM A1 AIRBAG VEST
Here at Damon, we’re
all about motorcycle safety. And, while the HyperSport is the safest electric
motorcycle, the Klim A1 AirBag Vest might be the safest motorcycle clothing
item out there. Old school riders will remember the days when you had to drop a
grand on an airbag vest and then another two on a compatible riding jacket or
suit. Now, airbag vests can be worn under any jacket and offer great
protection. And the price? This vest goes for $400.
Man wearing klim a1
airbag vest The high-tech vest uses a complex web of gyroscopes and accelerometers
that feed data into a control unit over a thousand times per second. What does
this look like in practice? Well, let’s look at what happens in a crash
scenario. If a crash is detected, a replaceable canister deploys a charge that
fully inflates the vest in 60 milliseconds or less. To put that into context,
it takes the human eye 100-150 milliseconds to link.
The control unit is
integrated into the vest’s CE Level 2 back protector and the wireless,
chargeable vest has a battery life of around 20 hours.
This is lightyears away
from the protection that motorcycle clothing offered a couple of decades ago.
The affordability and incredible technology make this nifty vest one of the
must-have items of modern motorcycle gear.
7. SENA SPIDER RT1
While some of us like
to be left with our thoughts when we’re out riding, others like to crank up the
volume and listen to their favourite tunes. The Sena Spider RT1 allows you to do that and
more. Besides streaming music, this headset allows you to hear GPS directions and
take or make a phone call. Sena spider rt1 on the side of a motorcycle helmet However,
what sets the RT-1 apart from similar headsets, is its two different intercom
modes:
Group Mesh Intercom –
This allows users to create a private group that supports up to 24 riders over
a range of up to 5 miles.
Multi-Channel Open Mesh
Intercom – This lets you communicate with any number of participants in the
Mesh network within a range of up to 5 miles.
As anyone who has been
on a long-distance motorcycle trip will attest, communication is key for your
group. This intercom function allows you to communicate with your fellow riders
without having to pull over. Of course, this won’t stop people talking over
your favourite riding songs, so be sure to lay down some ground rules before
setting up an intercom group!
8. NO DRAG BACKPACK
Carrying a backpack
while riding can be a drag – not just on riding comfort and experience, but in
aerodynamics, as well. If you’re serious about riding, you need a backpack
suited to riding. But don’t worry, OGIO’s got your back.
OGIO has been making
aerodynamic motorcycle backpacks since the 1980s. And, their latest model – the
OGIO No Drag Mach 5 Backpack – stands up to even the most rigorous ride. The
backpack’s aerodynamic molded exterior design allows for significant airflow
while forming a protective shell around your belongings. Furthermore, its
U-shaped zippered gusset makes it easy to expand and, with a 22/24L capacity,
you’ll be able to pack a lot in.
Ogio no drag mach 5
backpack, However, this Mary Poppins-esque backpack is an acquired taste. This
is because some riders struggle to get used to having such a large backpack.
With that in mind, if you only need to carry a few items, you should look for a
more compact option (such as the Deuter Compact Exp 12 Backpack).
On the other hand, if
you need to haul around a lot of items but still want to really lean into those
corners – this is the backpack for you.