12 Vintage Motorcycle Gifts for a Merry Moto Christmas

By Motorcycle Classics Staff
Published on December 10, 2012
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This year the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame will be raffling off a 1943 Indian 741 custom bobber, which will be awarded to some lucky winner during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in July 2013.
This year the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame will be raffling off a 1943 Indian 741 custom bobber, which will be awarded to some lucky winner during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in July 2013.
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The Ike jacket by Chrome.
The Ike jacket by Chrome.
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Jupiter's Travels is on our must-read list for any motorcyclist.
Jupiter's Travels is on our must-read list for any motorcyclist.
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The 2012 Bike EXIF Custom Motorcycle Calendar.
The 2012 Bike EXIF Custom Motorcycle Calendar.
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Fastback Waterproof shoes from Alpinestars.
Fastback Waterproof shoes from Alpinestars.
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The zumo 665LM GPS system from Garmin is designed specifically for use on motorcycles.
The zumo 665LM GPS system from Garmin is designed specifically for use on motorcycles.
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The Laughlin jacket from River Road.
The Laughlin jacket from River Road.
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The Classic Triumph Calendar for 2013.
The Classic Triumph Calendar for 2013.
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The Hero3 Black Edition video camera.
The Hero3 Black Edition video camera.
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"The Harley in the Barn" features 40-plus stories of found Nortons, Hondas, Indians, BSAs and more.
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Great classic motorcycle prints, cards and calendars from John Hancox.
Great classic motorcycle prints, cards and calendars from John Hancox.
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"Classic Honda Motorcycles: Identification Guide to the Collectible Models 1958-90" gives prospective buyers information on the current market for classic Hondas.

1. Every year the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame museum raffles off a different vintage motorcycle to raise funds for the museum, and the tradition continues for 2013. This year’s bike is a 1943 Indian 741 custom bobber, which will be awarded to some lucky winner during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in July 2013. Buy a ticket and give yourself — or a friend — a chance at owning a lovely vintage Indian, and support the Hall of Fame Museum in the process. Tickets are $5 each, or $20 for five tickets.

2. We see a lot of different motorcycle jackets around here; leather ones, nylon ones, denim ones, you name it. But we hadn’t seen a wool-looking one until now. From the folks at Chrome Bag Store, who have been making cool bicycle messenger bags and more since 1995, comes the Ike, made from a breathable, polyester, wool-like twill fabric with wind-stopper front panels, a two-way zipper and pit vents. It also features a longer torso and sleeves to keep you covered when in the riding position. No, it’s not a full-on motorcycle jacket: There’s no armor. But it is a well-fitted jacket that is comfortable to wear and looks good on or off the bike, and it’s a lot nicer than that old denim jacket you wear half the time you’re running errands on your bike anyway. Price: $125.

3. Many a tome has been written about traveling aboard a motorcycle, but one of the classics is and will always be Ted Simon’s Jupiter’s Travels. Raised in London by a German mother and a Romanian father, Simon abandoned an early career in chemical engineering to go to Paris, where he fell in love with journalism. On Oct. 6, 1973, at the age of 42, he set off from London aboard a 500cc Triumph Tiger for what became a four-year solo journey around the world. It is, in our humble opinion, a book every motorcyclist should read at some point in his or her life. Price: $24.95 plus shipping.

4. Back for 2013 is one of our favorite calendars: the Bike EXIF Custom Motorcycle Calendar. The 2013 edition features a variety of high-design motorcycles, including Jeff Decker’s custom Vincent Black Lightning, Walt Siegl’s slick Ducati 900SS, and a lovely bike on the cover that should be very familiar to our readers: Yes, that’s the Yamaha Virago 920 café built by Greg Hageman of Doc’s Chops, which we featured in our May/June 2012 issue. Printed on quality art paper, the calendar measures a hefty 16.6 by 10.75 inches. Good stuff. Price: $15.99 plus shipping. More info is on Octane Press’ website.

5. Some motorcyclists find getting lost to be part of the experience of traveling. Others travel with a GPS. One of the best and most motorcycle-friendly GPS devices available is the Garmin zumo 665LM, built specifically for use on a bike. Features include a 4.3-inch touchscreen color display, complete with a glove-friendly intuitive interface. The sunlight-readable display is easy to see, and the waterproof case is UV and fuel resistant. It comes preloaded with City Navigator NT street maps and millions of points of interest including motels, restaurants, gas stations and more. The zumo 665LM is also an all-in-one entertainment center, as it features an on-board MP3 player, XM radio receiver and more. Price: $799.99.

6. Another unusual but awesome jacket we stumbled across is the River Road Men’s Laughlin Jacket. Made of a polyester/nylon blend, the jacket is treated to provide water resistance. Stylish and slimly cut, it looks more like a casual cool-weather jacket than a motorcycle jacket. The two front zippers serve as vents or pockets, and there are two vertical rear vents on the back. The jacket features a removable, insulated fully-sleeved liner, CE-approved armor in the shoulders and elbows, an EVA foam back pad, reflective piping on the front and back, and a snap down collar. Available in black or brown, it’s a nice all-purpose jacket that’s relaxed enough to wear just about anywhere, on your motorcycle or off. Price: $149.95.

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