What are the best gadgets for motorcyclists?

Some riders believe that the best kind of riding is one that is free of distractions—one in which nothing interferes with the connection between rider and machine. No screens, no technology, no motorcycle accessories. While there is certainly a certain charm in embracing the purity of this type of riding, there is also an argument for adopting a few modern gadgets that will increase comfort, improve safety, and maybe even keep you from getting lost along the way. After all, how much fun can you have riding if you’ve lost track of your friends and don’t know where you’re going?

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In this list, we’re going to cover a few gadgets, from simple mounting hardware to elegant communication systems, that will enhance your riding experience. We created this list of the best motorcycle gadgets by using them all in the real world, riding with them, and sometimes swapping out old tech for new—ultimately refining your riding experience. Everything listed below is tried and tested. Because different types of riding make for unique gadgets, this list was created with a wide range of riding styles in mind. From long highway trips to twisty back roads, there’s a gadget for everyone. A more detailed explanation of our methodology can be found at the end of this list.

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Riding alone, especially in scenic locations, can be one of the most rewarding parts of owning a motorcycle. Being in the mountains, breathing fresh air, and soaking up the beautiful views is the main reason I ride. More often than not, however, being on the road in the middle of nowhere means I have no cell phone coverage. Plus, being alone on a motorcycle without cell phone coverage is the perfect time and place for a minor problem to turn into a major one. A minor breakdown that prevents you from riding can become much worse if you can’t call for help. That’s where a device like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 comes into play.

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The inReach and other similar GPS devices let you send SOS alerts, send two-way messages, and share your location—all without a cellular signal. As an added bonus, these features aren’t limited to riding scenarios. I often hike in unfamiliar places, and it’s always a good idea to have some kind of emergency lifeline. The discontinued inReach Mini (pictured above) and the latest, improved version of the gadget, the inReach Mini 2, are small and light enough to take on any hike or backpacking trip. When turned off, it holds a charge for up to a year. When used for activity tracking, the inReach’s battery can last several days—more than enough for most motorcycle rides. The convenient strap means you can clip it to the outside of your motorcycle jacket or along your belt loop, and it’ll be in a good place to press the SOS button if you need it.

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I’ve used a number of helmet communication systems over the years, as well as a number of different audio systems. In my early days of motorcycling, I used to use regular headphones to listen to music. The truth is, earbuds can pop out when you put on your helmet, or they can easily shift while you’re riding, and the last thing you want is to pull over to the side of the highway to get the earbud out of your helmet. They also tend to drown out or block out ambient noise. Fortunately, helmet-mounted speakers and Bluetooth headsets provide sound without drowning out all the ambient noise, and if you’ve connected the system to your phone’s GPS, you can get voice directions in your headset while riding.

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In the past, I’ve used systems like the Sena 20S Evo, which works well and is incredibly easy to use with gloves on. The large, touch-sensitive volume knob is a smart solution for thick gloves, and the large single button in the middle also helps. Unfortunately, it causes real wind resistance at speed — especially on a bike without a windscreen. Slimmer systems like the Cardo Packtalk Edge tuck nicely into the sides of my helmet. The Cardo’s speaker quality is also quite impressive for the price, providing enough volume for listening to music or podcasts at motorway speeds.

Being seen is a major concern for motorcyclists—especially when riding at night. Dressing up as Batman in black and zipping around your local city center might sound cool, but being harder to see can increase the likelihood of a crash. Lighting kits like the LightMode Night Shift use sticker-mounted LEDs to increase your visibility—at the highest point possible, on your helmet. The app you use to connect to LightMode is easy to use, intuitive, and provides all sorts of cool animations and color sequences for your helmet lights. There are cheaper kits available with fewer features, but I like the level of customization built into the Night Shift.

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Other lighting systems can be connected to the brakes, essentially providing a very high-mounted third brake light on the back of the helmet. I chose LightMode because I wanted to be visible from the side and behind. This particular system was optimized for my AGV helmet. LightMode also provided an impressive level of customer service—when one of the two LED strips on my helmet broke after a year of riding, they sold me the exact replacement I needed—without having to buy a whole new set. Don’t expect the battery powering the LED lights to last all night, but it definitely has enough life to provide side lighting for evening commutes.

Unless you’re the type of cyclist who wants to hear directions on your helmet or see texts, emails, and phone notifications while riding, you’ll probably need a phone mount. Systems like Quad Lock and Ram Mounts are some of the best mounts for riding. These mounts are usually attached to your handlebars, so your smartphone screen is front and center while riding. That means you can check maps, find lunch spots, or even see important alerts without digging around in your pocket. And if you’re wearing smartphone-sensitive gloves, you can use the mount to control your phone while riding (assuming you’re stopped and safe to do so, of course).

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I’m not a huge fan of the case required to use the quad-lock system, so I’ve gone with RAM Mounts’ X-Grip kit on my bikes and it’s never let me down. Even at highway speeds, the system is stable and my phone feels secure when properly strapped in. Whichever system you buy, be sure to also invest in a vibration dampener. This will absorb some of the impact of the bike when riding on rough roads and terrain, and can also help protect some of the more sensitive parts of your smartphone.

It’s not a high-tech gadget, but I never leave home without some kind of tire repair kit. Simple tire repair kits are available from sites like Revzilla and Amazon and are reasonably priced. I choose compressed CO2 cartridges with my tire repair kit because they are small enough to store under the seat or in a side bag or fanny pack. They also tend to inflate a flat tire pretty quickly, making it easy to get back on the road in no time.

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I always carry a BikeMaster tire and tube repair kit with me, no matter what bike I’m riding. Some cyclists may prefer battery-powered pumps for convenience, but I find them a bit bulky and harder to fit into tight spaces under the passenger seat. Some battery-powered systems also allow you to charge your cell phone from the battery, but be warned—if you’ve used up all the battery life needed to charge your phone, fixing a flat tire is out of the question. One final note: adding a small pair of pliers to your flat tire repair kit is a smart move. You’ll need the pliers to remove any nails or screws that have become lodged in your tire and caused a puncture.

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I’ve personally used all of the items on this list, logged hundreds of miles on many bikes with them in my arsenal, and I can say that they’re all beneficial to the time I spend on my bikes. I chose this particular line of gadgets because of the variety of benefits they can offer riders. They improve my peace of mind, enhance my riding experience, and give me all sorts of options for the types of rides I want to take. These particular products have been tried and tested, and they’ve all been given positive reviews by a large group of consumers. The product flaws noted by customers were also taken into account in the selection process.

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Communication systems that let you talk to other cyclists can help keep order when riding in large groups. Satellite devices can send help signals when cell phone reception is poor. Bright lights can make you more visible at night and help prevent accidents (they also give things a Tron-esque feel). A phone mount helps keep you connected when you need to. And a tire repair kit has gotten me and my fellow cyclists out of a few sticky situations by eliminating the need for towing or changing tires in remote locations. All of these benefits are possible thanks to modern, relatively inexpensive gadgets.