Motorcycling is a great way to guarantee you'll spend little to no money on things you don't need. Aside from the obvious expenses, you'll find ways to spend money on accessories instead. It almost can't be helped. Accessories offer you a way to elevate your experience, and can also be extremely useful. There is much to be had, so let's take a quick look at a few must have motorcycle accessories.
Helmet
Motorcycles don't come with seatbelts so there's no real protective gear that will withstand head injuries in the event of a crash. Therefore, your best bet is to always wear a helmet, which serves as the most vital motorcycle accessory. Shielding your head from the impact of concrete and the roadway, make sure this vital protective gear is approved by the Department of Transportation, and also guards your entire face. Full-face coverage is necessary because this means the helmet has passed test for more severe impacts.
Gloves
Arming yourself with the right motorcycle gloves greatly enhances your riding experience. For one, they improve your grip, comfort, and control when maneuvering your bike and making it easier to operate. When you're shopping for gloves, keep your eyes peeled for genuine leather construction and durable external seams. It also helps to select your gloves according to your jacket, since short gloves are supposed to slip under the cuff of a jacket while longer styled gloves will cover your jacket cuff, creating a bulk which may be uncomfortable to some people.
Motorcycle jacket
Next, a proper motorcycle jacket is absolutely a must have to enhance your riding experience. Wearing an abrasion resistant moto-jacket serves as some protection and acts as body armor. Particularly for common key strike zones such as your elbows and shoulders, you want to minimize first hand touch with the ground as much as possible. Don't buy jackets that are too rigid, which resists bodily movement and can be dangerous when maneuvering your bike.
Reflection
Visibility is your friend out there. Obviously, it drops dramatically after sundown, so some strategically placed reflection will help you out. You can get reflective license plate bolts, or you can use reflective tape on certain surfaces. Some riding gear comes with reflective tubing or panels, so consider those as alternatives.
Motorcycle luggage
A set of motorcycle luggage can be incredibly useful. Whether you are going touring, moving a few things from point A to point B, or going shopping, motorcycle luggage has you covered. Saddlebags are the quintessential motorcycle luggage items, but you need not stop there. You can increase your capacity by supplementing them with a tail bag. Throw on a tank bag, and you're ready for anything. You can opt for soft luggage or hard luggage, depending on your preference and/or purposes.
Security systems
Motorcycle security systems range from a variety of locks to sophisticated electronic alarms. GPS tracking can even be had these days. Having a motorcycle stolen is no fun at all, and any sort of security system can help keep it safe. Even if you're not in the immediate vicinity, an alarm will alert others, while locking systems will make stealing your bike difficult, or not worth the trouble for would-be thieves.
Tools
Another general set of accessories is basically its own category. Seriously, this is one deep rabbit whole but one that pays for itself. As you become more and more of a mechanic, you get more and more in touch with what makes your motorcycle tick, you save money as you become more familiar with certain repairs and service procedures, and you add to your satisfaction.
Covers
Not everyone is fortunate to have a garage, but that's okay because covers are a decent option. They offer protection from the elements, lazy goons looking for a random seat, and prying eyes. Sure, anyone can cut right through one, but that takes time, and you will probably also have a security system (see below) to help out Think of motorcycle covers as a deterrent that will turn away all but the jerkiest of jerks.
Crash protection
Nobody likes to think about crashing, but with crash protection such as frame sliders, bar ends, swingarm spools, and fork sliders, you can minimize your worry. For just a few bucks, you can protect your motorcycle from damage resulting from moderate to low-speed slides or tip-overs. Replacing crash protection is cheaper than replacing plastic and hard parts.
LED Equipped lights
Light-emitting diodes have a number of advantages over filament bulbs: they are more efficient; they are smaller; they don't burn out suddenly; they have a much longer average life span. These factors really make sense when it comes to use on a motorcycle. As well as being great functional modifications, they make for stylistic modifications as well.
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