Last minute biking gifts

Added on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

R/C Ducati with Stoner-like leaning action!

Yes, it's quite expensive at £50. Yes, you'll probably be bored of it before you can say "Auld Lang Syne" and yes, it will spend most of its life being plugged into the battery charger. But that doesn't mean that I don't want one!

This Saturday represents, for many of us, the final opportunity to cram-in that last spot of Christmas shopping and pick up some last festive bargains.

Over the course of the year, we’ve been constantly reviewing some of the latest products to come onto the market, many of which would make some fantastic gifts for the motorcycle fanatic in the family. Of course, there is the small matter of the “credit crunch” and whilst this Christmas is going to be a little leaner for retailers, there are plenty of discounts to be had and deals to be done.

We’ve been taking a look through our previous product reviews as well as scouring through the various Christmas gift catalogues that usually end up scattered around the office to pick out our top Christmas gifts for the last few days of festive shopping.

Keep protected in the winter months

Just recently we’ve reviewed two products designed to keep your pride and joy protected throughout the winter months - particularly useful if you’re the type who prefers to bring your bike out only in the summer.

Firstly, R&G let us try their Superbike cover which, for less than £36, gives you an RiDE Magazine award-winning waterproof and heat resistant cover that more than does the job of keeping your 500cc - 1300cc machine protected from whatever Mother Nature can come up with.

That was followed by the, admittedly far more expensive but much more fun looking, “Bike Bubble“. For either £195 or £213 (depending on your bike), you could keep your bike charged and protected from moisture and nasty microbes that can secretly eat at your treasured classic. OK, at around £200 it’s no sticking filler, but a useful idea none-the-less.

Find your way to the sales.

Back in July, we looked at ways of making sure that you wouldn’t get lost as you hit the road in the summer months.

Sat Nav systems are the latest ‘must-have’ gadgets for motorists which is why we looked at offerings from two of the major players in the market, the Garmin Zumo and the TomTom Rider.

Again, not exactly a ‘last minute stocking filler’ with prices ranging from around £250 to well over £500 depending on the model but with maps of the UK, Europe and voice-prompts, there’s no excuse for getting lost on the way to the sales. With speed camera warnings also included on many versions, it’s also a great way of protecting your licence and your bike insurance premium!

Forget Charades!

Computer games are always high on the Christmas lists of most kids (as well as those who tend to act like them) and for bike fans, it’s no different.

This year, those with a PC or any of the major computer consoles can try their hand at two computer games released earlier this year; SBK08 and MotoGP 08.

We looked at both games back in September and now, with both already on the shelves, there’s plenty to keep the kids occupied and, with both games having multi-player race modes, a much better alternative to the Queen’s Speech and Charades.

Read all about it.

Books always make great gift ideas and, unsurprisingly, there are plenty to go around. No bike enthusiast should be without a Haynes manual and there have been plenty of others than we’ve managed to review. Off-road Giants and A Motorcycle Apprentice in particular got the thumbs up from our reviewer.

Kids stuff

If you’ve got a future Valentino in your house, why not give them their first introduction to biking with a radio controlled bike.

Fuel, tax and motorcycle insurance free, Amazon will happily supply you with this radio controlled Ducati 999 which will might just give your youngster the biking bug.

For the big kids, there’s another “Ducati” offering in the form of a 1:5 scale R/C model which is a little more advanced.

It’s pretty quick off the mark, it looks good and it even leans into the corners. Yes, it’s quite expensive at £50. Yes, you’ll probably be bored of it before you can say “Auld Lang Syne” and yes, it will spend most of its life being plugged into the battery charger. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want one!

For more motorcycle related products, visit our New Products section.

All prices correct at time of writing. Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd are not responsible for the content of external websites.

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