Every rider has a short list of motorcycle products that earn a permanent place in the garage, saddlebag, or riding routine. For me, that list starts with my bike and my wife—or maybe my wife and my bike, depending on who is reading this.

Over the years I have tried a lot of motorcycle gear, riding accessories, cleaning products, tires, eyewear, and entertainment options. Some were great, some were just okay, and a few were bad enough that they quietly disappeared from my garage. The products below are the ones I keep coming back to because they have worked well for me in real-world riding.

This is not a ranked list. These motorcycle products are listed in the order they came to mind while I looked around at my piles of riding stuff.

BugSlide Motorcycle Cleaner and Polish

BugSlide has become one of my favorite motorcycle cleaning products. According to the company, BugSlide contains no wax, petroleum, silicone, Teflon, or ammonia. It is also non-abrasive and safe for non-porous surfaces such as paint, chrome, glass, fiberglass, acrylic, aluminum, plastic, vinyl, leather, Plexiglas, and Lexan.

I use BugSlide on my motorcycle and on the front of my four-wheel vehicle. I like it enough that I bought another, one of many, refill bottle while I was at Myrtle Beach Bike Week. For quick motorcycle cleaning, polishing, and bug removal between full washes, BugSlide is one of those products I keep replacing because I use it.

Custom Dynamics Motorcycle LED Lighting

Custom Dynamics first got my attention when I noticed a motorcycle turn signal that was much brighter than normal. I had to ask what it was. Since then, every bike I have owned has ended up with Custom Dynamics motorcycle lights. I have written about their products before and expect to cover more of their LED lighting upgrades soon.

My current favorite Custom Dynamics product is the Shark Demon headlight. It lights up the night, improves visibility, and helps make the motorcycle harder to miss when drivers finally look up from their phones. If you care about motorcycle visibility and lighting upgrades, Custom Dynamics belongs on the short list.

Pirelli Night Dragon Motorcycle Tires

Pirelli Night Dragon motorcycle tires are, hands down, the best motorcycle tires I have run on my bikes. I have gone through several sets, and each time I tell myself I will not buy anything else. If I did not have this motorcycle blog, I probably would not test other tires as often. But for readers, I do try to mix in something different now and then when it is time for new rubber.

Harley-Davidson Switchback Jacket

Harley-Davidson has used the Switchback name on several MotorClothes jackets over the years. The version I am talking about is from around 2008. It has an outer panel system that unzips along the arms and across the back, giving the jacket more flexibility across different riding conditions.

Wiley X Riding Glasses

Wiley X sunglasses have been part of my riding gear since the late 1990s. I discovered them while stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and they have been my go-to motorcycle riding glasses ever since. I especially like the foam gasket around the lenses because it helps keep wind, dust, and road debris from getting around the frame and into my eyes. That matters a lot when you ride with contact lenses.

Harley-Davidson and Wiley X also have a partnership that allows select Wiley X glasses to carry Harley-Davidson branding. Models such as the HD Grit, Gravity, Brick, and Gem combine Wiley X lens and frame technology with Harley styling.

Whether the pair says Wiley X or Harley-Davidson, I look for motorcycle glasses that meet ANSI Z87.1 high-velocity and high-mass impact standards and include facial cavity seals. For me, impact protection and wind control are not optional.

MotoAmerica Racing and MotoAmerica Live+

MotoAmerica is America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, from superbikes down to the young riders learning the craft. I have attended multiple MotoAmerica races in person, and they have always been fun. Along with the racing, MotoAmerica events often include a kids zone, stunt teams, the ball of death, or other entertainment between races.

Their MotoAmerica Live+ streaming service is also one of the better motorcycle racing streaming options available. As someone who streams a lot of racing, I think MotoAmerica Live+ delivers a better viewing experience than Peacock, to name one example.

RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring Magazine

RoadRUNNER Magazine stands out in a motorcycle niche where print magazines are getting harder to find. It has not only survived; it remains one of the best motorcycle touring magazines still on the newsstand.

Riding With My Wife

Ride together, stay together. Riding with the person you love—whether side by side or two-up—is one of those motorcycle experiences that strengthens trust and the bonds that tie you together.