If you're a motorcyclist, your holiday wish list is probably a mile long. There's no shortage of new gear designed to separate you from your hard-earned dollars, and each visit to a bike shop brings new temptation. But for the uninitiated, those buying for a rider, finding the right gift can be a challenge.

Take pity on your loved ones and pass on a few hints. Write the year, make and model of your bike on this column, circle any items that strike your fancy and leave it where your shopper can find it. Remember, only you can prevent "Cosby" sweaters.

If your IRA isn't DOA and you still have money to burn, give a biker a real-life adventure. Stayin' Safe (www.stayinsafe.com) offers a "Switzerland of Ohio" tour, departing from Bridgeville, for the tidy sum of $975. The tour includes two days of back roads riding along with practical instruction -- via a one-way helmet communicator -- that helps hone a rider's skills. How's that for something to look forward to?

Help your two-wheel jockeys get where they're going with the Tom Tom Rider (www.tomtom.com), a navigation system made just for motorcyclists and priced at $550. While pricier than the automotive version, this device is waterproof and more durable and comes with a wireless headset that allows riders to hear the voice instructions inside a helmet.

If your rider fancies himself the next Speed Racer, give him the gift of a track day. Team ProMotion (www.teampromotion.com) sets up shop at Beaver County's BeaveRun Motorsports Complex several times a year, offering a day of knee dragging excitement for less than $200. Sport bike riders of all experience levels are welcome, with instructors offering guidance on the track that translates to better skills on the street.

For the long distance traveler or daily commuter, Tourmaster (www.tourmaster.com) sells quality tank bags, tail bags and saddlebags, priced from $60-$120, that will let her travel in style. The site includes a dealer locator, and your local dealer's parts/accessory manager is your best source for guidance on what type of bag will work best with your rider's bike and lifestyle.

During the winter months keep your rider entertained with a DVD or two. "Long Way Round" (www.longwayround.com) follows the nearly four-month trek of actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they make their way on two wheels, sometimes painfully, from London to New York City, via Eastern Europe and Asia. The DVD retails for less than $30 and is available at www.amazon.com.

Also on DVD are seasons 1 and 2 of "Feasting on Asphalt," featuring Alton Brown. The programs, which originally aired on The Food Network, are everything a good travel show should be -- great scenery, great stories -- with motorcycles thrown in for good measure. Brown, who hosts both "Good Eats" and "Iron Chef America" on Food Network, is at his charming best when interacting with the locals he and his crew meet along the way. Each season is available separately, for $30, at www.foodnetwork.com.

One handy gadget I wouldn't be without is a Battery Tender. This little gizmo keeps my bike's battery at a perfect charge all winter, so on the rare 50-degree January day I can just disconnect the thing and the bike's good to go. The Web site (www.batterytender.com) has a dealer listing but mostly names auto parts stores. To be sure you get the right model for your rider's bike, visit your local dealer and spend your $40 locally.

Nearly any rider would enjoy an American Motorcycle Association membership. A year costs just $39 (www.ama-cycle.org) and entitles the member to myriad discounts and a year of American Motorcyclist magazine.

Every rider, without exception, wishes for more time to ride so, this year, give your biker a coupon for one "Free Ride." Next time warm weather and the open road are calling and your favorite rider is looking at grass that needs cutting or a bushel of dirty clothes, let your road warrior redeem the "Free Ride" coupon for a guilt-free day of riding. The lawn -- or laundry -- can wait. Sometimes a ride is priceless.