Table of contents
- MOTORRAD Best Brand 2021 These are your favorite brands in 2021
- Innovation award
- Exhausts
- Biker jeans
- Braking systems
- Suspension tuning
- Chain stores
- Luggage systems
- gloves
- Helmets
- Chain sprays / cleaning / care products
- Communication systems
- Leather clothing
- Navigation systems
- Oils / lubricants
- Online shop for motorcycle clothing and accessories
- Protectors
- tire
- Rucksacks
- Boots
- Textile clothing
- Insurance
- Tools
- Accessories / conversions
manufacturer
24 pictures
manufacturer
1/24
The award for technical innovations is not given by readers’ votes, but by the MOTORRAD editorial team. BMW Motorrad and Digades GmbH won it over in 2021.
manufacturer
2/24
1st place in the Best Brand category exhausts: Akrapoviç (76.3%)
manufacturer
3/24
1st place in the best brand category biker jeans: Held (42.7%)
manufacturer
4/24
1. Place in the best brand brake systems category: Brembo (88.1%)
manufacturer
5/24
1st place in the Best Brand category suspension tuning: Ohlins (67.5%)
manufacturer
6/24
1st place in the Best Brand category chain stores: Louis (88.5%)
manufacturer
7/24
1st place in the Best Brand category luggage systems / suitcases: SW-Motech (46.6%)
manufacturer
8/24
1st place in the Best Brand category Gloves: Held (67.6%)
manufacturer
9/24
1st place in the Best Brand category: Helmets: Shoei (57.0%)
manufacturer
10/24
1st place in the Best Brand category chain sprays / cleaning and care products: S100 / Dr. Wack (64.7%)
manufacturer
11/24
1st place in the best brand communication systems category: Sena (56.2%)
manufacturer
12/24
1st place in the best brand category leather clothing: Swabian leather (44.8%)
manufacturer
13/24
1st place in the Best Brand category navigation systems: Garmin (61.5%)
manufacturer
14/24
1st place in the Best Brand category oils / lubricants: Liqui Moly (75.7%)
manufacturer
15/24
1st place in the best brand category online shop: louis.de (83.6%)
manufacturer
16/24
1st place in the Best Brand category protectors: Dainese (39.9%)
manufacturer
17/24
1st place in the best brand tire category: Metzeler (61.9%)
manufacturer
18/24
1st place in the Best Brand category backpacks: SW-Motech (34.5%)
manufacturer
19/24
1st place in the Best Brand category boots: Daytona (58.9%)
manufacturer
20/24
1st place in the best brand category textile clothing: Held (46.6%)
manufacturer
21/24
1st place in the best brand insurance category: HUK Coburg (27.6%)
manufacturer
22/24
1st place in the Best Brand category tools: Hazet (62.7%)
manufacturer
23/24
1st place in the Best Brand category accessories / conversions: Touratech (46.7%)
manufacturer
24/24
Also 1st place in the Best Brand category accessories / conversions: Wunderlich (46.7%)
accesories
MOTORRAD Best Brand 2021: Your favorite brands
MOTORRAD Best Brand 2021
These are your favorite brands in 2021
As part of the MOTORRAD readers’ poll, you not only voted on motorcycles and their manufacturers, but also on all brands whose products convince you. Here are the results.
04/16/2021
In this article:
- Innovation award
- Exhausts
- Biker jeans
- Braking systems
- Suspension tuning
- Chain stores
- Luggage systems
- gloves
- Helmets
- Chain sprays / cleaning / care products
- Communication systems
- Leather clothing
- Navigation systems
- Oils / lubricants
- Online shop for motorcycle clothing and accessories
- Protectors
- tire
- Rucksacks
- Boots
- Textile clothing
- Insurance
- Tools
- Accessories / conversions
With over 51,333 readers, more participants voted on the best motorcycles, accessories and clothing brands than in previous years. Our digital award is therefore a very big thank you to everyone who participated and invested the time in answering the questions. After the Winning machines that we have already presented to you, it is now the turn of the best brands, as the readers’ choice also had to choose the best brands in 22 categories. The task from the MOTORRAD editorial team to the readers: “Please tick all brands whose products convince you.” The most frequently mentioned brand in the respective category is the Best Brand 2021. And now have fun with these results!
Innovation award
manufacturer
This prize is not given by readers’ votes, but by the MOTORRAD editorial team for technical innovations in the motorcycle sector that directly benefit motorcyclists.
Two award winners received the editorial team’s new innovation award in the second year of the award. Both BMW Motorrad and Digades GmbH offer integrated emergency call systems on motorcycles, and since these systems can save motorcyclists’ lives after serious accidents, MOTORRAD is awarding the 2021 Innovation Prize for these two technical solutions. BMW customers can do that “E-call”-Order the system as an accessory for the Bavarian series motorcycles, “Dguard” from Digades can be built on any motorcycle regardless of brand. In the event of an accident, the systems recognize this and then send an automatic emergency call if the fallen driver is no longer able to give the all-clear in a reasonable time by pressing a button. With the emergency call, E-Call and Dguard pass on the current position of the crashed machine to the rescue services. The motorcyclist receives help even if he has an accident without witnesses or other people involved in the accident and, for example, has strayed from the road.
Exhausts
For years, the favor of MOTORRAD readers in the exhaust pipe category has been overwhelmingly with the Akrapoviç company.
Good power delivery paired with rich sound make the experience on the motorcycle even more intense – but you shouldn’t confuse sound with noise. The look of course plays an equally important role in the decision to swap the standard exhaust for a retrofit system. For years, the favor of MOTORRAD readers in the exhaust pipe category has been overwhelmingly with the Akrapoviç company. Remus and Termignoni also came in last year. Behind it, however, there is a lot in flux, because the racing athletes Leovince and Arrow were both able to push past BOS in 2021. Zard is new in the top ten.
Biker jeans
In terms of comfort and look, motorcycle jeans are becoming increasingly popular.
From a safety point of view, biker jeans may not be the last word, but in terms of comfort and look, trousers are becoming more and more popular. With the appropriate choice of materials and processing with Kevlar, protectors and special seams, the robust biker jeans also achieve better and better test results in MOTORRAD’s practical tests. The German manufacturer Held, who was able to repeat the results from the previous year to the decimal point, achieved top results with the readers. As in 2020, Alpinestars finished second, while Vanucci was able to push Dainese off the podium as close as possible. The Rev’it brand has newly placed itself in the top ten.
Braking systems
New in the top ten in 2020 are AP-Racing and Braking.
A total of 18 brands competed in the brake systems category. And again 17 had to subordinate themselves to a brand in the readers’ favor, because once again the Italian brand Brembo did not give the competition a chance. With 88.1 percent, the brake specialist, who is also the measure of all things when it comes to racing, especially in MotoGP, has even improved by 0.5 percent and continues to hold its own in this segment. Although the German manufacturer Magura was able to increase the result from 2020 by 1.6 percent, the Swabians couldn’t do more than second place or third place for Lucas / TRW (2020: 31.9 percent). Until ABM – with the exception of very slight percentage shifts – everything remained the same in terms of placement behind it, while EBC and Ferodo swapped places this year. New in the top ten in 2020 are AP-Racing and Braking.
Suspension tuning
With only very slight losses, the “Swedish gold” from Ohlins continues to dominate the undisputed chassis.
“Same procedure as every year” with the dampers: that dominates with only very slight losses “Swedish gold” von Ohlins remains unchallenged in the chassis and gets over two thirds of all votes in this important market segment. However, Wilbers from Nordhorn is crawling closer and closer to the magic 50 percent mark (plus 0.9 percent compared to 2020) and, according to MOTORRAD readers, is also clearly in second place. That is a strong vote for these two chassis manufacturers. WP-Suspension as a manufacturer with a strong connection to KTM has lost some of its votes, which is why the gap to the Japanese Showa is significantly smaller this year. Nevertheless, third place goes to Austria again. The big players will remain the same up to tenth place as in 2020. Only Wirth has pushed alpha Technik one place down.
Chain stores
For as long as the category has existed, Louis has held its own at the top as the best brand.
The success story of the most popular accessory dealer among MOTORRAD readers began in 1938 with a motorcycle shop in Hamburg. The first branch opened in Hanover in 1981, and by the end of the 1980s there were 18 in all of Germany. Today there are over 85 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Since the category has existed, Louis has also held its own as the best brand at the top – and has been at well over 80 percent for years. The second large chain store is Polo, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The company has over 90 shops and its headquarters in Juchen. The third place, the motorcycle corner, is not only significantly smaller in percentage terms than the two top players, but also only has twelve shops in Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.
Luggage systems
With an increase of 3.3 percentage points, first place in 2021 goes to SW-Motech.
For years there has been a bitter three-way battle for readers’ approval in this category. So far, Hepco has almost always been there & Becker was ahead and relegated SW-Motech and Touratech to their places in readers’ polls in recent years. But this year there was a change at the top, the model offensive by SW-Motech in terms of luggage storage with many different solutions for very different models seems to be paying off. With a plus of 3.3 percentage points, the victory in 2021 goes to Hesse, more precisely to Rauschenberg, where the Best Brand 2021 on the company premises with the “Open house” like to invite motorcyclists to a big meeting (planned from September 17th to 19th). Hepco & Becker and Touratech are only a wafer-thin behind, so we can assume that we will be able to support this three-way battle in future MOTORRAD readers’ polls – the gap to fourth place is still clear.
gloves
For the 16th time in a row, Held is able to attach the “Best Brand” award to the gloves.
“Same old, same old” with the gloves. As a traditional German company, with its wide range of winter-proof mittens to the latest high-end racing gloves Titan RR, Held has cemented its reputation and popularity with MOTORRAD readers to such an extent that even the Italians from Alpinestars, who have received a lot of media attention in MotoGP, continue to do so Lose sight of it. Although Held from the Allgau has to accept very slight losses this year (–1.5 percent), both the runner-up lost in 2020 (–0.4 percent) and Vanucci in third place (–1 percent). Nevertheless, these declines did not help the other manufacturers, so that although Rukka and Buse swapped positions six and seven, all previous brands continued to be in the top ten. But after the election is before the election, and while hero is the award “Best Brand” can stick to the gloves for the 16th time in a row, the competition will certainly not tire of sawing on the base of the Allgau.
Helmets
For the first time, Shoei relegates the previous long-term winner Schuberth to second place.
The result in the helmet category is a real bang! For the first time, Shoei relegates the previous long-term winner Schuberth to second place. This victory does not come completely out of nowhere for the Japanese manufacturer, because last year Shoei took the victory down to the decimal point, exactly on par with Schuberth. One year later, with just over one percentage point in MOTORRAD’s readership, they overtook the German competitor. The reason for this may be the product offensive of recent years, with which Shoei is addressing customers on a broad basis, from the X-Spirit III racing helmet to the Neotech II flip-up helmet to the VFX-WR cross model. Another Japanese provider took third place – as in the previous year, by the way: Arai. Interesting: Since Nolan and X-Lite helmets come from the same company, they would have reached this place combined. The brands operate separately, however.
Chain sprays / cleaning / care products
Winner S100 / Dr. Wack lost only a few reader votes even when it won the competition and Liqui Moly was able to gain a lot.
Even if S100 / Dr. Wack wins again in this category and is allowed to call himself Best Brand, Liqui Moly’s catching up cannot be overlooked. The company, based in Ulm, has increased almost six percent compared to the previous year and thus further expands second place to the traditionalist WD-40, which is also on the podium and gained almost three percentage points itself. Winner S100 / Dr. Wack lost only a few reader votes even when it gained competition (–1 percent). There have therefore been some shifts in the other ranks of the top ten. For example, the Swiss from Motorex fell behind last year (twelfth place), while Scottoiler, with its automatic chain oil lubrication systems, was among the top ten brands in this category for the first time in the third year of its presence in the readers’ poll.
Communication systems
Sena increased almost twelve percent compared to the previous year.
With the communication systems with which motorcyclists can connect in whole groups, speak freely, make phone calls, navigate and even film the exit, Sena is expanding its first place enormously, depending on the model and level of expansion. The Koreans have increased almost twelve percent compared to the previous year, so that the gap to the second-placed Cardo, who also gained slightly (+1 percent), has increased by leaps and bounds. This makes Sena Best Brand for MOTORRAD readers for the third year in this election category. Behind Cardo, N-com, the in-house system of helmet manufacturer Nolan, took third place on the podium.
Leather clothing
Schwabenleder once again claims the top position and the title Best Brand.
For MOTORRAD readers, the Mecca for leather clothing is in the Swabian town of Winterbach. The small, but qualitatively very large company Schwabenleder once again claims the top position and the title Best Brand in this large market. Especially with innovations in recent years, including the racing suit with airbag system from Alpinestars and completely new TC Evo protection (the latest Macoon Sport model is on the market this season), Schwabenleder is holding back against the international big players. Dainese and Held climb the podium behind it, after Held was even able to displace Alpinestars by one place as last year’s third. Vanucci swaps places with BMW in positions five and six. Buse is doing the same with Rukka and iXS is also pushing past competitor Stadler compared to last year.
Navigation systems
Apart from Garmin and TomTom, there seems to be almost nothing else to get to the bike for MOTORRAD readers.
Head-to-head race with the navigation systems! Apart from Garmin and TomTom, there seems to be almost nothing else in the bag or on the bike for MOTORRAD readers. There is no other way of explaining this gigantic distance to all other providers in this market segment – perhaps one would have to include the mobile phone apps? But back to the result for 2021: With a wafer-thin lead of 0.3 percent compared to 2020, Garmin is ahead of the curve this time.
Oils / lubricants
In 2021, Liqui Moly’s victory was even more pronounced than in the previous year.
“If you lubricate well, you drive well”, That may be an aphorism in the area of corruption, but as with any mechanical device, nothing works without lubricants and oils on a motorcycle – at least not for long. The best brand title in this category, which is so important for motorcyclists, goes to the German manufacturer Liqui Moly as a repeat offender from the previous year. While the Ulm-based company around the bustling boss Ernst Prost was able to keep its closest competitor Castrol at a distance of 65.9 percent in 2020, the victory in 2021 was even clearer. This can be directly related to Liqui Moly’s offensive during the corona pandemic.
Online shop for motorcycle clothing and accessories
With an increase of 6.7 percent, FC Moto is the third major force in the digital motorcycle accessories and clothing trade.
The competition in online shops has increased tremendously in recent years. This may be due to the fact that the strategy here looks a bit different than that of clothing and accessories providers on site, such as motorcycle dealers or chain stores. Nevertheless, it is precisely the big players Louis and Polo who are also at the center of the MOTORRAD readers’ focus here. In the duel for the best brand trophy in online retail, Louis from Hamburg prevails in 2021 – with almost the same gap as in 2020, when MOTORRAD advertised this category for the first time. Polo follows in second place, 28.2 percent behind. The big winner this year is FC-Moto. Although the company cannot improve its position as the first choice, as one of the oldest and accordingly established pure online providers, FC-Moto is now a real power with a plus of 6.7 percent and thus the third major force in the digital motorcycle industry. Accessories and clothing trade.
Protectors
In the 16th year of the election, Dainese made it to first place again.
Again Dainese wins in the protectors. Although the gap is getting closer and closer, Alpinestars and Held in particular have come closer and closer to the traditional Italian brand over the years, but even in the 16th year of the election, it was enough for Dainese again. What is noticeable about the election result is that among the top brands, it is primarily the manufacturers who put themselves in the limelight with the very popular additional back protectors, while SAS-TEC, for example, as a specialist and multiple award-winning manufacturer of all kinds of high-quality protectors in various leather and textile clothing, tends to stand out finds itself in the back of the top ten.
tire
When it comes to tires, our readers will place the greatest trust in the Metzeler brand in 2021.
They are not called the black gold of motorcyclists for nothing, because it often depends on the tires whether a motorcycle turns well, is stable and can be driven with precision. And last but not least, the tires decide whether the mighty lean angle will work. When it comes to tires, our readers will place the greatest trust in the Metzeler brand in 2021. The rubber specialists, whose products come from Breuberg in the Odenwald, have defended their first place again, for the seventh time in a row – and again against Michelin. With the French, Metzeler had a duel from the start that Michelin has already won four times. And again this year it was wafer-thin. The Italians are eternally third: Pirelli has had this regular place on the podium since 2006, when the best brands were selected for the first time, while the pursuers Continental and Bridgestone kept swapping.
Rucksacks
SW-Motech took first place in backpacks this year, closely followed by Held and Touratech.
Motorcycle backpacks are different from everyday backpacks. In addition to storage space, comfort and waterproofness, they should neither open by themselves at high speeds nor dissolve into their components after being worn several times. In the eyes of MOTORRAD readers, these criteria are best met by the backpacks from SW-Motech, closely followed by Held and Touratech on the squares. The competition follows in gentle gradations, which shows that many providers can satisfy their customers here.
Boots
Even after 16 years it was not tight for Daytona.
The Germans’ favorite motorcycle boot comes from Daytona. The Bavarians understand their business on a very broad basis and offer correspondingly high-quality products, from loose short-shaft boots to the unique racing boot Security Evo G3 GP. The Frey shoe factory in Eggenfelden may have lost a few percentage points this year, but it hasn’t become tight for first place even after 16 years. The Alpinestars brand, which was able to expand its distance to the compatriots of Dainese even further, came second from the start. There is little movement behind the podium.
Textile clothing
The Held company prevailed in 2021, as it has done since 2014, when the Allgauers were able to beat Rukka, Dainese or BMW for the first time.
The textile clothing category supplies a large number of providers when choosing the best brands. 44 brands compete here for the popularity of customers and MOTORRAD readers, which is not only about chic, but also about functionality. It doesn’t always have to be waterproof, but breathable is important. The Held company prevailed in 2021, as has been the case since 2014, when the Allgauers were able to beat Rukka, Dainese or BMW for the first time, who previously agreed to victory. BMW won the last time in 2013 and has been descending since then, seventh place is the worst place for Bayern. Alpinestars recorded a slight upward trend, but Vanucci and Buse are stable ahead of them and maintain their positions from previous years. Modeka, which were already in the top ten in 2020, but now climbed to eighth place with good votes, has also improved.
Insurance
HUK Coburg grabbed it again and won the election in 2021.
Insurance is extremely important for customers, but often difficult to see through for laypeople. There are usually too many clauses, additional services, extra packages, etc. It is not for nothing that MOTORRAD provided an overview of motorcycle insurance with case studies in issue 5/2021. Regardless of this, the readers gave a clear vote for the best insurance in the readers’ poll. HUK Coburg grabbed it again and won the election. This is followed by the insurance of the ADAC, which was able to push the online insurer HUK24 into third place compared to the 2020 election – albeit just a little. With the other insurers, there are also real giants in the industry. Incidentally, HUK Coburg, Basler and Allianz shone with top tariffs in issue 5 of MOTORRAD.
Tools
Readers have chosen Hazet for the quality of the tool. Nobody has been able to dispute them for victory.
Screwing the motorcycle can have something of meditation – at the latest when everything is ready and the after-work beer is due. Screwing with miserable tools, on the other hand, is pure hell. Worn out screw heads, broken studs, bloody fingers up to hospital visits – we know what we are talking about. If you want to know more about this and would also like to smile, we recommend MOTORRAD 3/2021, which deals precisely with the topic of tools and screwdriver tips. The readers of Hazet have committed themselves to the quality of the right ring, open-end and other wrenches and screwdriver utensils. Nobody has ever been able to dispute them for victory. Not even Proxxon, who were able to sit down in front of Gedore again this year after a long, tough struggle (last time in 2011). The other well-sounding and high-quality brands in the tool top ten follow at a suitable distance.
Accessories / conversions
For the first time in the readers’ poll, the rivals from Wunderlich and Touratech are tied.
Stalemate on the conversion and accessories front. For the first time in the readers’ poll, the rivals from Wunderlich and Touratech are tied – down to the decimal point. Now is that a failure for any of the brands? Certainly a victory for both, because with the gap to third place, the company Rizoma from Italy, you can proudly pat yourself on the shoulder in Niedereschach in Baden-Wurttemberg as well as in Grafschaft-Ringen in Rhineland-Palatinate. Three real specialists also did very well among all voters, such as Kellermann as a lighting specialist, K&N as a filter technology manufacturer or MRA who offer special windows and windshields. LSL, Magura and Lucas / TRW are the top ten hardware dealers in the category with levers, handlebars and notches like Rizoma, while Givi, like the top two, have a very wide range of add-on luggage solutions to helmets.
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