Mother Nature can really do a number on your motorcycle trip if you're not prepared. Don't let her win. Fight the good fight by having the right gear on hand to protect you from the elements.

Many factors are involved when exploring the overabundance of riding apparel options: comfort, style, protection, and fit. For long trips, you want something that's inter-changeable so when trekking during a dry and sunny day you're not drenched in sweat because your heavy pants and jacket won't breathe. You also don't want a setup that mimics a windbreaker. You need something versatile for whatever conditions you face.

We searched high and low for a stylish, inexpensive, all-weather riding pants and found what we needed in the Joe Rocket Ballistic 7.0 riding pants.....

Just when everybody things that the carburetor is history, Mikuni – originally founded in Tokyo around 1923, on of the world leading carburetor manufacturer – introduces an all-new carburetor design for 2013.

The Mikuni TMX Series Performance Carburetor features a flat slide throttle design operating in a smooth bore venturi to provide a wider overall powerband, increased peak power and quicker throttle response.

The fuel bowl float system on the new Mikuni TMX carburetor features independently moving twin floats, working with a main jet enclosed in a baffle chamber, allowing the Mikuni TMX carburetor to perform smoothly under the toughest conditions without hesitation.

You often hear racers talk about 'cold tear' but just what are they talking about? No, they're not talking about a European music band from the early '80s, it's also unlikely that they talk about a record company from Lithuania, cold tear happens on tires when they aren't properly up to temperature.

A tire, especially a motorcycle tire, requires both the carcass and rubber compound to get up to temperature for it to work correctly and cold tear generally happens when the carcass isn't hot enough The variation in heat between the colder carcass and hot rubber causes the rubber to be torn from the tire, creating a series of small rips in it.

Travelling long distances on a motorcycle proffers mixed blessings. There's the oft-hyped gratification of being out there on the open road – man, machine and nature – with all the Zen and contentment that that entails. But there's also the reality of the weather, boring motorways, directional mishaps, hunger and an aching behind. What'll stay in your memory, the glory or the grit? That depends often on what you wear.

Touring takes in all types of roads and riding, so your helmet – like the rest of your motorcycle gear – needs to be multifunctional. A flip-up helmet converts from full- to open-face at the flick of a switch, great for fuel stops, rapid photo-snapping and mixed-pace itineraries. Some of these helmets are available ready-equipped with communication systems – saving you from lonely silence.

Your motorcycle jacket needs to serve several purposes with distinction because there's no turning back. It must keep you safe, warm and dry for the whole trip. Only if your body is comfortable can your mind stay focused on the road and directions. Go for a quality textile jacket with a waterproof/breathable membrane and removable lining. You'll want plenty of pockets for sundries like some money, phrase book, digital camera and sustenance-giving snacks. Make sure there's room underneath for some body armor (chest and back... etc).

There are several mid-level and high-end cars that come with a start/stop system in the world. The system automatically senses when the vehicle comes to a standstill or when the engine is idle and switches off the engine. Similarly, as soon as the accelerator is tapped, the engine automatically cranks up and you are ready to roll again. The obvious benefits of this system is that it protects the environment by reducing CO2 emission and, more importantly, does what everyone desires: save valuable money by boosting the fuel efficiency.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that Thailand predominantly moves on two wheels and the idea of installing a similar fuel-saving system in two-wheelers would be a dream come true for many people, especially given the sky-rocketing fuel prices. Several companies are working on this technology. Honda Thailand, for instance who has the PCX and Click 125 equipped with the start/stop system, making it Thailand's first scooter with the technology.

The BMW Streetguard 3 Suit is a seriously impressive piece of motorcycle kit and I'm a fussy person who takes some pleasing For me a textile suit has to be comfortable, obviously, waterproof – absolutely, 100% or it's scrap. And crash protection good enough that I'll walk away from a wet weather or slippery spill. It also needs at least two fully waterproof pockets and be easy to get on and off.

Plus, no gaps between jacket and trousers, zips that survive several raining seasons without breaking and enough room at the collar, cuffs and ankles to get over jumpers, gloves and boots.

On a 10,000 THB suit I might compromise on some of those details, on a 40,000 THB or more top of the range suit, I expect every box ticked.

Are you still one of those who doesn't believe in back-protectors? In case you change your mind...

Trying to now sound preachy when it comes to protection is tricky. Everyone is different, each to their own, and all that is fine with us. However, it's worth pointing out those motorcyclists in Thailand who used to call us sissies for wearing a back protection have since rescinded their comments after suffering the wrong-end of a motorcycle crash without wearing a back-protector.

We'll never say 'we told you so' because you can do as you please, but we'd seriously suggest investing in a good back protector. If you think they're for those that sit down to pee, fine, but always bear in mind that investing in one could pay very important dividends in the future.

We quit enjoy being able to walk a way after all, for example...

The Icon 1000 Rimfire glove is classic style motorcycle glove made from top-shelf materials and cutting edge technology. How many of you bough your very first set of riding gloves at the local Do-It-Yourself store? Don't lie. I know I did when I started to ride 30 years ago. All it really takes is one good tumble own the tarmac for you to quickly realize why cheap garden gloves are better for picking weeds then they are sliding down the asphalt.

I've always been a huge fan of the Icon line of gear, since it makes stuff that looks good and is actually protective. While some of the designs are way out there, there is usually a toned down version that looks okay and still functions great.

The Bridgestone BT-016, five layer compound tire, they don't have actually five different compounds in the tire. To be accurate, there are three. There's a hard-wearing central belt, with a softer compound on the shoulders and, on the edge of the tire, you'll find the softest, grippiest compound of the three. Since there are five different components to the compound, Bridgestone calling it '5 Layer Compound' construction, which seems fair enough. The front tire has a harder central belt and gripper shoulders – 3LC- I'm sure you work out why.

The Bridgestone BT-016 is impressive stuff, at the technical level if nothing else, given the production processes involved. Imaging trying to perfectly align five flat, long strips of 'rubber' to make a single compound and do it on a mass production level – while simultaneously ensuring the consistency of every tire.

There's little worth in tire designers and compound chemists coming up with fabulous ideas if they can't progress from hand-made race tires to mass-production road tires. But Bridgestone being the biggest tire manufacturer in the world, has the resources to push these technical barriers.

Without any of the normal symptoms, and without any sound, that's how my motorcycle's chain snapped yesterday. And I was lucky, because it didn't bunch up on itself, locking up the rear wheel or destroying the engine cases. When I stopped, because I lost all power to my rear wheel, I saw I was missing my chain – which I eventually found on the side of the road a few hundred meters from where I stopped.

Never had a chain snap? Neither had I, and nor had the importer of the Japanese brand heard of a similar case (understandable). All right, it had done 17,000 kilometers, but I'd kept it lubricated and adjusted, and the motorcycle's OE chain had lasted nearly 30,000 kilometers. Now it's got a much cheaper Made in Thailand chain, so we'll see how long that lasts.