When it comes to spark plugs people often talk about hotter or colder spark plugs, and it seems a logical assumption that a hotter spark plug somehow produces more power because the spark is hotter. But that's wrong. In fact race motorcycle engines actually require cooler spark plugs, and it has nothing to do with the spark.

Spark plugs, like catalytic converters, have an optimum working temperature of between 450 and 870 degree celsius. In this range they burn off contaminates that can build up and make it harder to produce decent sparks. If they go way above it the electrodes wear excessively, cause pre-ignition and in extreme cases melt completely.

Most of the riders in Thailand are buying for the first time a big bike. Now, novice riders being what they are, most new riders got a reasonable chance of dropping the motorcycle on the tarmac (not that we'd want something like that to happen), so it's a good idea to get some solid nylon crash bungs for your new motorcycle. Crash bungs are a smart move, and they're fairly easy to fit too.

Like most DIY jobs, from painting the house or repairing the washing machine, preparation is key. In the case of crash protectors, the very first step is to read the instructions. Our crash protection bungs come with simple but fairly clear instructions, but it still took a couple of scans to clarify the job so we fully understood it. Lay out all the parts, and make sure you know which part goes where.

Get a ruler so you can check which bolt is the 'M10x100' and which is the 'M10x110', and arrange the parts out in order for each side. In our crash protection kit, there's a short mushroom and a long mushroom, as well as a small spacer, and two different-sized bolts. Getting them in the right order is a simple way of making the job go right from the start.

Survey the scene, and prepare the motorcycle. A good wash is worthwhile before hand, to keep you clean if nothing else. Get it on a paddock stand (it's worth cable-tieing the swingarm to the stand as extra security while you're working) and see if there are any fairing panels that have to come off.

Typical aftermarket slip-on exhaust systems are usually lighter than standard pipes, have a bit more growl and, hopefully, are styled to get your attention. As far as big performance gains go, well, don't get your hopes up.

But there's nothing 'typical' about Akrapovič's Slip-On Line. In fact, the dual carbon-fiber mufflers developed for the 2011 and 2012 Triumph Speed Triple and its even racier brother, the Triumph Speed Triple R, are said to boost both horsepower (5.5 hp @ 8,650rpm) and torque using stock fuel-injection mapping.

LED light are relatively new in the motorcycle lighting world. You can get them as aftermarket items for indicators and rear/brake lights. The advantages are they're much brighter, they last for years (no more blown bulbs), they use less energy and interestingly, they light up a fraction of a second faster than conventional lights bulbs.

A fraction of a second faster light sounds irrelevant but at 115km/h it can make a significant difference to the stopping distance of a vehicle behind you – 3 meters or more – which could be the difference between being run over by a car behind you or getting away with it without a scratch.

The Dainese Laguna Seca Pro Estiva suit, is one of the more premium one piece motorcycle suits. I genuinely think it looks fantastic, and I was happy with how it fitted. The only minor complaint is that it's slightly baggy around the waist and hips, but that's probably because I'm on a strict no beer diet.

Bright white isn't to everyone's tastes, and isn't very practical, but if you want to stand out in track-day photos, it's a sure-fire choice. For everybody who doesn't like to wear a white motorcycle suit, Dainese also sells the black Laguna Seca Pro Professional for the same price.

I was able to test the Dainese Laguna Seca Pro Estiva suit, when I threw myself down, at +/- 100km/h, on the wet tarmac after a moment of braking for a scooter who changed lanes without signaling. Sliding on butt, back and elbows I was thinking what the Dainese would say about me damaging a +/- 30,000 THB motorcycle suit. I was also impressed how much you can think while sliding on the tarmac for 20 meters.

I never considered backpacks for protection until running across the Alpinestars Protection Pack. An easily removable CE certified back protector slots into an external pocket allowing it to snugly bend around the spine without any discomfort. When buckled, side armor adds additional protection, a feature I discovered first hand after hitting the deck in a slow corner a few weeks back. The Alpinestars Protection Pack took some scuffing but stayed intact.

From a storage standpoint, the Alpinestars Protection Pack also hits the mark. The separate laptop compartment is a good place to store paper items that would otherwise be smashed amongst heavier items like shoes or a tire plug kit in the main compartment.

Earplugs, one of the most important parts of your motorcycling kit gets seriously not enough attention, and I'll be honest and declare that I don't wear them as much as I should. But when I do I'm reminded of how good they are, and that I should really stick earplugs in more often.

The times I do use earplugs tend to be on long journeys. They dull down the monotonous drone of the engine and the blast from the wind, but the real benefit will be seen later in life when you've still got your hearing.

Do you have enough tools? Of course you don't. A man never has enough tools. There is, however, a time and a place for a single tool that can take the place of many. The AEG BWS12CKIT3 12-volt Mulittool is a sander, drill, cutter and screwdriver with dual right-angle heads, all-in-one robust unit.

And I mean robust because this AEG Multitool is build like it could survive anything you could throw at it.

Exceptional battery life, two separate heads and an LED light for brightening whatever you're working on: AEG has thought of pretty much everything here and we've used it a heap in the workshop.

The new Ducati Monster 1100 EVO is currently the only motorcycle to come with Ducati's Safety Pack (DSP) as standard kit. The DSP includes a Bosch-Brembo ABS braking system and brand new user-friendly 4-level Ducati Traction Control (DTC).

This all is accessible from the left-hand switchgear the DTC system offers a choice of four levels, each one programmed with an increasing level of interaction graded from one to four – four for the most amount of traction control, one for the least.

Front and rear wheel sensors then compare speed differential to sense when rear traction is being broken (like when the rear wheel is spinning up under power or over a manhole cover) and DTC decides the best combination of two different types of instant electronic adjustment.

And Ducati Safety Pack is clever. The first 'soft' stage of the interaction by the system is done by high speed software that makes instant electronic adjustments to the ignition timing, administering varying amounts of ignition retardation to reduce the engine's torque. It softens off the power accordingly.

Your exhaust systems main job is to work in harmony with your engine by helping gas out of, and therefore also in to, the combustion chamber as quickly as possible – and the tuned length is critical to this. Most exhaust systems have three main sections: header pipe, intermediary section and silencer, each of which has an effect on the working of the exhaust system and the tuned length.

In lay terms, the 'bang' from the combustion process causes a positive wave that flows down the pipe. When it encounters an edge, change in volume or significant change in velocity, an inverse reflection is send back up the pipe. This can be put to good effect if it arrives in the exhaust port as the valve opens because it increases the difference between the positive chamber and port pressure – giving the gas even more reason to flow into the exhaust.

The general layout of an exhaust system,, balance pipes and power valves affect the tuned length at different rpm, and help that reflected wave to arrive at the correct time over the widest possible rev-range. As a rule of thumb, a four-into-two-into-one exhaust system, will work to enhance mid-range performance, where a 4 into 1 system will work best at higher revs. Interconnecting 'balance' pipes also help fool the engine into thinking the tuned length is different and will give a 4 into 1 system a little increase in mid-range.