Full face or open face – your choice. The big sell is that the Shark Evoline 3 comes with a safety certificate as both a full face and open face motorcycle helmet. With the chin bar flipped up and over the crown it is a genuine dual purpose motorcycle helmet which can be worn fully closed or open depending on the conditions. And the transformation is slick and quick enough to counter that dreaded moment when you're wearing a full face helmet and feel there's a big sneeze coming up.

The Shark Evoline Series 3 features a number of upgrades from the previous version. Firstly, it's 200 grams lighter at 1,715 grams which is always a bonus. Secondly the helmet is now more oval and less round which, when coupled with the softer microfiber lining, which is removable and washable, makes for a more comfortable fit for the average shaped head, leading to less noise and turbulence.

It's interesting to know that most motorcycle tires in Thailand wear out prematurely and the main reason for this is that the tires are at the wrong pressures. So what's the best way to make sure your tires are at the correct pressure?

Tire pressures are one of the easiest things to check on a motorcycle and can make a big difference to handling and fuel consumption. To set your pressures properly you'll need a decent pump with a gauge to get them close, then an accurate pressure gauge to get them spot on. Always check tire pressures 'cold', so at least 45 minutes after the motorcycle was parked up. Road riders should make it a weekly check.

An over-inflated tire will run cooler and work the suspension hard. The contact patch will be smaller and the motorcycle will feel skittish. An under-inflated tire may not maintain its contact patch as it flexes and could overheat, which will accelerate wear.

Akrapovic latest Slip-On muffler line represents the first step in the exhaust system tuning process, and the all-new design for the Yamaha YZF-R1 features the new-shape muffler design. Made entirely of lightweight titanium, the Slip-On Line gives the Yamaha YZF-R1 a Grand Prix look, just like the 2014 Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP machines ridden by Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. The Akrapovic Slip-On Line totally transforms the motorcycle by adding more power and increased torque the entire rev range, giving the Yamaha YZF-R1 that unique Akrapovic sound to further enhance that Grand Prix image.

The beautifully crafted, durable titanium Akrapovic muffler is manufactured from race-proven materials and comes with a carbon fiber heat shield to boost the racing look. Lighter than stock, the Akrapovic Slip-On Line exhaust perfectly fits within the lines of the machine and gives added value to the motorcycle. With a comprehensive and easy-to-follow mounting manual included with the muffler, this plug-and-play exhaust is easy to install and needs no remapping or other parts.

With a so much excellent motorcycle helmets on the market, it's a bold company that claims to have made the ultimate adventure touring helmet – but that's exactly what Touratech claims.

The German adventure specialists reckon they've managed it because their new Touratech Aventuro Carbon helmet is nearly half the weight of most dual-purpose motorcycle helmets, produces minimal wind noise, can be used in three variations, and has more features than I can explain.

The new Touratech helmet can be worn as a road helmet with a visor and no peak, a dual-purpose helmet with a visor and peak or in off-road guise with goggles and peak.

The HJC R-Pha Line of motorcycle helmets represents the top of the company's range. The motorcycle helmet family has grown from the R-Pha 10 race helmet, worn by Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo, to include the HJC R-Pha Tech Evo flip-front and now this HJC R-Pha ST, for sports-touring riders.

The HJC R-Pha ST is made of the same hi-tech fibers as the other helmets in the family, which means it's fairly light: 1586 grams for my XL, even with a drop-down sun visor. It has a plush liner, a double D-ring chin strap, vents on the chin and crown, with a main visor featuring a central locking clip. The HJC R-Pha ST is a very comfortable helmet – not the quietest, but I've worn a great menu that are noisier.

AGV motorcycle helmet company has released the new Valentino Rossi replica helmet to the world. The limited edition helmet features graphics from the Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album.

Take note of the Monster Energy logos on the sides and chin of the helmet, a first for a Valentino Rossi replica helmet even though he has been sponsored by the energy drink company since 2009.

Valentino Rossi wore the original helmet in 2013 at the San Marino GP as a tribute to the late Marco Simoncelli. The helmet is titled 'Wish' and speaks to Rossi's strong bond of friendship to his late friend.

The Bridgestone RS10 tires, are replacing the outgoing BT-003RS, and OE on the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 and Kawasaki Ninja H2, these new Bridgestone tires are designed to offer fast road riders who enjoy the odd trackday more grip and better overall performance.

The Bridgestone RS10 tires have a new tread design, updated compound and stiffer carcass. A new rear tire profile is said to offer better cornering precision and increased exit grip, as well as a bigger contact patch at high lean angles.

The rear Bridgestone RS10 tire is also claimed to be more stable mid-corner and give increased grip under braking and acceleration. Plus, the softer sidewall offers improved damping characteristics for increased bump absorption.

After a crash helmet, gloves are arguably the next important item of protective clothing. Most people's natural reaction to a tumble is the reach out with their hands to break the fall.

First things to recommend is buying two pairs of motorcycle gloves. It may seem extravagant, but remember you can only wear one pair at a time, so two pairs bought together will last as long as two pairs bought a year or so apart. The reason again for this is comfort.

We all know how horrible it is to put on a pair of wet gloves, so having a dry option – even if only for an hour or so – has got to be nicer. Secondly, if you can afford to include a pair of dry season and raining season gloves in your budget, then you'll really appreciate them on a hot sweaty day waiting for traffic light in downtown Bangkok. A good pair offer cooling mesh panels with no waterproof lining, yet don't compromise on protection either

The traditional route for Ducati owners might normally be covered in the name 'Termignoni', but Akrapovic continue to muscle in with their beautifully crafted exhausts for the Ducati motorcycles.

The latest additions are exhaust systems and end-cans to suit the latest liquid-cooled Ducati Monster 1200 and 821, which boast some of the most ostentatious exhausts in motorcycling.

The pipework and sleeves are made from titanium and there's the option to keep or ditch the catalytic converter, and a removable baffle so you can choose whether to wake up the neighbors or leave them in peace. The exhaust for the Ducati Monster 1200 in particular is loud in standard trim, so a baffle-free exhaust could see you moving up the neighborhood watch list.

Birdgestone has released information on its new-generation S20 sportbike tires, designated the Bridgestone S20 EVO. Intended to 'achieve more sport capability with improved performance on the track' according to Bridgestone, the S20 EVO tire is claimed to offer improved stability at track speeds along with lighter steering without sacrificing comfort and wear life.

The front Bridgestone S20 EVO tire now features a dual-compound tread with a circumferential mono-spiral belt with stiffer five-filament strands in its construction for better stability and wear. The rear Bridgestone S20 EVO tire now has three different compounds instead of two, with the wire strands going from five filaments to two and becoming less rigid for better compliance and more grip.