Touratech Screen Spoiler

This is a decent, solid in the 25% over-engineered German sense, biker's bit of kit.

The shape doesn't give you a massive increase in screen height but can make a critical difference. Especially if you are in the grey zone of rider comfort where the correlation between your upper body height, bike design and bike screen position can expose your head and shoulders to wind buffeting at speeds above 70mph. I always seem to forget how much of the ambient noise once in the bike is nothing to do with the engine sound but wind roar. This screen clips on the top of your existing shield - at whatever the existing angle is bear in mind - and can be easily carried or packed in your everyday bike kit.

This spoiler is lockable, so gives you a bit of peace of mind that it won't be nicked; although the chances of this sort of opportunistic crime are, frankly, slim.

JB Verdict; do your homework obviously but if your bike screen is more vertical than most and you want to cut the wind noise it's a good option.

Kriega R35

This rucksack lived up to the strong recommendations it was getting. Ride Magazine, MCN and Bike Magazine all gave it gleaming reviews.

JB agrees.

It's in the little touches that the R35 really excels. The grippy pads on the inside of the chest and waist straps to stop it shifting at speed make a surprising difference to comfort and wearability on the road. The two zipped pockets at the front are, frankly, a genius idea. These pockets alone have saved me a cumulative time totalling hours whilst filling up. No need to take the pack off or scrabble inside an outer jacket; cards and cash are right there. I got so slick that all I had to take off was my right glove in order to hold the pump and punch in the pin. The side pockets (vertical zips on the back) are solid and waterproof and the space inside is just right. On the downside, for there must be balance in a really good review, under heavy load the shoulders still take a strain and the mesh pocket at the top is too small for most everyday kit (wallets, phones etc) combined.

Journeymanbiker's verdict: Sorted.

Knox Chest Protector

I'm actually selling this. It's a good bit of kit, as reassuring as a Catholic confession, but at the same time bulky, and yet another two minute task between me and the ride!

JB Verdict;

Workable but unnecessary.

KTM 950 Adventure

Great commuter. High enough to see over traffic, zips through traffic when filtering, power where you need it.

Nyali Bridge, Mombasa, Kenya

Timing - From 2Ridetheworld

There will never be enough money and the ‘time’ will never be convenient to follow a dream. If you want to ride around the world, or do anything that you dream, you just have to figure out how badly you want to realize your dream and decide if you can accept the consequences of making it happen. Don’t keep putting your dreams and desires off to the future. You can always find a way to make it happen.

Watching the weather

It's rough being a biker in the depths of a Winter in England. Steadily my kit has been replaced with warmer, waterproof stuff but on some days it's just not enough!

Here's a pic of London to set the scene