Overland To India

After years of fiddling around with second hand tools of average quality, I now have a set of the best, thanks to British manufacturer Britool. My bike uses Whitworth fixings exclusively and the Britool combination spanner set and 6 piece socket set covers every nut and bolt on it. Modern Bullets are mostly metric, although they still have some Whitworth fittings. Obviously, Britool cover all metric sizes too. I have never used such superbly made tools before and they feel like they will last a lifetime. I hope I will only need to do routine maintenance during my 8000 mile journey, but if more serious spannering is required, I feel reassured in having such fine tools to do it with. Contact: Tel: (+44) 01142 917266

I needed a versatile holdall bag to carry equipment such as a tent and sleeping bag, plus a couple of spare 5L fuel cans. Lyon Equipment, of Sedbergh in the Lake District, provided me with the perfect solution; an Ortlieb Rack Pack. Ortlieb make superb outdoors equipment, tried and tested by travelers for over 25 years. I chose the large (49 litre) Rack Pack. It has a full-width roll closure which allows fast access and keeps water and dust safely on the outside. Although initially designed for touring bicyclists, the Rack Pack has been awarded 'highly recommended' and 'top-product' status in several European motorcycling magazine tests. Contact: Ortlieb UK Dealer List

A good cover not only protects your bike from the elements, it can act as an extra deterrent to prying eyes and hands. My cover was tailor made for my bike by experts Specialised Covers. I have to say that the quality is excellent and the company have gone to great lengths to accommodate my panniers and fly screen. Watching their expert patternmaker at work was an education and my cover fits like a Saville Row suit. One feature I really like is the brass eyelets to allow a padlock to secure the cover in place. Contact: Tel: (+44) 01943 864646

Using a tank bag to more evenly distribute the weight of my luggage seems essential to safe riding. I chose to use a Pacsafe Tanksafe tank bag. It’s constructed with a high-tensile stainless steel mesh lock-and-leave security system that makes it slashproof, snatchproof and tamperproof. You lock it closed then secure it to your bike using a coated heavy duty cable.The bag is capacious at 26L and it looks very much in keeping on a classic bike. Mine came from UK motorcycle accessory distributors Motohaus. Contact: Tel: (+44) 01256 704909

It is reported that over 100 motorcycles are stolen on average per day yet more than half are left unprotected. As my Bullet has no ignition key, a good chain and padlock are essential. The 10mm Barrier chain lock from Oxford meets my needs perfectly. It is relatively light but also tough. It's heat treated to resist attack and the lock is pick resistant. I especially like how the padlock is integrated into the chain - one less thing to remember or fiddle about with. Contact: Tel: (+44) 01993 862300

I've tried many ways to hold luggage on bikes in the past, with only limited success. Rok Straps do the job superbly; they're specially designed for motorcycles. The larger pair I'm taking can hold up to 40KG. They're adjustable and can be fitted a number of ways. I've also got a pair of smaller straps which are neat for adding extra items on top of your main luggage. The product is excellent and the company great to deal with. Contact: UK Distributor Motohaus Tel: (+44) 01256 704909

There's only one name when it comes to velcro luggage straps; Andy Strapz. Made in Australia, they have so many benefits for motorcyclists over bungees: there are no metal hooks so virtually no risk of eye injury; they don't roll off or cut into luggage; gear can be packed and unpacked in seconds; they hold firmer yet under less tension due to their width and they are kinder to paint and bodywork. I chose a pair of 1250mm long strapz to hold my rack bag onto the rear luggage rack. Contact: Andy Strapz Website

British singles are notorious for losing nuts and bolts due to vibration. It had always been my plan to use Loctite Lock N' Seal on all fixings to prevent this. On visiting the Loctite website I was very surprised to see the company make everything an overland motorist could possibly wish for in a emergency repair kit. As well as the essential Lock N' Seal, Loctite have very kindly provided me with a whole range of products including Duck Tape, Epoxy Glue, Instant Gasket, chemical metal, silicone sealant and even a magic metal compound that would plug a hole in the crankcase if necessary! Contact: Loctite catalogue download

I have spent a considerable amount of time and money restoring my motorcycle. The journey to India is sure to take it's toll so I want to protect the paintwork as well as possible. I use Autoglym Motorcycle Cleaner product, which is safe on all surfaces including polished alloy. Tough polish protection is then provided by a coat of Super Resin Polish follwed by a coat of Extra Gloss Protection, an extra tough protective sealant that contains a blend of hard resins and waxes. Contact: Tel: (+44) 01462 677766