I think, certainly as far as the forums go, that there is an element of people preparing instead of going (and I include myself in that). I've been scouring the HUBB for months reading up on kit and 'the best bike' etc. while dreaming of getting out and setting off on my own adventure.

As new shiny bits of kit come out I would read up on them and maybe even purchase some of them, all without realising that all this so called preperation was in reality just a way of keeping my dreams of travel alive without actually having to take the plunge and travel. It's only lately that I have started to realise that all I really need to do if I want to travel is stop waisting money on accesories or finding the perfect bike, start saving along with paying off my debts and in a few years just get up and go.

Would metal mules panniers be better than my existing ones? Possibly, but my existing ones (Givi) will actually still work. Would a new Tenere be a better choice than my existing bike (Trans Alp), well as far as fuel economy and tank range goes maybe, but the Trans Alp is still a bloody good bike, and if the likes of Birdy can ride through Africa on a C90 I am damned sure I could do it on my Alp.

I am sure there are people that are travelling who are obsessed with having all the latest kit, but I would bet that as far as internet forums go, the majority of people that get obsessed with the latest kit are not actually travelling but are instead, like me, dreaming of travelling.