Cargo Space... What is that?

[myfirstluv]

When I purchased my GS, it didn't have a tool kit .  I just found a 34 pc craftsman motorcycle tool kit on sale at sears and bought it.  (I was lucky since it is discontinued)
It is not small but still compact and comprehensive, but it's made to be like a travel tool kit.
http://www.roadbikemag.com/forum/craftsmantoolset.php

And to my dismay it won't fit under my seat.  I have looked around and have done some reading and this kit has almost everything anyone should carry while riding.

Does anyone have any solution to making that tool kit fit under my seat? I don't feel too safe not carrying around an emergency tool kit.

Thanks for any help!

[gsJack]

I'd put it in my locking Givi trunk.     Handiest thing I ever added to a bike.

[nazgulnarsil]

split it into two bags so you can put one of th eleft and one on the right? there seems to be a little more room under the seat on the sides I think.  also try ditching the largest item (wd-40)

[510]

Hrm, out of all those, I'd keep the box-end wrenches, sockets & socket wrench, locking pliers, maybe the bit-driver. Oh yeah, and add in a small roll of duct tape as well. You'll know what it's for when it happens.  All that should probably fit under the seat.

Oh yeah, and an addition to all that, the stock toolset also included a tool for adjusting the rear suspension (anyone got a pic?) and a sort of 18mm socket extender so you can take the spark plugs out (most sockets aren't deep enough).

[ohgood]

From memory, this is what my stock gs tool kit has:

thin pliers
allen wrenches up to 8mm (I don't recall the largest allen bolt on a gs, but R1's need a 8mm when their rearsets are about to fall off   )
that totally annoying rear shock adjuster wrench
phillips and flat head screw driver in one
spark plug socket (stamped n cheap) with stamped wrench for leverage and cheater wrench for extra leverage.
4-5 box/open end wrenchs for the common bolts on the gs

The screwdriver handle fits inside the sparkplug socket.
The screwdriver ends (big and small phillips and flat) fit inside the cheater 'pole'.
That uses less space.


What I've added:
nitrile gloves, whatever allens it was missing up to 9-10mm. (Hey, those gsx-r guys don't carry tools!), small but high quality vise grips, 2-3 bits of heat shrink tubing, lighter, tiny LED flashlight (AAA kind), anti-seize in a zip lock, loc-tite in a zip lock, and a broken hack-saw blade.


The only thing I've needed from my added bits was the 8mm and loctite when a buddy on a R1 realized his bike felt funny. His shifter side rear set was about to fall off




If you ditch the wd-40 and the ratchet, i'd bet it would all fit (smaller pouch of course) where the stocker does.  Check around on your bike that you have a tool for every allen head, and every bolt/nut within reason. You really don't need the rear shock adjuster, if you put the bike on the center stand and turn the adjuster with a screw driver it'll go easier.

[myfirstluv]

I'm gonna give all this a shot!

[DLW]

[sledge]

Those tool rolls are great but the roll itself takes up a lot of valuable space....find a plastic Tupperware type box or boxes that will fit in the space under the seat, then you can fill it/them with tools, bulbs, tape, wire, fuses etc knowing that there will be room for it all. Or you can do what my pal does, he bundles the tools together with a 3" wide elastic band made from an old inner-tube and then wraps the lot in clingfilm to stop rust. Or do what I do, leave the stock toolkit in there and join a breakdown/recovery organisation

[CndnMax]

a sort of 18mm socket extender so you can take the spark plugs out (most sockets aren't deep enough).

The most pos socket i have ever seen, the thing deformed when taking out the sparkplugs- the top where u use the wrench bent like butter