Just discovered new essential toolkit tool.

[user11235813]

I've never actually had to use my toolkit on any bike in 30 years until a few weeks ago. When I discovered a nail embedded in my new tyre a couple of years ago after returning from a ride, I added a tire reamer, self vulcanising worms and a tiny quality battery powered air pump. I'll probably never need it.

However a few weeks ago my day was almost ruined by the omission of an item that in retrospect should have been obvious. While having lunch I noticed something amiss near the chain guard and further inspection showed that one of the two bolts that holds it on was missing and the front one was loose. I was able to removed the foot guard and tighten the front bolt but I was at a complete loss as to what to do with the rear bolt. The solution was a plastic tie, which I was able to source from a friendly petrol station who didn't sell them but managed to find one out the back. All the local shops did not have any.

This could have been a very serious pain and my well equipped toolkit was useless. So for all those who haven't already worked this out, add some plastic ties to your toolkit.

On a side note a long time ago my 4 cylinder mini moke kept fouling one of the plugs with oil and would run on three cylinders, a local mechanic got me all the way home which was 1000kms by showing me the  'button and a piece of wire' solution that keep the plug clean till I got it repaired.

[Big Rich]

Good old zip ties.....just this morning I gave one to a coworker - his zipper wouldn't stay up on his pants so he used the tie thru his button hole!

User, look into getting reusable zip ties! Usually a roadside emergency repair is very temporary. With reusable ties, you cam take it off at home and save it for later. And they make extra long / heavy duty ones......they work great for tire changes (search it on Youtube)

[Toner]

On a side note a long time ago my 4 cylinder mini moke kept fouling one of the plugs with oil and would run on three cylinders, a local mechanic got me all the way home which was 1000kms by showing me the  'button and a piece of wire' solution that keep the plug clean till I got it repaired.

What's the 'button and a piece of wire' solution?

[gruntle]

Spare clutch lever - ask me how I know

[J_Walker]

Spare clutch lever - ask me how I know

just ziptie a tree branch to bent lever, ask me how I know. 

lol. carrying levers is a dirtbike/cross country thing

[user11235813]

What's the 'button and a piece of wire' solution?

That's the one where you take the high tension lead off the cylinder that's fouling the plug with oil then you put a piece of wire through to opposite holes in a button as per image below. What you've ended up doing is create a gap in the wire made by the button, the spark has to jump that gap, the effect of this is to make the plug run hot enough to burn the oil of the plug. I can confirm that it worked. Plug did not foul the entire journey home, whereas I was having to take it out and clean it every hundred miles or so.

[user11235813]

Spare clutch lever - ask me how I know

I am now a believer, when I drive into my garage, I turn the engine off with the key and coast to a stop then when stopped I kick the side stand out and smoothly get off the bike. Yesterday I missed the side stand and before I knew it the bike was on it's side and the clutch lever had snapped.

Falling off the bike when it's stationary and on carpet too, how embarrassing is that. Imagine if this happened when I was out somewhere. Clutch lever is now going in my toolkit for sure.