toolkit

[tobyd]

Having never had the official toolkit I'm putting one together since I've spent too much time by the kerb lately with the 'I don't want to push this thing home' thoughts churning away. Given space is limited back by the rear light and there are only so many things that can be fixed by the side of the road I'm considering...

Mini 1/4" ratchet with 7mm (signal-gen cover), 8mm (a few things around the bars, cables and whatnot), 10mm (most things) and 13mm (yeah, once my tank bolts were 12mm...). Screwdriver with posi and blade bits (clutch play, other stuff), 10mm and 12mm spanner stubby spanner (couple of bolts, also dont take up much room). 5" (or so) 1/4" extension bar. spare 20a fuse. Should all fit in a weatherproof bag.

Anything else worth having? - a spare headlamp bulb isn't really going to fit, the brake light is integral, LED and Honda, (wtf?). The other bulbs aren't so important. The original appeared to come with a C-spanner for the preload on the shock, i dont think i will need this. The bigger stuff just isn't a side-of-the-road fix and will need a decent wrench anyway.

[Watcher]

I was recently saved by my SOG Powerlock, so I'd definitely add some pliers big enough to handle the rear axle.

My kit is the SOG, a Crank Brothers bicycle multitool with various allens, tire pressure gauge, schrader valve tool, Dynaplug kit w/co2 inflators, a small multi-bit screwdriver, and a folding T-handle socket set with like 5 sockets in it.

I have slightly more room in the Duc than the GSs, but I fit it all with some to spare.  Obviously the more you can fit the better off you are.

[Kookas]

I have a large top-box with a little hygiene bag inside that I use to carry almost all my 'dumb' (not ratchet or socket or anything else) spanners with me, a miniature Stanley Phillips ratchet screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a ton of zip-ties of all different lengths, a medium-length flathead and a few nuts and bolts for each length and size present on the bike. Not sure how much of that would fit under the seat - to me it looks like things would just fall down into the rear wheel or onto the road without some kind of mod to put a 'floor' in there.

My thinking:

• You want a 14mm (I think, double-check that though) spanner and a long enough flathead that you can kill the fuel supply at the tank if you need to
• Zip-ties are incredibly versatile life-savers and easy enough to carry around, never know when you might have to bodge something securely in place
• You want ultra-long zip-ties so you've always got one long enough; pliers let you cut them down to size as needed
• Screwdriver for the battery ofc.

Stuff to handle punctures would always be great too, of course.

[tobyd]

Zip ties is a winner suggestion - I'll grab some of those. I think tank wise I should be ok with 13mm sockets (they were 12mm when i got it but the threads went bad so are now 13), after removing the rest of the plastic, with petrol going everywhere! Good idea on that.

Axle. Hmm. I've sort of decided I wouldn't want to have to fix anything there by the side of the road but you make a pretty valid point about things coming loose - how did chain tension get affected by that or is a Ducati a different adjustment?

I've seen those aerosol puncture repairs + air cans but never heard a good thing said about them? also they are a bit big. I don't really like topboxes but have been considering a tailbag thing. carting around 10000 tools and spares doesn't say a lot for my faith in the bike really

[mr72]

Fwiw I started with a tail bag and wound up with a $40 scooter type too box and couldn't be happier. Mounting it requires ingenuity and light fabrication.

Enjoying the toolkit discussion, it's timely for me since I also plan to put a toolkit together not only to keep my bike going but also in case a friend I am riding with needs a hand, or even a car driver in a parking lot somewhere. I carry loads of tools in my Jeep and enjoy helping folks. Just need to scale that down to fit the bike.

[Kookas]

or even a car driver in a parking lot somewhere

I don't know the first thing about cars, but for me helping other broken down bikers is actually a bigger reason to carry my toolkit around than if I break down myself. My bike has generally been pretty reliable - at least, after the initial few incidents mostly related to aged rubber needing replacement - and besides, I have nationwide recovery, but being able to potentially lend a hand kind of makes the toolkit worth carrying to me. My top-box would mostly just be empty otherwise, anyway.

[Watcher]

Axle. Hmm. I've sort of decided I wouldn't want to have to fix anything there by the side of the road but you make a pretty valid point about things coming loose - how did chain tension get affected by that or is a Ducati a different adjustment?

Same style of adjustment.  Chain tension didn't seem to be affected that poorly, but with the axle loose it allowed some freeplay in the adjusters.  Given time I'm sure they would turn from the vibration and cause all kinds of issues.
Also, without the axle the adjusters will just slide straight out the back of the swingarm, meaning with a loose axle the adjusters only prevent the wheel moving "in" but allow the wheel to move "out".  This kind of slack is not good for chain life or anything else.  It's like, you ever see someone try to tow/pull another vehicle with slack in the line?

I've seen those aerosol puncture repairs + air cans but never heard a good thing said about them? also they are a bit big.

I've not been saved by one personally but have plenty of anecdotal evidence to support them.  I sell tons of them at my shop, and have repeat buyers.  If they didn't work I don't think that would be the case.
As for size, the plug tool is smaller than your average screwdriver (also it collapses down) and the CO2 inflator is about the same size.  You can fit both in your palm.

This is the kind of too that's "better to have and not need than to need and not have".  Even my loose axle was possible to be ridden on, though it was a dangerous situation.  But a flat tire will leave you stranded, and getting a bike towed is neither cheap not pleasant...

[alpo]

Needle nose pliers, channel locks, adjustable wrench all come in handy.

I use a magnetic tank bag that contains all sorts of stuff including a small 12V air compressor and a tire repair kit. I wired a cigarette lighter on my other bike to run the compressor. It's great for adjusting tire pressure when you're on the road.

[ShowBizWolf]

When the battery in my bike was toast and I was waiting to get a new one for Christmas, I bought one of these and kept it either under the seat in a waterproof baggie or in my tank bag:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Unique-12V-20000mAh-Car-Jump-Starter-Pack-Booster-Charger-Battery-Power-Bank-Bla/322465717568?hash=item4b14745d40:g:B2kAAOSwfa9Zrof0

It has a super bright flashlight built in and you can charge your gps, phone, etc with it as well! I tested it out on the Turtle Van and it jump-started it from stone cold dead. Did the test two times in a row and the little pack still had charge left. Neat item for sure!

[user11235813]

Ever since I found a bolt in my rear tyre when a long way from anywhere, I always keep a battery operated motopressor and a packet of Safety Seal® self vulcanising plugs with the tool kit under my seat https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocky-Creek-Motopressor-Motorcycle-Tyre-Pocket-Pump-Mini-Compressor-5yr-Warranty/302461238773

[tobyd]

Went all out and spent £9 on an 'am-tech' mini toolkit. then put the ratchet, ratcheting driver, extension bar, adapter, 8, 10, 12, 13mm sockets and driver bits in a sealy bag wrapped in two gloves (to stop them rattling). quality is definitely towards the £5 end of the market but should be enough to get me out of a jam. or they'll snap and I won't be surprised. just a bit saddened... I still have about 30 other sockets and an adjustable wrench left to find homes for...

@SBW - thats pretty nuts it'll spin a l6 (v8?) lump from 20a and still have enough for more? does it hold its charge ok or need topping up regularly?

Pliers is a good idea too, might grab either a small set or maybe a little multitool with some. and cable-ties, still some room for those.

On the lookout for a better bag, seems the market for a cheap, well fitting, waterpoof (predicts the future, breeds £20 notes, cures colds) tool bags isn't as strong as i'd like. Someone suggested a make-up bag might work? not so up-to-date on that technology though.

re: slack-in-the-line-towing. yes! i've seen this a few times and shuddered everytime.

I might see what possibilities there are to store things on the reverse of the plastic trim along the sides. you could fit a decent ratchet and some bigger sockets along there for roadside cylinder-head swaps.

[ShowBizWolf]

The Turtle Van is a 3.0L V6 but the pack jumped it twice with no problem and still had charge left. I was working on my van and intentionally left the headlights and the radio on for hours to drain the battery to do the test. I do wanna test it out on my dad's truck sometime... it's got onea those 5.4L V8 Triton engines.

As for longevity of holding a charge, I've left it sit for 4 months without bothering it... then I needed it a week or two ago in a pinch and it showed full charge (4 lights on the display) and started my bike easy. Woot!

[Watcher]

I jumped a Ford Superduty diesel with a POD X1 the other day.  Those lithium jump-start packs are mighty powerful.  Could probably jump every bike in Sturgis that was left on after a late night of partying off one of those.

[mr72]

When the battery in my bike was toast and I was waiting to get a new one for Christmas, I bought one of these and kept it either under the seat in a waterproof baggie or in my tank bag:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Unique-12V-20000mAh-Car-Jump-Starter-Pack-Booster-Charger-Battery-Power-Bank-Bla/322465717568?hash=item4b14745d40:g:B2kAAOSwfa9Zrof0

That's a good deal, maybe I'll get one to stick in my GS tool kit. Way easier to jump start a car or bike with one of those than with cables!

I have a larger version of that same thing that I got for Christmas a couple of years ago and I've used it to jump my GS a half dozen times and when my battery and starter were going south I carried it all the time. Now it lives in my Jeep and I've jump started numerous other cars with it. It's far more compact to carry than jumper cables and I've jump started even giant twin-battery diesel trucks with it before. Works great. And like you said, it's a ready way to charge your USB-charge devices. I even ran an inverter from mine once, which is a good way to do things like charge a cordless drill battery.

I think a mini compressor is probably overkill for a MC since it's bulky and slow, a couple of CO2 cartridges would probably get the job done and is far faster, easier, and much smaller and lighter to carry. I've used them a ton on my bicycle. A plug kit is not a bad idea.

This tool talk is starting to turn into a pretty big bag of tools! But this has me motivated to deliberately construct a tool kit not only for my GS but also for me to carry in my Jeep.

[Kookas]

Oh yeah, if you have the room - doubt tobyd does, but anyone else - carry a first aid kit. I've been meaning to buy one.

[tobyd]

heh, I've been meaning to do a first aid course and learn CPR for years now so beyond a plaster I think i'd probably just make the injury worse

I think I'm mostly there tool kit wise now. Been out and about just for the sake of it the last few nights and having no bag or extraneous gubbins flapping around is ace!

[KHnTX]

The Red Cross has nifty phone app for free download to your phone that will give a list of things to do for a specific medical issue.

[ShowBizWolf]

That's awesome!! I work for the Red Cross and didn't know about that app... but that's prolly because I don't have a smart phone