I don't have the tool kit that came with my GS 500

Does anyone have any recomendations on a basic bike tool kit?

Either general tools or some thing I could get on a bikebandit thats more motorcycle specific.

Thanks

go to sears and get a
10,12,14 mm combination wrenches
7,8,10,12,14,17 1/4" drive sockets
1 6" and 1 3" extentions
1 1/4" drive ratchet
2 10 inch cressent wrenches
one of those rubber tipped mallets (you will want this to pop the valve cover off when you check the valves)

and then use the plastic bag and a rubber band and put it under your seat.

I guess you need to define the purpose of the kit. Emergency wrenching or at home wrenching. I tend to think of the underseat kit as a "dark and rainy night" kind of kit.

I've seen a couple of items in the back of Cycle World, Sport Rider, etc. that seem rather neat.
The GS toolkit contains this kind of stuff...

The only thing special is the spanner used to rotate the rear shock preload. Other than that, I would have tools for doing basic things. If you get a flat, it is unlikely you will use short tools to untorque the bolts holding on the wheels. Take a cell phone.

If on the other hand you plan to do 10,000 miles like our recent return member, you may need to "plan to wrench." His GS took the beating he gave it and kept going, with only one tire replaced, it is a testimony to the toughness of our little two wheeled friend.  

Thanks guys

yay another trek to Sears. (not that easy in Brooklyn.) Luckily last time I was there I grabbed the 2005 Craftsman catalog  =)

craftsman.com  ?

don't worry, the stock kit has just about everything that you really don't need anyway (like a tool to adjust the position of the levers)

The stock tool kit is of dubious quality and not suitable for prolonged use, much better to buy good quality tools that wont break or damage the fixings they are trying to undo. Dont forget a good set of hex keys, (allan keys). There are several socket cap bolts on the GS.

Is the spanner wrench a standard spanner? Anyone know what the specs are for this tool?

Quote from: vags500 on March 13, 2006, 11:18:16 AM
Is the spanner wrench a standard spanner? Anyone know what the specs are for this tool?

The spanner looks "standard" enough, though it is short handled and depends on the extension "handle" (as do all the wrenches in the kit) for good leverge.

The spanner has "R32.5" stamped into the handle.

Are you talking about the tool used to adjust the rear suspension. On this side of the pond we call them C spanners, over in the USA I believe the term is a Hook wrench. The R 32.5 refers to the radius of the lockring it is sized to fit. They can be tricky things to get hold of as they are not common tools, best to try a specialist tool dealer. I Have a few adjustable ones in differing sizes......see the link.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=5837&group_ID=601

Quote from: davipu on December 16, 2005, 02:54:45 PM
go to sears and get a
10,12,14 mm combination wrenches
7,8,10,12,14,17 1/4" drive sockets
1 6" and 1 3" extentions
1 1/4" drive ratchet
2 10 inch cressent wrenches
one of those rubber tipped mallets (you will want this to pop the valve cover off when you check the valves)

and then use the plastic bag and a rubber band and put it under your seat.

+1 LED flashlight !!!!

I found a Job-Mate brand tool set for about $12 that had a stubby 1/4"&3/8" drive ratchet, screwdriver with bits, stubby adjustable wrench, sockets up to 17mm.  I also bought one of those folding plier sets with the knife etc built in.  I also filtered through all the allen wrenches I've collected from all the IKEA furniture I've bought over the years and had enough for a complete set!  And also added the above mentioned flashlight.  Stuffed all this into 2 ziploc bags (doubled up) and viola!  Tool set!

Quote from: davipu on December 16, 2005, 02:54:45 PM
go to sears and get a
10,12,14 mm combination wrenches
7,8,10,12,14,17 1/4" drive sockets
1 6" and 1 3" extentions
1 1/4" drive ratchet
2 10 inch cressent wrenches
one of those rubber tipped mallets (you will want this to pop the valve cover off when you check the valves)
and then use the plastic bag and a rubber band and put it under your seat.

You carry all that under the seat of your GS? 

I'd just get 3/8" sockets and ratchet. 1/4 is a bit overkill on a bike, especally if you are going to have it as an on-board tool kit. Like wise you can get by with just one 4~6" adjustable wrench.

Add a set of metric allen wrenches and a leatherman, multi tool. Wrap lengths of electrical tape around the shafts of the screwdrivers in case you need to make electrical repairs, and throw in a few extra fuses too.

You can find nice fabric or plastic tool rolls at smaller hardware stores, they are great for holding all the stuff and make a nice clean(er) surface to work on if you ever have to field strip a componet.

Put a $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00 bill in your tool kit as well along with a set of emergency phone numbers of people you can call.

Get phone numbers of people who own pickup trucks, loading ramps, and tie-downs... 

Quote from: gsmetal on March 14, 2006, 07:31:30 AM
Put a $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00 bill in your tool kit as well along with a set of emergency phone numbers of people you can call.

I used to carry a quarter in my bicycle tool kit in case I had to call for a ride - used it once too.  Prolly not a bad idea now either since I am too cheap to get a cell phone.

hahahahahaha...the tool kit that goes everywhere with me:

(wrenches, 2 of each, same size in 3/8 sockets including a 12" 3/8 drive torque ratchet)

17mm~5/8"
16mm
15mm
14mm~9/16"
13mm~1/2"
12mm
11mm (stupid ducati brake blead head pos)
10mm
8mm

#2 phillip driver
#4 phillip driver
1/8" blade flat head
1/4" blade flat head
3/8" blade flat head

8" channel locks
12" channel locks
CeeTee Pliers
Electrical crimp/strip tool
lineman's pliers
2 pairs dikes

100 1/8 X 6" zip ties
100 1/4 X 9" zip ties

MakBox

Other miscellaneous tag-a-longs are:

Flair gun
Survival knife
110F 7mm Mag Savage
Llama .45 auto (16rd clip)
50rds each
Chuck Norris
Fruit cake