Let's see your motorcycle tool kits!

[Tom2]

Still have the original kit from an '82 Goldwing. Looks to be complete from what I can tell. The pouch looks like **** though. Need to replace it.

I'll try to snag a pic later.

 

[expatriated]

Ok, but I'll have to block out the credit card number

Actually, I'll post mine later as I'm interested in seeing what guys carry myself.

 

[wormwood]

Dang nice stock kit from 2000 Honda VFR.

 

[hilld]

The factory toolkit on my bike is a big joke. I have put together a complete kit based on what others have needed before me. It is an extensive collection and I would not be able to take it with me without the large cases on the bike. I will take some pictures later today and post. The bike is a BMW R1200GS Adventure, so as I spend some time away from the highway, it sure seems like I have the kitchen sink with me. I am still working on building my kit, I still need a battery powered pump and a bead breaker kit, just haven't spent the money on it, yet.

Combined with this site, the other site I hang out at www.advrider.com, I have built my toolkit.

Derek

 

[Scooterfish]

I suggest looking online at windzone or Cruz tools for their kits metric or SAE. Then putting together your own kit with quality tools from extras you have or do some pawn shop shopping. Do some basic maintence at home working from your carry tool kit to find any short falls. With todays bikes you are often limited to what you can do on the road.
Often having tools allows you to tighten a nut /bolt, wire etc. You may need to remove a seat to tighten a battery terminal. Extra length of wire & some zip ties, tape may keep you riding down the road. If you tubeless tires carry a can of flat fix.

If you see someone on the side of the road give them a thumbs up/ down to see if they need help. A rag tied to left mirror or a helmet placed on the ground behind the bike signals need for help. Happy riding and be safe

 

[Tom2]

Not sure how complete it is, but looks like most things you would need. Probably be a good idea to get a new pouch, then put some zip ties, tape, and maybe a small air compressor. Should have all the basics covered

 

[lauver]

The factory toolkit on my bike is a big joke. I have put together a complete kit based on what others have needed before me. It is an extensive collection and I would not be able to take it with me without the large cases on the bike. I will take some pictures later today and post. The bike is a BMW R1200GS Adventure, so as I spend some time away from the highway, it sure seems like I have the kitchen sink with me. I am still working on building my kit, I still need a battery powered pump and a bead breaker kit, just haven't spent the money on it, yet.

Combined with this site, the other site I hang out at www.advrider.com, I have built my toolkit.

Derek

hilld,

That's surprising about the factory tool kit that came with your scooter. BMW used to provide some of the best road kits for the old airhead bikes. Here's a couple of photos of papaws' tool kit from his vintage BMW. He's added a few tools but you'll see what I mean:

 

[ilya]

The factory toolkit on my bike is a big joke. I have put together a complete kit based on what others have needed before me. It is an extensive collection and I would not be able to take it with me without the large cases on the bike. I will take some pictures later today and post. The bike is a BMW R1200GS Adventure, so as I spend some time away from the highway, it sure seems like I have the kitchen sink with me. I am still working on building my kit, I still need a battery powered pump and a bead breaker kit, just haven't spent the money on it, yet.

Combined with this site, the other site I hang out at www.advrider.com, I have built my toolkit.

Derek

It's nice to see a fellow ADV member here! I also have a R1200GS but not the Adventure model. I've only had the bike for a few months and I haven't traveled too far off road on it. In my 5 years of motorcycle traveling, the most often used tools were pliers and hex keys.

 

[expatriated]

Great to see some BMW guys here! Yes, the stock BMW kits are terrible. Weird, really. When you pay $19k for a bike, you'd think you'd at least get a couple of pairs of Knipex

Anyway, here's mine:

Rolled up:

Unrolled:

Some of the items shown more clearly:

If I know that I'm going long enough to be changing the oil and doing some service on the road, I'll bring the oil filter, plug puller and some feeler gauges (not shown):

 

[knobby]

Good selection here or try motion pro
http://pitposse.com/tools1.html

 

[Paladin]

I have a Cruz metric kit I keep in my atv. I haven't picked up a kit for my HD yet, but when I do it will probably be a Cruz kit as well... :thumb

 

[lauver]

expatriated,

Nice tool roll. Where did you get it? About how much?

 

[PassnThru]

Great to see some BMW guys here! Yes, the stock BMW kits are terrible. Weird, really. When you pay $19k for a bike, you'd think you'd at least get a couple of pairs of Knipex

Knucklebusted has a BMW bike also. I still look at him and shake my head.
Don't know where that came from.

 

[expatriated]

expatriated,

Nice tool roll. Where did you get it? About how much?

Bob's BMW. $25.00

I've never heard anything bad about Kathy's Designs.

http://store.bobsbmw.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SP-

 

[JSBriggs]

Bucket boss makes some decent rolls as well. This one is about $10 on amazon.

-Jeff

 

[hilld]

As promised, here are the pictures of my toolkit, not quite complete, but it is overkill. When are you are in the middle of nowhere, it is better to have more tools than not enough. Having the right part is probably even more of an issue.

Anyways, this is the factory toolkit, more of an insult if you ask me.

Since the adventure has nice sized aluminum cases on it and space is not quite as much of a premium compared to other bikes, here is my toolkit in place. The left case has a cutout for the exhaust pipe and the kit fills the smaller space quite nicely. The only thing not in that space right now is the old filter that is showing on the next image.

All spread out.

From top left to right.
Safety glasses and ear plugs
First aid kit
12V test light
tire plug and CO2 cartridges
mini screw drivers
razor blades
lots of tie wraps, various sizes and lengths

next row:
SOG multi plier tool
various tweezers, hemostats and picks
E8 and E12 wrenches
1/4" drive handles and extensions
3/8" drive handles and extensions
10-19mm combo wrench set
multi meter
head light
1/4" drive mini ratchet/screwdriver set
1/4" ratcheting screwdriver (larger_
10Ga jumper cables
gloves

Next row:

Torx L-keys
Torx Hex keys with ball end
Torx sockets (complete set) - this bike loves them
2 vice grips
1/4 shallow and deep socket sets
3/8 mid depth socket set
hex socket set

Next row:

Duct tape
electrical tape
fuses
spanner wrench for the shocks
tire pressure gauge
lights
front axle removal socket
pliers (cutters, needle nose, wire strippers)
brass washers
drain plug
butane soldering iron

Next row:

Silicone sealant
JB Weld
Loctite 242 (Blue)
Devcon Plastic Welder (works great)
Anti Seize
Spare oil filter
stainless safety wire
rags, paper towels
collapsible funnel

Not shown:

various lengths of spare electrical wire
fluids that are sometimes on the bike such as spare oil if on a longer trip
spark plug socket and spare plugs

I made sure the tools are high quality as I don't want cheap Chinese **** to fail while needing the tools.

Other things that sometimes make it on to the bike.

Collapsible shovel made by Glock

 

[Stuart in MN]

Bucket boss makes some decent rolls as well. This one is about $10 on amazon.

I have a Bucket Boss tool roll, it is pretty well made.

 

[expatriated]

hilld, that's about as thorough a kit as I've seen. I like to have enough to take care of most things likely to keep me from making it to a nearby shop. But, you seem to have a LOT of sockets. Unless the GS has a significantly different set of fasteners than my RT, you have sockets for which there are no fasteners on your bike, right?

Of course, you could always help others out and if you have the room and feel comfortable carrying it all, go for it. And you're probably taking that GS places I'd never dream of going on the RT.

I used to have a bigger kit. To make sure everything worked and I had everything I needed, I would do my services at home using just my onboard toolkit. I found some tools that didn't work that well and replaced them. I found out that I was carrying a few extra sockets and wrenches unnecessarily because I didn't have any fasteners that required them. So, I streamlined things as much as possible.

I'm assuming you've seen Jim von Baden's kit and DVD's?

Good stuff. Thanks for posting.

 

[hilld]

hilld, that's about as thorough a kit as I've seen. I like to have enough to take care of most things likely to keep me from making it to a nearby shop. But, you seem to have a LOT of sockets. Unless the GS has a significantly different set of fasteners than my RT, you have sockets for which there are no fasteners on your bike, right?

Of course, you could always help others out and if you have the room and feel comfortable carrying it all, go for it. And you're probably taking that GS places I'd never dream of going on the RT.

I used to have a bigger kit. To make sure everything worked and I had everything I needed, I would do my services at home using just my onboard toolkit. I found some tools that didn't work that well and replaced them. I found out that I was carrying a few extra sockets and wrenches unnecessarily because I didn't have any fasteners that required them. So, I streamlined things as much as possible.

I'm assuming you've seen Jim von Baden's kit and DVD's?

Good stuff. Thanks for posting.

Yes, as I have stated, I have way more stuff than I need (did I just say that - don't let my wife see that). I usually do my bike maintenance with only the tools in my kit and if I find that I need something else, I add it.

As far as the socket sets, I just kept the sets complete, for example, I have not come across a 18mm or even a 14mm on my bike, but I haven't taken it that much apart. So, knowing my luck, I will take out those 2 sockets to save 2 oz of weight, then need it when I have to remove for example a shock. I have helped a few others out that needed to tighten something while on the road, usually crotch rockets that don't carry anything.

I have Jim's DVD's and they have come in handy. I started my toolkit building by using Jim's and others list of tools on the bike. I am getting ready to do the 18k mile service in a month or so, I will pay close attention to all fasteners on the bike to see if there are tools that I don't need. The 18k maintenance is pretty extensive including adjusting of the valves, final drive drain and fill, etc. Maybe I will even take the tank off just to see what other tools I can take out, then again, maybe not.

I think bikes and tool kits are an evolutionary process, I am still in the Neanderthal phase and have not quite moved to the higher being phase.

Derek

 

[expatriated]

The How-To's by Semper Fi and some of the other ones on the BMW MOA are absolutely awesome! Step by step with great pictures. I have to take my tank off soon to replace a stripped throttlebody adjuster. I couldn't do anything I've down without those how-to's.

The international BMW rally is near you this year!

 

[hilld]

I might go to that Rally in Redmond ~3 hour ride. The local dealer BMW of Western Oregon is the sponsor, but getting the much better half to let me disappear for the weekend will be the hard part. Maybe I need to buy some diamond earrings and beg for a 3 day pass.

 

[wormwood]

all spread out.

^^^ftw....







.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

As promised, here are the pictures of my toolkit, not quite complete, but it is overkill. When are you are in the middle of nowhere, it is better to have more tools than not enough. Having the right part is probably even more of an issue.

Anyways, this is the factory toolkit, more of an insult if you ask me.

Since the adventure has nice sized aluminum cases on it and space is not quite as much of a premium compared to other bikes, here is my toolkit in place. The left case has a cutout for the exhaust pipe and the kit fills the smaller space quite nicely. The only thing not in that space right now is the old filter that is showing on the next image.

All spread out.

From top left to right.
Safety glasses and ear plugs
First aid kit
12V test light
tire plug and CO2 cartridges
mini screw drivers
razor blades
lots of tie wraps, various sizes and lengths

next row:
SOG multi plier tool
various tweezers, hemostats and picks
E8 and E12 wrenches
1/4" drive handles and extensions
3/8" drive handles and extensions
10-19mm combo wrench set
multi meter
head light
1/4" drive mini ratchet/screwdriver set
1/4" ratcheting screwdriver (larger_
10Ga jumper cables
gloves

Next row:

Torx L-keys
Torx Hex keys with ball end
Torx sockets (complete set) - this bike loves them
2 vice grips
1/4 shallow and deep socket sets
3/8 mid depth socket set
hex socket set

Next row:

Duct tape
electrical tape
fuses
spanner wrench for the shocks
tire pressure gauge
lights
front axle removal socket
pliers (cutters, needle nose, wire strippers)
brass washers
drain plug
butane soldering iron

Next row:

Silicone sealant
JB Weld
Loctite 242 (Blue)
Devcon Plastic Welder (works great)
Anti Seize
Spare oil filter
stainless safety wire
rags, paper towels
collapsible funnel

Not shown:

various lengths of spare electrical wire
fluids that are sometimes on the bike such as spare oil if on a longer trip
spark plug socket and spare plugs

I made sure the tools are high quality as I don't want cheap Chinese **** to fail while needing the tools.

Other things that sometimes make it on to the bike.

Collapsible shovel made by Glock

Ride a Harley, do ya??

 

[TireTracks]

Ride a Harley, do ya??

He said it's a bmw.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

He said it's a bmw.

Captain Obvious needs to point out that that was a joke...

 

[TireTracks]

Captain Obvious needs to point out that that was a joke...

never can be sure. There are some dense people out there.

 

[Thirsty]