On-bike maintenance kit

[rainman]

What's in your emergency maintenance kit? I mean stuff you carry on the bike, not what's in your shed/garage. Anything other than the standard toolkit that comes with the bike, or maybe a better one?

Reason I ask is mine's kinda limited to a cellphone and the standard toolkit at the moment, but given the rate that ginnys seem to blow bulbs at (and given I mostly ride with my lights on) I was thinking maybe I should at least carry a coupla spare indicator/headlamp bulbs at a minimum. Got thinking about what else might be useful... guessed people here might have some smart suggestions too?

[Motu]

As much as I can carry....I have a vast experiance of road side break downs.

[Ixion]

Modern bikes are pretty reliable , we don't need to be as prepared as we once were.
The Uberfarter has heaps of luggage space. So I can carry

Jumper cables
Rope
Torch and flashing beacon thingie
Araldite
Vicegrips
Ring spanner set
Couple of selected sockets and a small T bar
6" 8" 10" adjustables
Screwdriver set
Electrical wire
baling wire
Linesmans pliers
Needle nose pliers
Side cutters
Allen keys
Tie downs
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Length of hose
puncture kit
tyre levers
Water
Juice
V
chocolate
peanuts
Assorted nuts and bolts
Fuses
Spare bulbs
Spare clutch cable
Spare oil
glue
sparkplugs
bungee cords

and an umbrella

If going on a long trip I'll throw more stuff in
Plus a chain connecting link on chain drive machines

And I always carry my Swiss Army knife.And matches and kero to make a fire

In my BSA Bantam days I used to carry a spare piston and rings on trips. Used it, too.

EDIT: Oh I left out the most important item : Beer. Speights of course

EDIT: I omitted puncture repair kit.

[rainman]

Sheesh. Best I figure out how to hook up a trailer.... :)

[bluninja]

I carry standard toolkit, small maglite torch, puncture repair kit. If it needs more than that to get me home I'll need recovery or garage services.

[xwhatsit]

Shit, what is Uberfarter by the way?

I just carry a sparkplug socket... and a spare sparkplug. I don't ride a two-stroke, but my bike has some issues :D.

[Dadpole]

Ixion. I did not see GAITERS on that list. Tut - tut.

[Dadpole]

Shit, what is Uberfarter by the way?

A very wide Teutonic breakdown assistance service vehicle.
If anything goes wrong with your bike, just call Ixion. I am sure he can rebuild it on the roadside.

[Ixion]

Ixion. I did not see GAITERS on that list. Tut - tut.
Well, I'm wearing them.

[mstriumph]

Well, I'm wearing them.

:mellow: the mind boggles!

moi? mini swiss army knife, lipstick, mobile phone, water, loose change, bandana, dayglo socks, spare credit card, insect repellent, elastic clothes line
...........i could go on but you get the idea .....

[Motu]

You want enough stuff to do small jobs on the side of the road - adjust your levers on the bars,tighten levers on the perch,adjust mirrors,get side panels off,tighten battery terminals,remove sparkplugs,replace headlamp bulb.You might also want to adjust your chain.Find out what you need to do these tasks and pack the minimum required for the job.

Several times I removed the cyl head of my BSA on the side of the road using the tools in my pocket - a 1/4 Whit open ender and a slotted screwdriver.I haven't replaced a valve spring on the side of the road for a few years though....

[jonbuoy]

small reel of Duck tape from 2$ shop, honda tool kit, small and big cable ties, can CRC, couple fuses.

[Squeak the Rat]

Some dude helped me out with a puncture a few weeks ago, without him I would've been stuck (so thank you whoever you were!).

So now I've bought a puncture repair kit,

duct tape
pen
pad
cellphone with camera
spare gonk.

[TLDV8]

standard toolkit that comes with the bike.

I have other tools in with the OEM kit that suit the TL like Allen keys for the fairings.
A few bolts/nuts etc.
Puncture repair kit (2 large/2 small Co2 cannister's)
Torch with 2 spare batteries
Fuses
Chain lube,oval plastic bottle with 3 metres or so of Duct tape around the outside of it
PCIII power adapter
Cable ties
Petrol syphon hose (8mm ID,1 metre longish)
Paper clip to put the bike into Dealer Mode (fault codes)

Can't remember what else,would like to think the bike is fairly well maintained and if it was to break down it would be something out of the ordinary.

I don't have a cellphone :confused:

[carver]

i have once stripped a carb apart at 11pm on the side of a city street, that was on my sj125!
standard toolkit has always done me fine.

[vifferman]

Meh.
The VFR is boringly reliable, so the only extra things I'd take for a long trip would be my emergency tyre thingo (contains a 12V electric tyre pump and small container of Slime), a small roll of duct tape and assorted zip ties (in case anything breaks), and a small can of WD-40. The chain got very grubby on our Easter tour of Northland, and CRC (the only thing available at the local gargre) proved to be feckin useless for cleaning and lubing.
To be honest, in 32 years of owning Hondas (including a 2-smoke and TheMutant), the only breakdown I've had was in town, and due to a faulty R/R. If I'd diagnosed the electrical problem properly in the first place, I wouldn't even have had that.

[imdying]

Basic toolkit that came with the bike, a cell phone, and I insured with State (Roadside assist). Bikes too new to worry about, and changes are whatever breaks will be electrickery and I'm carrying a multimeter (yet).

[Squeak the Rat]

I insured with State (Roadside assist).

Have you tried calling roadside assist for a motorbike? I called a different but similar service a week ago for a flat tyre and they didn't know what to do. In fact they didn't even think they supported bikes despite having sold it to me as part of bike insurance. I heard similar comments about the AA recently too, from Jim2 I think.......

[Crisis management]

On the DR (adventure riding) I carry enough to strip & repair most things but on a road bike?
The only bike that has broken down on me since 1978 was a Norton Commando that sheared an internal key on the ignition system.

Maintenance!!!!

[vifferman]

Have you tried calling roadside assist for a motorbike? I called a different but similar service a week ago for a flat tyre and they didn't know what to do. In fact they didn't even think they supported bikes despite having sold it to me as part of bike insurance. I heard similar comments about the AA recently too, from Jim2 I think.......
I've called AA for my bike in the past (when the VFR750 had a flat battery, when I ran out of petrol, and when the R/R went tits up). They turned up each time, although it took a couple of hours when the truck had to pick the bike up.

[Motu]

That's what wive's are for - when I go for a ride sometimes she asks where the tie downs are....she's an experianced salvage hauler.

[FilthyLuka]

roadside kit... all located in my jacket...

1) duct tape (most important)
2) Leatherman (fuck yeah)
3) cresent spanner (damn it comes in handy)

and if you wanna get tricky... a can of wd40.

denden

[oldrider]

To dispense with the need for all that crap, buy a Honda! Add petrol and off you go!

They supply a spare key, if you are careless, that's all you will need! Cheers John. Honda owner.(some of you may have guessed) :innocent:

[imdying]

Have you tried calling roadside assist for a motorbike? I called a different but similar service a week ago for a flat tyre and they didn't know what to do. In fact they didn't even think they supported bikes despite having sold it to me as part of bike insurance. I heard similar comments about the AA recently too, from Jim2 I think.......

So long as they can manage ringing a tow truck I'll be fine. Or bring me petrol :lol: I don't actually think they'd be able to solve anything I couldn't. Heh, just had a thought... Guy comes out in his truck, says nothing, looks at the bike, flicks the kill switch and thumbs the starter, says nothing, gets back in truck and leaves :lol: :slap:

[Freakshow]

I have the Standard plus
CRC
Letherman
Rubber Gloves (highly recomended if there is an accident and need to help someone else best to protect yourself first!!)
And I had a can of that pando tyre repair which I learnt on the TCWNR is no good after 30 years, lucky it wasn't my tyre!

[Jantar]

...
EDIT: Oh I left out the most important item : Beer. Speights of course
....

Bling awarded.

I carry enogh to keep me going to next bike shop should anything unexpected happen.

So apart from the standard kit I carry:
Visor cleaner
Tyre guage
Puncture repair kit
Insulation tape
Spare chain link
Chain break tool
Cable ties
A pair of throw away surgical gloves
Cleaning rag.

[bert_is_evil]

Just the standard kit which has some bits missing and some CRC. It's heavy enough as it is.

Good point Freakshow, think I'll keep some latex gloves in my jacket from now on

[klingon]

Good point Freakshow, think I'll keep some latex gloves in my jacket from now on

:gob: :shutup:

[klingon]

What's in your emergency maintenance kit? I mean stuff you carry on the bike, not what's in your shed/garage. Anything other than the standard toolkit that comes with the bike, or maybe a better one?

Reason I ask is mine's kinda limited to a cellphone and the standard toolkit at the moment, but given the rate that ginnys seem to blow bulbs at (and given I mostly ride with my lights on) I was thinking maybe I should at least carry a coupla spare indicator/headlamp bulbs at a minimum. Got thinking about what else might be useful... guessed people here might have some smart suggestions too?

Hmmm... I have a Volty (GN250 in disguise) and it didn't come with a toolkit. I guess someone lost it between 1995 and now. So what's in the standard GN tool kit? I might just assemble a replacement one before I go out on my second-ever ride on the road :D

[Ghost Lemur]

I'm planning on getting the Stage III Adventure kit from Blue Ridge Racing (http://www.blueridgeracing.com/buyMotoKit3.htm).

A couple of reason I'm planning on doing this is, although the kit will cost a premium, I'm planning on doing a reasonable amount of enduro riding. Also as I currently have nothing buying a complete kit has some benefits over trying to build one up myself, including convenience. The other reason is I'd like to be prepared for every eventuality, even if I personally don't yet have the skills to utilise the tools, I'm not planning on doing much solo, so as long as the tools are there, I'm sure I'll be riding with someone who has the knowledge to take advantage of them, for my bike or another.

[TLDV8]

roadside kit... all located in my jacket...

1) duct tape (most important)
2) Leatherman (fuck yeah)
3) cresent spanner (damn it comes in handy)

and if you wanna get tricky... a can of wd40.

denden

Just for what its worth (if anything) ..It never pays to put anything in your pockets that could hurt you if you take a fall.
Most bikes have some kind of storage area.

[rainman]

Hmmm... I have a Volty (GN250 in disguise) and it didn't come with a toolkit. I guess someone lost it between 1995 and now. So what's in the standard GN tool kit? I might just assemble a replacement one before I go out on my second-ever ride on the road :D

Easiest way to answer this is with a pic, sorry about the crappy picture quality...suits the quality of the tools :) Open-end spanners are 10/12 and 14/17, in case that isn't clear enough. Now that I'm having a close look at these, I'm getting the feeling I may need to go do some shopping.

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

[imdying]

Just for what its worth (if anything) ..It never pays to put anything in your pockets that could hurt you if you take a fall.
Most bikes have some kind of storage area.

Good advice... you don't want your cellphone breaking a rib.

[madmal64]

Apart from the standard tool kit which is fairly good, I carry:

Leatherman Wave
Gorilla Grip Allen Key set
Zip Ties (always handy)
Duct Tape
Small 1st aid kit
Small maglite torch

The bike is well maintained but I have had to do the odd patch up on others.
I would not be without my Leatherman. The best piece of kit I carry on the bike

[Warr]

Good post to but up just b4 hols.
Am doing 2+1/2 weeks in the SI with 2 other bikes.
I subscribed to HRC (Honda Riders Club) for their roadside assist. They will get you to a service point. At $25 for the year including some mag's well worth having. Sorry only available to Honda riders so the rest of you will have to tough it out.

My thoughts on the list
Am carrying
Vise-grips
Tyre repair - SuperCheap
High pressure hand pump - acquired it and less expensive than the gas canisters
Duct tape
Insulation tape
Long length of nylon rope - could tow with it at a pinch!
2 metres light chain - good for securing leathers and helmet if you don’t want to drag them around a tourist spot
Zip tires
Tyre pressure guage
Ear plugs
Leatherman look-a-like!

Lipgloss – SPF rated
Suntan lotion
Insect repellent

Planning on adding
Plastic tube - for syphoning petrol

[WINJA]

600ml Of Clean Water , Knead It , Push In Puncture Repairs , The Smallest Hand Pump From Bike Shop, Leather Man Multi Tool , Rag , Cable Ties, 2 Inch Wide Insulation Tape (wide Tape Can Be Hard To Carry So Put On Ground And Stomp On It To Turn It Egg Shaped),standard Bike Tool Kit . I Used To Carry A Spare Brake And Clucth Lever On Long Trips

[Jeaves]

Only a Swiss army knife........Macgyver rides my bike.

[klingon]

Easiest way to answer this is with a pic, sorry about the crappy picture quality...suits the quality of the tools :) Open-end spanners are 10/12 and 14/17, in case that isn't clear enough. Now that I'm having a close look at these, I'm getting the feeling I may need to go do some shopping.


Aha! Thanks, rainman - just what I needed to see. I haveall those bits and pieces in my toolkit anyway so I'll just put them in a zip-lock bag under my seat.

By the way, zip-lock bags are my suggestion of an extra useful thing to carry that doesn't take up much room. :yes:

[cooneyr]

Easiest way to answer this is with a pic, sorry about the crappy picture quality...suits the quality of the tools :) Open-end spanners are 10/12 and 14/17, in case that isn't clear enough. Now that I'm having a close look at these, I'm getting the feeling I may need to go do some shopping.

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

It has been my experience that the spanners in the standard kit are good at rounding of bolt heads. The spanners are just to soft and hence flex open slightly if the bolt is tight and can then round the bolt. I got a set of better quality spanners (open and ring ended) to replace them. Can just take the four sizes if you want but so far I've found atleast two other sizes that I need.

Got plenty more tools that that but I'm into adventure riding so kinda in the crap if not prepared.

Cheers
R

[Bonez]

Spare final drive chain link (even when riding a shaft driven bike) and toilet paper...................

[Shadows]

I really need to get my arse into gear and get a toolbag to tie to my forks. There's no storage at all and I really didn't want extras like bags hanging off the bike, but sooner or later I'm going to need a tool on the road. I'm just worried that if I get a fork bag the disease might spread and I'll end up with tassles, skull nut head covers, a sissy bar with "learn to ride" and an eagle on it, apehangers and and a great big fuck off windscreen or something.
At the moment all I carry are spare bulbs and fuses, a leatherman thing, a cellphone, and AA membership.

[Ghost Lemur]

Have added a chain tool and extra links to my list.

[cooneyr]

Have added a chain tool and extra links to my list.

Now why would that be Gosty???? :shutup:

I've done the same - got Linton working on a breaker for me as have a riveted DID chain and he reckons most breakers will break rather than the chain.

Cheers
R

[Ghost Lemur]

Now why would that be Gosty???? :shutup:

I've done the same - got Linton working on a breaker for me as have a riveted DID chain and he reckons most breakers will break rather than the chain.

Cheers
R

Might go have a chat to Linton when I knock off work. Not having much luck calling around.