Ok so you own one of these motorcycle thingies & it has occurred to you that sometimes they need maintenance, repairs or adjustments in the workshop.
(I’m not intending for this to become a ‘what should I carry’ thread)
What does one do about tools?
a) Rely on the toolkit (unless it was 2nd hand & therefore stolen by the last owner) as this is what the manufacturer specified & using unbranded tools may invalidate the warranty?
b) Empty the coffers & tell the Snap-on man to just come & deliver the whole cattledog job-lot?
c) Buy one of those every-tool-included suitcase from Supercheap or similar?
d) None of the above
OK so for the workshop you are setting up you will probably be on a budget, after all you just spent most of your wedge on buying the bike. But if you decide that you’d like to perform more maintenance yourself then you will need the proper tools or you will cause more damage than you are trying to save by taking it to the shop.
Ok we’ll start with option a) these tools are the cheapest bidders the manufacturers could find that an owner could remove some parts of the motorcycle at least once without causing too much damage to cause a rash of warranty claims. Nasty.
b) Are you a professional mechanic? No didn’t think so.
c) These kits are made by the companies rejected in a) for being too low quality. Avoid like the plague.
So d) it is.
Maybe if I start with a bit of a list, people can poke holes in it & I can edit the main list at the start of the thread.
I’m going to start with the theory that most motorcyclists are typically cheapskates and will buy on price. To some extent one has to proceed with caution. One might not need all these tools if this is just a passing fad. But generally there’s no tool so expensive as one that damages what you are trying to fix & then needs replacing with progressively more expensive tools.
So what we are looking for are ‘fit for purpose’ good value tools.
I am often amazed at what people try to get by with & the absolute rubbish that come as suitcase kits.
Maybe 2 lists; bare minimum & nice to have.
Ok Bare Minimum
Hammer Ideally large ball peen hammer, but can make do with a woodwork claw if you already have one.
Rubber Mallet Cheap & will save axle threads when you are tempted to bash with hammer or other tool
Screwdrivers Both Flatblade & Crosshead. Several sizes of each. Cheap ones will let you down. Push when using cross head. Screwdrivers are not levers, never use them as such.
Cheap flatblade screwdrivers These are in fact sacrificial chisels & levers. You’re going to do it so have some specifically for it & never use for other purposes. Obviously don’t try to lever things that will be damaged, like ally sidecovers.
Allen keys Don’t buy that rubbish on a spring set. By a proper set of ½ doz metric in a row holder
Impact driver Blue box type from Ripco will be fine.
Pliers Fine nose & sturdy type. Some linesman cutters as well
Circlip pliers One of those combination internal/external sets will suffice, even if they make you learn some new swear words
Spanners Metric as a set is more economical, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19mm at a min
Socket set As above. I prefer ½” drive as they are more sturdy, Many prefer 1/4 drive; preference. This is probably the bigger ticket item as a set. Save money & frustration, you will never need an imperial mixed set. It would be nice to get some larger sizes as well, 22, 24, 27, 30 for instance. Spark plug sockets to fit your bike may be nice. Pick carefully.
Big Cresent Wrench These make fabulous benders. Not so hot on nuts & bolts. Be very careful.
Vice Larger the better, but can be cheap. Large coachbolts & mount to a bench or anything
Drill Many bargains about are ok, beware too cheap drill bits.
Hack saw
Files
Kneepads or some carpet
Rags Do you really wear that BonJovi T anymore?
Pad For writing down those parts required
Hand cleaner Washing powder at a push
The nice to have list/buy as required list
Tool box Forget the million dollar one, a couple of big plastic ones are ok, but if can set up a board close to the work area with some screws & pencil some outlines. This will save hours of rooting around. Really.
Workbench Something sturdy to work on, build or 2nd hand
Bike bench Something sturdy to work on, build or 2nd hand, about 400 high. Need plank to load & a paddock stand or tiedowns etc to secure.
Seat Cut down a seat if no bike bench.
Torque wrench Don’t buy one too large, say around the 2-40NM range is where you will be using it most.
Flywheel puller Useful on 2 stroke dirtbikes etc Only a few different types
T Bars Cross head screwdriver & 8/10/12mm socket will make life in the garage more joyous. As will a T bar allen set (surprisingly the $20 supercheap one is good). Won’t fit in all places so still need std set.
Long wrecking bar Life is nice when you have some leverage. An ~800mm long fixed bar for your sockets will be valuable. Don’t try to use one of those cheapo torque wrenches, the bending makes them useless.
Compressor Really they are so cheap & blowing out carbs & pumping tyres will make you wonder how you did without one. It’s at this stage where a slightly bigger one will drive an impact wrench better, but you can get by with a small one most of the time. No you can't spray with it. Need a really big one.
Impact Wrench Don’t use to do nuts up with, but great for shocking nuts off.
Decent Circlip pliers for external & internal.
Drill press Small ok, mounted & get a mini vice for holding work
Bench Grinder One side for grinding steel, the other fit a wire brush. Beware of where things that slip out of hands will get flung at 100mph (grinders were never metricised so only fling things at 100mph). Mount as far away from bike or car, ideally near the messy drill/vice area.
Verniers Digital are easiest but mech will suffice.
Mulitimeter Dick Smith will provide a cheapo one for $20. Read the manual & you will work out how to use one or just experiment & look on the web.
Soldering Iron & solder & heatshrink
Torch Small but powerful
additions While suggested or I think of it:
Vice grips Used with care can be valuable.
Vice grip with a chain Great for holding flywheels etc.
In Hex Sockets
Needle nose vice grips
Ratchet spanners
Poly (multi) grips large Use with caution
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Haven't been able to find 'em in NZ though 
Originally Posted by Blue Velvet
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