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Smallest Possible Toolkit

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CorriganJ
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Joined: 04 Apr 2019
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PostPosted: 12:21 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Smallest Possible Toolkit Reply with quote
I need some motorcycle tools but I want to keep my toolkit as small as possible. I was wondering, what is the bare minimum of things I will need?

Is a torque wrench going to be necessary? If so, can I eliminate spanners from my toolkit and just rely on a wrench and sockets?

I'm aiming to do minor maintaince like oil changes and chain maintainance. Anything big... I'm hoping nothing big comes up...
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Polarbear
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Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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PostPosted: 12:38 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Re: Smallest Possible Toolkit Reply with quote
CorriganJ wrote:
I need some motorcycle tools but I want to keep my toolkit as small as possible. I was wondering, what is the bare minimum of things I will need?

Is a torque wrench going to be necessary? If so, can I eliminate spanners from my toolkit and just rely on a wrench and sockets?

I'm aiming to do minor maintaince like oil changes and chain maintainance. Anything big... I'm hoping nothing big comes up...


I presume you are talking garage tools rather than an on bike toolkit?

And no, a torque wrench and sockets is not a replacement for a spanner.

Bare minimum? Combination metric spanner set. Socket set. Decent screwdrivers. A nice hammer. A decent adjustable shifter. A filter wrench. etc. etc.

The worst thing in the world (other than Vietnam Rose) is getting half way through a job and not having the correct tool to finish it.

Once you start collecting tools it becomes a hobby in itself. Oh and buy quality. I still have the same socket set thats over 30 years old.

Have fun.
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Tdibs
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Joined: 16 Jan 2015
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PostPosted: 13:00 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
If its Japanese, JIS screwdrivers are a MUST. I'd also add in a allen key/bit set. See if your bike uses torx or not. Funnel is helpful for oil. Breaker bar also very useful.
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CorriganJ
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Joined: 04 Apr 2019
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PostPosted: 13:12 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tdibs wrote:
If its Japanese, JIS screwdrivers are a MUST. I'd also add in a allen key/bit set. See if your bike uses torx or not. Funnel is helpful for oil. Breaker bar also very useful.


Yeah, I noticed that normal spanners (mm) didn't fit my Honda... I should get JIS. Thanks. This however is for my Hyosung so i belive its metric.
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CorriganJ
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Joined: 04 Apr 2019
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PostPosted: 13:14 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Re: Smallest Possible Toolkit Reply with quote
Polarbear wrote:
CorriganJ wrote:
I need some motorcycle tools but I want to keep my toolkit as small as possible. I was wondering, what is the bare minimum of things I will need?

Is a torque wrench going to be necessary? If so, can I eliminate spanners from my toolkit and just rely on a wrench and sockets?

I'm aiming to do minor maintaince like oil changes and chain maintainance. Anything big... I'm hoping nothing big comes up...


I presume you are talking garage tools rather than an on bike toolkit?

And no, a torque wrench and sockets is not a replacement for a spanner.

Bare minimum? Combination metric spanner set. Socket set. Decent screwdrivers. A nice hammer. A decent adjustable shifter. A filter wrench. etc. etc.

The worst thing in the world (other than Vietnam Rose) is getting half way through a job and not having the correct tool to finish it.

Once you start collecting tools it becomes a hobby in itself. Oh and buy quality. I still have the same socket set thats over 30 years old.

Have fun.


Sort of both - its more for long distance touring. I need to be able to do everything I realistically can, but have to carry tools on the bike (in soft bags not under the seat).
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dynax
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 06 May 2019
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PostPosted: 13:18 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Get a tool bag to go on the front forks, in mine i have a set of spanners and a set of box spanners and a screwdriver and bit set, a roll of duck tape and some cable ties, a small tub of general purpose grease and a rag and torch Thumbs Up
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Bhud
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Joined: 11 Oct 2018
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PostPosted: 13:26 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you're going to buy some sockets, make sure you get good ones. Get 6-sided, not 12-sided, sockets. The sizes you need and the sizes you don't need are where you can make space savings. Most of the fittings on the bike will be in smaller sizes, with a few (e.g. fork cap bolts, axle and clutch nuts) in odd large sizes. So you don't need every socket size from, e.g. 8mm to 32mm, but rather something like 8mm to 16mm, then a 27, then a 30, then a 32.

Also, don't use your torque wrench to undo bolts. I've heard that this ruins the calibration. I don't know if that's true but I think if you can minimise the use of the spring inside, it will last longer anyway. A small general purpose ratchet handle will suffice, and it will get used a lot. I use one of these for low torque applications anyway, because my wrist is my low-range torque wrench, and I don't want to stick a 13-inch torque wrench supposedly good for 20-120nm on something like an oil drain plug. So it's a good idea to have a short ratchet handle as well in your toolkit.
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Freddyfruitba...
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Joined: 20 May 2016
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PostPosted: 13:54 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Re: Smallest Possible Toolkit Reply with quote
CorriganJ wrote:
Sort of both - its more for long distance touring. I need to be able to do everything I realistically can, but have to carry tools on the bike (in soft bags not under the seat).

Unless you're talking about really serious long-distance remote stuff where you're going to be hundreds of miles from civilization and totally self-reliant for all on-the-road repairs and need to be able to strip an engine down at the roadside, or if you have a very old and/or unreliable machine, you really shouldn't need to be carrying huge amounts of tools around with you. Plus, because your on-bike toolkit is for emergencies rather than routine maintenance etc you can compromise a bit on what you carry - eg only the bare minimum; dual-purpose items; maybe an adjustable spanner rather than 4 separate ones, that sort of thing. Whatever else you do, make sure you have a separate 'on-bike' kit from your garage set - if you use the bike kit at home you're bound to end up leaving stuff there by mistake.

Also, never underestimate the power of possibly the most important item in your on-bike kit: the contact number of a breakdown service! I can only actually think of two 'breakdowns' I've had while on tour overseas, and in neither case was my toolkit of any use... one was an 'off' which wrote off the bike, and the other was a seized brake calliper: in both cases the bike had to be shipped home in a van (at no cost to me).
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Polarbear
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Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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PostPosted: 14:11 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ah, on bike tools.

Never used them in years of touring. If you properly maintain and check your bike before leaving it will (OK, should) go thousands of miles before you need to touch it. At most chain adjustment if you are one of those that has yet to appreciate the wonders of shaft drive.

For everything else there is AA, RAC, Autoaid or

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wr6133
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Joined: 31 Dec 2013
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PostPosted: 14:23 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
CorriganJ wrote:
Yeah, I noticed that normal spanners (mm) didn't fit my Honda... I should get JIS


I don't think you have a Honda with Imperial fasteners.

JIS is not a spanner it's a type of screwdriver (and they are handy, not essential).
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xX-Alex-Xx
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Joined: 12 Sep 2019
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PostPosted: 14:37 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote
wr6133 wrote:
CorriganJ wrote:
Yeah, I noticed that normal spanners (mm) didn't fit my Honda... I should get JIS


I don't think you have a Honda with Imperial fasteners.

JIS is not a spanner it's a type of screwdriver (and they are handy, not essential).


A few of the fasteners on my K5 were happier with imperial bits for some reason. Was never an issue cos I carry both anyway.

Minimum for the bike should be:

Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips)
Allan keys to suit
Spanners to suit (or sockets if you’re inclined) (include large enough for rear axle to adjust chain etc)
Snips
Electrical tape
Spare fuses
Needle nose pliers
Cable ties
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Riejufixing
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Joined: 24 Jun 2018
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PostPosted: 14:54 - 10 Jun 2020    Post subject: Re: Smallest Possible Toolkit Reply with quote
CorriganJ wrote:
I'm aiming to do minor maintaince like oil changes and chain maintainance. Anything big... I'm hoping nothing big comes up...

So you've got a Hyosung GT125?

You'll need a spanner for the drain plug, probably a screwdriver or possibly two or maybe a spanner for the oil filter, another spanner or two (or a couple of sockets and handles) for the rear spindle, a spanner for the chain adjusters, a small pair of pliers for the split link in the chain, probably another spanner or socket if you're changing the sprockets, and it might be helpful to have some way of keeping the bike upright if it hasn't a centre stand, and a box of nitrile gloves, and a tupperware container to put cleaning solvent in, and some cheap paintbrushes to go with it, and some rags.

So build up as you go. Work out what you need for the job, if you haven't got the things, get them then.

If you want to get stuff all at once to do most things, I'd say a 3/8 socket set (cheapest about £25), a set of combination spanners (about £20), pliers (£10), or passibly an "a;ll in one toolkit" which you should be able to get easily for the above price plus it will come in a handy blow-moulded box to keep it tidy.

EDIT: For example, a "Magnusson 98 piece Tool set" or similar would let you do most things (or to you, squire, a " Magnusson herramienta de mano Set 98 piezas").
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