So I've seen all of our suggestions/recommendations on riding gear, but I can't seem to find an open thread on what kind of random emergency tools we're carrying around. I've only been riding for a couple of months but I'm a total hypochondriac and a Boy Scout to boot ( be prepared) so my jacket and glove box (I use the term glove box loosely. Has anyone ever forced a glove in there?) are usually pretty packed with junk. I'm still working on getting it perfected but I try to carry:
Set of metric allen wrenches
Tire guage (who trusts the ones at the gas stations?)
Paper towel doused in Windex in a baggie for your face shield (recommendation from someone on the DML I think)
Paper Currency and rubber cement (amazing quick fix tire repair, provided you can get your tire off)
Fuses
Octane boost (for when your're out of gas in the boonies and they look at you like you shat on their floor when you ask about 9x octane gas)
Paper with phone numbers on it (your leathers didn't survive the fall, what makes you think your celly will?)
I'd love to know what all you paranoid mothers are carrying around with you as well as what kind of garage tools you've accumulated for Saturday tinkering events.
What kind of tools do I ride with? Well, I call all those tools "The Usual Suspects" [laugh].
But seriously...
Packed away on my bike a have the following...
- multi tool that has sockets and screwdrivers
- a Leatherman
- a mini led falshlight
- spare fuses
- duct tape
- zip ties
- a knife
- a tire plug kit
- a mini air compressor (goes well with the plug kit)
- tire gauge
- metric allens
The fuses and plug kit have saved me too many times to remember, I won't ride without'em!
That's all in addition to all my other usual crap... paperwork, cell, ipod shuffle, a bandana tucked away in my leather's back protector pocket (used for heating and cooling).
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=5253.0
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=4068.0
A mini ratchet with sockets, allens, a socket for my plugs, and a the screwdriver/phillips head thing from the Duc tool kit.
I also have a pair of pre-gapped sparkplugs and a few of those per-packaged wipes they sell at the Cyclegear store for my visor.
AAA CARD. ;D
zip ties, duct tape. what else could you possibly need?
Good lord , you guys carry more tools than I did when I rode a Shovenhead HD many years ago. The only thing I carry on my S4RS is the poor excuse for a "tool kit" that came with the bike.I usually have a cell phone, pocketknife and a pistol. You know...just in case ;D.
Octane boost?
you like orange spark plugs? you will do just fine with 87. if you are one of those people that MUST use 91...trust me, the 87 will do you no harm if you are in a pinch. use space reserved for the bootle for something useful, like maybe a Badger.
Quote from: blue tiger on July 11, 2008, 11:44:47 PM
Good lord , you guys carry more tools than I did when I rode a Shovenhead HD many years ago. The only thing I carry on my S4RS is the poor excuse for a "tool kit" that came with the bike.I usually have a cell phone, pocketknife and a pistol. You know...just in case ;D.
blue tiger - what kind of pistol due you carry? Semi-auto or wheel gun? Do you carry it on your person or do you have a spot to tuck into your bike some where? Also, are you left handed ;D
pair of rollerblades attached to my helmet hook in case I get stranded far away then I can rollerblade to a hotel or to a gas station, saved me many times
I usually carry:
Pliers
Screwdrivers philips & flathead
Tire plug kit
Allen keys metric 2-12
Fuses
but I have been looking around for a kit
http://www.pitposse.com/crtometoki.html
http://www.blueridgeracing.com/streetKitOpt.htm
Zip ties, black electrical tape, metric allens (I had a belt cover bolt fall out one time), two 8 inch adjustable wrenches(tighten up an oil line, had a leaky one of those sideline me for a few hours one time), a leatherman and some shop rags. The plug wrenches and major tools are pretty much overkill in my opinion at least for the fuel injected bikes. A better solution to the ghetto windex wipe is go to Wal-Mart and by some Zeiss cleaning cloths, they come in little single use foil packets and work wanders on a helmet visor and are cheap.
I only carry tools when im venturing out. Screw driver with varying bits. 2 types of handles short and long. Hex set. socket set with 3 different sizes. adjustable spanner, duct tape and battery tender jr.
Some other useful items:
cash
siphon tubing
mini tire pump modified to plug directly into battery tender plug
first aid kit
Posted my first aid kit build here:
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=4068.msg147766#msg147766 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=4068.msg147766#msg147766)
1) Leatherman Wave
2) Topeak MacGuyver (bicycle multi-tool)
3) generic tire pressure gauge
And of course, the bike's own toolkit under the seat.
Those three are just what I keep in the tankbag. When I'm venturing farther I'll make sure I have all the appropriate allen keys needed for any panels that might need to be removed.