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What tools are needed for a road trip?

8K views 29 replies 22 participants last post by  ejones642 
#1 ·
I am leaving for Sturgis on 8/2 and my wife is going with me, so I am crunched for space. I have about 3 of everything in my garage tool set and I tend to pack it and the kitchen sink when preparing my tool bag for a motorcycling road trip. Since I have a lot of tools already, I do not care to purchase a specific motorcycle tool kit, as I think I can make one from what I already have in the garage. So, the question for all of you mechanics out there, what are the necessities for the road trip tool bag?
 
#4 ·
Heading to Michigan again this year next month but I generally carry tools all the time incase I run into another rider that doesn't. I actually got mine together by looking at a few kits for sale and just duplicated them.

It's not really a 'tool' but throw a few wire ties in your bag for things like the kickstand. I also have a battery-free wind up flashlight for getting stranded in the dark.

Enjoy the trip
 
#6 ·
I carry a complete set of 3/8 deep and short sockets, set of 1/4 sockets, with ratches and extensions. A set of allen keys, set of torqs sockets. A multi-tip screwdriver, couple different styles of pliers. A razor blade, set of plugs, electrical tape, zip ties, long handle allen keys, a set of open end box end wrenchs.
 
#7 ·
This is what you need to carry all of what Frankie mentioned and more. They work great and are made in the USA. STORAGEPOUCHES.COM
The guy that makes these is typically at the major rallies. He was at Sturgis last year. He has lots of other great storage items available as well. The tethers are pretty cool.

 
#11 · (Edited)
I take my bike's factory tool kit thing and a tire pressure guage, flashlight, patch/plug kit and a mini compressor. That's it. So far the plug kit has been handy for a couple other people.

Chances are if it breaks, it will need to be replaced and you probably won't have the part with you.
 
#15 ·
1/4" shallow sockets 1/4" to 1/2", 9/16" deep, 3/8" shallow sockets 9/16-3/4", spark plug socket, extensions, 1/4" swivel, pliers, needle nose, combo wrench, interchangeable tip screwdriver, torx set, allen set, open end/box end wrench set, snap ring pliers, tire plug kit, mini compressor, CO2 cartridges, spare fuses, zip ties, electrical tape, & Gorilla tape. Everything fits nicely in a small tool bag that fits the saddlebag perfect. Weighs 15lbs. Still leaves me room for my rain gear & a quart of oil.

I just packed mine for Sturgis so it's fresh on the mind.
 
#18 ·
I see that you've got a 2012 RG Ultra. It's almost new and still under warranty, so I wouldn't sweat the tools much. I have a 2011 and I carry a tire pressure guage, suspension pump, the small tool set that came with the bike, a multi-tool, and zip ties. That's plenty...

A cell phone and a credit card is all you really need...

- Bruce
 
#23 · (Edited)
Depends on what you're willing to do on the side of the road or in a parking lot. 9 times out of ten when I get my tools out it's because I need to tighten something that came loose, so I take the HD tool kit, allens/torx drivers, a ratchet and large and small crescents. And lots of zipties. If I need anything bigger than what I'm carrying, there are plenty of people in Sturgis who'll loan me what I need. My entire tool rig lives in the bottom 1/4 of my left saddlebag.

Sort of on the same subject, but what you NEVER want to do is put off a major repair till the night before you leave. The highway to Sturgis is no place to find out you put something back wrong because you were leaving in the morning and in a hurry.
 
#24 · (Edited)
When considering what tools to carry, I first think about what the most likely things to go wrong are, and then choose the tools I will need to fix those problems.

Change a battery
plug a hole in a tire
pull a wheel off and remove/replace tire
adjust a belt/chain
adjust/tighten footpegs, shifter pegs, mirrors, throttle and clutch cables
jump start a bike with a dead battery
put gas in an empty tank
repair frayed/broken wire
replace fuses
replace bulbs
change sparkplugs

I end up with a set of combination wrenches from 5/16 to 3/4, with extras
in a few sizes (sometimes you need two of the same size wrench) plus a 10 mm for the battery and a 15/16 for the rear axle, a set of 3/8 drive sockets from 1/4 to 3/4, along with a nifty little Snap-On short ratchet, a few 3/8 drive torx sockets in the sizes that fit fasteners for the above jobs, a set of ball-end allen wrenches. A screwdriver with interchangable tips. Pliers, wire cutters, small and large vice-grips. (I once rode 750 miles using vice-grips as a clutch lever)

A small assortment of fuses, a small assortment of wire conectors, a crimping tool, wire ties (including a few extra large ones) electrical tape and a circuit tester. A small roll of duct tape and some bailing wire.

I have a gas can that is form fitted to a Harley saddlebag, a lightweight pair of jumper cables, and 6' of fuel hose, that I can use to siphon gas or cut a section to replace a bad fuel hose.
Tubeless tire repair kit.

Probably sounds like a lot, but it all fits in my right saddlebag and goes with me everywhere. In the last 50 years of riding I have used every one of these tools at least once, more often on other's bikes than my own.

For anything I can't fix with the above stuff, a cell phone and a credit card.

Of course, you need to consider your own mechanical skills and knowledge too. No point carrying a bunch of tools you don't know how to use. And no point carrying cheap tools either, they usually break at the worst possible time.
 
#25 ·
I think I want to roll with FrankieB, he is carrying more tools than most people have in the garage...just kidding.

I carry the HD tool kit, a vise grip, utility tool, fuses, zip ties, electrical wire and tape, plug kit and air compressor.

Oh, and a smart phone with internet capability. You would be surprised how many problems you can solve by searching the forums on the side of the road. Especially on the newer bikes with all the electronics.
 
#26 ·
Between my troubles and a few others, I went in my tool bags AT LEAST a half dozen times during SW. Something I didn't have though was an 11/16 socket or offset wrench to adjust the clutch cable under the derby cover. I do now though. And don't forget the locktight.
 
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