Benefits of Owning Motorcycle Tools: The Essential Tools

If you own a motorcycle, you understand better than most people on the highway just how important it is to always have a few good tools with you. There’s a long list of things that can unexpectedly break when you’re riding that you won’t be able to fix, but repairing a cracked hose, tightening a loose chain, or troubleshooting a bad contact are all well within the scope of what you can do to keep going.

Although you might ordinarily keep a couple of spanners and a pair of pliers with you when you’re riding, you need to think beyond just the occasional tool that you’ve grabbed off the workbench. A high-quality, portable tool kit especially for your bike is what you need to be sure that you’re fully prepared whenever you head out. They’re not big investments, but they can make a difference big if you find yourself at a standstill on the roadside.

Tool Rolls Are a Necessity For Every Rider

Let’s be honest: even though today’s motorcycles are safer and more reliable than they’ve ever been, it’s still in your best interest to be prepared to experience a mechanical problem. Everything from a burnt headlamp globe to a flat tyre can happen, which is why it’s so important to always carry a properly equipped roll kit of motorbike tools whenever you’re riding.

As a minimum, a well stocked roll or wrap kit is going to have a selection of the most commonly-sized tools you’d need to confidently make a full range of minor roadside repairs, including:

• A mini-socket set with a ratchet handle, extension bar, and sockets;
• A combination spanner set, along with an adjustable spanner;
• An assortment of Torx and Allen keys;
• Needle nose pliers;
• Vice grip pliers;
• A tyre pressure gauge; and,
• A reversible screwdriver with PH2 bits.

Not only are these the most commonly used tools motorcycle riders need to make roadside repairs, but they’re also sized and kitted to conveniently fit inside compact spaces such as:

• Under-seat storage compartments or panniers;
• Convertible tank or luggage storage bags; and,
• Backpacks, daypacks, or duffel bags.

Having a kit of basic motorcycle repair tools with you when you ride is more than just a good idea, though: it’s a necessity. You don’t need to be a master technician to use them, and together with some of the critical consumable items that come with premium quality kits, they’re a vital part of staying safe whenever you’re riding.

Consumables for Your Tool Roll

Make no mistake: if you find yourself in a situation where you simply can’t ride any further without making an urgent repair, the simple consumables that come with premium quality motorcycle tool rolls and tool kits are going to be invaluable. You’ll never want to be in a position where you’ll have to use them, but they’re going to help get you safely back on the highway.

An ordinary selection of consumables that you’ll get with premium kits will include:

• Electrical tape;
• A selection of standard and mini fuses; and,
• Safety locking wire and zip ties.

Of course these aren’t the only items you should keep in your tool roll. A good thread-locking compound and silicone grease are among those preferred consumables as well; and being prepared also means carrying a few spare parts too, such as:

• Extra fuel hose;
• Hose clips; and,
• Exhaust springs.

A complete kit of essential consumables and tools for motorbikes will typically weigh less than 2kg too, so you never need to be concerned about whether you’re adding on unnecessary weight. Any weight these kits or rolls adds is minimal, and the time and headaches they could end up saving you are massive.

Special Tool Rolls for Special Bikes

Although the majority of rolls with motorcycle tools for sale are universal, bike-specific wraps and kits aren’t uncommon. A lot of manufacturers provide tool rolls with their bikes, but tools unavoidably start to go missing at some point. This is where aftermarket tool kits are capable of cost-effectively filling the niche bike, tool kit void.

When it comes to kits and rolls for these special motorcycle tools, Australia isn’t a stranger; and you’ll find just what you need for a range of special bikes.

• Harley Davidson tools. Available in either 15 or 26-piece pouches, these are tough, imperial measurement tools that include all the spanners, sockets, and extenders you need to keep your hog from getting stranded on the side of the highway.
• Honda / Suzuki / Yamaha tools. These heavy-duty wraps contain a solid selection of the quick-fix metric tools that every rider is supposed to have when they hit the road.
• KTM tools. Done in KTM’s classic orange, these onboard multi-tool pouches come with a T-handle socket and a complement of metric sockets, along with Torx 45, and PH1, 2, and 3 drives.

Suffice it to say, when you have a special bike that needs special tools for motorcycle maintenance, these are the kits you can depend on.

Finding Space for Bigger Tools

While most portable kits with tools for motorcycle repairs are designed to fit limited storage, it’s perfectly understandable that some riders are going to feel more comfortable when they’re carrying more tools.

For riders who have the space to accommodate a broader complement of carry-along tools, there are tool sets available that’ll allow them to easily take on a wider range of repairs and other jobs simply by upsizing the tools.

• T-handle socket spanner and drive tools. These metric drive spanners come in 5 and 7-piece drive sets, and lengths between 19cm – 30cm that allows for longer reaches with greater leverage.
• Offset ratchet sets. With up to 10 sizes ranging from 6mm – 21mm, these reversible 12-point boxes end with 25° offsets and are able to put maximum surface contact with all kinds of stubborn and rounded-off bolts.
• Combination ratchet spanners. These 5-piece heavy-duty steel sets combine 12-point box ends with 72-tooth ratchets to create the best of all drive types in sizes from 8mm – 17mm.

Suffice it to say, for anyone who has the pannier or saddlebag space to accommodate these beefier tool ranges, there’s no disadvantage to doing so. You may never have a need to change brakes or sparkplugs roadside, but it won’t hurt knowing that you have the tools to do so if necessary.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, you need to be as prepared as possible for mechanical mishaps whenever you’re riding. There isn’t much that you can do when your motor seizes or your clutch gives up, but there aren’t too many external problems that you can’t fix on the spot with the right selection of portable tools.

A properly equipped roll kit of motorbike tools is going to have all the tools that you need to let you stay safely on the road. And when you’re prepared for anything that might happen, you’ll be surprised at how much more you’re going to enjoy riding.