Simon Davey Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I'm gathering some tools together, I have a tool roll, a few spanners and screwdrivers, just need to add pliers/mutlitool, cable ties, gaffer tape etc. I've seen a couple of the ready made kits, and wonder if I should grab one of those and be done with it? Need to consider tools for a week away. I appreciate some bikes need specific tools. Do you boys and girls use a ready bought kit, or a selection of your own? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe85 Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) BMW's are covered in Torx screws, so generally just carry a set Wera Torx drivers and maybe a selection of spanners for tightening the chain if going on a long trip. Edited February 4 by Joe85 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) Chain adjust is about my limit and only taken with me for “just in case”. Never actually needed to use it. Sod’s Law is a thing. “If you have it you’ll never need it” and the reverse is true. Most technical thing I do is oil the chain while away. So a little jar with some gear oil in it and a small brush. Puncture repair too, though that’s more about saving time. Repair in minutes rather than wait, potentially for hours for someone to turn up. I would never go away on any kind of tour if the bike was very close to its service interval. Get that done first. I do have a cute little socket set that lives at the bottom of my pannier for just in case. But it’s not usually for my own bike. Edited February 4 by Gerontious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 Thanks guys, I hadn't considered taking chain tools or lube, or a puncture kit for that matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Frog Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 That`s a really good little socket set there but I would be willing to bet it could be even better if the 16mm socket was changed for a 14mm one. Must say it looks a quality item though and along with a puncture repair kit and a multitool of some kind which had a bottle opener and a corkscrew you should be prepared for just about anything. Cheers Ian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
husoi Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 A set of Allen keys. cross head screwdriver knife As mentioned, a puncture repair kit is a must If you can fit a small compressor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I forgot to mention the multitool. It fits nicely in the pouch that contains the puncture kit. So it’s a needle nose plier, which is useful for pulling out an object that’s in the tyre. And thus find out if there’s actually a puncture or not. One of my mates is an expert at spotting these things. the one I have is a fairly old leatherman wave. It’s probably the item I’ve used most over the years. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the wanderer Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Breakdown cover and a credit card 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 As I don't do any fettling particularly now I have a shaft driven bike all I carry is a Gerber multi-tool and a puncture repair kit including mini compressor. In the event of any kind of significant mechanical failure I have neither the skills, equipment or potentially spares to do any repairs. I'm not venturing off through some uninhabited wilderness so a credit card, a phone and a recovery contract will do for that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 1 hour ago, Simon Davey said: Thanks guys, I hadn't considered taking chain tools or lube, or a puncture kit for that matter. if you are going alone, thats one thing. but if you are going with other people then its always a good idea to have a chat as the time approaches and sort out who has what. its a bit daft if everyone brings a puncture kit but nobody thinks to bring an inflator. because they simply assumed someone else would. Biggest 'luxury' I bring is a 1/2" breaker bar. which again, lives at the bottom of my pannier. I will never forget the drama watching a couple of mad Italians trying and desperately failing to loosen a wheel nut. swore I would never put myself through that!! So I have one and also the two sockets I need to do the wheel. 27mm and 22mm. together with the spanners for the adjuster and locknuts. lives at the bottom of the pannier - no big deal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinkicker Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 (edited) The one that comes with the bike. If you can't get it running with that, it needs to go in the back of a van. The days of carrying out engine strips at the side of the road are long gone. Essentials for a two stroke are a plug spanner and a spare plug. Edited February 4 by Tinkicker 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 56 minutes ago, Nick the wanderer said: Breakdown cover and a credit card This concerns me, as I haven't had a credit card for 15 years, and my bike is 19 this year, so European cover is unlikely.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 6 minutes ago, Tinkicker said: The one that comes with the bike. If you can't get it running with that, it needs to go in the back of a van. They days of carrying out engine strips at the side of the road are long gone. Essentials for a two stroke are a plug spanner and a spare plug. Despite it's age. it did come with the original tool kit and owner's manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 17 minutes ago, Simon Davey said: This concerns me, as I haven't had a credit card for 15 years, and my bike is 19 this year, so European cover is unlikely.... ETA.co.uk offers european roadside for any bike up to 20yrs old. so thats not really a problem. but its always best if you can fix something minor yourself, rather than wait. possibly for hours. The problem is a major fault that cannot be fixed and there might be a wait for parts. so, its always a good idea to have a budget set aside for that and if absolutely necessary a cheap flight home. Only the real specialists will repatriate an old bike and the costs for that level of cover is not cheap. For a more modern bike its in the companies interest to avoid paying for repatriation, so they tend to contact all the local dealers in a desperate bid to find someone who can fix it quickly. often with donor parts. dont ask me how I know this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_M Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Tool kit? The few bits that came with the bike and sit under the seat, a puncture repair outfit, a small container of engine oil (about a cup full) and my Green flag contact details. I used to carry chain oil and spinners to adjust the chain until I went back to shaft drive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleck Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I carry this miniature socket set... Draper 04778 Socket Set, 1/4" Sq. Dr. (27 Piece) https://amzn.eu/d/2m98qZ7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 1 hour ago, Simon Davey said: This concerns me, as I haven't had a credit card for 15 years, and my bike is 19 this year, so European cover is unlikely.... I won't ask why you haven't a credit card but I couldn't survive without a credit card. Not that I load it with debt as I pay it off in full every month but when travelling its the easiest way to pay. As it is my wallet is cluttered with 4 different currencies in leftovers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 15 minutes ago, S-Westerly said: I won't ask why you haven't a credit card but I couldn't survive without a credit card. Not that I load it with debt as I pay it off in full every month but when travelling its the easiest way to pay. As it is my wallet is cluttered with 4 different currencies in leftovers. I have two and the most interest I have ever paid on them was an accidental 6p. I was mortified!! both are travel friendly without any fees and using the proper exchange rate.. rather than a loaded one. But, it depends where you are going on whether a card of any type is essential. for example when we go to Germany there is no need for one as all the fuel stations en route and while there are manned. so cash is king. (assuming you're ok with that) But.. especially in France and when you are away from major routes or larger towns you might not find a manned petrol station and so a card is essential - and people frequently have problems with debit cards being declined. (as Snoddy did one year in Italy) But, there is also the booby prize. if you were to (for example) need to top up your tank and just spend €30 on fuel the petrol companies card company will take up to and sometimes above €100 and hang onto it for a day or two.. sometimes longer. and obviously this will soon add up. Its not a problem if the card has plenty of credit on it. The card I use has £2000. and I just pay it off when I get back and before they start charging interest. My mate @smallfrowne had this a couple of years ago in France. he was using a cash card. a loaded holiday card and had something like €70 left on it and the fuel refused to flow even though he only wanted about €20 worth. I paid for his fuel then and he reimbursed me. It refused him because he didn't have enough on his card to cover the entire amount they wanted to hold on to. All that said it is a good idea to have a credit card. I use a Halifax Clarity as well as my usual Nationwide. so I have a Visa and a MasterCard. means I dont need to load myself with cash and I just pay the card off when I get back. never use any credit card for withdrawing cash from an ATM. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 3 minutes ago, Gerontious said: All that said it is a good idea to have a credit card. I use a Halifax Clarity as well as my usual Nationwide. so I have a Visa and a MasterCard. means I dont need to load myself with cash and I just pay the card off when I get back. never use any credit card for withdrawing cash from an ATM. Pretty much what I have. One of each with large credit limits on each one so in worse case scenario I can get myself home from anywhere in the world. Don't like carrying large amounts of cash especially as I've had a wallet nicked in Madrid and Venice. Easy to stop a card. Like you I don't use a card to get cash overseas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith1200rs Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 3 hours ago, S-Westerly said: Gerber multi-tool Many years ago, while driving in my car to Strasbourg, my car sheared a bolt on the alternator. Result was not charging. I used my Gerber multitool in some services to saw a tree branch up and jam it by the alternator and tension the belt a bit. I got to Strasbourg (and delayed putting headlights on until I really had to). 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 2 minutes ago, keith1200rs said: Many years ago, while driving in my car to Strasbourg, my car sheared a bolt on the alternator. Result was not charging. I used my Gerber multitool in some services to saw a tree branch up and jam it by the alternator and tension the belt a bit. I got to Strasbourg (and delayed putting headlights on until I really had to). Brilliantly resourceful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 I'm happy to say, I don't have a credit card because I got into trouble with it. So I got a fat loan from the bank, paid all my debt and haven't had a money worry since. However, I'm now on minimum wage, so I'd have to be ultra careful if I even got anywhere near a successful application. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the wanderer Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 The only way to successfully use a credit card is to pay it off in full every month. You have to keep an eye on the job and be aware. I learnt that the same way you did by the sound of it, so know where you are coming from. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
husoi Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 33 minutes ago, Nick the wanderer said: The only way to successfully use a credit card is to pay it off in full every month. You have to keep an eye on the job and be aware. I learnt that the same way you did by the sound of it, so know where you are coming from. Absolutely agree. Some credit card companies will give you cash back. If you pay it in full each month you can end up with a couple full tanks for free 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleck Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 I carry this if going a long way can't have any dirt settling in on my shiny new Hornet 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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