[Versystole]

Everybody has their favorite tools. Some riders are more "minimalist" than others. If you were going to go on an extended tour on a properly equipped Versys (let's say, Alaska, for instance-), what do you want in your tool kit? One tool per post, please- cut and paste, and we'll manage the list as we go. Please feel free to debate the suggestions. This is not a "what equipment/clothing/gear am I going to take" thread, but what TOOLS do I take...

I'm going to start:

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll

 

[motoscoddie]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman (and for those that can't afford one, try the more affordable Vinylman version).

 

[Versystole]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman (and for those that can't afford one, try the more affordable Vinylman version).

Agreed- what on the leatherman makes it useful? And do you need better pliers than what the leatherman contains? I've got a Gerber Suspension, and the pliers are needle-nose... two knives, scissors, and a small saw-blade. Wire cutters. I've only had it a short time, so it hasn't been tested yet...

 

[Versystole]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman

 

[motociclista]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4) Some kind of pump to put air in my tire after I've used the as yet unmentioned tire repair kit.

If I'm on my way to Alaska, no way I'm relying on those little co2 cartridges. Probably not going to rely on anything electrical, either. What good is an inflated tire with a dead battery? So probably a small foot-operated pump.

 

[Versystole]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4) Some kind of pump to put air in my tire after I've used the as yet unmentioned tire repair kit.

If I'm on my way to Alaska, no way I'm relying on those little co2 cartridges. Probably not going to rely on anything electrical, either. What good is an inflated tire with a dead battery? So probably a small foot-operated pump.

Good idea. I'm thinking big barrel Mt. bike pump(not a floor pump... the one you slip in your Camelback).. slow, but light and completely trustworthy. Let's go ahead and add tire patch kit, too...

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump

So far, we don't really need the tool wrap, do we?

 

[Fastoman]

TROUBLE LIGHT:
Sometimes called a drop light, it usually drops heavy enough to break its lamp. It may be a source of vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin", which is not otherwise found under motorcycles at night. Health benefits aside, its main purpose is to consume light bulbs of whatever type you have installed in it. More often dark than light, its name is some-what misleading. Many folks can be found shaking these tools as the light goes on and off.

 

[BLACK DOG]

TROUBLE LIGHT:
Sometimes called a drop light, it usually drops heavy enough to break its lamp. It may be a source of vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin", which is not otherwise found under motorcycles at night. Health benefits aside, its main purpose is to consume light bulbs of whatever type you have installed in it. More often dark than light, its name is some-what misleading. Many folks can be found shaking these tools as the light goes on and off.

aside from the surefire light that's always in my pocket, there are a couple chemical lights stuffed under my seat and one extra stuck in my stop&go flat repair kit w/inflator. I feel the better prepared (realisticly) you are the less likely YOU will need stuff. Even though I normally ride alone, I end up bailing other riders out.

 

[Stud Muffin]

I usually travel with a roll of black electrical tape and a few tie wraps. Both are pretty handy but if I had to choose one I'd take the tie wraps.

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light or glow stick
7)Tie Wraps (long ones - 12-18")

 

[Versystole]

I usually travel with a roll of black electrical tape and a few tie wraps. Both are pretty handy but if I had to choose one I'd take the tie wraps.

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light or glow stick
7)Tie Wraps (long ones - 12-18")

Tie wraps... do you mean zip ties? I agree... there are also velcro wraps that can be really useful for holding something in place or out of the way- as well as duct tape.

As to light... Part of my "gear" is a headlamp, which doubles as a "tool", I would think... an "emergency" light is a different thing... something that helps others see YOU, which I think would be the primary use of a glow stick.
The new "cree" LED headlamps and flashlights are so bright and compact...

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light Source/emergency light
7)Zip Ties/duct tape
8)27mm socket for rear wheel/front sprocket?

 

[kimel]

Gorilla Tape. Duct tape can't hold a candle to this stuff.

 

[twowheeladdict]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light or glow stick
7)Tie Wraps (long ones - 12-18")
8)Several Credit cards wrapped in a list of bike shops along my route.

They'll either fix it or I'll trade it in.

 

[Bones]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light or glow stick
7)Tie Wraps (long ones - 12-18")
8)Several Credit cards wrapped in a list of bike shops along my route.
9) Nitrile gloves

You need to keep your hands clean if you end up working on your bike. Nitrile gloves aren't armor, but don't underestimate the importance of clean hands with no cuts or nicks (that get sore or infected) when piloting a motorcycle far from home.

 

[Bones]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light or glow stick
7)Tie Wraps (long ones - 12-18"
8)Several Credit cards wrapped in a list of bike shops along my route.
9) Nitrile gloves
10) Spare fuses

 

[macintosh]

1) Tool Wrap/roll
2) Leatherman or analogue
3) Tire Patch Kit with CO2 Compressed air cylinders and an air valve (Takes less room than air pump.)
4) Light Source/emergency light
5) Zip Ties/long & short
6) Elecrical tape
7) Superglue
8) WD40
9) Manometer
10) Cable & nipple repair kit

Dont see need for multitool as tool wrap already has all the needed tools.

 

[Bones]

CO2 canisters are single use. My compressor once came to the rescue of a fellow rider who went through all his canisters trying to fix a flat. I'll never rely on CO2 alone.

If you are concerned about space, remove the compressor's plastic housing. The compressor element is pretty small. Careful, it gets HOT...can't change physics, compressing a gas gives off heat.

 

[Jeff S]

9) Manometer

Really? You'd pack and take a manometer on a multi-thousand mile ride? I'd be more inclinded to take extra shorty clutch/brake levers (which is a spare part, not a tool) and certainly a chain master link before I carry a manometer.

Or, am I missing something?

 

[makopolo]

Gorilla Tape. Duct tape can't hold a candle to this stuff.

:thumb:

I keep Gorilla tape with my kit for the car, kayaking, camping, biking. It's saved my but many times when trying to fix gear. Much stronger textile backing and incredible adhesive hold up to water much better that regular duct tape.

 

[Versystole]

1) Tool Wrap/roll
2) Leatherman or analogue
3) Tire Patch Kit with CO2 Compressed air cylinders and an air valve (Takes less room than air pump.)
4) Light Source/emergency light
5) Zip Ties/long & short
6) Elecrical tape
7) Superglue
8) WD40
9) Manometer
10) Cable & nipple repair kit

Dont see need for multitool as tool wrap already has all the needed tools.

That tool wrap I started with was empty- I want to know what people would put in it!
I'm going to agree with Jeff S about the Manometer... and I'm going to guess that most people, including me, don't know how to use it. I can't imagine that over, let's say 10K miles, your throttle body sync would end your trip...

And yes, this is a tool list, not a spare parts list- that is a whole other thread. My bike will have a spare clutch cable in line with the primary, so a nipple/cable tool seems overkill...

 

[Versystole]

1)Sturdy, well-made Tool Wrap/roll which contains:
2)Leatherman
3)Multitool, like the Cruz Outback'r, to complement the Leatherman
4)Tire Patch Kit
5)Air pump
6)Light or glow stick
7)Tie Wraps (long ones - 12-18")
8)Electrical/Duct/Gorilla Tape
9) Nitrile gloves
10)Socket Wrench (what size? 3/8 or 1/2?) with the following sockets: 27mm, 14mm ALLEN (front wheel removal)