Topic: Itemize Your tool kit

[Schnell]

My new to me 1975 CB750 came to me with an empty tool tray. The previous owner said the factory kit wasnt very good. The toolkit on my BMW's is pretty comprehensive, even tire irons. What's in your SOHC bike tool kit? Thanks in advance.

[LesterPiglet]

Does anyone actually use these tools? If so when and where? Seems like extra baggage to me. The only useful thing in my 550 kit is the spark plug remover.
I think if you can find an owners manual there is a picture of the toolkit.

[RFogelsong]

My 550 came with:
combination 10/12mm open end
combination 14/17mm open end
24 (I think, could be 27) mm closed wrench for removing the rear axle
screwdriver handle with changeable ends (Phillips and reg)
Pliers
spark plug wrench
a little shaft with two prongs on the end of it, I'm not sure what it's for, maybe prying something out.


I think I'm missing a few tools as well.  As for if I use it, yes! All the time.  You'd be amazed at how much you can do with just the two combination wrenches, and a screwdriver.  The pliers are useless though.  If you're looking for suggestions of what to carry around in there, a metric wrench kit, some pliers, and a couple screwdrivers should get you about everywhere you need to go.

[Dimitri13]

I'm pretty sure that little shaft with two prongs is the spoke wrench.

[Stev-o]

The only useful thing in my 550 kit is the spark plug wrench.

+1.    Apparently they are still available from Honda. And always on eBay.

[dave500]

i have the mostly complete factory kit plus a few extra things,a small knife and tiny wire cutters,an allen key,a short length of hose for spark plugs,i also keep a couple of globes wrapped up in 35mm film canisters,,if you get stopped for a blown globe and can fix it road side youll mostly be free,,also if an indicator globe blows its darn dangerous and i like to fix them straight away.

[shinyribs]

Things to carry on a CB: spare fuses,10mm wrench,spare fuses,electrical tape,spare fuses,plug wrench,spare fuses,adjustable wrench,spare fuses.     Spare fuses are also handy....

[dave500]

man have you got a lucas electrical system shinyribs?

[RFogelsong]

Apparently they are still available from Honda. And always on eBay.

My dad recently bought a 2003 Honda cbr1100xx blackbird and, what do you know, same exact spark plug wrench, open end wrenches and pliers as are in my 1975 kit.  Talk about milking a casting for all it's worth. 

[Dimitri13]

Spare clutch cable ziptied to the current one.

[dave500]

thats good old enduro stuff dimitri,we used to bolt spare shift levers and hand levers anywhere we could on dirt bikes.

[Dimitri13]

Heh, I actually learned that from a trail rider friend of mine. I haven't done it myself, but I may start one day. I remember the clutch cable on my Ninjette snapped one time, and I bought two cables and meant to do that, but never did.

[dave500]

spot the spare lever,we used to break a few items like this regularly,that was a good bike,a thinly disguised yz with full road registration!

we carried a spare plug and master link,a tow rope on the handle bars and a collection of spanners.
 that twin leading front drum was great,i still think disc on dirt bikes are too powerfull,they weigh less though and are simple.

[shinyribs]

man have you got a lucas electrical system shinyribs?

  ;DSeems like it at times. My main fuse liked to blow quite often. I replaced that factory fuse box with blades and it's been fine ever since.

[Don R]

When you need to adjust your chain on the road or have any other problem the factory kit is great! I wish more people would leave them in the bike when they sell one.

[LesterPiglet]

Adjustment of chain on the road? I check everything before I leave home and I dont do 2000 mile journeys..

[malcolmgb]

spot the spare lever,we used to break a few items like this regularly,that was a good bike,a thinly disguised yz with full road registration!

Tie-wrapped next to the headlight?

I think the 'Red Arrow' pointing to the lever was a clue

[CycleRanger]

I think the 'Red Arrow' pointing to the lever was a clue

heh, I can see that lever now better than the arrow.

[LesterPiglet]

I was scanning the pic for a lever and went "oh, there's a red arrow".   

[Schnell]

How about some pics? Here's one of my BMW's:

[srbakker]

On my Tiger:

[70CB750]

Spare ignition key can be quite the life saver.  Small file, half a blade from the hacksaw, screwdriver with exchangable bits.

[CycleRanger]

Spare ignition key can be quite the life saver.  Small file, half a blade from the hacksaw, screwdriver with exchangable bits.

For fixing your bike or escaping from jail?

[dave500]

is that a genuine bmw kit?it looks good,so how do we smuggle a bike into jail,,so someone can use the tools to escape and ride off on the bike?i think tools are like an insurance policy,,if you dont have them youll break down,,if you always have spare stuff you wont need it?murphys law?

[70CB750]

For saving damsel in distress

[Schnell]

Yes, that is the factory supplied BMW toolkit.

[NewOldSchool]

The first thing I did after buying my 750 was look for the stock tool kit as it was missing. After seeing originals for 70 bucks on eBay (yea right) I pieced it together from websites like Bike Bandit and other.

Ended up getting every original tool and the pouch for something like $27. Add some patches, bailing wire, fuses, a knife, some feeler gauges and an adjustable wrench and I can strip the bike to the frame on the side of the road if I have to.

[Don R]

Adjustment of chain on the road? I check everything before I leave home and I dont do 2000 mile journeys..

Why not?

[LoVel]

I have made this comment before.  The tool kits in these things are incredible.  You can almost take the bike completely apart with them.  Wouldn't want to but you could.