Tool Kit items when traveling
 

I was searching an old thread, thinking about taking some trips in 2024, and I need to rethink my tool kit.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/bmw-r1100s-r1200s-tech-forum/242875-ill-show-you-my-tool-if-you-let-me-see-yours.html


RBMann seems to be able to repair most any unexpected issue on his trips. I was wondering if he has made any changes to what all he carries, and if any of the newer members here have any items that would be beneficial to add to the list, for the rest of us.

Here's a quote from Rick from 2005.

and just how big of a trailer do I need to haul all that?

Phone and CC

Rick lets Ralph carry it all now!!

You planning on riding the distance on the 700? Would that be like an f800gs?

I always carry a trashbag for wet things that happen.

I gotta ask.... What is the pully for? I'm imagining all sorts of strange uses.

Maybe the pully was in case RBMann and I ever rode by some biker again who happens to be stuck with his 800 pound wheel in a gravel ditch...

I guess what I don't understand is that the guy obviously knows how to use all these tools, and is prepared to do so. So how could this same person be riding a bike so unreliable that he needs to have these tools at all times?

Maybe he knows how to use the tools but doesn't bother with preventive maintenance at home before he rides off, i.e., a lazy mechanic?

I think I'd just get a bike I could depend on.

I figured it was to hold the rear half up from a tree limb while he did a roadside clutch repair.

For the miles he's travelled I'd say he didn't have that unreliable a bike just bad luck occasionally. But Bill might disagree. :D

I was thinking something similar to suspend it for whatever reason.

Tires getting punctured or worse. Accidents breaking or disabling levers.... He rides in remote areas.

Remote areas, no cell service. You're on your own.
You always perceive your bike to be reliable, until it isn't.

My last experience was with the R1100S 55 miles one way 150 miles the other somewhere on highway 46 right before the Colorado border. My bike was trying to center itself exactly between something and nothing before just stopping. nothing wasn't open anyway. That turned out (I believe) to be the HES. All all day operation using my thumb to hitch hike back and find a trailer, then returning....

And once, the drive belt on my relatively new Harley was destroyed immediately by a chip & seal operation on highway 95 right around the intersection with hwy 261 in Remote Utah. Another all day and night operation getting back home and then returning for the motorcycle around 2 am.

Then my first experience with the battery failing, even though the Batter Tender showed green for good. Another remote place somewhere...

Makes for all good Adventure talk.

Wow Bill, sure gave me a flashback. I can't find those old photos but I am sure I have them somewhere. Just yesterday I pulled a spare master link out of my spares bag. I was thinking I need to do an inventory to bring it up to date again.

Some answers in order-

Bill-You have more experience with failures on a wider variety of bikes than I do. Think about all your jobs and the tools to fix them then think what applies to you.

sgoodwin-It all take up about two inches in the bottom of one saddle bag.

BikerMike-The pulley and rope were used to hang food in trees.

njasx-"So how could this same person be riding a bike so unreliable that he needs to have these tools at all times?" That is an interesting statement. Do you only take tools for something you know is going to fail? If so then you would repair it before it fails. I guess I take tools for things that could fail unexpectantly and for thing that have failed in the past. I don't consider the R1100S unreliable but with 100,000+ miles on it things happened during that time. All the spares in those photos have been used although most were replaced at home. Far from being a 'lazy mechanic' I tend to fix thing that are not broken. I like all maintenance done before a trip. However on 6,000-10,000 mile trips over 50+ years, things do happen. Of all the bikes I have owned only one didn't have a failure. Some had repeats at regular intervals. My 'S' ate final drive pivots bearings every 20-25,000 miles.

BikerMike again-Yeah a broken clutch lever in Wyoming can make the ride home interesting. Snapped the front brake lever on the 'S' a block from home which is why I started carrying the spares.

Finally the same photo with the 'S' items crossed out.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704058911.jpg

Not to mention spares at home-

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704060939.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704060939.JPG

Thanks for the reply Rick. Yeah I fix peoples stuff every day at the shop, but since I am making the switch to a yamaha from BMW and have been out of motorcycle traveling for several years now I wanted to pick your brain. since you also made the switch from a BMW to the Africa Twin I figured your tool pack probably looks much different now than it did 20 years ago. The bear bag rope and pulley is definately a good idea for the regions you travel. I'll add that to my list. A small jump start box will also be on my list,

Bill- I was going to mention a small jump pack. With the addition of more things to charge on our trips, it's nice to have a backup. Ralf jump started he bike at least three times on this year's trip. I see some on Amazon that are cordless compressor/jump pack combos. I will buy one whenever my compressor or jump pack fails. I'll take some new pics if I get around to going through my Honda kit.

Just think of the spares you would carry around if you could do human component replaced. Before I left home I would replace the knee, hip and a few vertebraes. For the road maybe a femur and some ankle spare parts. Collar bone too?

Enjoy that blue thing.SmileWavy

If that were the case I might do the unthinkable and put on a top box so I could carry a well-packed spare left shoulder.

All you need with your new bike is tire-fix-stuff. That thing is bullet-proof.

Exclusively attributed to my stupidity, mind you... or forgetfulness... either way, good to have a pack on hand!

Ralf, the forgetfulness is exactly why I want the jump box... I used to keep a spare key zipped to the frame on my R1200GS knowing I would miss place a key at some point.


Rick,
Ha, Yeah the arthritis in my knees has been a joy. Just not sure I want to through with replacements yet.

Of my first 40 vehicles only three were new enough to not need to carry a slug of tools on long trips. Those 38-years pretty much imprinted me and even though the bikes, cars and vans I drive today are reliable enough to not require road-repairs, I cannot bring myself travel a hundred miles or more without an extensive tool-roll.

I’m pretty sure a tool-loaded Vetter Windjammer contributed to a washout street-accident in ‘76. These days I try to better distribute the weight. But I still I carry enough tools to remove every accessory and replace the clutch of my BCR.

Modern factory tool kits seem to be pretty anemic. But assuming the factory kit is adequate there are still a few additional items that come in handy. Some bike manufacturers include a tire repair kit including CO2 cartridges and a means to get the compressed air into the tire. I have been able to patch and air two flat tires with an included factory kit but a 12 vdc air compressor is not a bad idea.

Fairing, saddle bag, top box and windscreen cracks happen. Being able to lace the crack shut can be done with lockwire pliers, 0.032” lock-wire, 3/64” drill and a pin vice. The pin vice also allows stop drilling cracks. Lockwire properly administered can secure broken metal parts and can be used for hose clamps.

Think of lockwire as a structural replacement for zip ties.

As njsax suggested, routine, preventive and on condition maintenance needs to be preformed before a long trip. The life of consumables needs to be determined and if that life-span for a consumable will be exceeded during a long trip, the spare consumable(s) should be carried.

From time to time manufactures make a less than durable component yet do not recall it. Early center stick coils on R1100S’ come to mind. Failing at 20,000 miles is very very common. Carrying a new one would be recommended if the age-out of installed coils is near. This is a qualified example; BMW finally made a durable, superseded coil. If you happen to own an ‘03 to ‘05 S/BCR and do not have the superseded coil installed, carry a (good) spare.

Of course one needs no tools if there are never failures. But this logic is akin to the argument that no helmet is needed if you never have a get off. It’s all about cost of avoidance. If one has the room, suspension and horsepower to carry a useful tool kit, they should.

The attached photos show a 24” tool roll: (not shown is a small multimeter)http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704214256.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704214256.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704214256.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704214256.jpg