chan@hpfcla.UUCP (chan) (07/23/85)
I recently bought my first bike. It's a new 1983 Kawaski GPz 550. I think
it makes a pretty good starter machine -- not too massive, and it handles
predictably (so far). I also took the MSF class, which I would recomend to
any new rider. They go over a lot of stuff that's just common sense, but
it's good to have it drilled into you for a little while.
Anyway, I would like to know what more experienced riders keep in their
toolkits (what tools and spare parts). I am particularly concerned with
things you consider necessary to keep from being stranded on day trips
(30-150 miles).
Also if you have any trouble-shooting or safety-related experiences of
general interest, please post them. Remember, "It's nice to share."
-- Chan "You bought a what?!" Benson
{ihnp4 | hplabs}!hpfcla!chan
Hewlett-Packard Company
Fort Collins, CO
(303) 226-3800 x3892
As usual, HP has nothing to do with what I say here.roland@inmet.UUCP (07/30/85)
I never apprectiated how good my BMW tool kit was until I stopped to help riders of other brands - most kits were not complete and had inferior tools. It comes with open and box end wrenches, allen wrenches, phillips and slotted screwdriver, tire levers (which are long enough in spite of complaints otherwise - unless you use very stiff tires), pliers (the one weak tool), feeler gauge, spark plug wrench, and a few special tools. Cost is about $45; sometimes Capital Cycle Corp., 1508 Moran Rd., P.O. Box 528, Sterling, VA 22170, has them on sale for $30; current list through them is $35. If you want to collect your own set, either to save money or because the sizes aren't exactly right, do two things: buy quality tools and do a careful inventory of your requirements. Good quality tools won't break or bend when you try to use them. Sears Craftsman, Snap-On, and Stahlwille are some of the best available. Get box end wrenches for every nut or bolt that you can reach with one; otherwise get open end. Sockets are nice for working at home, but unless you have to have one to reach a necessary adjusting bolt, etc., they're not needed. Some riders of Japanese bikes carry an impact wrench because of all the phillips head screws; it's easy to strip them out if you're not careful. Find a mechanic friend to try his wrenches on your bike to see that they fit and reach and do the job before you spend the money - there's no point in building a custom kit that doesn't fit.
donch@teklabs.UUCP (Don Chitwood) (07/31/85)
When I am riding my Moto Guzzi 850T, I always have the stock toolkit with me. It carries allen wrenches, open end wrenches, spark plug socket, points feeler gauge,screwdriver, adjustable wrench (more like a pipe wrench with parallel jaws than a crescent wrench), and a plain set of pliers. The assortment is good, but the quality is poor. So, I have replaced the most commonly used ones (I do my own maintenance and repair) with quality tools and have been quite satisfied. In addition, I carry a new set of plugs (pre-gapped for convenience), a set of points, a tire repair kit, and a couple of Craftsman box-end wrenches of the most common size on the bike in the event of some unusual need. The most valuable thing I carry is an intangible: the knowledge I've gained from working on my bike and knowing it intimately. Several times I've had something go bad, and I've been able to be my own "expert system" to solve the problem, even before the machine has rolled to a stop. Hands-on experience gives a great feeling of security against failures, especially when on a long distance tour in remote areas. I also carry my favorite workshop manual (Haynes, a british publisher), and a parts book so that I have the additional benefit of pictorial blowups of parts assemblies as well as part numbers in the awful event that I need to call a dealer and wait out a return part delivery. So, my best advice is to know your machine so that you will know what are its weak spots and/or the parts you are capable (or willing) to work on alongside the road. Then get the tools of high quality to do the job. Don Chitwood Imaging Research Tektronix, Inc. Beaverton, OR