Building Your Motorcycle Toolkit

Even the highest quality motorcycles will eventually experience maintenance issues. These rarely happen at convenient times, which means you may be facing a problem in the middle of your ride. When that happens, you’ll want to be prepared with a motorcycle toolkit. We rounded up the top things you need to build your own below. For all your motorcycle needs, visit Langston Motorsports. We proudly serve those in Temecula, Orange County, and San Bernardino, California.

Assessing Your Ability

Before you pack any tools, you’ll want to think about your skill level and knowledge base of those tools. If you have no clue how to use a fold-up allen wrench, there’s no reason to bring it along. 

If your tool familiarity isn’t where you want it to be, spend some time building up your skills in the comfort of your garage. Work on the maintenance tasks that you might encounter on the road at home to build your confidence. 

Picking the Tools

What tools you bring also depends on how much space you have available to you. If you are transporting your motorcycle in a truck, you will have plenty of space to pack everything you could need. If it’s just you and your bike, you are much more limited and will need to be selective. If you are riding with a group and want to save on space, see what tools they are bringing. You don’t all need to pack the exact same items as long as you’ll be together for the whole journey. 

Packing the Toolkit

Each motorcycle is unique, which means the tools needed to keep it running on the road are unique. We gathered up the most versatile and common items you can add to your toolkit below.

Fold-Up Allen Wrench

Use this to remove or tighten the fasteners on your motorcycle. They come in all sizes, so be sure to check that it corresponds to the given size on your bike’s parts first. You don’t want to need one on the road only to find out the one you packed is too big or too small.

A Flat Head Screwdriver

For this tool, try to get one that is as thin and narrow as possible. This will give you the best shot at maneuvering around in tight areas. If you can, get one that has a magnet on one end. This will become a huge help if any fasteners drop and are hard to spot.

Pliers

These bad boys improve your grip so you can straighten, loosen, or tighten parts and fasteners. This is especially useful on cold or wet days where your hands may be shaking or slip about, making it difficult to manipulate the pieces on their own.

Multipurpose Pocket Knife

This tool is many resources in one compact item. It takes up very little space, but offers many different uses. Harness your inner scout and always be prepared with a pocket knife.

Flashlight

Your motorcycle is full of nooks and crannies that you may need to investigate, but that can be tough with the naked eye. A flashlight helps improve your visibility, which is even more important at night.

Battery Cables

These are a great solution to common battery problems. There are plenty of lightweight options out there that can be rolled up tight. They don’t have to take up too much space and they can be a real lifesaver!

Spare Fuses

These are easy to replace as long as you have the right sizes. Check your owner’s manual for the specs and stock up on these small but powerful items.

A Back-Up Plan

While you may be a wizard with motorcycle repairs, eventually you will encounter something beyond your ability. That’s where your plan B gets put into action. If you can safely get to a dealership, ride on over to Langston Motorsports. We offer parts replacement and service options. If you can’t continue riding safely, then you can call a towing company or roadside assistance to transport you. Either way, our expert staff is standing by ready to help! We proudly serve those in Temecula, Orange County, and San Bernardino, California.