Tool kit?.. what a joke

On the 6th gens there's a pretty large compartment on the right side of the bike next to the battery. I've used that for stash quite a few times. Take off the seat, pop off a couple of those plastic "quick clips" and you have a nice roomy storage box. I took a piece of cardboard and bent it in there to prevent anything from potentially slipping out towards the front, but once that's done it's pretty secure. I'm sure you men could come with a better "wall" than that, but it works for me. :wink: Here's a pic of mine loaded with about 4 PAIRS of Vibranators... basically the bar ends with attached vibration dampeners. I had 8 bar ends with dampeners in there, that's how much space there is in that thing!! Now, I just keep my tire repair kit, a few tools and a small box of extra washer, clips etc. in there




I'm only mentioning this because I had my bike for almost 3 years before I discovered it so I figure perhaps some of you might be in the same boat. Apparently on some bikes that's where the toolkit is also stashed but nobody knows until they find that compartment. I wasn't so lucky... my bike didn't even come with a toolkit and when I asked the dealer they gave me a cheesy generic toolkit.... I ended up ordering the pin spanner for the chain adjustment, and putting together a couple other odds and ends...

 

Interesting...My 05 VFR came with a full complete kit, as did my 00 Shadow ACE...but last night my father had a flat on his 03 ST1300 and we went to get some tools out of the kit and there's barely anything in it, there wasn't enough to even start to remove the rear tire, let alone do anything on the bike.

So, you pay for a new bike and honda gives you a half assed tool kit and expects you to pay more for a complete tool kit?

 

Dealers pull the supplied tools and try to sell them to new buyers. Same thing basically that photo dealers used to pull. Most cameras came with cases. They'd sell the camera and make a few bucks on a case.

Caveat Emptor. The translation is " Watch your wallet dealing with dealers."

 

I got a complete kit with mine, same thing with my previous F3, including feeler gauge(s) for plugs & when you have to reinstall the front wheel.
Japanese bike tool kits have always been crap, woeful spanners & useless pliers, in the real old days (60's & 70"s) it was not uncommon for the buggers to snap, while you tried to undo or tighten a nut. The spanner for the rear wheel on the F3 for instance, only made indentations on the nut & would probably round it out, they are notorious for being inaccurately made & will round out bolts & screws. But at least they give you tools. Old joke about BMW's (I have owned 2) The reason their bikes are so expensive is because of the tool kit. Buy a 2nd hand beemer & the tool kit will most likely be absent, owners like to hang on to them, they are good quality & comprehensive, but their not just giving them away, you pay for them with the cost of the bike.
As for some other bike manufacturers, the tool kit is an optional extra. Tool kits are for emergencies only (IMO). On a Jap bike, if something other than a loose mirror bolt happens, then your up sh*t creek.
I replace the junk with a half way decent set & leave the maintenance to good quality stuff at home.

 

The stock tool kit on my '04 carries more, not that I have used any of it...

 

Thanks for all the feed back, looks like a few of you actually have a tool kit or at have replaced the stock tools with tools of a higher quality, with that can you list out the tools for me.

thanks,

 

Some "lists" will have your bike weighing nearly 700lbs if you get everything. Remember there are those that find it necessary to have within a few feet, no less than 75% of thier worldly posessions.

Try one of the online bike stores for suggestions. Personally I like my 15" plasma TV so I can watch Oprah at the ton.

 

Yeah at some point on the VFR they cut back on the tools. With my 2004, I have a "full" set, screw drivers, pliers, couple three wrenches, chain adjuster and feeler guage.

Really, a feeler guage? Who the hell is checking their valve clearance on the side of the road?

I have mixed feelings on the disapearance thing. On the one hand, because of my age, I have always gotten a "full" tool kit and still expect to see it. On the other hand, I the past 20 years, I can't remember every using one of those tools to remedy a situation on the road -- on my bike. I have used it a couple of times to help others. I may have used it myself, but so long ago that I can't recall it. That is 20 years and a couple hundred miles. And although my current bike did come with one, I don't normally even carry it anymore. I have filled up my up my under seat area with too much other crap. When I take a longer trip, part of my trip packing is a RoadTech M3 and a mini set. I have had it for maybe 8 years or so, and I have used it exactly 0 times. Same with the flat kit I carry on longer trips.

 

I carry a mix of factory and better-quality Craftsman tools.......always.

Fixed more stranded Yamahas than Hondas.

Feeler gauge on many pouches is to check centralization of front caliper mounting.

 

I carry my most important tool........never mind

 

There has been over 20 replies to my question and yet no one has actually answered it?, I will just spend some time myself and put something together as this will be quicker.

 

Start simple. Unless you have to have them, think about dumping your grab handles. This will afford you room for an adequate "roadside" tool kit. Here's four:

The pin spanner for adjusting chain tension
A set of metric allen wrenches
A screwdriver handle that takes a reversible bit.
That cute little lug wrench.

There are more...

What you carry on the bike at all times depends on your own style of riding. I just use mine for trips back and forth to WalMart. Some of the dudes here hit 2-3 WalMarts a day, hoping to get photographed for that People of WalMart site or seeing if the prices for frozen Jo-jos is the same in all the stores.

Then ya got the things that you might just think about.

A multi-tool like a Leatherman, a one watt LED flashlight, a spare R/R. Maybe even a Sony Watchman for the Oprah re-runs.

 

I keep one of those little packs of Kleenex in my tank bag in case I forget to bring something like my 16" Stilson in the tool kit.

 

After reading some of your other threads looks like you are the one who is crying, flat battery? Obviously a challenged guy when it comes to bike maintenance thats probably why you don't carry any tools or could not answer my question with the detail BB did.

Thanks for answering BB

 

Time and again, I have tried to advise Tink to stop watching Martha Stewart and start watching Oprah to improve his PR image here..

 

My 2010 is the same. can only squeeze it into its spot with much grunting and swearing. Choc full of tools.

 

Who needs tools when we are reminded of the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dyke? No reflection on The TC who stuck his finger in his blower.