As motorcyclists, we form a unique bond with our vehicles.Our passion for riding usually makes it inevitable that we’ll want to master bike maintenance. Taking care of your motorcycle makes you feel proud and empowered, which improves not just your riding but also other facets of your life. If you’re new to DIY motorcycle maintenance, you should gather a few fundamental motorcycle tools.
We’ll be concentrating on preparing you to handle the most typical motorbike maintenance duties in this post. You can change the oil and filter, replace bulbs, tighten the belt or final drive chain, check your tires, and generally maintain the condition of your motorbike with just these tools and the owner’s manual or service manual.
Over time investments in tools pay for themselves. If you decide to tackle more intricate motorcycle repairs set aside at least $100 to $300. You don’t have to buy the tools all at once so don’t let their price stop you. As you learn new maintenance techniques, you may add more tools since you’re still learning. Let’s start by talking about the most popular tools used for maintenance on motorcycles.
1. Tire pressure gauge
This may be the most important part of your motorcycle maintenance kit. The performance and safety of your motorbike depend on properly inflated tires. Our link to the road is provided by the two little contact patches that we ride on. These palm sized sections of tire tread are responsible for handling all the forces involved in breaking tilting and acceleration.
There are many different types of tire pressure gauges available from the inexpensive pencil model to the very accurate analog or digital professional gauges. In the end, greater accuracy is preferable. Although they might be pricey high quality gauges are still a sensible investment still you must consider pricing when making your choice. While selecting a tire pressure gauge for your motorbike, there are a few other things to consider:
- What is the highest pressure your motorcycle’s tires can handle?
- How much room does one have to access the air fill valves and what is the angle?
- Which type of gauge one that may be used independently or as an inflator with a compressor do you prefer?
To ensure that you check tire pressure before every ride, choose an easy to use gauge. Your tires will last longer over time, more than making up for the original expense of purchase. Moreover, your security is vital!
2. Tire inflator or compressor
It appears that the tire pressure on your bike is low based on what your gauge indicates. So what happens next? Purchasing a tire inflator that can fill your tires to the recommended level of inflation is the most affordable solution. An alternative that is more costly but also more practical and long lasting is a compressor that can power air tools and motorbike lifts in addition to inflating tires. A compressor and a basic set of air tools are typically on sale.
3. Screwdrivers
A quality set of screwdrivers includes:
- Flat and Phillips heads
- Long and short handles and shafts
A plus are magnetic tips and various tip sizes. Angle screwdrivers may also be a helpful addition to your screwdriver collection.
4. Fastener standards
The construction of your motorcycle will follow SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) or metric fastening standards. Every time you work on your vehicle, having a variety of fastener sizes on hand could be helpful. Keep in mind that both kinds of fasteners may be found on second hand motorbikes and bikes with aftermarket additions.
5. Wrench sets
Combination wrenches are the most useful type of wrench. These come with a closed or boxed end and an open end:
- The open end produces the strongest connection and applies turning pressure to the flat surfaces of fasteners.
- The boxed or closed ends provide more ways to grasp the fastener and apply pressure to the corners of the fasteners.
The offset wrench, which enables you to work with recessed fasteners, is another helpful variety. With the help of this vintage wrench, you can feel the fastener more clearly and have a direct connection to it. Additionally, wrenches with integrated ratchets are available. Although they don’t feel as strong, they can be quick and useful.
The most widely used type is a ratchet/socket wrench set. It enables you to reach recessed and difficult-to-reach fasteners and to quickly switch between fastener sizes. Long and short extensions are included with most sets. The ratchet wrench has a lever to switch between tightening and loosening, and a driving lug that inserts into the back of the sockets. For most of your operations, a 3/8-inch drive is the most common size. Additionally, you may obtain ratchet wrenches with drives of 1/4 and 1/2 inches. 1/4-inch drive sockets are used for smaller sizes, and a pair should come with an adapter.
Six-sided sockets engage the fastener’s flats, whereas 12-sided (or 12-point) sockets contact the corners. The 12-point box end of a combination wrench’s angle advantage is eliminated with a ratchet wrench. Both types of high-quality sockets function just as well; however, a 12-point socket is more likely to round off a fastener’s edges. Higher torque levels work better with 6-sided sockets, especially when used with torque or powered wrenches. For certain situations, you might need to purchase additional sockets because some fasteners—like axle nuts—will be bigger than the sockets included in standard starter sets.
6. Hex keys
Hex head fasteners are widely used, and key sets are available in both SAE and metric sizes. A simple set of L-shaped hex keys with both long and short lengths is a nice place to start. Although they are small and useful for toolkits that are portable, folding multi-key sets may be a trade-off when it comes to torque application. Additionally, hex keys can be purchased as sets or as individual sockets.
7. Oil filter wrench
A wrench is required to remove an old oil filter, even though new ones can usually be hand-tightened. Your motorcycle’s filter and its position should be your main considerations when selecting an oil filter wrench. These wrenches may be strap-style, socket-style, or even plier-style.
8. Oil catch pan
Select an oil catch pan that will fit beneath the motorbike where the filter and drain plug are located. To remove the drain plug or filter, it should be easy to squeeze your gloved hand between the motorbike and the oil catch pan. The catch pan’s capacity ought to be sufficient to accommodate more oil than your motorcycle can hold. It’s important to think about how you’ll store leftover oil until you can recycle it safely. Some oil catch pans may serve as storage containers.
9. Torque wrench
Torque is a unit of measurement for tightness, and every important part on a motorbike has a designated torque. A torque wrench allows you to accurately adjust the torque levels. They come in a variety of measurement formats including foot pounds inch pounds and newton meters. Consult the owner’s handbook or service manual to determine the appropriate measurement technique to use. Similar to ratchet wrenches torque wrenches also use sockets and come in 1/4- 3/8- and 1/2-inch drives. Determine the size fasteners and torque specifications you need to satisfy before making a purchase because they also come in different torque ranges. Since torque wrenches are precise instruments it’s important to constantly read and follow the included instructions.
10. Motorcycle stand
Many bikes simply have a side stand as standard equipment. Center stands are helpful since several motorcycle maintenance tasks are better and easier when the motorbike is upright. An extensive assortment of aftermarket stands is accessible. For some, you might need to equip your motorcycle with adapters. Make sure the center stand you opt to buy is made to fit your motorbike. When putting a motorbike on a stand, proceed with extreme caution since misuse might result in harm or damage to the vehicle.
