What's In Your Toolkit? - Adventure Rider

Oct 14, 2024

How many tools do you need to fix your bike while going around the world (or for a long trip)?

Hard to answer precisely to this question but, there is somehow an acceptable amount of tools one is supposed to carry for a long journey on a motorcycle.

Most bikes come with their own set.

The OEM kit is usually sufficient to perform basic tasks (like remove fairings, perform an oil change and adjust the rear tyre) but most of the times the quality of those tools is insufficient to be able to perform more complex operations with ease.

In this sense, it’s recommended, for instance, to perform at least some of the basic maintenance activities, in the comfort of one’s home, before the official departure.

This should allow a person to see if the amount of tools are sufficient and useful enough to complete the required operations.

KTM, in my case, accessorised my 1190 with a small set of tools that were somehow not easy and comfortable enough to use in the long run.

Because of this, I added to the collection a series of extras that allowed me to work with less effort on my bike.

This is all I carry, wrapped up in a $4 tool sack, I bought from eBay.

The pieces are a collection of an original KTM set, plus extras I bought afterwards.

The “matte silver” socket heads are the KTM ones, while the “chromed” ones are aftermarket.

Some of the original pieces got lost, others got stolen. I had to replace the ones missing with aftermarket ones.All pieces are metric, since I bought the bike and extra tools in Australia.

I added a 17mm socket, which I needed to install the pannier rack, the 27mm, which I needed to undo the steering plate screw (underneath the handlebar), and the 32mm which is the one to undo the wheels. About this last one, the original KTM toolkit had some sort of “weird wrench”, to undo the wheels’ bolt, but I found it super uncomfortable to use.

The kit was also missing 2 spanners that are usually needed to tighten the chain, which is a pretty standard task to perform during a trip.

On the bottom left part of the photo un here, there’s a double hexagonal piece which is needed to tighten (or remove) the rear shock. This requites to be used together with a size 14mm socket. Alternatively you can use a really big allen key.

I then have 6 sets of “heads” for all type of screws.

Inside the inserts instead, I carry (from right) some adapter, extension and a flexible magnet; this last one is very handy when you loose screws in the grass or inside the engine (figured this out the hard way unfortunately).

I have a flexible extender and two big torx socket heads to undo the forks clamps and the 2 brake caliper bolts; these four collar screws are usually really tight and I prefer to use bigger levers.

I carry one big extender for the biggest ratchet and the little quick release ratchet; In sequence then, there’s a pair of pliers, the big ratchet, an adjustable spanner, 3 spanners (size 10, 12 and 13mm), a medium ratchet and a medium extender.

It all rolls up and fits in this waterproof Giant Loop pouch, which sits perfectly over the muffler side of the pannier rack on my 1190 adventure.

On the 790/890 adventure instead there’s not much room on top of the pannier rack so, in this case, I strapped it on the rear pannier rack with some Giant Loop pronghorn rubber straps.

It can easily be fitted on the crash bar or directly onto the panniers.

I also carry a puncture repair kit (Tubeless tyres) and some heavy duties rubber gloves.And obviously duct tape and zip ties.

Have I missed something?What else do you carry?!