What Tools Should I Carry?
What does it take to keep on the move when your bike throws a mechanical in the middle of nowhere? That breakdown recovery card might be OK if you're near an easy access road, but what if you're half way up a mountain? Trail riders are pretty handy with a spanner and clutch of cable ties. Here's what four TRF members carry in their tool rolls. What's in yours and do you know how to use it?
James Higgs - Honda CRF 250L
Tools to remove my wheels, spark plug, seat and plastics
Motion Pro trail tool with additional sockets
Spare gear lever
Jump leads
Four way socket spanner
Gripseal bags to for my wallet & phone
Bahco Laplander folding saw
DID 520 VX2 split link
Spare phone battery
Balaclava
Anti-inflammatory tablets
TRF membership card, breakdown card & credit card
Wire saw
Folding multi-tool with pliers
Mints
Not shown:
Cash
Laminated list of important phone numbers
Phone with secondary GPS (ViewRanger)
Greg Villalobos - KTM 450EXC
Kriega US 5 Tail Pack
Motion Pro Chain Breaker
Motion Pro Trail Tool
Motion Pro Tyre Levers combo spanners
Pump
Spanners that fit my bike’s bolts
Small Molegrip
Spark Plug removal tool
Spare Spark Plug
Spare wheel bearings + seals
Zip ties
Gorilla Tape
Giant Loop Pronghorn Straps
Spare chain split link
Spoke tool
Tyre patches
Spare 21" front tyre
Leatherman
First Aid Kit
Noel Thom - Honda XR650L
Spanner’s 8mm-19mm
Dual screw driver(flat/pozi)
Cable ties
Spark plug/plug spanner
Allen keys
Various spindle spanner’s inc. spanner/levers
19” tube
Puncture kit
Pump
Nuts/bolts
Insulation tape (in my van not the photo)
Fuses
Loctite
Small grease tubes
NOTES:
I’ve never had a chain break in thirty six years (I keep a nice chain) so don’t bother with chain breaker stuff.
I carry the 19” because it fits front and back.
6 Comments
In addition to the items listed above I also carry a tow rope or strap.
The tugger wraps the strap twice around the Left foot rest and puts their foot on it. The towed wraps twice around the right footrest and puts their foot on it. The tugger tries to stay near the centre of the road and not cut in on corners. If either rider is not happy just lift their foot off the peg.
https://youtu.be/9f93BYG-w5g
Yes this works well. With a lump 525MXC I usually get the job of towing and this is a safe way to do it. Left foot peg for the tower on UK Drive on the left and towed uses their right peg. However I only lay the tow rope, usually blue nylon rope, over the top of the peg then under and back over. Depending on the type of footpeg (standard KTM EXC) this is just right for foot pressure to keep it on and when the foot is lifted off the peg the rope pulls off freely backwards by the drag of the towed bike. It DOES NOT work with after market footpegs with screwed in grip” teeth” as these will pierce the rope and dig in making it potentially remain stuck to the foot peg.
ALSO you need to have an eye to eye pre start brief with the towed person, keep the line reasonably taught and to stay to the left of the tow bike and the tow bike will stay to the right , anticipate slowing down with light rear brake ONLY. Get them to repeat back to you what the “rules” are so you know they understand and agree that if they sound the horn you will let your end of the rope go.
Ktm exc-f 250
genuine ktm tool roll in addition .
spark plug tool , leather man , pipe grips
tubliss repair kit
pump
zip ties
roll off pvc tape
fuses , home made lightweight jump leads
assorted selected nuts and bolts, split link
spark plug
air filter
front and rear wheel nuts
front sprocket bolt
clutch lever, gear change lever
tow rope
condom ( water carrier)
Wheel bearings and seals? Where do you stow the 20t press to get the old ones out?
Spare Clutch and Brake levers – learnt the hard way having snapped a clutch lever on a rocky climb (whilst on my own – never ride solo?). They don’t weigh much and are an easy fit if required.
Motion Pro Trail Tool.
Leatherman Crunch.
Motion Pro tyre lever/axle wrench
10+13mm open ended spanner x1
KTM OEM plug spanner (box wrench that turns with 10mm spanner)
Spare fuses
Radiator seal – with duct tape wrapped around it.
Self amalgamting tape.
Chemical metal – with thin aluminium wrapped around the container, followed by lockwire and finally some tape.
Cable ties.
Motion Pro chain tool and spare chain link
Lighter
Head torch that has red filter to double up as emergency tail light.
Stashed on the bike:
Spare brake/clutch/gear levers
More cable ties
Headlight bulb.
Spark plug
Tow strap – nylon webbing that packs flat
Electrical wire and crimps
Space blanket and dyneema cord.
Wheel bearing x1 F+R.
Toggle switch
Hose clips
Mods:
The little 5w bulb on EXC/TE/690 can be modded to have spade connectors. It can then be easily removed and used as a test light.
Tips:
Have some lengths of wire stashed on the bike that are already fitted with spade connectors – this save crimping them on when you are doing repairs on the trail. If you’ve crimped on a male connector then put a spare female connector on it and cover with self amalgamating tape – convenient way to carry spare connectors/crimps/toggle switch.
Set the battery up with wires coming off the terminals that have spade connectors fitted – they are then ready to go when you want to run a feed into something (e.g. for a fan – and you have the toggle switch to turn it on/off)
Spare hose clips can be kept on the bikes hoses!