Tool Box Specific inventory for the R1200R ?

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Hi !

I am thinking of buying tools to do all the minor servicing and stuff
that do not really need the intervention of an Expert Mechanic.

What do you have in your On board and Garage tool box
that is always needed for your R1200R ?

What the average minimal tool box for this bike and what are the specific tools that "make a difference" ?

Please feel free to Be detailed
it can be useful for newcomer's

Snapshot's are Welcome !

[celticus]

On the bike I keep a small array of star drivers, a small ratchet and a Craftsman spark plug wrench for front wheel removal. A tire plugging kit and an air compressor.
A combination cork screw and bottle opener. Some other things I don't recall right now. One more reason I have a large tank bag (BMW).

Mark

[ka5ysy]

In addition to the usual tools:

Leatherman tool
Small roll of Duct tape.
Small roll of electrical tape.
LED Flashlight
Small first aid kit with some uprated trauma stuff. (for use after you bust your knuckles on the repairs!)

[celticus]

To go ANYWHERE without an LED flashlight is complete folly. Those are wonderful things. Once again large tank bag.

Mark

[deilenberger]

Tools I carry on the bike:

• Set of folding Torx drivers - from Harbor Freight.
• Set of folding Allen drivers - ditto
• Set of stubby metric open-end wrenches - also Harbor Freight
• Decent screwdrivers - straight and Philips head
• A Mark-Parnes (I think) front wheel removing tool (fits the axle and the bolts for the pinch clamps)
• All the factory tools that came with it
• An AirMan air compressor with the BMW plug on it (really should check if the CanBus will let this run or if it draws too much current. My guess is - it will run up to about 30 PSI or so before it draws too much current and the CanBus shuts off the accessory outlet.) *
• Stringy-rope tire plugging kit *
• Small first-aid kit *
• Variety of tie-wraps *
• LED flashlight - Imitation MagLight design (Harbor Freight) *
• Lighter *
• Leatherman *
• Tire Pressure Gauge *
• Radio Shack digital VOM - tiny thing, never used it on my bike, have used it on other peoples. *
• 1 good Cuban cigar *
• MOA Anonymous Book

All * items are in the tank bag. The others are in the factory tool bag, and another small bag that I fit under the seat. MOA Anon is under the seat in a plastic sandwich bag. I also sometimes carry a set of ROC straps - when touring - in case I have to strap something to the seat. They fit in the tail above the tail-light area.

And I have never had to use any of the tools on the road, except the screwdriver when I was adjusting the damping on my HyperPro shocks.

Tools at home:
WAY too many to list - I have the giant sized Harbor Freight tool box - it's about 6' across and 6' high.. and it's full.

[curmudgeon]

Don's bike list is very complete so I'll do some home tool recommendations:

• set of metric ratcheting wrenches in both standard and short lengths (like "Gear-Wrench", they're real time-savers)
• metric socket sets with both 6 & 12 point sockets, Torx bit set, Allen bit set
• decent 1/4" & 3/8" drive ratchets with an assortment of extensions
• 1/4" & 3/8" drive torque wrenches, preferably with both SAE & metric scales (so you don't have to depend on manuals for conversions)
• good slotted & Phillips screwdrivers with hardened tips
• long ball-type Allen wrench set
• good assortment of pliers (needle-nose, regular, channel-locks, snap-ring, diagonal cutters, vise-grips, etc.)
• hemostats & dental picks can be extremely useful at times
• pencil magnet & claw-type pick-up tool for chasing dropped fasteners
• oil filter wrench for BMW filters
• feeler gauges (if you're going to adjust valves)
• non-marring pry tools (nylon or polymer)
• small assortment of punches & chisels
• assorted small bungie cords (for holding parts out of your way)
• ballpeen & dead-blow hammers (dead-blow keeps those embarrassing red marks off your forehead )
• 22 mm internal hex socket for front axle
• a basic metric tap & die set in common sizes can keep you out of trouble if you cross-thread a fastener
• small assortment of files
• one good 1/4" size combination wrench - this can be used with your various bits for getting in really tight places
• not tools per se but: anti-seize compound, Loctite, etc. threadlocker (purple, blue, & red), penetrating oil, various cleaning solvents

This list is by no means complete but should get you through most minor repairs and basic maintenance. When it comes to sockets, Torx & Allen bits, screwdrivers or any tool that directly contacts fasteners you should only buy good quality items made from drop-forged tool steel. The cheap imported third-world country tools are made from softer steel & will just tear up the fastener heads or crack under a load, usually causing your knuckles to get busted. Happy wrenching!

I like the picture of your dealer tech

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Guys that's great I am so glad to read your post

Thanks !



What is the "MOA Anonymous Book" ?

[deilenberger]

Guys that's great I am so glad to read your post

Thanks !



What is the "MOA Anonymous Book" ?

Visit the website and find out: http://www.bmwmoa.org - when you sign up, mention my name.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Thanks Don !
I will do that...
Do I need a pack of beer to register the MOA ?

[celticus]

Yumpin Yimminy Frede, that's "A Six Pack Of Beer"!

Mark

[lewellen]

To go ANYWHERE without an LED flashlight is complete folly. Those are wonderful things. Once again large tank bag.

Mark

Agree absolutely, have one on your bike.

I bought one kind of like this: http://www.vlsusa.com/cgi-bin/vlsusa/65 ... o_shopping

There nice thing about this is, you can flex the head to put the light just where you want it regardless of where you have to rest the flashlight; and you can easily clip it into your pocket / jacket / belt loop / whatever. It's not as bright as some multi-bulb LED lights, but the ability to put the light exactly where I need it, makes up for it.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[walker]

I see that CruzTools has just released their RoadTech B1 tool kit for BMWs. The contents appear to be close to what Don suggested above and are in a neat tool roll. Does anyone have experience with CruzTools and care to comment on the quality of the tools or the contents of this kit? If no strong negatives I will order it to keep on the bike.
Thanks
Barry

[deilenberger]

I see that CruzTools has just released their RoadTech B1 tool kit for BMWs. The contents appear to be close to what Don suggested above and are in a neat tool roll. Does anyone have experience with CruzTools and care to comment on the quality of the tools or the contents of this kit? If no strong negatives I will order it to keep on the bike.
Thanks
Barry

Barry - looks like a nice kit. Depending on the tool quality it might be a good deal - but I could probably assemble the same set of tools from Harbor Freight for less. Lets see how good I can do

10 piece metric stubby wrench set: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=99584 - 10mm-19mm - $12.99

9 piece torx set. 1/4 & 3/8" drive: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=91238, T10-T50, $5.99

6 piece female torx sockets, 1/4" drive: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95178, E4-E10, $7.99

8 in 1 reversable ratcheting screwdriver: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=31555 - $3.99

8 piece star (torx) hex set - will fit screwdriver above or 1/4" ratchet: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=35187 - T10-T40 - $2.99

6 piece metric 3/8" allen drive set: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=35183, 4mm-10mm. - $7.99

1/4" & 3/8" dual-drive (one wrench, two sizes) stubby ratchet: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=90698 - $4.99

8" 4-LED aluminum flashlight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=93313 - $4.99

Tool Roll: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=93828 - $5.99

Need some minor stuff like crazy glue, electrical tape and tie-wraps. Figure another $5.00

Total: Around $70.00 - but you have way more tools in my kit.

Factor in profit - the CruzTools kit isn't a bad deal. It's missing a few things I think should be there..

I purposely left out the adjustable and vice-grip wrenches in my kit, 'cause IMHO - they cause more damage than good.. but in an emergency, they might come in handly. Generally - with the wrench sets I listed - you're not gonna need them for your bike. You might for someone elses.

Neither kit has anything to remove the front wheel with (the 22mm external hex) - there is a Sears/Craftsman 7/8" spark plug socket for around $4.00 that fits fine used reversed.. which will require the addition of a 6" 3/8" extension. We also could use a thin-wall 5/8" spark-plug socket ($4.00) for the spark plugs. Their kit is missing both of these.

The tools I list from Harbor Freight are surprisingly good for cheap tools - IMHO some of them are actually better quality than Craftsman (the stubby ratchet is one of my favorite tools..) And if you sign up for HarborFreight email notices - once a week you'll get a sale flyer - where lots of these items are featured, sometimes up to 50% off. Only problem is getting out of the store without spending another $100 on stuff you just have to have.

[bobw]

Great list Don, but I would add a second Cubano to entice/reward a good samaritan helper.

[famousperson]

I see that CruzTools has just released their RoadTech B1 tool kit for BMWs. The contents appear to be close to what Don suggested above and are in a neat tool roll. Does anyone have experience with CruzTools and care to comment on the quality of the tools or the contents of this kit? If no strong negatives I will order it to keep on the bike.
Thanks
Barry

I had the CruzTools kit for my Sportster. Good quality but I thought a bit pricey. I would have worried about the quality of Harbor Freight's tools but with Don's imprimateur I am sure they are just fine. My wife made me a roll-up bag for my loose tools.

[deilenberger]

I had the CruzTools kit for my Sportster. Good quality but I thought a bit pricey. I would have worried about the quality of Harbor Freight's tools but with Don's imprimateur I am sure they are just fine. My wife made me a roll-up bag for my loose tools.

Harbor Freight has some awful crap, and some surprisingly good stuff. You can generally tell by appearance and feel. All the items I mentioned I have, and the quality is more than adequate for an on-board tool kit. They're not SnapOn, but they're also not $100/each.

Some of their items are unique and really good - like the stubby wrenches and stubby ratchets. Dunno who else makes anything like these, and the the small size is a real advantage.

I have a set of their polished made in India metric open-end wrenches.. not wonderful everyday wrenches because they're very thin. They are wonderful special use wrenches because they are very thin - and can be used in places a normal wrench can't fit sometimes. That's a case of lemonade - I bought the lemons specifically because they were thin, and the application I had required it. They don't get used much, but when they are used - it's a case of these or start grinding down one of my good open-end wrenches. Make lemonade out of the lemons.

I have their $100 small belt-drive compressor. Works fine for my uses.. which aren't every day, all day. It inflates tires great, runs the few air tools I own, and is used to blow things off. Wouldn't want it if I wrenched for a living, but it's fine for the light use it receives in my garage. I would avoid buying a car polisher from them (if anyone wants one and wants to pay the shipping or pick it up.. it's free!), or a heat gun (I'm on my second one now..) the quality is just too poor.

Their big rolling toolboxes are excellent - identical except for the name to ones sold by real places for 3-4x as much, and far superior to any Craftsman one I've looked at lately. They're not quite SnapOn quality - but they come close to MAC quality.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Good good good ! This is an healthy thread... very informative.

What about electrical tool box ?

Is this one from complete enough ? http://www.cruztools.com/toolkits%202007.html

[celticus]

If you are going to keep these electrical tools at home and there is less need for compactness. I'd not try to cut corners and buy the good heavy duty stuff. Trying to heat up a joint (electrical) with a half fast soldering iron is a pain in the neck as is trying to crimp with second rate crimpers. I have found many good name brand tools at flea markets for one quarter or less the store cost. I have been gathering my tools for 30 years and have duplicates of many. Sometimes I buy a tool just because the price is to good to pass up.

Mark

[famousperson]

Trying to heat up a joint (electrical) with a half fast soldering iron is a pain in the neck

Mark

I found that one of the little butane torch/soldering iron and solder tape to be just the thing for curb side repairs, where an electrical outlet is not handy.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

And what about the tools to clean our R1200R ?

I saw some specialized web pages about cleanning accessories
but is there a website that sell a good and complete quality kit ?

To perform it properly Many "stuff" are required I think...various kind of brushes, dryer, warm water compressor, chemicals etc etc

Is anyone can list what he is using or suggest a good kit ?