Riding a motorcycle, in most cases, will make you seem like a cool guy or gal but having this mode of transportation as your main one can bring in some other benefits as well. The main reason why people ride motorcycles is the freedom they get since they are able to pass through traffic and feel the wind in their hair. You can also enjoy riding a motorbike with a cleaner conscience since you’re not going to be polluting as much as when driving a car.
You also get to pay fewer taxes since a motorbike weighs less than a car, thus causing less stress on the roads you drive on. Even as a beginner, you’ll have a lot of fun commuting with your bike on a daily basis. But for that to be the case for a long period of time, you need to keep your two-wheeler in shape. The thing is, that even as a rookie, you can repair your motorcycle by yourself. You just need a couple of motorbike tools.
What Motorcycle Tools Do You Need?
Screwdrivers
Screwdrivers are used everywhere where a fastener can be found, and the same goes for motorcycles. The most important factor with screwdrivers is that you find quality ones since you’ll be using them for almost every repair. Because of this, they are deemed as some of the most essential motorcycle repair tools. Consider getting all types of screwdrivers, including those with a hex nut-type feature at the base of its shaft.
Hex Keys
Speaking of hex nuts, you should also consider having hex keys in your motorcycle toolkit. Why? Because hex head fasteners are pretty common even in the motorcycle world. You should go for a set of hex keys that include both short and long length keys. You can also find hex keys as sockets or individual tools.
Wrench Sets
Wrenches are quite handy when it comes to motorcycle repair, and your best option are combination wrenches. These wrenches have a boxed end and an open end, with the latter being able to put pressure on the corners of fasteners and the former being able to apply turning pressure on the flat side of fasteners. This way, you can grab a fastener from more angles and have the strongest connection too. Again, it’s best that you get a set of these for that additional level of versatility.
Tyre Pressure Gauge
When you need to go on a long trip, especially one that takes you through varying terrain, it’s important to know the pressure inside your tyres. For this, you should consider getting a tyre pressure gauge that can help you set the right pressure in your tyres and thus, help your motorbike ride more fuel-efficiently. With a properly inflated tyre, you won’t cause too much stress on the tyres so they won’t end up wearing down as much.
Impact Driver
An impact wrench or driver can help you get rid of stubborn screws. Sometimes, hand tools for motorbikes and some elbow grease just aren’t enough to take care of an issue. But with an impact driver, this can be easily solved as you just place it on the fastener and pull the trigger. The driver will apply a massive torque force on the fastener, loosening it up. Make sure to use the right impact bit though, as you can end up damaging the fastener.
Hammer
There are two types of hammers that you should get as part of your motorcycle repair tools collection. A regular hammer, not too big and not too small, to help you with the impact driver when a really stubborn fastener is in the way, and a plastic/rubber hammer. A plastic/rubber hammer, also known as a mallet, is needed when you want to hit something that is easily damaged. This type of hammer is mainly used when you need to bring a bent part of a motorcycle’s body back into place.
Pliers
Needle-nose pliers are quite important motorbike tools, although they might not seem like it. Why? Because with a pair of needle-nose pliers you can pinch, pull and get into the tiniest of crevices to sort some wiring out. You can get other types of pliers as well if you want to add some versatility to your toolkit.
Torque Wrench
One thing that you will realise plays an important role in fastening screws and bolts is torque level. When tightening by hand, there is no surefire way to determine the exact torque level you’re at, unless you’re using a torque wrench. With a torque wrench, you can tighten fasteners without them falling out after a while or breaking.
How Often Does a Motorcycle Need Maintenance?
While this can vary from motorcycle to motorcycle, it mainly depends on your riding style. Regular maintenance usually needs to take place anywhere between 6,400 to 9,600km. You can perform your regular maintenance even earlier than 6,400km but don’t go over go over 9,600km without checking on your motorbike.
