Prepare yourself for adventure with the right tools for the job! By bringing these must-have tools with you, you are ready to tackle the most common setbacks you might encounter.
Tool Time: the must-bring tools for your two-wheeled adventure.
Being a two-wheeled adventurist takes some perseverance, as you might find yourself further removed from civilization than anticipated once you encounter a bit of bad luck with your bike. And although there is a lot of information out there to help you prepare for this, we have taken the liberty to share our thoughts on what the must- have tools to bring are. Helped of course with advice straight from our well-travelled Enduristan ambassadors from all over the globe.
Tire tools
Probably the most common failure when you are out on or off the road: a tire failure. With a proper tire repair kit in your luggage, and a little practice before you leave, you should be able to get going in no-time. If you are running tires with an inner tube, make sure to bring tire levers — and rim protectors — so you can remove the tire from the rim. Smaller punctures can be fixed with a tube repair kit, but make sure to bring spare tubes in case you’ve got a big puncture. Once all is fixed, there are some clever valve stem pullers on the market that will make it easier to get the valve back through its opening in the rim. Oh, and while you’re thinking “clever”; make sure to bring some tire soap to make it easier to get the tire back on the rim. For tubeless tires, there are specific repair kits that will allow you to quickly fix a small puncture from the outside without removing the rim.
Last but not least: make sure to bring an air pump and a pressure gauge to re-inflate your tire after putting back the valve core using a valve core tool.
Bike Specific Tools
Take a look around and make sure you can remove anything that needs fixing from your bike by bringing the right tools. Your bike’s original toolkit is a no-brainer to bring, and you can easily put together a tool roll with additional tools when checking some measurements around your bike. If you don’t have a tool roll, have a look at the Enduristan Tool Pack or Lyndon’s Organizer that we developed together with global adventurist and Enduristan ambassador Lyndon Poskitt. Check what wrench you need to remove the front and rear axle, your brake calipers, your handlebars and so on. While this will give you an indication of what bike-specific tools you can bring for the most common fixes, you are best off bringing a few tools from our next category. After all, it’s not called “adventure” for no reason.
Generic Tools
Typically the more extraordinary the repair, the more generic the tools get. If you find yourself wrenching on your bike after an unfortunate mishap, chances are parts are not as accessible as they were when your bike left the factory. Make sure to bring tools that allow you to bend certain things back in place — a tire iron can serve a double-duty here — and bring pliers that help you move things easily when needed. A crescent wrench (or “adjustable wrench”) is great when you are in need of a “one size fits all” wrench, and it is a great tool to make friends with when helping others who didn’t bring their tools. If your bike is chain-driven, bring a chain repair kit with you.
Life savers
Expect the unexpected when going out on adventure. There are some items that easily get overseen during your preparations, while they can turn out to be crucial in order to keep you going. Make sure to pack tape & tiewraps — and maybe watch a few McGyver episodes — as they are great for quick roadside repairs. A 12-volt tester, some wire and various fuses will help fix small electrical issues, and a small assortment of bolts goes a long way in remounting things that break down along the way. Finally in this category: bring any kind of liquid metal or foldable steel. These often epoxy-based liquids can be true life savers to temporarily fix a hole in your engine or oil reservoir to help you reach your destination.
The usual suspects
It's not only roadside repairs that you need to prepare for. A common phrase used by those who ask a lot from their motorcycles is: “if you are good for your bike, your bike will be good to you”. Bring the right oil so your oil level is always correct. A can of chain lube will keep things running smooth, and it never hurts to bring brake fluid with you as you don’t only want to keep going, you sometimes need to stop. And in case you plan on getting away from civilization, an additional canister of fuel might be the final box to tick when it comes to the things you need to bring to keep your bike going.
