I want to put together a roadside kit for the bike….

[MarkPBG]

What tools are best to put in one?  I know I should include a spark plug wrench, a few spare fuses, and maybe the tools for suspension setting (for when you pick up a passenger) lol, and what? 10mm and 12mm wrench, a few spare fuel filters, and electrical tape too.  

ANything else you guys that ride a lot would recommend?

[TOOLS1]

Vise grips.
TOOLS

[MarkPBG]

Those are in my redneck repair kit along with a 5lb sledge and some duct tape. lol

I always carry vise grips! THE greatest invention by mankind yet!

[shinyribs]

A can of Grizzly and a Snickers bar for when stuff dont work and you gotta wait for your buddy to come with his truck.  Try to be secretive when making suspension changes for your "passenger"...you don't want the baby dolls thinking they're "heavy"

[Lucky 1]

You will not need a spark plug wrench.
Taking a 10,12,and 14mm is good if you develop a loose bolt.
Sometimes mirrors get loose.
Take a small bottle or spray can of chain lube.
Make sure the wrenches you have could adjust the chain.
I agree about vice grips.
A small tube of Loctite (BLUE).
A shop rag to wipe oil and you can wrap the tools in the shop towel.

[Piute]

 What "U" said and also,2 spark plugs(since the holder carrys 2),14mm (you 4-got).rain poncho(it will rain) ,latex gloves(weather will get colder at night on way back),bandana (always comes in handy rain off face / washing your face),eye droper full of brakefluid(Lil goes a long ways),asprin canister with missalaneuse scews ,small nuts n bolts few fuses(ya know),20.00$(try to forget it's there),bungie cords (tye down that road kill),
  ya see I have bags and a trunk ,for miles n miles n miles,of no worries

  Then there always everthing incuding the camp stove N

[Peterwh]

I think we need to start a thread about adding a sidecar to carry all this stuff.

 I have a few questions about some of the suggestions.  Piute, what medical condition would cause you to put brake fluid in your eye?  Donald, how can you be so sure he will not need a spark plug wrench?  Do you know something the rest of us are not aware of?  Any suggestions for trying to forget there's $20 in the tool kit?  Just trying to forget would make me remember.  Maybe there's something called an anti-mnemonic ie an aid to forgetting as opposed to an aide-memoir.  Sorry about this.  Just my weird sense of humour.

[Piute]

  try putting the whole quart of brake fluid under your seat,if you run out of gas on a country road that farmer is not taking your visa ,SAYING FOR GET IT IS LIKE ME TRYING TO FORGET I HAVE TO SAY THIS TO you TO HELP ANOTHER RIDER.


  side cars are like stationwagons they no your married and have kids

[Peterwh]

PS, forgot a question for Mark.  Exactly how many spare fuel filters do you think we need?  How many emergency oil changed are you planning on carrying out during the course of this road trip?  Surely if we carry several spare oil filters it's pretty pointless if we don't also carry enough extra oil for the same number of oil changes.  Also, in my experience, its pretty easy to damage the hexagon when removing the oil filter bolt, particularly when using vice-grips to do it so, just to be on the safe side, we should also include several replacement oil filter bolts.  Some people have to remove the exhaust header in order to remove the fuel filter, so i would add four spare exhaust gaskets.

Having thought this through some more, I'm thinking I'm going to need so much stuff that the sidecar will be insufficient.   I'm going to get my wife to follow in the truck to carry it all.  Then, if I break down, we can put the bike in the truck and drive home where I can carry out repairs in my heated workshop.  

Further apologies in advance for taking the piss.

[Peterwh]

Pouts, had you just delivered a load of logs in the trailer when you took the photograph?

[Peterwh]

That should have said Piute.  Damned auto text.

[TOOLS1]

Triple A
TOOLS

[Peterwh]

A flashlight

[shinyribs]

If you are just going for a leisurely stroll down to the local burger shop to show off your new chrome bits,then you probably don't need to load up a bunch of tools.But if you plan on being gone for awhile,or like me,ride alone,then it would be a good idea to have some tools with you.And yes,cash is king.I have cash stowed in every vehicle I own just in case i find myself hungry or low on fuel,miles down the road,no atm's and i just realize i forgot my wallet.Heck,you may even blow a tire or lose a chain.However,if I ever plan to venture out on such a trip that i will reach the intervals required to perform fluid change maintenance,then I would just plan on bringing enough cash to to do so as needed,and stowed cash will be no longer needed.I would recommend buying those items as necessary,as opposed to bringing a support team with me.JMO

[Piute]

   
What tools are best to put in one?  I know I should include a spark plug wrench, a few spare fuses, and maybe the tools for suspension setting (for when you pick up a passenger) lol, and what? 10mm and 12mm wrench, a few spare fuel filters, and electrical tape too.  

ANything else you guys that ride a lot would recommend?

       guys that ride a lot would recommend?
 
  lots of patients (could be a TOOL)for those A'z that don't understand

[sgtslag]

Far more important than your toolkit's contents, is the Preventative Maintenance you perform, before you ever throw a leg over...

Take a look at your maintenance records for your bike:

How often do things break down?  What is the most common failure?  What items are due for repair/adjustment/replacement within the next 1,000 miles?  How soon do you need to change any of the fluids and filters?  How much tread is left on your tires?

If you are planning on taking a 300+ mile trip, how many short trips have you taken in the previous two months, and how many total miles?  Were there any failures during that time?  If so, is there an underlying issue, or has it been resolved?  If your bike has performed for the past 1,000 miles, flawlessly, and nothing is due within the next 1,000 miles for repair/adjustment/replacement, then you should be safe to do that 1,000 mile trip.

PM's are more important, by far, than what is in your toolkit -- if you have done all of your PM's, you likely will not need your toolkit.  

Having said that, I have the OEM toolkit, but I supplement it with my $20 rachet set, from K-Mart (old, but still works, and it's small enough to fit into the saddlebags; have never needed it, but I carry it anyway -- weighs quite a bit, so it is something to consider carefully).  I carry an LED flashlight (most light for the size and weight).  I don't carry spare parts (1979 K, and a 1993 Voyager touring bike), as I rely heavily upon the PM routine to avoid the need for parts (fuel filters should be replaced on a PM schedule; gasoline would have to be chunky to clog a filter on one, or two, tankful's...).  Spare fuses are always a good idea, as they weigh next to nothing, and they take up very little space.

I pack a can of Pledge, and a microfiber towel for cleaning the windshield (plastic, so Pledge is about the only thing I use on it; the microfiber towel will not scratch it, but paper towels will), as well as the rest of the bike.  It does not leave any residue; it will take off the wax, so beware; it can be used on any bike surface you have, including the seats, and your leathers, if need be.  The aerosol can is bulky, but the benefits make it worthwhile.

Make sure you have your favorite chain lube onboard!  Chains should be lubed every 300 miles.  It is something best done at the end of the day's ride, every day.

Pack a tire pressure gauge -- most gas stations have air, but few have a pressure gauge on their air pump hose.  Tire pressure is uber-critical on a long ride...

If you blow a tube while driving, you likely won't be riding anywhere, except maybe to a hospital, or a shop, if you are truly fortunate.  I blew out the rear tube on my '79, this Summer, at 40 MPH -- did a low-side.  The bike was not ridable after it stopped sliding on the pavement.

Sorry for the long list, but I've been touring for three years now.  My wife and I rode our '79 K, around Lake Superior, just the two of us, no other riders with us, back in 2009.  Our "K" was 30 years old, with 14,000 miles on it, when we left.  We rode a total of 1,935 miles on our bike, which was overloaded with gear (I do not recommend overloading...).  The only issue we had, was the throttle grip came off in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Day 3.  We glued it back on, and we finished our trip without issue.  Our '79 K is one solid bike.  We've had some issues with it since, but that is to be expected with a 32 year old motorcycle.  YMMV.  Cheers!

[Piute]

 Back when I had triple A they didn't cover bikes ,why I stoped using them.Add what they did to my Insurance for less then 1/2 thereprice.

[TOOLS1]

My buddy has Triple A, and I think it covers his bike. I have roadside service through my insurance. It's $5.00 a month per vehicle. Unless, you are traveling through Central America the standard tool kit + vise gripes should be enough to handle any roadside repair. However when making long trips (over 300 miles) I do adjust the chain every day.
TOOLS

[Half-Caf]

shinyribs wrote

And yes,cash is king.I have cash stowed in every vehicle I own just in case

Thanks for the tip. I will remember that if I ever in your area

[Piute]

   Hey ChromeRibs ,a friend (biker lost)puts 5.00 bill under almost every patch he has sewed on his vest,cheap azz thing is worth some bucks