Sorry if this has been done before but I want to put together a toolkit to carry on my Sportster. What do people carry wrench wise etc?

 

Cell phone

 

ha ha ha!! me too.

 

Cell phones are useful, but only if you're willing to wait for someone to come rescue yer butt when you could fix whatever is wrong yourself... I'm not too big into needing other people to save me from myself, though... Besides, you never know when a buddy will call YOU sayin' he's broken down and needs a hand.

Personally, I carry a socket set, torx fitting sockets, Craftsman Professional ratcheing box wrenches, a set of allen wrenches, one of those "multi screwdriver" things, 8" crescent wrench, needle nose pliers, leatherman style multi tool, a GOOD knife, spare lightbulbs (tail, headlight, turn signals) some electrical tape, duct tape, a couple feet of wire, a couple yards of rope, extra throttle and clutch cables, some jumper cables, flashlight with extra batteries, Stop N Go tire patch kit, and a 12V tire pump. I'm sure I'm missing something, but that's the basic kit.

All this lives in the right hand saddlebag. There's plenty of room in there for a spare set of gloves, sun screen, a couple bottles of water, a can of gasoline and a couple other things...

When I'm going to be riding out in the boonies, I add to the kit. If I'm riding to work (3.5 miles) I leave the saddlebags in the garage.

 

If I'm going more than around town, a cell phone. On an overnight trip, my wallet, a cell phone and a couple pair ofboxers stuffed into my pockets.

 

.....and HOG card

 

At least $50 cash in your pocket is always a great tool.

 

Here's what I carry, fits pretty much all of the fasteners on my xl1200c:

ratchets: 1/4" & 3/8" drive
socket drive handle: 1/4"
socket extensions: for 1/4"& 3/8" drives
spark plug socket
conventional sockets: 7/16, 1/2 for 3/8" drive; 5/16 (for exhaust heat shields), 3/8"for 1/4" drive; 10mm & 11mm for 1/4" drive (battery and ground connections)
allen wrench handi-sets
hex bits: 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16
torx bits: T15, 25, 27, 45, 50
screwdriver
spark plugs
spark plug gauge
box wrenches: 1/2, 5/8
vise grips
pliers: standard & needle nose
wire cutters
flashlight
dental mirror
headlamp and turn signal bulbs
tie wraps
wire
duct tape
electrical tape
anti-seize compound (for spark plugs)

Some may think it's overkill, buteverything fits in a relatively small tool bag except for the spare bulbs and flashlight, which I keep in a saddlebag. I keep the kit on the bike at all times, you never know what's going to shake loose.

 

Holy CRAP! It's like the Bat Belt for Sportsters!

You forgot some REALLY important parts....kickstand springs, and fuses (if you still HAVE fuses...heheh).

Half that **** you don't really need. A crescent wrench or a set of stubbys, allens/torx, one phillips and one flathead screwdriver, vise grips, and electrical tape and some scrap 16ga. and 12ga. wire will get you going in almost any case. I also keep some bailing wire and a few zip ties around. Spare headlight/taillight bulb (one of each) is a good idea, too. Signal bulbs aren't really a necessity, even if they go out on you and you get pulled over it's just a fix-it-ticket.

If you need anymore than that on the side of the road, then chances are you're not goin anywhere anyways because somethin big broke.

 

Good point on the fuses and springs. Spare fuses are in the fuse block. Anyway, all that stuff fits in my tool bag, so I mightas wellhave the tools in there instead of extra space. Takes up the same amount of space on the bike. I've had all sorts of crap come loose on the road at some point or other, like exhaust stud nuts, footpegs etc.