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The summer edition of American Iron Garage has a small spread on basic tools. This looks like a good read for those who may not be strong mechanically, and could use advice on where to start with a decent tool set. As I always advise, buy what you need, and buy quality.
Here's what I carry, small, fits in the bottom of a saddlebag... learned from years of riding.
Most important to have? fuses, including maxi; zip ties; grip glue.
I no longer carry the air pump, as I don't have air shocks, but wished I did a few weeks ago, a friend flew down and rode with us, on a rental, and needed to adjust his shocks...
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.