5 Essential Tools to Pack When Touring
Tools for the Road
When planning a road trip on a Harley Tourer, one has limited space to carry tools and accessories to work on their bike in an emergency. Many agree that there is only a limited amount of work that can be done to your Harley on the side of the road, and while a major mechanical issue will put it out of commission, having a few important tools on hand can keep you from using that AAA card. There are a number of tools kits on the market that fold up and will nicely stow away in one of the saddle bags. Most of the the following tools listed are available in some shape or form in many of the motorcycle aftermarket tools kits, but if you are only bringing along a handful of tools from your toolbox, here is the list of instruments that are essential to have.
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1. Tire Plug Kit
The most likely problem one is bound to encounter on a lengthy ride is a flat tire. Motorcycle tires will rarely blow out or delaminate, but they are susceptible to punctures from nails, bolts and screws. With a basic tire plug kit, a punctured tire can quickly and easily be sealed up on the side of the road. Many riders like to carry a few cO2 cartridges to inflate a flat tire to a usable pressure. Similarly, there are some small compressor pumps that can plug into your bikes cigarette lighter (if equipped) to air up a flat.
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2. All-in-One Foldable Tool (Torx Drivers, Screwdrivers, Wrenches)
Individual wrenches and screwdrivers can be packed away to help with repairs, but too many of these good tools can become bulky and cumbersome. Harley, as well as a number of aftermarket tool suppliers, have created foldable tools that package a variety of individual tools to fit common Harley fasteners into one compact unit. These all-in-one tools are typically included as part of a new touring bike purchase and include several Torx drivers, Phillips screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, and a couple common wrench sizes to change things such as a spark plug. If you do not opt for a roll-up style tool pouch, then you should definitely bring one of these along as it will likely come in handy at one point or another.
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3. Tape and Wire Ties
The big Harley V-Twins have their share of vibrations, so it is not uncommon for a bolt to vibrate out or a wire to fray. You can have all the correct wrenches with you that any mechanic would ever need, but if a hard part happens to break or wiring is shorting out, you are likely going to be stranded on the side of the road. There are hundreds of stories where Harley riders have concocted a makeshift repair with wire ties and a small roll of duct or electrical tape to get them rolling into the next town where proper repairs could be made. There is good reason why survival guides list wire ties and duct tape as must-have items!
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4. Adjustable Wrench and Vise-Grips
If you are running a bare-bones tool kit on your cross-country ride, you definitely want to have an adjustable (crescent) wrench and a set of vise-grips (locking jaw pliers). A 6"-8" adjustable wrench is small enough to tuck away in a saddlebag or riding pouch, but still large enough to sufficiently fit and tighten most fasteners on the bike. A set of vise-grips are very versatile since they can supply constant pressure to straighten bent parts, extract a stripped bolt, or even lock two parts together to get you to the next stop. If you were to take only a tool or two along with you, these are arguably the best choices of the bunch.
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5. Cell Phone and Credit Card
As previously mentioned, there are some mechanical issues that simply don't lend themselves to roadside fixes. With cell phones being such an integral part of our lives, it's hard to imagine not taking one along with you on your ride, but be sure it is charged and ready to make a call if a breakdown occurs. Having a phone charger can also come in handy if your bike is equipped with a 12v power point. Additionally, it is always good idea to have a credit/debit card on hand to pay for transportation of the bike and any repair work that will be involved to get your hog back up and running.
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For maintenance and repair guides, browse our technical How-to articles right here at HDForums.com!
