Travel tool kit contents

[TYKE]

Originally Posted by burchy

You won't need bulbs on a 2020 Versys.  There aren't any!

  

It is arguable that you won't need a bag full of tools...the bike is a Kawasaki after all    

[UnionTed]

Originally Posted by TYKE

 

It is arguable that you won't need a bag full of tools...the bike is a Kawasaki after all   

I'm after a list of what folks see as the essentials and I'll probably be more likely to use them helping others than on my own three-year-old bike with only 10,000 miles.

That said, I've had Kawis that were less than completely reliable. I was never able to solve the propensity for the main fuse of my '78 KZ650 to go at random intervals without warning -- killing all power, including ignition and lights. In one fun instance, I was on I-80, heading west up the Sierra Nevada foothills at about 8pm on a moonless night when POOF! I scared the hell out of my girlfriend (riding her Honda CM400T) because to her I just seemed to pretty much disappear. Fortunately, the highway was empty, so I coasted to the shoulder, swapped in a replacement fuse, and fired back up for San Francisco. It was good to be young, beautiful, and immortal. Now I'm the opposite. :-)

[leachy]

I always include a multi-meter when I go on longer rides.

[UnionTed]

Originally Posted by leachy

I always include a multi-meter when I go on longer rides.

Thanks for that suggestion. I do have a small one around somewhere.

[matt50]

I always carry a tyre repair kit and small tyre inflator.  I learned that one the hard way after being caught out in the middle of nowhere up in Scotland a few years ago.  Not expensive and saves a whole load of hassle.

[Floydsz1]

Originally Posted by matt50

I always carry a tyre repair kit and small tyre inflator.  I learned that one the hard way after being caught out in the middle of nowhere up in Scotland a few years ago.  Not expensive and saves a whole load of hassle.

Same thing for me, after an incident in Scotland I now put gloop in my tyres aswell.
Also when we were heading for a boat in Spain a mate with us had a puncture but no idea or way to fix it. He'd have missed the boat if we hadn't have plugged his tyre. We were delayed by about 15 mins compared to hours maybe if he'd have waited for recovery.

[9094]

My tool kit weighs 9.5 lbs and includes a Fluke 85 meter and butane powered soldering iron, solder etc as well as a tire plugging kit with co2 inflator.

[UnionTed]

Originally Posted by matt50

I always carry a tyre repair kit and small tyre inflator.  I learned that one the hard way after being caught out in the middle of nowhere up in Scotland a few years ago.  Not expensive and saves a whole load of hassle.

Yes. I see tire plugs and an inflator as critical. I'm thinking about getting an electric tire pump.

[UnionTed]

Originally Posted by Floydsz1

Same thing for me, after an incident in Scotland I now put gloop in my tyres aswell.
Also when we were heading for a boat in Spain a mate with us had a puncture but no idea or way to fix it. He'd have missed the boat if we hadn't have plugged his tyre. We were delayed by about 15 mins compared to hours maybe if he'd have waited for recovery.

By "gloop," do you mean some sort of sealant? I've always avoided using that for my car tires and have never thought about it for my bikes. Is that in addition to an external plug?

[UnionTed]

Originally Posted by 9094

My tool kit weighs 9.5 lbs and includes a Fluke 85 meter and butane powered soldering iron, solder etc as well as a tire plugging kit with co2 inflator.

Interesting. I'm not sure my level of soldering skill makes it useful to carry anything beyond electrical tape and wire. I'd probably be more likely to increase the damage than fix it. :-)