ADVICE – BIKE TOOLS ON THE GO
- DUCT TAPE
The sticky tool that can fix just about anything, ‘to a degree’. Duct tape is brilliant and a multifaceted talent: it will pack together broken body panels in a pinch, keep a trim from falling off while you get back home, and act as an insulator (including to keep heat off your hands)
- SMALL SOCKET AND SPANNER SET
There is basically no way of getting a bolt out without a socket and/or spanner set. If you have the room, a pocket-size set can be a life saver.
- SCREWDRIVERS
Like sockets and spanners, you’ll be having a bad day if you need to adjust a screw or remove a clip and don’t have a screwdriver. Given you don’t really need all sizes, a handy flat and Phillips heads will be all you need.
- ADJUSTABLE WRENCH
You can substitute the spanner set for a quality adjustable wrench. It won’t grip as tight and will be a bit thicker for those hard-to-reach places, but the adjustable wrench comes in different sizes.
- ALLEN/TORQUE KEYS
Like a screw or bolt, these star-shaped bolts won’t be coming out without a set of keys. Small and lightweight, it is certainly worth having a set on hand.
AND MORE…
Of course, the vintage of your ride and type will dictate what you need, not to mention the unique traits of your bike. There’s an endless choice of course, so now you have a good excuse to get into the store, drop past your local Burson Auto Parts or Autobarn and get an emergency toolkit together for your bike.
