SCREWDRIVERS

A combination screwdriver is essential here as well, so reversible bits with both Phillips and flat heads are ideal. Many motorcycle tool kits will include two sizes of each in a single tool, further reducing size while improving utility.

FLAT TIRE REPAIR KIT

Any useful kit should also include a flat tire repair system - whether that’s sealant, patches, or plugs - and the tools to utilize them. These kits aren’t included in the hand tool kits we discuss below, so just know that you should look for one to add to your riding gear.

Simply plugging the hole isn’t going to do you a lot of good if you can’t inflate the tire. We recommend including a small electric pump, or - if you don’t have reliable auxiliary power on your bike - a hand pump or portable CO2 system will get you back up and rolling to the nearest town.

You may also need to consider adding whatever tools you need to get your tire off your rim - which means getting your rim off your bike, too. That can include everything from a wrench or socket that matches your rear axle, wrenches to back out your chain tensioners, and tire irons to get a tire off a rim to address a leaking tube or major puncture.

PLIERS AND VICE GRIPS

Whether it’s getting hose clamps loose, grabbing a stuck bolt, or pinching a tough electrical connection, pliers and vice grips definitely have their place in your motorcycle toolkit.

You’ll be glad to have both if the unthinkable happens and you round a crucial bolt or fastener. Pliers and vice grips can get the job done now, and you can worry about replacing the hardware later.

ZIP TIES, TAPE, MAGNETS, ETC.

In addition to the tools themselves, there are some miscellaneous items that you might not think of that can be just as important.

Zip ties can hold bodywork in place, keep cables out of the way, or allow you to suspend sensitive parts like brake lines while you work.

Tape, especially duct tape and electrical, are essential for some of those electric gremlins you may encounter from time to time, and let’s be honest: a few lengths of good ol’ fashioned duct tape will always find a way to make itself useful.

No need to bring the whole roll with you every time you leave the house though, just wrap several lengths of tape around something narrow like a tool handle, a pen, a flashlight, whatever, and you’ll thank yourself later.

Word to the wise: a small telescoping pick-up magnet can also be a godsend when you drop that tiny nut or bolt into the bottomless abyss between your cylinder heads or inside your bodywork. Small, lightweight, inexpensive, and worth every penny for the skinned knuckles it prevents.