Basic motorcycle tool kit: what to keep at home and on the road

A basic motorcycle tool kit is a small set of quality hand tools that fit your bike's fasteners, plus a tire pressure gauge, a torque wrench, a few consumables and, for rides, a compact kit under the seat. Start with what your own bike's service tasks need rather than a giant boxed set, and buy good tools for the fasteners that matter most. Your owner's manual or service manual tells you what to buy, and which jobs to leave alone.

First, figure out what your bike needs

Fastener types and sizes differ by bike and brand.

1. Read the owner's manual for the factory tool kit contents and the maintenance list
2. Check your fasteners. Most Japanese and European bikes are metric. Some American, older British and custom bikes use SAE (inch) or both
3. Note any special fasteners: Torx, security bits, Allen heads, castle nuts or spanner nuts
4. Look at what jobs you'll do yourself, such as oil changes, chain care, air filter cleaning, brake pad changes or tire pressure checks

A service manual for your model is the best investment after the first wrench. It gives torque values, sequences and procedures.

The home garage kit

Hand tools

Tool	Why you need it
Socket set (3/8-inch drive, plus a 1/4-inch drive for small bolts)	Most body, engine and chassis fasteners
Combination wrench set	Where a socket won't fit
Hex (Allen) keys and a hex bit set	Fairings, levers, many engine bolts
Torx bits, if your bike uses them	Common on newer bikes and accessories
Screwdrivers (Phillips and flat)	Covers, clamps, small adjustments
Pliers set: needle-nose, slip-joint, locking	Cotter pins, hoses, clips
Rubber mallet or dead-blow hammer	Persuasion without damage
Torque wrench	Critical fasteners must be tightened to spec

Quality varies. Cheap sockets and hex keys can round off fasteners, which can turn a ten-minute job into a long one. Spend more on the tools you use most. Use the correct size and push tools squarely onto fasteners.

Measuring and checking

• Tire pressure gauge. A good one is essential. See motorcycle tire pressure for how to find the right numbers
• Tread depth gauge or a way to judge tread
• Feeler gauges, if you check valves yourself. See motorcycle valve adjustment and consider paying a shop if you aren't confident
• Multimeter. For battery voltage and basic electrical checks. See why a motorcycle battery keeps dying
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Ruler or tape measure, for chain slack and similar checks

Fluids, cleaning and consumables

• Oil drain pan and a funnel
• An oil filter wrench that fits your filter
• Shop towels and gloves
• Chain lube and a chain brush; see motorcycle chain maintenance
• Brake cleaner and a degreaser
• Threadlocker and anti-seize, used as the manual directs
• Dielectric grease for electrical connections
• Zip ties, electrical tape and some spare fuses
• Fresh oil, filters, crush washers and drain plug gaskets, matched to your bike. See what oil your motorcycle needs and how to change motorcycle oil

Support and safety

• A rear stand or paddock stand, to lift the bike for chain, wheel and tire work. Many sportbikes need one
• A front stand or fork stand, if suitable for your bike
• A wheel chock or tie-downs
• Eye protection and gloves
• A battery tender for storage and short-trip riders; see how to charge a motorcycle battery
• A fire extinguisher rated for the garage

Don't prop a bike on a stack of wood or on the sidestand to do wheel work. Use proper stands on a flat, firm floor.

The on-the-bike kit

Space is limited, so choose items that solve common roadside problems.

• The factory tool kit, if your bike came with one, plus the most-used sizes for your bike
• Compact adjustable wrench or a multi-tool, as a backup
• Hex keys and Torx bits that match your bike
• A small screwdriver with interchangeable bits
• Tire pressure gauge
• A small pump or CO2 inflator, if appropriate for your tires
• Zip ties, tape, safety wire or a few spare bolts and clips
• Spare fuses and, for older bikes, a spare spark plug and plug wrench
• A headlamp or small flashlight
• Gloves and a few shop towels
• Tow strap, if suitable. Don't tow a motorcycle with a rope unless a pro tells you how, since it's easy to go wrong
• A card with your roadside assistance number, insurance information and an emergency contact

A tire plug kit is a debated item. Some riders carry one for emergencies, but a plug is generally temporary and isn't right for every puncture or tire. Ask a tire shop what's safe for your tires, and see can you patch a motorcycle tire. After any roadside tire repair, have the tire inspected or replaced.

You'll also want a phone, a charging cable or portable battery, and a way to call for help. If your bike can't go on, motorcycle towing is a better choice than a risky ride, and you can compare motorcycle towing cost.

Beginner priorities: where to start with a small budget

If you can only buy a few things first:

1. Service manual for your model
2. Metric or SAE socket and hex key set, depending on your bike
3. Torque wrench
4. Tire pressure gauge
5. Chain lube and a brush, if you have a chain
6. Oil drain pan, funnel and filter wrench
7. Rear stand, if your bike needs one for chain care or wheel work

Add the rest as the jobs come up. A good rule is to buy a tool when you have a specific task for it.

Jobs a basic kit lets you do

• Check and set tire pressures
• Clean and lube the chain, and check slack
• Change oil and filter
• Replace brake pads on simple calipers, if you're comfortable
• Clean or replace an air filter; see how to clean a motorcycle air filter
• Test and charge the battery
• Do a pre-ride inspection
• Adjust levers and controls

Doing your own maintenance can reduce costs; our guide to motorcycle cost of ownership shows where it fits.

Jobs to leave to a professional

Some work needs special tools, training or safety knowledge, and mistakes can be dangerous.

• Brake hydraulic work if you aren't trained. See how to bleed motorcycle brakes to judge the difficulty
• Fork and suspension rebuilds
• Tire mounting and balancing, especially on tubeless tires
• Engine internals, valve work you don't feel sure of, and transmission repairs
• Electrical faults, charging-system diagnosis and ECU problems
• Frame, steering head and swingarm issues
• Anything involving fuel injection diagnostics or computer software

For a sense of which work is DIY-friendly, see the motorcycle maintenance schedule.

Keep records as you go

When you do your own work, note the date, mileage, parts and fluids. Good motorcycle service records help with resale and warranty questions, even when you did the work yourself. Torque specs, part numbers and photos of how things came apart are worth saving too.

Tool care

• Wipe tools clean after use, and store them dry
• Replace worn sockets and wrenches that slip
• Check torque wrenches for calibration as the manufacturer advises, and store them at their lowest setting if the maker says to
• Keep a tidy, labeled box so tools are findable

When to see a mechanic

Having tools doesn't mean you should do every job. Stop and bring the bike to a shop if you can't identify a leak, brakes feel soft, a fastener is stuck or stripped, the bike has a steering wobble or electrical gremlins, or you don't have the manual's torque specs. A shop can also check your work after a first attempt at something new. Find help through motorcycle maintenance shops or motorcycle repair shops in Seattle, and read how to find a good motorcycle mechanic if you don't have one yet.