Don't leave home without it

Decided to start this thread showing some of the stuff I've been carrying on various trips. The first part will be mostly related to the equipment I always bring, and the second part will cover some of the camping and travel gear my wife and I used while touring the USA this summer.

Feel free to chime in with your favorite equipment and ideas :gerg:

First up are the tools. Most bikes come with horrible quality toolkits, hardly the stuff you want to rely on when you're out on the road. If you're in China, a quick trip down to the local tool market and you can make a nice quality kit for very little money. Roll some electrical and duct tape around the handle of a large tool and put some zip ties on to keep it from sliding.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_001.jpg

The Wolfman toolbag is from America and I've had this one for over 5 years. Still looks like new and will probably last another 10 years.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_002.jpg

All rolled up and ready to go. The lighter gives you an idea of the size and is also one of those handy things you don't want to forget.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_002a.jpg

I always carry a leatherman and a knife in my tank bag or side pocket. A lot of simple things can be fixed or adjusted with these which takes less time than breaking out the larger toolkit.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_003.jpg

A small air pump can be a life saver when you're out in the boonies. I'm amazed at how many people tell me they don't carry one. :eek2: Along with the pump, you should have a patch kit for tubes, or a plug kit for tubeless tires.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_004.jpg

An assortment of popular nuts, bolts and spacers always seems to come in handy. Not a bad idea to add some helmet faceshield screws as well.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_005.jpg

Locktite, super glue and liquid steel are great for temporary fixes.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_006.jpg

Rubber gloves from the hospital or food prep industries are great for messy repairs.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_007.jpg

Some fuel line, shrink tube, zip ties, piece of coat hangar and alligator clip wires can fix just about anything.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_008.jpg

Tiny multi-meter for figuring out electrical issues.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_009.jpg

Parachute cord or tent rope is very light and amazingly strong. Good for tying stuff down, hanging clothes, or towing your bike.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_011.jpg

I keep all these supplies packed in a small cassette tape bag that is padded. Candy tins are a great way to keep things like glue from opening up and making a mess while out on the road.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_012.jpg

A few spare parts that I usually car on longer trips.

A master link is absolutely vital and I recommend carrying two as a broken chain can really spoil your day. Make sure you get the exact same brand as the chain you buy as I have seen many cases where links won't fit from different manufacturers.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_010.jpg

A spare shift lever is nice if you have the room.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_013.jpg

Clutch and brake levers are easily broken if you don't have handguards.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_014.jpg

An extra tube is pretty much mandatory for riding in China.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_015.jpg

I also carry a spare clutch cable and spark plug.

That's the first part of my list, feel free to add more.

Cheers!
ChinaV

ChinaV, you made my day! now we Germans are out of the "cold wind". normaly everybody is laughing about our trip preparations. you top it! thanks!
Sabine

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Originally Posted by SabineHartmann

ChinaV, you made my day! now we Germans are out of the "cold wind". normaly everybody is laughing about our trip preparations. you top it! thanks!
Sabine

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Hmmm.... I wonder if that comes from all the work I've been doing with German companies over the last 10 years. :rolleyes1:

Thanks for the compliment... I think :lol8:

Cheers!
ChinaV

Good work, good work. Great idea for a post. I have all of that, and more. On the bike my kit is 'similar' to yours, just a wee bit smaller - at least, I always carry a cigar lighter and a knife .... the rest of the kit usually sits in the shed unfortunately and is always missing the actual bit that drops off!!!!
I wish you had posted this a few days ago and I might have packed it on the bike! Today it was the gear lever that fell off and as I had gone a fair way since the last change, it was a loooong walk along the roadside - I rode back twice looking, stuck in fourth gear so too fast to see properly so eventually had to walk a couple of km. to eventually find it in the grass which was fortunate. I would have used the 'mole grip pliers' in an emergency, if they hadn't been in the shed at home.

Looking forward to seeing the camping gear as I have a couple of day packs made up for bow-hunting and for bush-fire emergencies, it will be good to compare. Mine are 'cheap and cheerful' components but do the job in this climate.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jape

Today it was the gear lever that fell off and as I had gone a fair way since the last change, it was a loooong walk along the roadside - I rode back twice looking, stuck in fourth gear so too fast to see properly so eventually had to walk a couple of km. to eventually find it in the grass which was fortunate. I would have used the 'mole grip pliers' in an emergency, if they hadn't been in the shed at home.

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That you found the lever is amazing, and should be taken as a sign of your good karma. Sometimes things fall off, rarely are they found. :thumbsup:

Cheers!
ChinaV

Yeah, it was a strange feeling to try and change down just before entering a bend and the foot just pressing on air! The funny thing was I had no real idea what it looked like (just a brain glitch) but it was indeed good karma as the black rubber tip was just sticking up a bit, the rest of the lever was covered in mud and lost in the background.

I will get my 'emergency pack' out of the car tomorrow and check it through before the summer fire-season, so thanks for the timely reminder! We have some good debates on the bow-hunting forums about the best brands for gear but not much about the actual contents and necessities, with some variations depending on climate zone and electrical toys. Will post pics later.

:clap:

This is great - thanks ChinaV - it helped me realize the deficiencies with my current roadside kit (a mobile phone with my sweety on speed dial).

I laugh now at my ignorance about "prep" from when I first started "touring" (motorcycles had just been invented). I'd pack lots of oil, a full set of spokes (like I'd be able to respoke a wheel on the side of a road), and assorted other useless trash. About 40 pounds of "just in case", instead of the basic essentials like beer and cigarettes (which are amazingly quite useful on the side of a road).

You're kit seems bang on - now I just need to find the Beijing tool market.

:clap:

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Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou

:clap:

This is great - thanks ChinaV - it helped me realize the deficiencies with my current roadside kit (a mobile phone with my sweety on speed dial).

I laugh now at my ignorance about "prep" from when I first started "touring" (motorcycles had just been invented). I'd pack lots of oil, a full set of spokes (like I'd be able to respoke a wheel on the side of a road), and assorted other useless trash. About 40 pounds of "just in case", instead of the basic essentials like beer and cigarettes (which are amazingly quite useful on the side of a road).

You're kit seems bang on - now I just need to find the Beijing tool market.

:clap:

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Lao Jai Huo, great post -- you're really sounding like, well, a Lao Jia Huo. I'm laughing out loud, the acronym for which I can't remember...

If Beijing is anything like Shanghai, the local tool mart will blow your mind. Yes, tools have advanced a lot since the time motorcycles were invented. You can probably still buy pre-bloodied clubs and sharpened obsidian chips, but China's tool scene is astonishing. In Shanghai it's an entire district of town, block after block of multifloor tool emporia where you can buy anything from near-microscopic forceps to industrial drill presses the size of ChinaV's Weeee or bigger. At the center is a huge tool supermarket with counters representing all the various Chinese manufacturers, and there are many, given that lots of tools around the world of course are made here, including those in chains like Harbor Freight (though Sears, I think, still makes Craftsman tools in the US). So you'll see quite a bit of redundancy here, at very competitive prices. A great brand is SATA, which has excellent bang for the buck, in quality terms. The tool mart here is like a tourist destination. I always see middle aged guys from around the world wandering around like kids in a candy store, muttering things like, "Oh, man, I could use one of those!" "Jeez, check this out!" and "Whaaaa!"

I live in a high rise and don't have a workshop, so I appreciate anything that can help keep my tools in order. SATA has a couple of different "automotive kits", one of which I bought for under 600 RMB and includes a broad selection of sockets, box wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and some specialist things like sparkplug extractors -- all in a nice hard case. You wouldn't want to carry the case when riding, but this is the moral equivalent of a big wallboard where every tool has its special hook. So now I'm in the market for something like ChinaV's Wolfman pouch.

ChinaV, thanks indeed for kicking this off. Tons of food for thought in your post. By the way, do those tire irons nest together?

cheers!

Euphonius, this tool market sounds epic. Is there a bar there too? I reckon it could be a perfect place to host the weekly bike meet. I cannot think of a better place to get drunk and creative.

ChinaV, thanks a lot for starting this thread, you have a really nice kit! (in most situations i would be saying this to a lady)

And to anyone who might think that ChinaV is over-packing, almost everything in there got used plenty during our south china tour in may!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by euphonius

If Beijing is anything like Shanghai, the local tool mart will blow your mind.

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Jeff, could you point me in the direction of the tool mart in Shanghai? I have passed by a few districts in some old sections of town with lots of tool shops but not sure if it is the one you indicated. Thanks in advance.

@Milton: My first try would be the eastern section of Beijing Lu - until 3 years ago it was just as much paradise euphonius describes...
Just south of the Suzhou creek, close to the bund.

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Originally Posted by andre555

@Milton: My first try would be the eastern section of Beijing Lu - until 3 years ago it was just as much paradise euphonius describes...
Just south of the Suzhou creek, close to the bund.

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Thanks. I'll give it a try.

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Originally Posted by milton

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

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Give a shout before you go Milton! (sms)

the place you are looking for is indeed along beijing lu about three blocks east of tibet road. I'm thinking the cross street is probably Zhejiang Lu. The whole district is nothing but tool stores, but there's a nicer place that's set back from the street. the ground floor has very high ceilings, two floors high. not a claustrophobic place. inside there is a counter for every major brand of Chinese tools. Look for the SATA counter; it's green.

The place will blow your mind.

cheers

Before I make a toolkit, I must first have at least some relevant motorcycle wrenching experience. For now, I just know how to change the oil (broke the cap once, didn't know it's plastic) and maybe adjust and lube cables. Maintenance book is on the way. But what's item #23 on in ChinaV's original post?

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Originally Posted by slabo

But what's item #23 on in ChinaV's original post?

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Its a doovalacky. You hit things with it when all else fails mate - as opposed to a thingumabob which is always kept somewhere near the whatchamacalliit and is always on the workshop bench at home when you need it.

It is not a 'special service tool' which is required only by first degree 'mechanics of the secret order of arcane bs' and serves mainly to frustrate you so you will pay high charges after breaking your nails, getting at least three blood blisters, ripping your trousers, losing an eye and finally giving up. 'Special service tools' don't actually exist in this dimension, they can be ritually invoked with gold, US dollars or sometimes, in extreme cases, blood. When invoked into this realm by bs adepts they take on the appearance of something you can make yourself with a bottle cap, two bits of wire, an adhesive band-aid and belly button fluff.

Don't be fooled, if you have no arcane metaphysical bs training in 'glamour', they will fall into a heap of unrelated component parts, as will you. Then you require the doovalacky and you hit things. Simple.

Item #23 - Safety wire pliers. These can be used as pliers, wire cutters and as a safety wire tool (pull the round thingy and it twists the wire). You would be amazed at how many things you can fix with safety wire. The basics here.

Cheers!
ChinaV

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

A small air pump can be a life saver when you're out in the boonies. I'm amazed at how many people tell me they don't carry one. :eek2: Along with the pump, you should have a patch kit for tubes, or a plug kit for tubeless tires.

http://www.contactdi.com/2010/gear/Tools_004.jpg

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I was looking into a portable air pump on Taobao this morning since my scooter has a tire that is slowly losing air again and I'm getting tired of always looking for some place to inflate my tire over and over again. This is already the 3rd-4th time in 6 months! Is it me not being cautious where I drive or is the Chinese always leaving their shit (glass, screws, you name it) everywhere on the streets? I assume the latter!

Anyway, I found this on taobao:

This looks very similar to the air pump in ChinaV's original post!?
Anyone has any experience with Slime Tire Sealant that is included in the set with the air pump? Any other suggestion on products for fixing tubeless tires (and available in China)?

Furthermore I found this portable air pump on Taobao, which is a bit more in the Chinese price-range!

The first one you linked to is indeed the same as mine. I think I only paid about $35.00 when I bought it in America. The inexpensive one seems just fine :thumbsup: Maybe this one is a little better with the built in gauge. Slime also has a cheapo that I can't find on Taobao, the tire top off comes with built in pressure gauge and all for only about $10.

There's not much to these pumps, just a mini compressor, hoses and cables. I will say that mine has been beaten to hell on many kilometers of China roads and still works fine. The cheapo ones use a lot of plastic parts, so be sure to keep them protected from abuse.

The slime sealant does work pretty good. They claim it cleans off with just water, but I've heard some people say it's a bit messy when it comes time for a new tire.

Cheers!
ChinaV

There also the same one as I linked before with pressure gauge for 6 kuai more. :clap:

A vedry good thread. Your equipment set is what I would want to have with me. I have almost it but not quite as good.

Thanks for bumping that thread, ChinaV. Excellent.

I've taobaoed around for the Wolfman or copy/equivalent and not found something quite so compact, but did find this rollup pouch.

http://img02.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/...!458415849.jpg

Moose Racing makes a similar pouch, which includes a zippered pocket for sockets, etc, but I haven't found that here either.

http://www.mooseracing.com/showImage...lsize&rank=100

I've found online sources for the Wolfman Roll, but they don't like orders under $75....

Wait, wait. Here's another. Not nearly as well designed, and no socket pocket.

http://img06.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/...!322724502.jpg

Mine tools are inside a rolled woolen bag. Not as neat as those dedicated tool bags but certainly more flexible and you can't beat the price!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by euphonius

Wait, wait. Here's another. Not nearly as well designed, and no socket pocket.

http://img06.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/...!322724502.jpg

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I'm waiting :popcorn: :popcorn::popcorn: Whatever you get, I'll get the same.

I'm buying this:: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=10189100762
No, I don't like sharp tools being close to my vitals when I'm riding, so it goes in the boot..

http://img03.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploa...pg_310x310.jpg

ChinaV, mind telling us what's #26 ??

I've got this one about a month ago http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=9862251027 The one Euphonius displays in his post above!

I think #26 is a holder for the pieces of #18 and #19 for example!

I bought a SATA toolkit today. Lifetime warranty.

Where do you get tire levers like #22? Light weight compact aluminum. I looked at the market today, couldn't find anything that compact.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slabo

I bought a SATA toolkit today. Lifetime warranty.

Where do you get tire levers like #22? Light weight compact aluminum. I looked at the market today, couldn't find anything that compact.

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Naim, what toolkit did you buy, and how will you decide what to carry during rides? Also, did you buy a rollup carrying case or the fanny pack you posted or something else? Really like that Wolfman bag that ChinaV has.

cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by euphonius

Naim, what toolkit did you buy, and how will you decide what to carry during rides? Also, did you buy a rollup carrying case or the fanny pack you posted or something else? Really like that Wolfman bag that ChinaV has.

cheers

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I bought the fanny pack showing in my previous post. Didn't get it yet, at a friends place in north KM.

This is the toolkit I got. SATA set #09001, got it from a shop near by for 289rmb. a stupid impulse buy. Cheaper on TB and can even get a bigger set. try this http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=9999094462 . The nice thing about getting SATA tools is you can always buy extra sockets or parts, still same warranty. I can always get more parts if needed.

On the road, I figure I will not need socket sizes other than 8, 10, 12, 13, and 14 .. So I'll only carry those. I'll post more photos of my kit all packed and on the bike. So far still missing tire levers. I did a quick taobao search and couldn't find any tire irons. Maybe I'll just buy the regular bulky ones and tie them somewhere on the bike as they won't fit in the pack. I think ChinaV didn't get his levers in China.