View Full Version : The essential biking toolkit - what's under your seat?
dirtsk8
21-07-08, 09:08 PM
This is from one of the mountainbiking forums I frequent.
What's in your toolkit? What do you carry in case of emergency?
Share your tips here.
Here's mine.
The usual needle/long nosed pliers
Topeak Alien multitool
torques set
1 pair latex gloves
the essential cable/zip ties
change for phone
£5 note folded up
old 35mm film tub of swarfega
cloth/rag.
mobile phone
small water bottle (full)
tiny roll of insulating tape.
All this is squeezed under the seat.
I reckon I'd be okay in most situations - what, if anything, do you carry?
I'm on the Monster at the minute so space is very limited. I have
Glow Stick
Puncture Repair Kit
Fuses (It's Italian)
Allen Keys
Tyre Pressure Gauge
Screwdriver
Tape
Chain Lube
Cable Ties.
Filipe M.
21-07-08, 09:44 PM
Breakdown recovery phone number.
?5 note folded up
i can see how that would be handy
:-dd
yorkie_chris
21-07-08, 09:58 PM
Swarfega? lol.
1/4 drive ratchet, 4 5 +6mm bits. Screwdriver, preload spanner, pliers, plug spanner, 8 10, 12, 14, 17mm spanners, electrical tape, cable ties, fixer peg.
+misc stuff
Jayneflakes
21-07-08, 10:00 PM
:cool:
Seeing as you stole this thread from a MTB forum, my mountain bike kit consists of the following.
2 x Inner tubes,
Topeak Alien
First Aid Kit
Pump
Swiss Army Knife
Whistle
Puncture Repair Kit
As for the Motorbike, I find the best thing to have around is your very own mechanic. It is for this reason that I keep a first rate Carol. She keeps our bike in tip top condition, bless her, but for those things she can't repair I keep my RAC Membership card handy.
So here is a big hand for my Beautiful Carol. Not sure what I would do with out her. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
Std SV toolkit, mobile phone, RAC breakdown card, spare clutch lever (Broken but useable), spare bolt for the rear torque arm (Lost one once, had to buy 2 from the shop)
Luckypants
22-07-08, 08:23 AM
On the VFR I have an alarm and scottoiler under the seat, it is now full.
I carry
VFR tool kit
Allen keys
Tyre pressure gauge
Fixer peg
zip ties
gaffer tape
RAC recovery number
.... in a small tankbag.
timwilky
22-07-08, 08:27 AM
Waterproofs, carry recovery card in wallet
Nobbylad
22-07-08, 08:39 AM
The std SV toolkit (which is quite good considering), Fixer-peg, tyre pressure gauge, Oxford disc lock.
Have the number of the recovery service (free with my bike insurance) stored on the moby for anything other than basic stuff.
Absolutely nothing, I removed the honda toolkit as it weighs 2kg and everything in it would be useless to me anyway.
I carry......
A credit card for fuel.
My Photo driving licence so I can be identified if something happens.
My phone with important numbers clearly saved in.
Some change for a drink/snack.
Ceri JC
22-07-08, 09:11 AM
Spare clutch and front brake levers, gear/rear brake fixer peg,
Standard SV toolkit, minus the c-spanner and rear axle spanners,
Bright LED Flasher (rather than flating the batteries with the hazards on),
Puncture repair kit,
Small roll of duct tape (wrapped round a bit of card to make it flat),
Small perfume atomiser with WD40 in it,
Adjustable spanner,
Cruz Tools Outback'r M14 (mountain biking multi-tool),
Cheapo imitation leatherman (wouldn't have the longevity of a real leatherman, but this is v. seldom used, so hopefully not an issue)- replaced by a genuine leatherman wave if the bike has been playing up and I suspect I'll need it,
spare fuses and electrical connectors.
In addition to the above it's about to be augmented by a very small vaseline tin filled with lithium grease. Oh and BTW, my SV's seat also has an alarm, scottoiler and 1.5M chain under it- you can fit loads in there with careful packing!
A bit of a tip- when doing a job on the bike for the first time (other than things you'd never do at the road side, eg valve clearances), see if you can do it using the stuff you carry on the bike (even if it's a bit more of a faff/slower). Occassionally you'll discover that something you thought was an AA call out job can be done with the stuff you already have, or that just adding one component to your toolkit suddenly makes the job possible.
Strangely enough - I don't have a small variety of hammers stored under the seat...
... Just one 'multi-purpose' one and the number for the AA. ;)
Carole Nash recovery number stored in my mobile phone. I own an extremely well maintained 05 plate bike with less than 10K miles on it, so in the very unlikely event of a breakdown I'm not going to faff around with cheap and nasty tools and duct tape trying to fix it at the roadside - I'll call a professional out instead.
Dangerous Dave
22-07-08, 11:37 AM
- SV tool kit (with replacement non-cheese tools)
- Small bottle of Silkolene PRO FST (winter only)
- £10 note
- Clutch and Brake lever
- Duct tape
So far none ever needed.
Puncture repair kit.
Spare brake & clutch levers
Assorted spanners & sockets including allen and screwdriver heads.
Cable ties
A little gaffa tape
Mole-grips
This lot all gets used for other people more often than myself thankfully!
Dried fruit and a hamster.
I'm on the Monster at the minute so space is very limited. I have
Glow Stick
;)
For that special moment when you break down between the hours of dusk and dawn and have no alternative but to party hard, on the grass verge until the sun rises?
:rave:
I have nothing but a scottoiler under mine, though I am considering glow sticks, now.
Glow sticks is a good idea, as I broke down with a duff battery so could not easy be seen, so would have helped as my little torch didn't cut it much.
First aid kit
Puncture repair kit
Spanners and sockets
Allen and screwdriver heads and multitool.
Swiss army knife
Cable ties
Gaffa tape
Mole-grips
Fuses
Spare Front bulb
V2 visor thingy
Disk lock
Waterproofs
UK Map
Bungee cords
Freeloader solar battery charger
.....the Thunderace has a big boot you see :D
;)
For that special moment when you break down between the hours of dusk and dawn and have no alternative but to party hard, on the grass verge until the sun rises?
:rave:
.
i take it thats what the rolled up notes are for aswell;)
wheelnut
22-07-08, 01:25 PM
Mobile phone & AA card in my wallet, digital tyre pressure gauge under seat and a thing for getting stones out of horses hooves.
i take it thats what the rolled up notes are for aswell;)
Noone said anything about rolling them up, the reference was "folded"
Anything you want to share with us? Or shall we keep the "occasional bit of green" / "smack habit" off topic?
(Extra points to anyone who carries a small mirror too)
:D
fizzwheel
22-07-08, 01:36 PM
Basic toolkit my bike came with
Puncture repair kit
Fixerpeg
Warthog
25-07-08, 12:06 PM
A lot of people have said puncture repair kit. Which ones do you use and where did you get them from? I think I want to buy a plugger type one shortly.
suzsv650
25-07-08, 12:10 PM
my baffle for my zorst
glsuk1970
25-07-08, 01:02 PM
Just checked mine and I've got:
A5 Map of the UK
6 pairs of earplugs
A tea towel
Small plastic bag
Swarfega (free with a magazine but it's dropped to the side and my chip eating chubby hands can't reach it!)
As I'm riding to Cornwall in a couple of weeks I might consider taking a few sensible items but the tea towel is staying!
Gazza77
25-07-08, 01:04 PM
Under my seat? The exhaust. ;)
Nobbylad
25-07-08, 01:53 PM
A lot of people have said puncture repair kit. Which ones do you use and where did you get them from? I think I want to buy a plugger type one shortly.
+1
I was about to post this very question
Warthog
25-07-08, 03:19 PM
+1
I was about to post this very question
Might have to go for new thread as it is getting eff all attention here :lol:
Nobbylad
25-07-08, 03:28 PM
Lol....I've done a quick scout around, there's a few on eBay for around £14 + postage for the plugger type.
There's also a liquid that goes in the tyre (but like tyreweld I would imagine), that stays in liquid form and when you get a puncture, it 'leaks' into the hole to seal it. The blurb says that the liquid helps distribute heat evenly around the tyre and can prolong the life of it etc etc, but I'm a little dubious about all of the claims.
There's a site that also sells valve caps that indicate correct/incorrect tyre pressure. So if it's green, you're at the right pressure, if it's red, you've lost some air!
EDIT: http://www.ppp.swiftlysorted.co.uk/_sgt/f10000.htm
Warthog
25-07-08, 03:43 PM
I have heard that the goo ones make getting the tyre fixed much harder. Also the goo can settle on one side unbalancing the wheel. Pluggers are better I hear.
Do a search on puncture repair kits they've been discussed once or twice before.
In short: Slime / Ultra seal may work in some circumstances, but I don't like the idea of it in the tyre, and tyre fitters hate it.
External bung type: Rep&Air or similar easy to come by, and work. Bit of a fiddle though
Sticky String: Less available, but easier to use, less mess and less fuss. My favourite by a long way.
Tyre pressure gauge valve caps: Been less popular since they came out. Pros: Visual inspection shows pressure. Cons, don't work if you try other tyre pressures, and they hold the tyre valve open so a few people found they were loosing air slowly, and if one fails you let all the air out through it quite quickly.
There are some very flash tyre repair kits available. The sticky string ones cost very little and work well.
Jambo
Having seen the list of stuff that some people seem to have stashed away I find myself confused - I seem to have inadvertently stumbled into a Volvo estate owners site...
Oh, and I have:
Alarm
Digital tyre pressure gauge
Wardrobe
Original tool kit
Leatherman thing
Ear plugs
Puck stand
I am now going to find a 35mm film case to fill with Swarfega.
mister c
26-07-08, 01:44 PM
Easier to put it up in a photo really.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/croozenooze/New%20SV/DSC00269.jpg
ArtyLady
26-07-08, 03:30 PM
Which bit is the seat? :scratch: I just ride the thing ;)
fizzwheel
26-07-08, 03:43 PM
A lot of people have said puncture repair kit. Which ones do you use and where did you get them from? I think I want to buy a plugger type one shortly.
Repandair one from Hein Gerricke
Double sided sticky tape and a used up bog role. Got me out of many tricky moments.
Oh and puncture repair kits. Sticky string by a million miles. I have NEVER had one fail on a repair I have made.
startrek.steve
26-07-08, 05:26 PM
... The Engine!!!
Steve:D
ArtyLady
26-07-08, 09:36 PM
... The Engine!!!
Steve:D
Oh is that what that black thing is? ;)
yorkie_chris
26-07-08, 09:48 PM
What bike have you got? The engine's a little further forward than the seat... :-P
My seat's got some bouncy bits and some zappy bits and lots of tangly wiry bits under it ;) :smt043
Endellion
27-07-08, 07:46 AM
Whats a fixer peg?
Is it a peg that fixes anything in particular?
I have a mouse infestation under my seat, shouldn't have left that cheese sandwich under there
yorkie_chris
27-07-08, 10:52 AM
Fixer peg is made by davieSV, and is a little peg which bolts quickly and easily onto the broken end of gear lever or rear brake lever.
kwak zzr
28-07-08, 08:32 AM
i got - tool kit, peg fixer, tubeless repair kit and a fiver, ooo and an AA card in my wallet.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.