Essential and useful tools list?

After adding a few things to my toolbox over the last couple of weeks it got me thinking about what people thought are essential or very handy tools to have when working on bikes and possibly cars.

I'll start a list below, add to the bottom a tool or piece of equipment you think everyone should have. Feel free to add more than one and explain why if it's not blatantly obvious. No repeating tools already on the list

hopefully this will help anyone wondering what to buy/borrow/aquire for starting to work on bikes..

• Allen key set

Flexi head ratchet spanners. So handy when you're working on those awkward to get to places (think exhaust headers) and you don't need to faff around with getting your spanner on and off - just get it on and work it like you'd work your.....

[squirrel_hunter]

Hammer.

[Red Herring]

I'll tell you what, I'll follow the instructions and keep the list going......

Allen key set
Flexi head ratchet spanners
Hammer
Decent metric socket set, ideally with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drives up to 32 odd for wheel nuts and swingarms.

[SIII]

Allen key set
Flexi head ratchet spanners
Hammer
Decent metric socket set, ideally with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drives up to 32 odd for wheel nuts and swingarms.
Set of quality screwdrivers - so you don't chew up cheap cheese suzuki fasteners
Sidecutters - again the best you can afford for clean cuts of cables and wiring

[embee]

I'll not add to the list, rather I'll second RedHerring's, specifically the best single item I have which gets the most use is a decent 1/4" drive socket set with six-sided sockets and a range of dedicated screwdriver and allen sockets, much better than loose bits and a bit-socket. I'd be totally lost without it. I have a Britool set (I suspect the newer versions aren't quiet as nice as the older versions, obviously made in a different factory from the finish on them, but still a decent set)

[SIII]

+1 on 1/4" drive set being the single best piece of kit, THIS ONE (But don't pay that for it, last time i paid less than £15 using trade card, on ebay for £25)

Allen key set
Flexi head ratchet spanners
Hammer
Decent metric socket set, ideally with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drives up to 32 odd for wheel nuts and swingarms.
Set of quality screwdrivers - so you don't chew up cheap cheese suzuki fasteners
Sidecutters - again the best you can afford for clean cuts of cables and wiring
Torque wrench.

[Red Herring]

Again without adding to the list as technically it's on there, but if your socket set includes a set of 3/8 drive allen key bits then you will find them far more adaptable than your typical allen key block set.

Red Herring hits most of it on the nose.
I'd make the allen key set ball ended ones though, and i've have at least one torx ratchet set, as that saves a lot of time as well.