Useful tools for bike maintenance?

The Halfords Pro range is very good value if you buy when they are on sale. I wouldn't buy anything else there but the tools are fine for a garage DIYer.

Some other stuff to maybe consider:
vacuum gauges (for carb balancing) - get a set of carbtune second had or build your own for cheap
Feeler gauges (for plug gap and valve clearances) - a few quid
RUBBER MALLET!!! - essential bit of kit!
Good set of pliers.

Bought some feeler gauges, will have a gander at vacuum gauges!

Thanks

Something like this sufficient?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-Pocket...item563d9f053f

[rictus01]

yeah that'll do for basic diagnostics.

[Viney]

I have a fairly well stocked tool box. You need screw drivers and a hammer, that is all.

[Jayneflakes]

I have two tool kits, the on bike kit which is pretty handy in an emergency and my old tools from working as a push bike mechanic. Luckily my other half Carol has pro kit from when she worked as a bike mechanic a few years ago.

The basics are spanners, sockets, ratchets, screw drivers and Allen keys. With that lot, I can pretty much maintain the easy stuff. For harder jobs (like the upcoming valve clearance check) I rely on the wife's technical knowledge and her tools

[keith_d]

Once you've got the regular tool kit you might want to add:

Oil Filter Wrench (small)
Chain Breaker/Riveter
Axle removal tool
Dental pick (for removing o-rings)
Single handed brake bleed kit
12V bulb with two croc clip leads attached (for testing electrics)
Sid Squid (required for more difficult jobs!)

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by hongman

Bought some feeler gauges, will have a gander at vacuum gauges!

Thanks

I nearly got these off ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Cheap and basic but probably useful. Happened to pick up a really nice set of Davida ones at a boot fair though so one very happy chap. Be careful with secondhand carbtune ones as you'll need the restrictors and they get lost.

Balancing the throttles made probably the most noticeable change to both my bikes.

Most important tools though are a Haynes manual and lots of patience followed by a small tube of coppper grease to make second time round stuff so much easier. As for everything else, you'll never have enough tools or the right thing at the time you need it and if you do then you'll not find it anyway.

Bench vice (providing you have a bench)
Bench grinder
Good set of long nosed pliers
Spare rear brake res with master cylinder(great for pumping out pistons when servicing calipers)
Blowtorch
tubs of grease-copper, normal, red rubber
penetrant spray
gunk degreaser-cheap paint brushes for applying

Originally Posted by Mark_h

I nearly got these off ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Cheap and basic but probably useful. Happened to pick up a really nice set of Davida ones at a boot fair though so one very happy chap. Be careful with secondhand carbtune ones as you'll need the restrictors and they get lost.

Balancing the throttles made probably the most noticeable change to both my bikes.

Most important tools though are a Haynes manual and lots of patience followed by a small tube of coppper grease to make second time round stuff so much easier. As for everything else, you'll never have enough tools or the right thing at the time you need it and if you do then you'll not find it anyway.

No idea what the restrictors do...but is that set ok? Might buy if so.