Tools for newbie?

[SidG]

Hi all. Coming up to nearly a year I've had my first bike (MT07). I'm looking to do some basic mods on my bike (exhaust, tail tidy, R6 throttle tube) and want to do basic maintenance and servicing on it when it is out of warranty. I have very little in the way of tools and mechanical knowledge of bikes, so will be a big learning process for me. Sorry I know its a such a broad question, recommendations for good quality specific tools, or tool sets when starting out? Cheers for all the responses.

[curlie467]

Halfords pro range is good, good warranty and quality and sometimes on offer, worth a look.

[Krikkit]

I'd also recommend Bahco tools for just about anything, I'm supplementing my 1/2" Halfords Pro set (which was magnificent but a bit heavy) with their 3/8" range and sundry other hand tools.

For the weird and wonderful automotive-specific stuff I tend to buy the cheap crap from eBay unless I know it'll be useful forever, in which case I'll look at Draper. A lot of the eBay stuff is dross, but if it does one job then it's not as expensive, if it's a useful tool I'll buy a proper version.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 31st January 11:18

[dern]

The following covers most things for me (all tend to be halfords pro)...

- half inch socket ratchet
- half inch socket set ideally going down to 8mm
- deep socket for spark plugs in whatever size you need for your bike
- half inch extension/wobble bars in various lengths
- half inch allen key socket set
- allen keys for where the above doesn't fit
- ratchet spanner set ideally going to to 6mm
- good screwdriver set
- breaker bar and whatever socket sizes your front and rear spindle needs
- set of small wire brushes to clean crap off fasteners before you remove/refit them
- g-clamps or whatever your bike needs to push back brake pistons

There's loads of other stuff that you'll need if you want to change a chain for example (opinion differ but angle grinder and two hammers work for me) or change a tyre for yourself.

Probably forgotten loads of things but I found that if I'm about to adapt a tool beyond what it's designed for I should go and make a cup of coffee and probably get the right tool before breaking something.

[trickywoo]

A torque wrench will save you lots of headaches.

Its really easy to strip threads when working with aluminium which you will find a lot on bikes.

[Biker 1]

Hammer, wrecking bar, mole grips

[Moulder]

trickywoo said:

A torque wrench will save you lots of headaches.

Its really easy to strip threads when working with aluminium which you will find a lot on bikes.

This for me. It is usually obvious when rounding something off, but there is a huge range of torque figures on a bike and not always obvious that something is being over tigtened or damaged.

[SamR380]

Don't forget some thread lock.

Anyone have recommendations for tyre changing kit? I'm new to bikes and the offroad guys at work tell me only losers get someone else to change their tyres.

[essIII]

As others have said, Halfords Advanced range is a good place to start - lifetime warranty too, which I've used a couple of times with no quibble.

I've got one of these permanently in the garage and another that I take to track days:

https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/sock...

10% off if you happen to be an AA member too.

[A500leroy]

you can get a centre stand for the mt 07 now, itll help with chain maintenance and general cleaning.

[Jazoli]

SamR380 said:

Don't forget some thread lock.

Anyone have recommendations for tyre changing kit? I'm new to bikes and the offroad guys at work tell me only losers get someone else to change their tyres.

these are really good

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTION-PRO-BEADPRO-TIRE...

A500leroy said:

you can get a centre stand for the mt 07 now, itll help with chain maintenance and general cleaning.

Cheaper just to get a paddock stand for £20 off ebay, I've never really found centre stands that useful to be honest but then I have a few different paddock stands.

[dern]

I should get one of those. I've been breaking beads with a big g-clamp and it's a bit hit and miss.

Re-inflating road tyres without a decent compressor would be quite difficult I imagine. the static balancing kits and cheap, easy to use and effective.

[Prof Prolapse]

Halfords pro tools is a good shout. I'd buy a set of decent allen keys from someone like "Teng" as well. They're my preferred brand since I can't afford Snap On stuff.

Jazoli said:

SamR380 said:

Don't forget some thread lock.

Anyone have recommendations for tyre changing kit? I'm new to bikes and the offroad guys at work tell me only losers get someone else to change their tyres.

these are really good

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTION-PRO-BEADPRO-TIRE...

I have them, they're great things.

I'd also recommend their accompanying rim protectors (snigger) as well;

[Rubin215]

Halfords professional when they're on offer a great deal, bluepoint or snap-on second hand as well if you find them.
Bahco are nice, Draper are reasonable.

3/8" socket set is a good start for most things - 8mm - 25mm, supplement it with a decent length 1/2" breaker-bar and whatever socket fits your rear wheel nut. 1/2" is a bit heavy for bike use and you will end up snapping a few bolts and stripping a few threads before you get it right.

Decent set of screwdrivers (four pozidriv, two flats), decent set of allen keys, decent set of spanners - 8mm to 19mm. Consider getting a second set of ratchet spanners too, they save a lot of time.

Heat gun, penetrating oil, tub of grease, tub of nickel grease, ball-pein hammer, cold chisel, 10" pliers, slim-nose pliers.

Torque wrench is something people insist you need right from the start but, to be honest, you seldom need it unless you are doing something complicated (which, as a beginner, you probably won't be).

Also prepare a full list of obscenities for use at moments of frustration...

[SidG]

Thank you all for such detailed responses. A full and complete set of obscenities I already have at the ready having accumulated many over the years. Cheers!

[alan36]

If you are anywhere near Leeds I have a Halford Trade card which gets you some decent discount on tools and boxes.

[SidG]

Cheers alan36. Appreciate that but I’m a bit too far away (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands). Thanks for the offer though.

[Krikkit]

Another recommendation for ratchet spanners, brilliant bits of kit.

Something I'd forgotten is a set of box spanners, great where you've got a recessed nut on a hex centre for example.

[Tam_Mullen]

Halfords has deals on their professional toolkits just now. Or at least they did last week. I just bought their 150 piece kit for £120 which was reduced from £270.

Its a good kit and a decent box too (which is where the cheaper sets tend to show).

Only complaint is the sockets are 12 points not 6 which can make it easier to slip and round stuff. But its no biggie.

[Biker 1]

Set of decent electrician's screwdrivers like these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/bahco-slotted-pz-vde-sc...
They are hardened so last ages, fit most common screw heads, & are also handy round the house to avoid electrocution...
I would also suggest a set of these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/mixed-mixed-security-bi...
As others have mentioned, torque wrenches are marvellous things, but you probably need two - a small accurate one up to 50 Nm for all the small fixings with low torque values, & a big fk off one for wheel nuts, sprockets etc. which goes up to 120/150 Nm.
Avoid Rolson tools - monkey metal! Draper can be OK. Halfords professional pretty good. Bahco, Snap-on start to get spendy.... 20 year old Screwfix own brand socket set has been faultless - don't know if they are similar quality nowadays.
I have some Teng allen keys, & they are rubbish - the sizes appear to be slightly smaller than advertised, thus rounding off heads!!