3 Most Essential Hand Tools for Motorcycle Repair

Long gone are the days when most bikers knew how to keep their motorcycles in shape by themselves. But can you really blame the new generation that prefers paying a professional mechanic to do it? It’s less time consuming, plus you don’t have to beat yourself up if you did it yourself and screwed something up. If you’re one of the rare few who still prefer doing this by themselves, or if you’re determined to learn how to fix a few essentials so that in case something goes wrong while on the road you have the skillset do fix it yourself so you aren’t left stranded, then you need a few hand tools for motorcycle repair.

Shopping for hand tools for motorcycle repair can be both difficult and easy. It’s difficult because there’s a ton of tools available, plus a ton of variety within each tool type. But once you know what you need to repair what, it gets pretty easy. In fact, for starters, you only need a select couple of tools and you’ll be able to perform the most basic repair tasks by yourself. Without further ado, here are the most essential hand tools for repairing your motorcycle.

Wrenches

A set of sockets, open- and box-end wrenches is an absolute must for working on your motorcycle. With them, you’ll be able to work on pretty much everything on your bike. When shopping for a wrench set, you’ll come across 12- and 6- point sockets. I prefer the latter since they grip more closely and cut down stripping heads. Furthermore, look for a set that matches your sockets’ sizes. 10mm to 17mm will have you covered for the most part, but you should look into smaller or bigger ones that match your specific needs. A torque wrench is also something you should highly consider getting, as it will help you deal with anything involving a fastener.

Screwdriver

A screwdriver is also a tool you can use for a wide range of tasks, which is why you need to pay attention to the quality of the one you’re buying. Quality screwdrivers are made of durable and strong metal, and feature hardened tips which give you extra leverage when working on stubborn screws. Look for a screwdriver with a hex bolster at the base of the shaft, and a fat rubberized grip handle.

Pliers

A few different types of pliers can come in very handy in various different situations. Personally, I use a set of needlenose pliers, as they’re extremely useful for pulling, pinching and getting into tight spaces. You can get pliers with built-in snips for zip-ties and wires.