Essential maintenance bits and garage tools

Mickcas

Mickcas

Mickcas

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Joined
21 Jan 2017
Posts
720
Location
County Durham
SO having now adjusted my chain its got me thinking about what tools, parts and products I should really pick up to ensure I can look after and maintain my bike.

So far I've only picked up a paddock stand - which can in useful when adjusting the chain for the first time.
I've got basic tools, spanners, sockets etc but is there anything bike related you guys couldn't live without

then onto things like chain lube, cleaners, bike polishes and so on. whats the go to brands etc
 
Halfords professional socket set, get one with the ratchet spanners.
A headstock paddock stand for when you want to remove fork legs.
Seal driver for when fork seals need replacing.
Impact driver for when the front sprocket nut that hasn't need changed for 5 years won't come off.
T-handle allen ket set.
torque wrench or 2.

Then cleaners/lubes etc - you can get expensive chain cleaner, sdoc 100 gel cleaner etc but these end up costing loads in the long run.

I use paraffin and a stiff small brush for chain cleaning.
Elbow grease cleaner (99p a bottle) for dirty/greasy areas low down.
Some kind of snow foam and a foam lance.
Meguiars ultimate wash and wax for the main clean.
2 buckets.
A proper drying towel.
Meguiars gold class carnuba wax for the finish.
And for my Aprila, SDOC100 dry lube chain spray.
 
TallPaul_S said:
Halfords professional socket set, get one with the ratchet spanners.
A headstock paddock stand for when you want to remove fork legs.
Seal driver for when fork seals need replacing.
Impact driver for when the front sprocket nut that hasn't need changed for 5 years won't come off.
T-handle allen ket set.
torque wrench or 2.

Then cleaners/lubes etc - you can get expensive chain cleaner, sdoc 100 gel cleaner etc but these end up costing loads in the long run.

I use paraffin and a stiff small brush for chain cleaning.
Elbow grease cleaner (99p a bottle) for dirty/greasy areas low down.
Some kind of snow foam and a foam lance.
Meguiars ultimate wash and wax for the main clean.
2 buckets.
A proper drying towel.
Meguiars gold class carnuba wax for the finish.
And for my Aprila, SDOC100 dry lube chain spray.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that
Can I ask why the dry line for the chain, I'm not too clued up on dry Vs wet
 
That's a complete other kettle of fish/can of worms... :D:p

Most dry lubes aren't that great as they don't penetrate enough like a wet lube, the sdoc stuff seems better and it has hardly any fling, good as I have gold wheels.

Wet lubes are fine for all year round use and wet weather but they're messier. I only ride my Aprilia in the dry.
 
A pair of £15 axle stands from Halfords, they're worth their weight in gold if you ever have to change some steering head bearings, a damn good expensive set of screw drivers are also a life saver, & a multi meter is also worth getting as is a soldering iron.
 
Get a decent degreaser, gunk (the proper stuff that comes in like a little jerry can) is good, it'll take a layer of skin so you know it's ok.

I use Rock Oil SOC (basically same ****) only because it's what my local independent bike garage sells and I try to support them when possible.

Also get a corrosion protector, people rave on about ACF50, but I prefer scotoiler f365 for regular use, just spray it all over the lower parts of the bike after cleaning. Avoid getting on your brakes, but actually after a couple of pulls of the brakes whilst riding it'll burn off quick, just don't forget about it lol.

Get some engine oil, check your oil level regularly, my sv needs a bit every now and then it's quite common.

Also a ptfe based lube, spray is good for clutch cables, side/centre stand pivots and your ignition barrel, WD40 is not a good one to use you need to get a ptfe based one.

Can of break cleaner, just in an aerosol spray, very good stuff.
 
My must haves for general regular maintenance such as removing wheels, and lubricating chain:
  • Halfords pro spanner, ratchet and socket set - I've got one of the larger suitcase styles and it's lasted me so long the 'suitcase' box is broken but the tools inside are fine. Regularly on offer.
  • Rear paddock stand - essential for chain lubrication unless you've got a main stand on your bike, and removing the rear wheel if you have new tyres
  • Front paddock stand - good for cleaning and removing front wheel if required.
  • Chain cleaning brush - for obvious reasons, very cheap on eBay.
  • Paraffin - for chain cleaning get a big 5L tub from B&Q. Also good for cleaning chain lube / dirt off wheels, but ensure you rinse your wheels afterwards
  • Halfords Pro 60-300Nm Torque Wrench - for fastening your axle nuts (usually around 100Nm front axle, 120Nm rear axle). Halfords Pro is decent for home use.
  • Chain lube - wet or dry as discussed above. Personal preference, I use whatever I can get my hands on at the time. Dry is fine for summer use (SDOC100 is good), wet is better for wetter environments.
  • ACF50 - corrosion protector as discussed.
  • GT85 or WD40 'Specialist' PTFE Spray - good general purpose PTFE lubricant spray, good for simple linkages and cables. WD40 now sell many different type of spray lubricants aside from the generic WD40 every knows.
  • Air Pump or Compressor - Motorcycles are very sensitive to tyre pressure, check it regularly! I use a 'JoeBlow' bicycle track pump with integrated pressure gauge which I bought from Halfords about 7-8years ago for around £30, I prefer to use this as it requires little effort to pump up a motorcycle tyre, and I don't need a power outlet. You could also buy a separate pressure gauge for accuracy if you wish (I use a dedicated pressure gauge for track use).
  • Motorcycle Engine Oil - Probably 10W40 for your bike in the UK climate. Ensure it is a motorcycle engine oil, car oils can damage a motorcycle clutch (most motorcycles are a 'wet' clutch meaning they are soaked in oil - many road motorcycles clutches are in contact with the engine oil). Motorcycle engine oils suitable with wet clutch will conform to JASO MA and API SG or later standards - info on standards here if you're interested. Oils are available in semi-synthetic and fully-synthetic, general good practice is not to mix. I run my bikes on Castrol Power 1 Racing full-synthetic which is my personal preference. If you're unsure on what your bike is running right now, buy yourself a litre bottle of 10W40 semi-synthetic for top-ups and you'll be fine.
 
I think it's a better strategy to pick up bits as you need them rather than trying to get it all in advance.

Start with a basic tool set (I got the Halfords 200 piece set) and a bike stand (rear stand will do, but an ABBA style bike-off-the-ground stand is better) is all you need for most jobs other than consumables.
 
talking of tyre pressures, a decent pressure gauge. As above, 1-2 PSI out can feel very weird!

As you do more and more jobs you'll start accumulating bits, a seal driver here, a stupidly large socket that's only used for one bolt there... :D
 
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