In the Garage

Minimal Brake Fluid Mess with proper tubing!

Did you know that oxygen tube (those respirator tubes) fit pretty much perfectly on the bleeder bolts on braker calipers and clutch slaves? To minimize your mess, try this out! They are cheap online, can be cut to be of any length, and are handy to throw in the toolkit on trips in case you need some tubing for emergencies!

Cardboard is the currency king in the garage!

I’m sure you get plenty of Amazon packages every week (or daily). Save that cardboard!! It has proven to be king when working on motorcycles or anything in the garage! From holding parts while you change gaskets, to drawing on it for shim clearances, protecting your rims from chain lube… Cardboard is amazing!! The possibilities are endless!

Consider getting yourself some used spare parts!

If you’re like me and over research the heck out of your next ride, something worthwhile doing for your investment is to browse eBay, Craigslist or other sites to pick up some used parts! As crazy as it sounds, some places sell big ol lots of used parts when they strip down engines and bikes of your year/model everywhere! This can be invaluable when you come across those odd rotor bolts or potential engine frame bolts that you cannot find a substitute for at the local hardware store. One thing that’s awesome about these, is that you can get some wicked deals on bundles of nuts n bolts! Throw the bolts in a tumbler with some light abrasion material, or soak them in kerosene or other detergents to pull off any rust or chemicals, and you’re left with some OEM parts for not the OEM price!

Note: Obviously in my pictures below there are a few bent bolts, but in the collection of other bolts n screws, I have been using plenty of the others. Be sure to check things over to ensure the condition is up to snuff, but in my experience, the amount of other OEM bolts and screws within these bundles, I have easily lucked out with tons of spares for next to nothing as I would have buying 5-6 OEM bolts from a dealer!

I know that I am going to sound hardcore environmentalist here, but seriously, consider recycling some of the stuff you plan to throw out in the garage has been awesome for me! Old socks you plan to toss out make great cleaning rags, since you can throw them over your hands and wipe grime away. Old yogurt and ice cream containers are SUPERB containers to hold bits and parts while you work, and holy cow, using old oil containers or cat litter jugs are awesome at storing old fluids you need to ditch later on. There are so many cool uses to things in the kitchen you plan to chuck in the bin!

Going Green might be a good thing in the shop?

Tools and items you should consider owning!

This will probably be an ongoing post, but holy cow, over time, there are some things you should just have in the garage/shop to make basic tweaks and maintenance all the more easier to manage.

Ranging from exhaust pullers, to the ‘right’ tools, these are definitely some tools worthy to invest in for the long run. I HIGHLY recommend these, and how much they will save you from trying to build something like them, or simply just to be certain for that piece of mind when you finish up the job.

Pick Set

Great for dislodging orings or cleaning grime around those tough places!

Aluminum Thread Chasers

Got a KTM? If not, got aluminum threads? You’re bound to on european/performance oriented machines. These definitely help keep threads nice and clean to prevent cross threading!!

Multiple Massive Allen Head

Having four-in-one choices for this bad boy help you find the needed allen key for removing your front wheel on most motorbikes!

Your best friend on the road!

Instead of carrying a heavy sprocket and the whole set, you can sub out pretty much everything in the toolkit for this bad boy. Torque on one side, and the quick set speed on the other. Great tool to have!

DID Chain Tool

Skip the cheap Chinese knock offs behind the REAL deal!! I cannot tell you how incredible using the tool made by DID for their chains to remove/install is! I have broken countless knock off pins and been through enough master links to know that the DID Chain Tool is one and done for the tool forever! Seriously; as a first tool to have for the long run, grab one of these and never worry about breaking pins or doing things halfway for drive chains!!

1/4" or 3/8" Drive Screwdriver

TREMEDOUSLY helps out if you have lots of allen heads or bolts on fairings or scattered throughout your bike that you need to tighten/loosen with ease! There’s also a recess area that you can torque on it too if needed. Would recommend a ratchet if you really need some torque, but this definitely helps out quick work without getting the ratchets out and wasting time!

Digital Calipers

You need these. Seriously. For motorbikes, plumbing, electrical, work, doing anything, you need a set of these. I actually have two because I use them so much and leave them around the shop and inside. GRAB MORE!

Bearing Driver Set

It says Swingarm on the set, but definitely worthwhile grabbing this or ANY bearing driver set to help out in those moments when you need to be setting/pulling races and bearings in/out. You can get by with sockets, but why not use the right tool ?

EBC Clutch Cage and Hylomar

Kind of relevant for both in this picture, but that EBC clutch basket tool is a gift from the heavens. Makes ripping off a clutch basket so freaking easy! Add a little Hylomar Blue to your gaskets and you can pretty much reuse gaskets (or at least minimize the potential of them tearing) when you take engine cases off, etc!

Fork Seal Drivers

I mean, you could use PVC. It’s cheaper, but that’s just it. It is the cheaper route and will do the job… ish. If you’re cracking into your forks enough, it could not hurt having the right tool to do the right job efficiently and super easily with these in your toolbox.

MotorMoonie

In the Garage