“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” 

BY: Ari Henning  COURTESY: REVZILLA

That quote from founding father Benjamin Franklin may have been uttered in a conversation about the Revolutionary War or early American democracy, but it’s applicable to every endeavor in life, including motorcycling.

The idea is that a little planning will help avoid trouble, and when it comes to commuting on a motorcycle (or car, or bicycle), that trouble will most likely appear as a flat tire or some nut or bolt coming loose. Being prepared for these scenarios with a well thought-out tool kit and a decent tire-plug kit can mean the difference between a pricey tow and being hours late for work, or a slight inconvenience and getting back on the road in a few minutes.

Your bike likely came with some semblance of a tool kit, but odds are it’s woefully incomplete, so you’re better off starting with a quality aftermarket kit. Even then, you should tailor it to your motorcycle, which is to say make sure it has what’s needed to address anything that might rattle loose and sideline you. That includes things like your levers and mirrors, handlebar or clip-on bolts, shifter arm, lever pivot, and linkage nuts, as well as your chain guard and license plate hardware, and even the footpeg brackets and exhaust hanger.

If you find the kit is lacking something for your bike, add it, and don’t be shy about including other useful items if there’s room. I supplemented a metric Cruz Tools kit with an assortment of spare hardware, extra fuses, some zip ties and safety wire for securing stuff, a razor blade, and nitrile gloves for keeping clean during roadside repairs. 

Then, there are some less obvious supplies that can be a huge asset in an emergency. Like a length of duct tape on a sheet of wax paper — great for securing cracked bodywork or a face shield if the pivot busts — and some electrical tape wrapped around the handle of a wrench, for temporarily shielding or splicing wires. You might also consider swapping your tool kit's regular pliers for locking pliers, since they’re better for grabbing stuff and can double as an emergency clutch or brake lever. 

On the topic of plugging tires, a tire-repair kit is the second part of my preparedness pack, and frankly, it’s the item that gets the most use. My bikes all run tubeless tires so I carry standard rope plugs for larger or irregularly shaped holes, as well as a DynaPlug kit for cleaner, smaller punctures. For inflation purposes, you can go with a compact bicycle pump, CO2 cartridges, or a 12-volt compressor, depending on your preferences and space constraints.

Having a tire-repair kit with you when you ride is important, but so is knowing how to use it. So the next time your bike is due for tires, go ahead and run some screws into it and practice plugging the holes when it’s not an emergency. That way you’ll be familiar with the process and quick with the repair when it happens for real. 

Like Ben said, preparedness is key.

BY: Ari Henning  SOURCE: REVZILLA

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