Triumphrat

sasper · 11-03-2009, 09:42 PM

I finally found some garage space for my bike over the winter and am planning on doing some basic projects to my stock 2006 Bonneville T100. My plan is to clean the carbs, install a new exhaust, airbox mod, handlebars, etc... nothing too major but definitely need some tools, as I have none at all.

What do you suggest to get for this kind of work? Should I wait for a set of tools to go on sale, or buy individual pieces instead? Any suggestions on what size of set to get, brand, specific tools, or any other random garage items I'll need?

I'm thinking I may need to get a simple hydraulic motorcycle lift so I can get the rear wheel off the bike and also to keep the tires off the ground while I'm storing it over the winter.

Thanks for any suggestions.

bradtx · 11-03-2009, 11:09 PM

sasper, Look at a 200 piece tool set from Sears, Home Depot or Lowes. There will be some specialty tools to buy, but getting a kit is the least expensive way to the basics.

Brad

sasper · 11-03-2009, 11:43 PM

There seems to be a large price difference between similar sized tool sets. The cheap brands seem to be $75 - $150 while a namebrand like Craftsman is upwards of $800! That seems like a crazy price discrepancy.... what's the main difference?

KitNYC · 11-04-2009, 12:37 AM

Sears has a couple of very nice Craftsman sets on sale right now for $150-200, in nice boxes with drawers. I would start with one of those and maybe add a set of Metric 3/8" drive Allen sockets and 1/4" and 3/8" drive Torx sockets. That should cover 90-95% of the fasteners on your bike.

You'll also want a torque wrench. In addition to my Craftsman, I have a couple of cheapos from Pep Boys or Walmart or whatever. They all clicked at the same place last I checked.

Cheers,
-Kit

BombFactory · 11-04-2009, 01:31 AM

Brad and Kit have good advice for a beginning set. Although I'm not a fan of Craftsman wrenches, ratchets, and sockets, they are one of the better cheaper brands. I prefer Snap-On due to the smaller socket wall thickness, skinnier wrench ends, durability, smooth and ratchet gearing, and warranty, but I also restore classic cars and work on motorcycles all the time; I would never recommend something as expensive as Snap-On, Matco, or Mac for a beginning set.

However, stay away from very cheap tools! You will be kicking yourself when a cheap ratchet either jams, has such sloppy gears that you can't get one click in tight spots, or slips resulting in busted knuckles. Cheap wrenches and sockets are bulky and hard to get into tight spots, and their tolerances are very wide, so it is easy to round-off heads and break your fingers.

For what it's worth, Lowe's carries Kobalt tools, and Kobalt is owned by Snap-On. Their hard tools (i.e. wrenches, sockets, etc.) have a lifetime warranty, and their designs are very similar to Snap-On's. A friend of mine bought a complete Kobalt tool set, and I am very impressed with how thin the socket walls and wrench ends are. Their ratchet is also pretty tight and its gears have more teeth for those tight angles. If I had to buy another set of tools and didn't want to spend the money for Snap-On, I'd go with Kobalt.

To add to the list:

Get a set of metric Allen wrenches with the swivel ball on the long end. Allan sockets are great, but the ball-end wrenches really help in tight spots where the socket won't work. Bondhus is a good brand, as are Craftsman and Koblat.

Buy a pair of Channel Lock brand: 8" V groove adjustable pliers, diagonal wire cutters, needle nose pliers. Channel Lock brand pliers are not cheap, but they hold up very well, their design is excellent, and their warranty is good.

(optional, but not needed for what you are doing) Get a medium size (10" or so) Crescent brand adjustable wrench (aka a Crescent wrench). Although you won't use it that often, it is good to have around. The same goes for a pair of medium size Crescent brand vise grips.

A ball peen hammer and rubber mallet are going to come in handy eventually.

As far as chemicals go, get a can or two of break clean, carburetor choke cleaner, and a jar of anti-seize thread compound. It would be wise to put a small drop of anti-seize on bolts that thread into aluminum. A jar of white lithium grease will also come in handy when pulling off and reinstalling wheels/axles and lubing clutch and brake lever perches.

The above tools and chemicals won't necessarily be used all the time, but they are what I consider basics of a tool set. They make working on machines a heck of a lot funner than either trying to get by without them or having to run to the store and buy them. In any event, if you plan on working on motorcycles, cars, your lawnmower, barbecue, or your significant other's weekend project, you can't go wrong getting a complete set of tools.

KitNYC · 11-04-2009, 02:47 AM

Nice. I knew Kobalt was quality from the couple of little tools I've grabbed from Lowe's, but I didn't realize they were Snap-On owned. Do you know if Snap-On owns Husky, HD's house brand, as well? I've noticed a couple of Kobalt and Husky tools are identical to my eye.

Cheers,
-Kit

sasper · 11-04-2009, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the awesome post, BombFactory. There's a 173 piece Kobalt Professional Toolset at Lowe's for under $100 that I'll pick up soon, and will be adding more tools and supplies to the garage as time goes on.

Can't wait to get wrenching on the bike over the winter! It will be the first time I've been able to work on a motorcycle due to my previous work schedule and traveling. Now to prioritize what I want to do

KitNYC · 11-04-2009, 02:27 PM

Not to rain on your parade, but that particular set doesn't look great for your purposes; it appears to have a very limited selection of sockets and wrenches. Anything that includes a hammer is probably not targeted at mechanics. (That being said, it could be that adding 1/4" and 1/2" drive ratchets and sockets to that would end up being cheaper than adding the rest of that one to a mechanics set.)

I would suggest making a list from the tools mentioned here, then checking it against the kits sold by Lowe's, HD, and Sears.

The 3-drawer toolbox some the kits are sold with is available separately at Lowe's, and probably the others, and makes a bigger difference than you would expect.

Cheers,
-Kit

sasper · 11-04-2009, 03:39 PM

Oh you're definitely not raining on my parade... you're saving me money!

I'm thinking that this Craftsman 204pc Mechanics toolset looks like a better idea and still comes in under $200. Or better yet, this set has more tools and comes with a nice 3-drawer box.

I think this is the set of tools my room mate has, so I may steal his for a few weeks and see how they perform.

Beemie · 11-04-2009, 11:49 PM

I have a drawer full of Craftsmen and S-K wrenches and sockets, but have the very first no-name socket set that came from Mom's Popular Club 43 years ago.
The point is that I've never broken a wrench or socket ever, so the name stamped on them may be of no consequence. I have been particular though that nothing is a far east import. I guess that's not so easy anymore.