[motorcyclistonline] - The Essential Roadside Repair Kit | MC Garage

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Be prepared with the right tools for on-the-road damage control.Motorcyclists like to think of themselves as the cowboys of the open road, tough and self-reliant. But when something goes wrong—a flat tire or an electrical problem—some of them throw up their hands and call in the cavalry, which arrives in the form of a tow truck or a buddy with a trailer, and slink back to Dodge instead of riding off into the sunset. For some riders, though, a breakdown is just a minor inconvenience, one that can be dealt with using the tools and spares they take on every ride. Here are a few essentials to consider packing in case your chrome pony goes lame. If you bought your bike used and it didn't come with an owner's manual, get one. (Some manufacturers provide these free of charge as a PDF download; others want you to pay for a reprint. Check eBay.) In addition to the rookie stuff—how to shift gears, adjust the chain, and inflate the tires—most manuals include wiring diagrams that are handy for troubleshooting problems caused when the magic smoke leaks out. They also reveal the locations of potentially show-stopping fuses and relays; carry spares for the important ones, and be a little suspicious if the spares normally found in the fuse box are missing. That could be a sign of previous electrical trouble or maybe just a generous rider. Long trips warrant packing spare headlight and taillight bulbs, though you can forget the latter if your bike has an LED light.

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Photo Gallery: The Essential Roadside Repair Kit | MC Garage

Photo Gallery: The Essential Roadside Repair Kit | MC Garage



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