5 Must have Tools to Work on Motorcycles

When owning a motorcycle you will end up working on it to some degree. Some people put more blood, sweat, and tears into their motorcycle than others. Since my motorcycle is from the 80’s, most motorcycle shops will not work on it because it is to old. So when anything has to be fixed, it has to be me or someone I know personally. Below I will list the top 5 tools that I own that help me work on my motorcycle.

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1 – Motorcycle Front and Rear Stands

These stands make working on the motorcycle easier and safer. There is one stand for the front wheel and another one for the rear wheel. You can buy these as a set or individually. It keeps the bike upright and suspends the motorcycle off the ground. This Venom Motorcycle Stand allows you to do things like clean your wheels or oil your chain. I also use these to store my motorcycle over the winter. It keeps the tires off the ground and prevents flat spots on my tires.

These can come with different mounting points and you will need to do a little research to find out which system works best for your bike. For example, most newer sport bikes can have spools installed on the swing arm near the rear tire. If you can install spools, a lift stand can lift the bike from those spools and it is really simple and easy to do.

2 – Auxiliary Gas Fuel Tank

This tool is very useful when you are working on your bike and you need to start it up. This tool will allow you to connect a small fuel source to your fuel pump or carburetors. I use this when I need to sync my carbs. (see that tool below) It is very hard to get to my adjustment screws when I have my tank installed. Instead I use this tool to feed gas into the bike without having a huge tank in the way.

Auxiliary Motorcycle Fuel Tank on Amazon.com

Its a pretty simple tool that you might even be able to make with a aluminum water bottle and a extra fuel valve. This one is just nice and simple and you will not believe how easy it makes some jobs.

3 – Carburetor Synchronizer Tool

This tool will not be for everybody, but if you have carburetors, this tool will make working on them easier. This tool allows you to sync all your carbs using vacuum gauges. When the carburetors are synced the motorcycle will perform better and you will get a power output. You might also have problems idling if they are really out of sync.

The ALPHA MOTO Vacuum Carburetor Synchronizer Tool comes with everything you need to hook it up to your motorcycle. Most kits come with the probes that screw into each carburetor and rubber hoses to connect the probes to the vacuum gauges. There will be small screws on the engine side of the carbs for these probes to be connected too. The goal is for all the carburetors to pull the same amount of vacuum while idling and when under throttle.

Having this tool when working on carburetors will save you time and get the best possible performance out of your motorcycle.

4 – Chain Alignment Tool

This is a simple too that allows you to visually check that your chain is straight when adjusting it. Overtime the chain will stretch and you will have to move the position of your rear tire. A chain that is not lined up will cause premature wear on the chain and will have to be replaced sooner than usual.

This Motion Pro Chain Alignment Tool works by clamping the tool to your rear sprocket and having the metal guide rod pointing towards the front tire. This will run next to the chain and will allow you to see if the chain is in line with the guide rod or not. If the chain and guide rod are lined up perfectly, then you know the chain and sprockets are lined up. If not, you need to adjust the rear tire until they do line up.

5 – Bike Chain Cleaner Brush

This is one of those must have tools if your motorcycle has a chain. Cleaning your chain every 500 miles (or what your maintenance manual says) will help you get the proper lifespan from the chain and help keep it from failing. This brush has three sides to get most of the chain with ease. This will help shave some time off maintaining the bike and allow you to spend more time on it.

You can pick these brushes up almost any place that sells anything motorcycle related. I even found them being sold at my local Wal-Mart. Or if you do not want to leave the house, you can buy this Chain tool on Amazon.com.

This could even make a good cheap gift to a fellow motorcyclist. It never hurts to have a extra one of these laying around in the even that your first one gets to worn.

If you are interested in what Motorcycle and gear I own, you can check it all out on the Bike and Gear page!

Motorcycle Stalling while Riding

Does your motorcycle stall while riding or when you twist the throttle? Or can you get going down the road, then it cuts out? On top of it being really annoying, it can be very dangerous for your motorcycle to stall out when you are going down the road. I use to have this problem and I was able to figure out the issue with some digging. Most of the Stalling problems usually deal with the carbs not working correctly. Hopefully this article will be able to point you in the right direction to get your motorcycle working and learn what I did to get my bike fixed.

What are Motorcycle Guardian Bells and why you want one?

If you do not know what a guardian bell is, do not feel bad. It is a small superstition that is suppose to keep a rider safe by putting a bell on the motorcycle to ward off the road demons. The way it works is when the bell is ringing, the noise scares away the road gremlins (or demons) and keeps them away from the motorcycle. Which in turns protects the motorcycle and rider from danger.

Where did the Bell come from?

The origins of the bell a lot like other superstitions, no one really knows where is came from. A few ideas have surfaced, but it will be up to you which one you think is true. One theory is in WWII, airmen use to put good luck charms on their aircraft and after the war they used the same concept on their motorcycles. Another theory is that it was a way to alert the rider if someone is trying to steal their bike. Basically a very cheap alarm. Where ever it came from, it looks like it is here to stay. Keep reading below to find out what the rules are for these bells.

Rules of a Guardian Bell?

Has to be given to you by someone else. The power of the bell comes from receiving it as a gift from someone else. The power of the bell is at its greatest when the gift giver is also a biker.
You cannot get one for yourself. Getting one for yourself does not activate the power of the bell. The power is activated by good will and buying one for yourself just does not work.
Make sure the person who gifted the bell hangs it on your motorcycle. The gift giver has to make sure that they put the bell on the lowest part of the frame. This way the bells sound is closest to the road and has the greatest effect, since it is the ringing that scares the demons away.
Always keep your bell. If you ever sell your motorcycle, make sure you take your bell off. You can keep the bell and transfer it to your new bike. If you want to give it away, you have to personally hand it over to the new owner. If the bell is not handed over in this way it loses its protective powers.
Keep your bell clean. It is important to clean the bell when you clean the bike. It is to respect the bell means and keeping it clean makes it look better and pays the respects to the person who gave it to you.
A stolen bell no long protects the motorcycle. The bell only works when it is received through good will. If it is taken or stolen the bell loses its effect.

Where can I get One?

If you like the idea of a guardian bell for a motorcyclist in your life, your next question will be where can I get one? That is a fairly simple task to complete. You can get one online, at a bike night, or a motorcycle show. There are websites that are dedicated to selling bells in many designs. The basic designs can usually be found at motorcycle shows. These designs could include military services, angels, flags, grim reapers, etc. The list is almost endless. They are not very expensive, usually runs around $10-$15 depending on where you go. They are great to give as gifts for the holidays or special occasions. Which ever design you get I’m sure the motorcyclist in your life will love it.

Here is a LINK to a guardian bell on Amazon. This is a nice simple one, that I feel, most motorcyclists would enjoy.

10 Gifts for the Motorcycle Loving Guy (or Gal) in your Life

If you are looking to get a gift for a friend or family member that loves motorcycles, hopefully this post will help. It will give you some ideas what a motorcyclist would like (or actually use) in a variety of price ranges. These are in no certain order, just what came to mind when thinking what I would like to get. The person in mind might already have some of these things, but there is never harm in having a extra set of ear plugs or gloves. So, without wasting anymore time, lets get to the list!

The “Biker Wave”: Why We do it and What it Means

Have you ever noticed when to motorcycles pass each other on the road they give each other a “wave”? Have you ever wondered why they do that? After reading this article you will be able to do the “Biker Wave” and what it means. If you want a quick answer to what it is, We can sum it up quickly. It is a simple acknowledgement between bikers to say “Hello my two wheel brother. Stay safe on the roads.” There is a bit more to it, but that is the basic gist of it. Keep reading below to get the breakdown of the biker wave.

Continue reading “The “Biker Wave”: Why We do it and What it Means”

How to Ride a Motorcycle with a Passenger

At some point in your riding career, you will need or want to bring someone with you on the road. Be that a family member or girlfriend / Boyfriend. This will allow you to take your motorcycle more often or impress that special someone. But before you have them hop on the back and take off, we need to talk to the passenger and let them know what you except from them. It is also a good idea to know how your motorcycle is going to feel with the extra weight. Below I will list my process of how I ride with a new passenger.

Continue reading “How to Ride a Motorcycle with a Passenger”

Recent Posts

1 – Motorcycle Front and Rear Stands

2 – Auxiliary Gas Fuel Tank

3 – Carburetor Synchronizer Tool

4 – Chain Alignment Tool

5 – Bike Chain Cleaner Brush

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Where did the Bell come from?

Rules of a Guardian Bell?

Where can I get One?

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