Tackling motorcycle maintenance on your own can be a great way to save money, but you’ll need certain tools to get the tasks done. The following guide will walk you through building your own motorcycle maintenance toolkit.

If you run into issues that require a professional’s help, contact the service department at CalMoto. Our dealership is based in Mountain View and Livermore, California.

1. Assess Your Motorcycle Maintenance Knowledge

Start by thinking about the types of motorcycle maintenance you want to handle and the tools required for those tasks. There’s no point in buying tools for tasks that you wouldn’t be doing anyways.

2. Prioritizing the Tools

You may own all the tools you need, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they can all be packed for the ride.

If your motorcycle has limited storage space, you will need to be selective about what you bring. Try to reduce the space of other items (such as using travel-sized items whenever possible) so that there’s more room for tools.

If you are transporting your motorcycle with a vehicle, such as driving a dirt bike to a trail head, you’ll be able to pack much more inside the tow vehicle.

If you are riding with a group, check in and see what tools others are bringing along. There’s no need for everyone to bring along the same tool. Coordinate what each person packs in order to maximize the types of tools brought on the ride.

3. Choosing Tools for DIY Motorcycle Maintenance

The exact tools that you’ll want to pack depend on your repair skill level and specific motorcycle.

But they can include:

• Spare fuses in the size that your motorcycle requires, which you can find in the owner’s manual.
• Battery cables, especially a lightweight option that can be rolled tightly to reduce the space it takes up.
• Pliers so you can straighten, loosen, and tighten parts.

3. Make a Back-Up Plan

Even if you have the tools and knowledge to handle a given motorcycle maintenance task, you may not be in a position to safely do so. For example, maybe you are stuck on a narrow shoulder on a high speed route. Safety is the priority and it’s best to take your motorcycle to a service department rather than stay and try to handle the repairs. It’s wise to have a chosen service department on hand, such as the one at CalMoto, that can get your motorcycle maintenance done quickly and effectively.

Want more maintenance tips? Need help with motorcycle maintenance? Whatever you need, the experts at CalMoto are here for you. Reach out or stop by our dealerships in Mountain View and Livermore, California. We also proudly serve those in San Francisco and San Jose, California.