I've got my bike pretty well farkled. And I've got myself covered too: functional first aid kit, tools, micro-compressor, tire patch kit... So what am I missing? What are the priceless tools/kit worth occupying the valuable space on your bike?
Good set of tires...Metzeler Tourence for the Strom. A way to get the wheel up....centerstand. Hydration bag. Polar Bear cooler 12 pack. Small inverter to charge cell phone fits in tank bag. Rok straps Tool Tube I sure I missing something. Fred
We think alike. A few items not mentioned that I always carry: Jumper cables Tire pressure guage Duct tape Extra gloves Siphon hose GPS Radar detector
A wonderful ,yet compact tool from Motion -Pro called a metric multi-purpose mini tool set. A bunch of tiny tools that assemble together like a transformer and will fix virtually anything on your bike. It fits in the palm of your hand. Sort of expensive at $51 but has been used many times to fix bikes trailside.
Excellent suggestions, many of them are part of the pack, thank you! I may not adequately understand DC voltage but for a 12V 12A battery, from what I can tell I'd only need 18 gauge wire for jumper cables. Is this accurate?
18 gauge sounds awfully thin. These are the cables I carry. They are 8 gauge. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003TI2DD2/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
The battery capacity has nothing to do with the wire size. Perhaps you just saw the 12A and looked at a chart that said 18awg would be fine for 12A? Your starter motor draws about 10 times that when cranking, but only for a very short period. You can go way lower than the math tells us so something around 14awg will do the job in an emergency for most bikes. But choose as big wires as you're willing to drag along, bigger is better.
Get a cheapo air compressor. Pull off the plastic case, and it is not much bigger than a pair of D batteries. Wire up a cig plug to your battery to power it.
Compressor and plug kit: check. My best friend and riding buddy got me the Aerostich mini compressor for Christmas one year. On our spring ride HE got a flat and I got to fix it. How's that for Karma?
