BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I have dirt bikes and a KTM 690 for my Trans America Trail trip this summer.

I have a few thousand road miles under the belt so far. I carry an extensive tool kit when I do my ADV riding but don't have a clue what I should be carrying on the Bimmer...

It also looks like I did not get a factory tool kit with this bike if it is supposed to be under the seat...

What should I be looking to find besides a jumper cable?

Pictures would be great...

K

A credit card and triple A... I carry an assortment of Torx drivers, 8, 10, 13 mm wrenches, pliers, small adjustable wrench, tubeless tire repair kit and some motor oil. Oh and get the tool to open the oil filler cap from your BMW dealer and Promach makes a nifty spark plug cap puller. I'm sure that I have missed something...

Cell phone, credit card, and a tire repair kit works for me. The boxer motor seems to be very reliable so you should travel with no worries.

I've go the urge for a new 690 Duke but the nearest dealer is about 100 miles away and wrenching is not one of my strengths. I'd like to hear about your experience with the KTM.....

Regards, Paul

Welcome to the group Roadsters Anonymous.

You can pick up a set of torx wrences to fit in your 1/4" ratchet at Harbor Freight for less than $5.00. They will cover nearly every size you need.

Happy motoring.

Bruce

Kirkster wrote:I have dirt bikes and a KTM 690 for my Trans America Trail trip this summer.

I have a few thousand road miles under the belt so far. I carry an extensive tool kit when I do my ADV riding but don't have a clue what I should be carrying on the Bimmer...

It also looks like I did not get a factory tool kit with this bike if it is supposed to be under the seat...

What should I be looking to find besides a jumper cable?

Pictures would be great...

K

Welcome to the forum!


Like you I ride places where a credit card and cell phone will be of no help whatsoever, I bring what I need to fix things, even though I have many trouble free miles on the R, like mentioned they are generally very reliable bikes.
Heck, with the exception of a short section in northern Utah the R1200R could be ridden on the on the entire TAT as long as the weather is fair, mines been on some of the Colorado and Arkansas TAT.


Here's my list of what I carry when traveling to deal with issues that can arise on the road.

Star-Pro Pivot Head Torx/Star Wrench Set, good for 90% of all the fasteners on the R, even the rear wheel if you have some sort of extension, I carry a small handle (metal tube) from a jack for that purpose.


http://www.advdesigns.com/stpihetowrse.html

Besides carrying string plugs for the tires I also carry patches, having been stranded when a hole in the tire was too large for plugs to work.
3 small tire irons, break the bead with the side stand patch it and I'm good to go.

To remove the front wheel you need an adapter, I carry something like this, but mines aluminum. Might be a motion pro model.

22-19mm Hex BMW Axle Adapter Tool
http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/3025 ... 0-and-F800







Small cam buckle tie down strap, for pulling down the rear to take the front wheel off and various other uses.

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware ... TTMS6V5nzI

Extra 1" adjustable ROK strap, it's good to have backups for straps that hold on soft bags, but it's also good to lock the center stand in the down position when removing a wheel then using the side stand to break the bead.


Slime Top Off mini compressor, small and cheapest air pump around. Fits under the seat stored in ziplock bag. I changed the connector to a SAE, which plugs into the fused harness I have wired directly to battery.
http://www.amazon.com/Slime-40020-Tire- ... B002ZC1EOM


SAE plug for wiring into battery, good for compressor, charger, etc.
http://www.advdesigns.com/saebateha.html



A tube of J-B SteelStik for patching valve covers or anything else you happen to punch a hole in while having fun.




I also carry these basic tools:

9" C-wrench (adjustable)
Multi screwdriver
Gerber Freehand multi tool
e-tape
Zipties
6' SAE to bare wire for mini jumper cables that pack very small


Everything I have listed here fits under the seat if you get creative and fill all the nooks and crannies, at least on my 07' model.

Good luck!

Too bad you didn't get the factory kit. It does go under the seat and includes the tool to remove the oil fill cap. Here's a terrible picture of it:



I think some people just use a screwdriver and it works fine.

Here's a link to the Slime pump. We did have one of these go out on us, however.

We carry pretty much what everyone else has listed, along with a powerlet to cigarette socket converter, which also has USB ports on it. Like this one.

Thanks for the detailed response Lostrider...

I actually have a lot of that already for the KTM... But the axel adaptor is something I will be picking up... WIll hit the dealer up for the oil plug tool...

objectuser wrote:Too bad you didn't get the factory kit. It does go under the seat and includes the tool to remove the oil fill cap.
I think some people just use a screwdriver and it works fine.

Fingers work just fine, too.

dbrick wrote:Fingers work just fine, too.

Not mine.

Kirkster wrote:Thanks for the detailed response Lostrider...

I actually have a lot of that already for the KTM... But the axel adaptor is something I will be picking up... WIll hit the dealer up for the oil plug tool...

Marc Parnes makes a nice versatile front axle tool]front axle tool. I have that one, but MotionPro but as mentioned, others make decent ones. Parnes makes an awesome balancer and some other stuff too - worth checking out his site if you're not familiar with his stuff.

Another thing you can do is replace the ugly stock oil cap with something else so you don't have to carry that plastic tool. It's not heavy, but it's awkwardly shaped for a tool roll. I used this one because I liked the design - it resulted in me carrying a more compact "special removal tool" that fits in my roll better although it's still useless for anything else. There are others like this one and this one if you want something that uses a hex or Torx head.

I use a Wolfman tool roll. If I don't jam it full of stuff it still fits in the stock tool roll strap under the seat, but gives me some better organization. If I fill all the spots with stuff I have to put it in a sidecase, though.

Another pump to consider is the Cycle Pump by Best Rest. Supposed to be super durable - although I haven't hammered on mine enough to verify that it's indestructible, but it seems solid and comes with various connectors.

Congrats on the new family member.

I found a snap on 1/4" size rachet with a 3/8" drive.
I keep the torx sockets I need
A set of plain ol torx allen type wrenches
a 7" long cheater pipe which used to be a jack handle.
Swiss army knife
Swiss army 1 watt LED flash light
and the stock tool kit which is oil fill wrench, spark plug wrench and a screwdriver.
I made a hex adapter like shown above and keep the 22mm socket for it.

I can pull the front or rear wheel.

I also keep a plug kit, and motopump air compressor that plugs into the bike socket.



And for bragging rights I have this.

Brass calibrated TPMS



David

Interesting to see what other R12R riders carry. I’m getting ready for a trip today and am looking over gear, packing, and “pre-flighting” the bike, so I took a picture of what I’ve made my standard adventure tool kit. It may be too much, but I’ve just amassed everything I use when performing scheduled service, plus tire repair supplies. I do carry a 1/4” sae socket and 5/16” combination wrench to fit the only two external torx fittings I’ve found. Not pictured is a “top-off” container of engine oil and a powerlet cord for my cell phone. I guess if something comes up I can't handle with what I have on hand, I’ll be calling roadside assistance.

Kirkster wrote:Thanks for the detailed response Lostrider...

I actually have a lot of that already for the KTM... But the axel adaptor is something I will be picking up... WIll hit the dealer up for the oil plug tool...

I've seen your car and bike around town. Recently, I think I saw you on Severn Rd. if you have panniers.

Dauntless wrote:

Kirkster wrote:Thanks for the detailed response Lostrider...

I actually have a lot of that already for the KTM... But the axel adaptor is something I will be picking up... WIll hit the dealer up for the oil plug tool...

I've seen your car and bike around town. Recently, I think I saw you on Severn Rd. if you have panniers.

It indeed has panniers on it now... I do like the engineering that went into them, the price not so much. I will be taking them off for the weekend rides..

Severn Road is very close to home for me as it intersects with Reece Road...