Tool storage for the central oil tank

I've been thinking about this on my shakedown cruzes. When I only go maybe 10 miles I don't worry about it, but as I get farther away, I don't want to be stuck without any tools. When I was 20 I was invincible, so carried maybe a screwdriver and a couple of WW open end spanners and that fit nicely in the RS panel in a case. But now I want to carry more, so I found some Klein cloth tool bags, and it will stuff nicely over the battery and oil tank if you move the harness way over by the LS panel. I can stuff a lot of things in the Klein bag and still have room in the RS cover to put a few more things.





I was thinking about a pannier or a shelf behind the seat, but I hate to ruin the clean look of the bike with a shelf. I could live with a nice pannier (leather?) though if it looked good and would fit off the RS rear frame loop. Any ideas there and how would I keep it off the wheel?

Dave
69S

I've filled that space up with other assorted crap so I have to rely on a fanny pack full of tools if I decide to go out for a longer ride.

Get rid of the smaller adj. wrench or replace with tiny-est they make to can get rid of a few of the small spanners. Don't need such a robust screw driver either and actually limits access like in carbs where it can't reach say float screws in time. About only real spanners you'd need to carry is the bend one to nip head bolts and open end for barrel nuts. Let a muffler mount come apart or coil bracket fracture and you'll wish you had some non-melting wire with you. You have way more trust than I on electrical robustness not to have a small test light and wire length to scab in or test with. Also if caught out after dark you might consider a head band LED light. Extra extra credit given to pack away flat tire recovery shop. I'd grind a flat on adj. wrench for one tire iron worth. ugh I do not see any extra spark plugs or removal socket. Some tape as smoke leak bandaid not bad or spacy idea. By far away you do mean like a gas tanks worth eventually don't ya? Hey its always a leap of faith for me too.

Yeah, it's not complete. Tape is in the bag, looking for some bailer wire. I'll never be more than 1/2 tank away so I'm not too worried. It's just mainly for things I know I can fix quickly on the road, otherwise, trailer is available.

Dave
69S

Hehe, hehehe, Hohoho, let us know first time you ain't got what it take to get back on your own. Yet 750 C'do won endurance races

You're just asking for trouble, packing all those tools with you!






j/k

HI Dave,

Hey, I'm a big fan of fork bags. I am currently looking for one for my Norton. I have them on my Sporty and Triumph. Just enough room for the basics and the pain in the ass in your back pocket (wallet). They don't screw up the looks of a sleek bike and are out of harms way. Now the only challenge is finding one that doesn't have H-D on it or a bunch of cheezy do-dads or the like. I found a plain jane at a swap meet for $10 and put it on the Triumph. Just a suggestion.
Tom

Ya, know, that bike never let me down in over 10K miles. Always got me home with no issues. I always trusted it. I'm hopin' it'll be the same now. I'm getting more confidence every time it starts first kick. I just don't trust my abilities as a bottom end mechanic, I want to see about 500 or more miles on it without trouble and then that's it. I'm even taking the curves a bit faster now. Nice, even with the original headsteady. But you know I'm not thrashing it except on clear straight runs where I'll do the WOT for orgasmic pleasure. I noticed yesterday in 3rd at 4K it was pretty smooth at 45mph. Sounds a bit raspy there though. I think the Hemmings adjusters are in my future.

That run yesterday had a lot of curves and plenty of hills (and maybe 5 cars up and back, no paint lines in the road either), I notice the Amals act a bit funny on the downhill side, probably because I'm not goosing it enough.

Thanks Tom, I'll look into a place in the front I can store some things. But what I had is about it, maybe some water would be nice.

Dave
69S

http://www.rescuetape.com/
CVS stock it now cheaper(3fo$10)