When I bought this bike - in 1994 - one of the first things I bought was a tool kit that would stay in the saddle bag at all times. That kit eventually evolved into a tool box. That tool box is always in that saddle bag.
Here's a pic of what I now carry on every ride.

The Craftsman Black box has SAE and Metric sockets - 3/8" dirve
10" crescent wrench - open end wrenches -
Screw Driver Socket Handle with 2 sets of bits - slotted, Phillips, SAE Hex, Torx,
3/8" socket attachments: Torkx, Hex,
Specific Allen Wrenches for Transmission Dip Stick, Carb removal
3/8" extensions, 1/4" extensions, Feeler gauge, Allen Wrench Assortment Jackknife style Tool set
2 air gauges - high pressure to 50 psi for tires - low pressure 15 psi - shocks - air suspension
A zip tie, Cotter pin assortment, Spark plug socket, right angle micro screw driver set (back up bit set)
A blue rubber glove just in case I smart enough to use it.
The Blue container has a mini mag LED flashlight w/ head band for hands free - I keep the tranny wrench and air gauges in it.

my toolbox goes back to 1970 when I bought a complete set of tools needed to be a mechanic at the airlines, all Proto tools bought at a 60% discount, then I have added a ton of tools for the next 43 years. On my ultra I might bring the Harley tool kit you get when you buy it new when I am on a long trip, never really used it in 196,000 miles. I kind of broke down , had a heavy sound in the lower end, in Buffalo WY. called roadside assistance and they trucked me to Gillette WY. dealer, which said I had to many miles on the bike for them to work on it, only had about 141,000 miles on it, still a youngster. I rode it to a shop in town called Marlins, met so old school bikers and they let me use their entire shop except the lifts, they gave a motorcycle jack and gave me the tour of the shop and toolboxes. Took the Primary off and my compensating sprocket had come loose, could of just tighten it up but seeing I had 6,000 miles in front of me before I got back home, I pulled the clutch to check both sprockets for chucking. Seeing that everything was ok, put it back together using their tools, brake clean and Loctite. Sold ne a primary cover gasket and the inspection hole gasket and wanted to charge me 30 dollars, I got pissed asked if he was out of his mind and threw a hundred dollar bill at him and said Thank You. He said really and threw 2 of his t-shirts at us. I always said it was the breakdowns that you remember from rides back in the sixties and seventies, the people you met that helped you or got you stoned, that was what I liked back then it was the people, bikers or hippies or just Joe citizen. It is a good thing that Harleys are made so much better today, because those people are gone, you could stand on the side of the road for hours without no one stopping until roadside assistance shows up. So basically I carry no tools and have no breakdowns which I could repair with them. On my chopper from 70-94 I had tools with me a little kit that I could do a lot with, not as much as Bronson, but I was real.
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I don't think my 2012 even came with any kind of tool roll but I have 3 extra tool rolls that I'd bought for my 1996 Buell S2T,'98 and '01 Ultra's I might take the best from each and make one kit and throw one my '12 for sh*ts and giggles. Murphies law and all that. Little screws here and there do losen up from time to time(shift levers,foot pegs etc)

On my old '83 FL I carry everything from bailing wire to spare nuts and bolts, exhaust gaskets,spark plugs, set or 2 of points, extra coil and a pretty comprehensive tool selection. On my '63 FL more or less the same thing. While I dearly loved my '63 it was a rolling rat trap needing constant attention, PIMA and I do not miss it. It gave me 25 memorable years filled with many breakdown memories.

Theres a decent company that makes prepacked tool rolls that I like and looks to take most of the effort out of putting one together:

https://www.cruztools.com/products/kitshd.html

I agree with you DS about good folks today and yesteryear..... I broke down in the Ozarks one time and hitched hiked with my bike and girl friend in tow in the middle of no where. In no time at all a guy pulled over in a truck,loaded up the bike and took us all the way back to Ft Riley over 200 miles away....seriously. And would not take any money.


I'd really rather do w/out the break down memories DS. My rides to later rides to San Diego,Key West,Pidgeon Forge and other locations were seamless and not fraught with any mishaps other then a few gas issues. Gotta love the new technology for that.

Thats a great record - I've had some stuff loosen up on me and the one time I didn't have a screw driver I had to use my key chain tool - after that I swore to never leave home with out a kit/box. As for the people that you meet along the road - the other reason I never leave home without one.



Seems I'm OLD Friends with Mr. Murphy - and he's the main reason I keep that kit in my bike.

I've used that kit more on my friends bikes than my own - but if they weren't going anywhere - neither was I...

My bike came with a set thats missing half of what ever is suposed to be in it.
When I leave home I make sure my cellphone is charged up and my credit card is paid up.

I couldn't agree more!

Thats not a bad thing unless you're stuck in the by God middle of no where with no signal or humanity for that matter(in which a emergency bottle of Jack and a spare blanket use to go a long way). Places like that exist like I-40 between Barstow,CA and OKC. Kansas state rt 400 in southern Kansas is the same way to name a few and there are a more then few more areas thru out this country like that. Places that are remote and Southerly and you swear you here banjos,lol.

Thats very true. The problem with packing every thing I would need is knowing what to do with it when I need it.
If I broke down in the middle of nowhere I could build shelter and find food but when it comes to wrenching I,m walking.

Thats the advantage of older iron, most things can be remedied on the side of the road. The advantage of modern technology is it is very reliable but not fool proof. EFI is this conglomeration of sensors and relays,carb is a block of aluminum with holes drilled in it. Riding a motorcycle has always been a buy your ticket take your chances deal.

Yeah - no point in loading up a bunch of tools if you cant find the problem. After I read your post I had an image of a guy with a long beard living off the side of the road in a log cabin that he made with a swiss army knife...