A single loose bolt can stop you from riding, and how embarrassing would it be to have to shove your machine a mile or two because you didn't have a wrench? Lesson learned: he now has quite the impressive tool kit.

CruzTools' Teardrop H-D tool kit has a selection of wrenches, tape, a flashlight, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. There is even a neat little mini ratchet and socket set, a tool that isn't found in many kits and can come in very handy.

The kit itself is designed to fit a teardrop toolbox, but it will also reside happily in saddlebags or shoved in the front of your coat in a pinch. The flexible pouch helps protect your tools and keeps them organized for fast access on the roadside.

The advice about tools I've always been given, and from some reputable sources with a lot of miles under their wheels, is: If you use it to work on your bike, put it in your kit. This might not be possible for big things like scissor jacks, but you get the idea.

Now, I would be a little surprised if you needed to buy a kit at all, because riders probably already have everything they need. You could probably find a box and build your own kit cheaper, but having a dedicated set will make it less likely you'll take out your screwdriver and forget to put it back.

If you already have the tools and just need the bag, Xelement makes an attractive (and waterproof) tool bag.

Find this Harley-Davidson Tool Kit:

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CRUZ TOOLS ROADTECH TEARDROP TOOL KIT 4 HARLEY RTTD1 US $89.95   Auction Ends: 17d 4h 32m Make it yours...

CRUZTOOLS TOOL KIT HD TEAR DROP RTTD1 US $82.10   Auction Ends: 26d 13h 2m Make it yours...

CRUZTOOLS RTTD1 HARLEY ROADTECH TEARDROP TOOL KIT US $89.95   Auction Ends: 12d 8h 49m Make it yours...

Tools are an absolute necessity if you don't want to walk away from an injured machine on the side of the road. When I was a kid, my father was driving and we passed an old late 60's Harley left on its lonesome. My father lamented his morality and the fact that we weren't in a pick up truck. I'm not saying that your bike will be lifted if you break down and are ill-equipped to handle it. I'm just saying that you leave it vulnerable.

This BikeMaster tool kit comes with bunch of basic wrenches, an adjustable wrench, a ratchet wrench, pliers, a tire gauge, cable ties, electrical tape and wire, a hex set, a flashlight, etc. etc. etc. All of this comes in a handy roll bag. This ought to be everything you need for a quick roadside repair.

Nothing in this world can protect you from the possibility that an irreparable problem might come up, but a portable tool kit is not just about making repairs. A portable tool kit is about keeping your bike in good repair and avoiding those bigger problems. If you don't already have a kit, buy one or make one. Buying is probably cheaper.

Don't see the tools you want? CruzTools' tool bag kit might have what you're looking for.

Find this BikeMaster Tool Kit :

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Cruz Tool Harley Motorcycle Economy Kit H2 Kit 490951 US $40.95   Auction Ends: 10d 11h 38m Make it yours...

Harley Davidson WINDZONE Tool Kit EK 1HD US $69.99   Auction Ends: 8d 11h 27m Make it yours...

New Harley Davidson® Tool Kit PN94819 02 US $78.95   Auction Ends: 7d 10h 15m Make it yours...

The Harley Davidson Tool Kit is set up to handle your general mechanical needs. It's light in weight at about five pounds, and has a nice canvas-type carrying case. You get five SAE open and box-end wrenches, and one size 10 metric wrench. The black plastic handle with the socket end comes with various sizes of Phillips-head and flat-head screwdriver tips and four sizes of torx tips. A pair of locking pliers is included, as well as a spark plug gapping gauge. The one handy oddity is the axle nut reduction adaptor -- in case you need to remove the wheel for whatever reason and don't have a large enough wrench, the adaptor slips over the axle nut to make life that much easier. And it comes with six zip-ties, too.

After some basic looking around, then speaking to parts guys at local Harley dealerships, I learned this is not one of the more popular tool kits. It's an okay set, but there are plenty of aftermarket offerings which contain more tools and/or spares, and for a little less money. SpotMotorcycle has done some soon-to-be-posted reviews on a few of those tool kits, and more will follow.

Find this Harley-Davidson Tool Kit:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this tool kit on eBay:

Cruz Tool Harley Motorcycle Economy Kit H2 Kit 490951 US $40.95   Auction Ends: 10d 11h 38m Make it yours...

Harley Davidson WINDZONE Tool Kit EK 1HD US $69.99   Auction Ends: 8d 11h 27m Make it yours...

New Harley Davidson® Tool Kit PN94819 02 US $78.95   Auction Ends: 7d 10h 15m Make it yours...

CruzTools has put together a metric tool kit for under $100. The DMX fanny pack tool kit is fully loaded with wrenches, pliers, electrical tape, a screwdriver, hex keys, a flashlight, etc. There is even extra storage space for additional tools or other items you want to have with you on your ride.

This pack doesn't defy the laws of physics, so it's going to be as big as the tools you have in it. Full size tools give you leverage, but they also take up space. CruzTools fashioned the DMX kit to give an off-road rider everything they need in a pinch, and that leaves the kit at 7 inches by 10 inches.

The DMX pack has a heavy-duty, nylon shell with top grade zippers. Never overlook zipper quality on a tool kit. A cheap zipper could cost you expensive tools.

On a side note, if you're riding in Great Britain, don't call it a fanny pack. That means something else there.

Find this DMX Fanny Pack Tool Kit:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

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Cruztools Fanny Pack Metric Tool Kit KTM CRF250X WR250F US $99.95   Auction Ends: 25d 10h 33m Make it yours...

Cruztools DMX FANNY PACK METRIC KIT US $92.45   Auction Ends: 12d 12h Make it yours...

Enter the pre-packed tool kit. Whereas once, riders had to spend their hard-earned money on a nice sturdy pack as well as outfitting said pack with all the appropriate tools, there are now a whole slew of manufacturers that offer decent packs filled with decent tools all for a decent price.

The CruzTools Road Tech H3 kit aims to be the "last tool kit you'll ever need." The kit comes with a good spectrum of SAE combination wrenches, an adjustable wrench, locking pliers, a bright LED flashlight, tire gauge, hex and Torx keys, screwdriver and a mini ratchet and socket set.

The two biggest advantages of any kit like this are the price and the higher quality tools. If you were to buy all the tools individually, that alone would likely cost more than the whole kit. This pack doesn't have the extra storage for maps, snacks, or much of anything else but it isn't marketed as a trail pack. It is meant to be a replacement kit for the one that comes from the manufacturer and in function alone; it most likely far exceeds that.

Here's a tool kit from Harley-Davidson in a more attractive tool case.

Find this CruzTools Tool Kit:

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• Click here to find this product at Revzilla.com

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MOTORCYCLE TOOLKIT TOOL KIT HONDA SUZUKI YAMAHA US $15.99   Auction Ends: 11h 22m Make it yours...

NEW MOTORCYCLE TOOL KIT CHAIN BREAKER CUTTER TK03 US $19.95   Auction Ends: 18h 30m Make it yours...

Motorcycle Chain Breaker Press Rivet Tool Kit RK DID EK US $69.99   Auction Ends: 14h 22m Make it yours...