Being I don't like pillaging my nice ratchet and wrench sets from the garage to create a handlebar tool bag, I was wondering if you guys could rattle off what you have found to work best for you in your tool bags for the 1500 Drifter. (i.e. - sizes for sockets, wrenches, Allen, Torx bits; types of pliers commonly used, any special tools, ratchet extension? universal joint? deep sockets?) I haven't decided on the tool bag yet and was hoping to see what kind of "tool volume" everyone is carrying with them before I go buying something is twice the size of what I actually would need. I mean, I don't want to go buy another metric socket set if the whole thing is put together with 10mm's.
Much thanks,
Lee
Now this is a can of worms....The tool kit supplied by the factory should be more than adequate for what you will need, and it's place on the bike, under the left side cover, doesn't interfere with handling like a fork mounted bag would.
All I carry for tools is what came with the Drifter; plus my faithful Leatherman tool, and a few zip ties.
Regards and such,
49Reo
Gibb's rule #9...never go anywhere without a knife
My Drifter came to my hands empty. Therfore I don't know what are the common and original tools.
Can anybody explain me what they are ? Thanks a lot !
Thanks Gerhardberger... that was going to be my next question. But my original reply to Troll was going to be "What? They come with tool kits? :o I think I saw the amplifier to my spearkers in said location. But then again, I only had a week with the bike before I came back overseas... so who knows... there may be a tool kit in there.
Thanks for the responses all.
There is a drawer that pulls out under the open area that has the tool kit in it, or should have. My '01 is missing the tools, too...What do people do with these things, anyway? Maybe the P.O. of your bike never found where the tools were hidden, and you still have them...
Quote from: Troll on March 26, 2012, 19:37:07 PM
There is a drawer that pulls out under the open area that has the tool kit in it, or should have. My '01 is missing the tools, too...What do people do with these things, anyway? Maybe the P.O. of your bike never found where the tools were hidden, and you still have them...
Tks...will check it again !
Gerhard...the 800 has a took box located just below the left cover. I believe it has a key lock on it. If it's empty, then you have suffered the same loss we have. The tool kit usually has some wrenches, a tire gauge, screw drivers a spark plug socket and a pliers, all tucked into a black plastic bag you would swear they will never fit into. It's nothing special, but it is all the correct sizes for normal bike work the owner might have to perform. Here is a link to the bike bandit site showing the bag, it's contents and a (very high for what you get) price for the missing tools. http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/2000-kawasaki-vulcan-800-drifter-vn800c2-us/o/m4584#sch80138 (http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/2000-kawasaki-vulcan-800-drifter-vn800c2-us/o/m4584#sch80138)
You might be better off poking around eBay for the tools. the took kit is the same for all the 800s, so you don't have to be looking for Drifter specific stuff.
I carry the factory tools myself, but I have made 2 additions, a small (4 inch) set of visegrips, and a small Gerber pocket knife ($9.99 at Wally World).
I do carry a fork mounted tool bag (it came on the bike) but in there I have added a tube of quick drying high temp silicone gasket maker, a few packs of baby wipes (always handy to have), and a small maglite flashlight.
45 Bravo
Another handy item to have, and they take very little room, (thanks, 45 Bravo, for the tip on baby wipes; itmade me remember these) is a few " Wysi-Wipes. They are small,round, about the size of a white peppermint (that is what they look like) throw a half-dozen in a small zip-lock bag; you add a few drops of water to one, and they swell up, and you roll and fold them out. They form a handy wipe rag about 8" square. You can use them for just about anything. I have packed them ever since I first found them at NAPA. They run about $12.00 for a pack of 100.
Regards and such,
49Reo