What tools do you have in your garage?

[sullytl71]

I apologize if this is in the wrong place, so Mods, feel free to move it if need be.  So I'm new to Ducatis and bikes in general, but I'm curious as to what tools you guys have in your garages to do your own work on your bikes.  I'm assuming Allen wrenches and such, but what else?  I'm looking to put some together that I may not have or may not have thought of (I've got a basic auto mechanics set) and figured why not ask those who already know.  Thanks for any info!   

[Dirty Duc]

Not necessarily in this order of priority:

hex keys and socket style.  thumbwheel socket drivers.  EMS shim kit.  0-1 micrometer.  clutch holder.  chain adjusting wrench (SSS).  preload adjusting wrench.  wheel/sprocket nut socket (SSS).  short and really long extensions.  chain breaker (I use clip masters).  socket and wrench set for cam pulleys.  tire changing stand and irons.  manamanamanometer.

I should get:
An SSS rear stand.  triple tree stand.  manual impact driver.  A laptop that runs XP or newer Windoze.  Ducatidiag writer.  EGT probe for the exhaust.  a dyno.  a No-Mar tire changer.  automagic wheel balancer.

[scduc]

I never seem to have the right one. A volt meter should be a must.

[militar3rd]

1/2, 1/4, 1/8 Socket and Ratchet for both English and Metric Measurements
1/2, 1/4 Torque Wrench
Screwdrivers with all kinds of shape
Hex Socket
Wrench, Crescent
Big Effn Hammer
Drill with bits
Welder
Front Rear Pitbull Stands
Chain Breaker
Tire irons with rim protector
Homemade Synchronizer
Micrometer for valves adjusting checking
1/2 inch Impact Wrench
Makita angle grinder

You can do a lot with a basic mechanic tool set. Depends on what you wanna do, if you're comfortable on being able to do a little advanced work, tools starts to get a bit specialized.

[SpikeC]

 Lessee, milling machine, turret lathe, CNC setup, rapid prototyping machine, iPad, liquid nitrogen, sous vide.

[memper]

Along with much that has been mentioned..
Leatherman multi tool
Torque wrench (a must!)
Drill bits for metal
Extending magnet pen
Plastic forceps
Multi-meter
Zip ties
Mini fridge containing libations

[Dirty Duc]

Along with much that has been mentioned..
Leatherman multi tool
Torque wrench (a must!)
Drill bits for metal
Extending magnet pen
Plastic forceps
Multi-meter
Zip ties
Mini Full-size fridge containing libations

Fixed it!

[Slide Panda]

So theres sort of a tutorial on this very subject

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=12262.0

Things I use most:
MAGNETIC PARTS TRAY! - worth their weight in gold
Sockets and ratchets
hex (allen) attachments for said ratchets
Extensions, wobbles etc for those ratches
Allen T handles
Torque wrenches
Screw drivers
Calipers
Dead blow hammer
Sharp knife/razor knife
Combination plastic and rubber faced non marring hammer

After this list, we start heading into the specialty tools...

[zooom]

to answer the thread title...LOTS!

[S21FOLGORE]

To OP.
(You said you're relatively new to bikes.)

A good quality tire gauge, if you don't already have one, would be the first thing to add to your tool collection.
It is one of the most overlooked yet very important tools.
Do you know how often you're supposed to check your tire pressure ?
Once a month? No.
Once a week? No.

EVERY TIME before you ride. (although it is a bit difficult to do if you are a daily commuter).

If you do not / cannot keep your tires properly inflated, all the work you do to your bike's suspension and all the talk and practice of riding technique would be meaningless.

So, what gauge should you buy, then?
Don't believe "Dial gauge is more accurate than pencil type gauge," " Digital is more accurate than analog."
Things you want to check when purchasing the gauge is ...

1)About accuracy
Many people confuse "accuracy" and "resolution". A digital gauge that has the read out down to 0.0001 psi, for example, is NO MORE ACCURATE than the analog gauge that has 0.1 psi reading. It just has higher resolution.

For example,if your tire's true pressure is 32 psi, and the digital gauge reads 31. 457 psi, and the analog one read 32.2 psi, which one is more accurate?
Yup, the digital one is 0.543 psi (-1.7%)off  and the analog one is 0.2 psi (+0.6 %) off, the analog one is roughly 3 times more accurate.

2)About consistency (repeatability)
In a way, this is more important.
For example, if you measure 32 psi tire  five times and

gauge #1 reads  32.4 psi all five times (always + 1.25%)

gauge#2  reads 32.0 psi (1st), 30.5 psi (2nd), 32.1 psi (3rd), 33.2 psi (4th), 31.9 psi (5th) (-4.6% to +3.8%)

The gauge #1 is a better one to use than the gauge#2 .


3)chuck design
Fixed or swiveled chuck,  90° or straight. Look at your wheel (air valve stem and disc rotor). Some of the gauge out there aren't designed with motorcycle use in mind.

Here's the tire gauge test MCN did in 2005.
www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200511gauges.pdf‎


Although the article is a bit old, it is still useful.

I use this one.


Got from local Snap-on truck guy. Comes with Snap on lifetime warranty and blow molded plastic case.
Angled swiveled chuck, big, easy to read dial face. (look how big it is.)


Buy a good one and treat it with respect.

[Gimpy]

Its pretty easy to get intimidated.  I started out with little more than a basic socket set, some allens, and an incomplete set of box wrenches.  I think I stole some screw drivers from the junk drawer.

Doing more and more tasks I have slowly built up quite the collection. The most important tool is this forum and a repair manual. (LT snyder's book has been a life saver)  Most of the time one or both of those will tell you which tools you need before hand for what ever task at hand. 

Sometimes that is not enough  and you have to run out to buy something in the middle of a job. Or make whatever tool you need.  I find the satisfaction of fixing something pretty quickly makes up for all the swearing frustration going on during all the actual fixing.