Space, weight and usability compromises... diificult decisions.

What are your thoughts, experiences, choices, etc. when it comes to spanners (wrenches) and rathces in your tool kit?

-double open, double boxe vs open/box combo?
-long vs short?
-Steel vs aluminium
-Rathet type spanners vs regular ratchet?
-Etc?

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For my f650gs Dakar I carry:

a 24mm aluminium MotionPro box-end / tire lever combo, saving me carrying an extra tool, plus the weight savings from aluminium vs steel

8, 10 and 14 mm Short open/box-end combo with rathet (chrome vanadium)

19 mm short open/box-end combo with ratchet and flexible/hinged elbow joint for better access (chrome vanadium)

22 mm long (for torque) open/box-end combo with ratchet (chrome vanadium)

24 mm box Motion Pro with spoon tire lever (Aluminium) - super cool

Adapters for sockets that fit the ratchet type spanners. Saves me carrying separate ratchets

A sliding t-handle with socket adapter

A ratchet extension that doubles as a screw driver handle. Combine it with the t-handle for large torque

A socket for bits, saving me having to carry screw drivers (except for the smallest where bits won't access tight spaces)

A vice grip

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On my old tempramental bikes, where serious brake downs in the middle of no where happens very frequently, I will carry a very large and practical tool kit. But with my newly aquired, and hopefully reliable Dakar, I am aiming to make large compromises in favor of space/weight over practicality. Even if it would be more cumbersome to do a close to tear down, as long as it gets the job done - then fine. Hopfully a mechanic won't be too far away if I need to do a big job.

I am yet to test the kit above to give you a review, but I plan to do a very large service this winter, using only the kit on the bike. Hopefully I will remember to repost my findings with any adjustments i have made to the selection of spanners and ratchets.

Your thoughts are very welcome in the pursuit of the ultimate tool kit (adressing spanners and rathcets only in this post)


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Possible improvements to the kit?

Replacing all the combo levers for double open end spanners to reduce the number of spanners (except the light weight motion pro that is allready a combo tool)?

No ratchet - solely the sliding t-handle and extension with adapters for sockets and bits?

Aluminium spanners instead of heacy chrome vanadium?
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