I have seen a lot of people having a multi meter on their packing list.
Do you still think it is a must have for an extended trip?

PK

I do believe a tiny multimeter is in your best interests.
Smaller, and less expensive than a pack of cigarettes.

With a few jumpers and alligator clips.

Test lights are hard to beat, but they cannot reliably tell you that your charging system is putting out 14 volts, or than your coil is failing.

Take both, if only to ensure that you'll not need them.


BMW R100R 1995
SUZ DL1000 2005

I have one that cost less than 10 euros. In the box it measures 10 x 6 x 2 cms. The only ime ithas been out of the box is just to check it's still working before setting off. Continuity testing is still the most useful feature but havng the ability to test voltage is also invaluable. I als carry a long piece of wire with croc. clips on both ends and this has proved useful on several occasions.

I have a little one I got from Amazon, it's not bulky and has been useful in the past.

I now have a little LED from SparkBrite on the dash which tells me the status of my electrical system and could be used to test voltage on the bike. So maybe the meter will stay at home now, with a decent length of spare cable (which I also carry) it could easily be used for any practical test (voltage and resistance) I might need to make.

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[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]

Would you travel without a 10mm spanner?
The multimeter is a basic electronic tool for finding electrical faults, without it you'll have great difficulty trying to determine an electrical fault.

Your choice.

you can get a long way with a continuity tester but for understanding sensors function etc a multimeter is needed.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

And it gives you something to do while you wait for the repair van to turn up ....

If you're happy around electrics a simple one can be invaluable and they're so cheap now it seems daft not to pack one. If space is really tight you could always leave the sat-nav behind.

You wouldn't leave home without your phone so why not make it more versatile

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Come to the US first, our chinese- American tool company, harbor freight regularly has one as a free item with any purchase, just dont connect the batteries n they ( the batteries)will last you a long while. Free

A multimeter is of limited use if you don't understand what you are looking at. A modern bike uses both electrical and electronic parts. Electrical parts include wire, relays, fuses, bulbs, horns and switches. Alternators, magnetos, dynamos and starter motors are also electrical components as are heating elements used in heated grips, heated clothing etc.. In order to test motors, alternators and similar you need to know a little about what you are looking at but often a simple continuity test can help identify a faulty part. All other electrical parts can be tested using a continuity tests including heating elements but beware electronic controllers which may be embedded making it difficult to check th wire element on it's own.

Electronics parts include rectifiers, voltage regulators, cdi units, ECUs, canbus modules, temperature controllers as well as a whole host of stuff that may be fitted to the bike. You stand next to no chance of fixing these units, especially at the roadside but sometimes a meter can help determine if it is actually the unit or the electrical connections to it.

Using a voltmeter to test your battery is not always that straightforward. If you suspect your battery is faulty, disconnect it and charge it up using a trickle charger or a suitable charger if using a gell or Lithium battery. Once charged reconnect it and measure the voltage - it should be more than 13 volts. If it drops sharply to below 11 volts when you turn on the ignition or lights, then it is probably shot but it can still be an earthing issue. This is where the wire with croc. clips comes in. Clip one end to the battery negative and the other end to a cleaned point on the frame. Now if you switch the ignition or lights on and the voltage drop is notably less (stays above 12 volts, say) then you may well have a corroded earth connection.

I hope this is not too simplistic and apologies to all of you who already know this stuff.

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A buddy of mine invented these products, soon to be available in Argentina/South America!

Check it out

Eat, Drink and Meter

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