IMO, you can't travel well without a good tool kit. And certainly need a complete set of sockets, not just 10mm & 12mm. Lots of my fasteners are
8mm. And what about 13mm, 14mm, and 17mm? Japanese bikes are full of
these sizes.

I learn what's appropriate for a bike after stripping it for a complete service.
This done in the garage of course. Once you've done this a couple times you'll know what tools are important.

But when something new and unexpected breaks you always end up needing
more specific tools. I bring as much as I can fit.

Mostly my kit ends up being lent to riding partners.....and my nut and bolt kit is forever being pilfered by broken down buddies who've lost a nut or bolt. What goes around, comes around. Good Karma!

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

10 and 12 are the most common, so I take ratchet and sockets to make the majority of jobs easier/quicker. other sizes I use spanners because they are less frequent and there's no point in duplication. For example an oil change needs a 17, 13 and 12 plus an allen key. it's a 12 to get the seat off. a 12 to get the tank off. For me sockets are a luxury.

true, I can't do major surgery to the bike with these tools. But I wouldn't want to do that at the road side. I'd get to a large-ish town and find a bike/car shop to use. I've found they are fine about lending the odd spanner if you buy the parts/oils from them.

It's like your clothing luggage. Do you carry a tux, just incase you're asked out to a dinner/dance?

when reducing my old over-weight toolkit I just put it down next to the bike, changed the oil, adjusted the chain, removed the wheels and replaced the brake pads. Every tool I used made it into my toolkit, the rest I left behind. That's realistically as far as my knowledge extends for now. When I learn to use a multi-meter over a test-lamp then I'd probably carry one.

Probably going to need some exotic tool I left at home when I'm away over the next few weeks. I'll feel a right fool then...