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7/4/2020
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Hey everyone,
Starting my track and home toolbox for my bikes from scratch. It’s been a few years and can’t quite remember everything I used to have. And figure some new stuff has come out since then.
If you had to start over what would you get for the track and at home wrenching?
Bike is a 23 KX450
Always wanted one of these:
https://boxousa.com
Yeah these are soooo bad ass. Seem a little on the pricy side but so well organized.
I recently started the process for a tool box to stay in my sprinter. After making list and racking my brain I just bought the Boxo Moto kit. Sure it’s a little expensive but it has everything you need and it’s organized.
The Boxo kits look ok and I can see the appeal.
Dan Colvin, or similar if I've butchered his name, on here does badass custom/moto specific Snap-On kits if you are really after quality or you're feeling flush.
If you put your own kit together, be sensible and realistic about what you are willing and able to do at the track. I was a little enthusiastic and used a cheap, mid sized top box and some shadow foam and that bastard is WEIGHTY and the majority won't be used when I'm out and about, as a middle aged spode and not a factory supported rider 😂
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Screw the Boxo tools, support someone who cares about and is involved in the sport. If you don't want to buy a whole box he has plenty of needed specialty moto tools.
DCMX Tools | Home of the DCMX Moto Box | – DCMX TOOLS
@McG194, I seem to agree with most of your posts, so I'm curious on why screw Boxo? I believe they are supporting a few teams and are involved in the sport. The DCMX stuff is nice and a bit more specialized on the tool side but the price reflects that as well.
Screw Boxo may be a little rough. lol
Truth is I personally like TMD, he is as solid a dude as you can meet, most importantly I just prefer to support someone I know, am on friendly terms with and have spent time with.
BOXO is probably the best bang for your buck currently. It’s definitely missing a few pieces but the box itself has plenty of room to add more if needed.
I built out a cheapo little box that stays in the truck 24/7. Harbor freight toolbox case then just went around the store and grabbed all the stuff I knew I needed. 6-17mm socket set, screwdrivers, ratchets, torx socket set, small deadblow, rest of the stuff I added was duplicates and stuff from my garage tool box. Works great, plenty of room for rags, gloves, spare levers etc.
My buddy actually won one of those Boxo tool boxes and its super nice but pretty overkill for a toolbox at the truck and its $900.
18 in. Organizer Case (harborfreight.com)
Way to organized for me, I’d still be looking for a 10mm socket!
I will preface this by admitting that I am a tool snob. I often call my tools man jewelry and spend way more money on tools than they make me or save me.
That being said my opinion on a track box is you should never have the disposable tools in it. Chances are you are going to be working on something that is stuck or damaged in some way so I would want the best tools I could at the track.
Most of my garage tools are the older made in USA Craftsman stuff and a mix of some random other Harbor Freight or who knows what. My tools dont make me money they just work on dirtbikes and sometimes my cars so Im not going to spend crazy money on tools.
If I'm working on something at the trail head and its so broken I'm breaking tools than I probably need to go home anyways. Plus if someone gets into my truck and steals it or I forget it at the trails or something or it gets rained on im out $200 bucks.
I bring some assorted sockets/ratchets/wrenches, screw drivers, tire gauge and pump, torque wrench, and a cordless drill to adjust the Xtrig/sag. If more tools than that are needed it's God's way of saying it's time to head home.
I put a comprehensive japan bike focused box together for about half the price of the Boxo using good quality Taiwan made tools, probably the same tools that come in these boxo or TLD Moto kits. Just get a three drawer tool box and fill it up industrial supply stores that sell high quality loose sockets for good prices are your friend.
For the OP you’d need some t handles, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 mm sockets and wrenches. Sockets in 1/4 and 3/8 drive and in a 1/2 drive whatever size your axle bolts are. I am a believer in not having sizes that aren’t used on your bike. Most Japanese bikes use the same fasteners. Ktm has 13mm and a few torx. No need to get those for now, since you are just restarting.
These days, The better Taiwanese sockets and ratchets perform remarkable for the price point. Harbor freight can get you a lot of the stuff you need. Tusk brand tools from Rocky mountain ATV are also a great bang for the back and in my opinion are (in many cases) every bit as good as motion pro or any other dirt bike focused took brand.
Years ago I framed my bike and left all the tools out. Then I just bought all new stuff for home since I do 99% of my wrenching at the house and put the old used stuff in the box for the track. I only put the sizes of tools I actually need in the box and saved all the extras in case I break something at home. It was mostly all older craftsman stuff so decent quality but I had been wanting nicer wratchets and things anyways so it was a good excuse to buy some fresh stuff.
Are the boxo tools decent? Have considered getting one of those kits when they've been on sale but they come across to me as great marketing and ? quality. I really don't know though.
I totally get it; I did preface what I was saying with the fact that I'm a tool snob and spend more than I should. lol
Just like Gucci motorcycle parts I dig cool tools. Which could mean I use Snap-On or Matco tools or I have some tools I've made or modified myself.
Framing the bike and keeping all the tools out is a great idea. Also allows you to organize the home box in the most efficient manner.
Pit Row
My buddy acutally won a give away for one of their boxes and it was signed by Tomac lol.
It looks pretty nice to me, all the drawers have foam cutouts and stuff, the tools are pretty average quality Taiwan made stuff. If you know what you need and shop around you can build one similar for half the price but the foam and all that would be a bit of a chore to make.
Shadow Foam was a revelation to me back when I discovered it haha, not just for the organisation side but also (I know it's related and kind of the same thing) it makes it really obvious when a tool is missing or hasn't been put away yet.
Like you finish a job, stick it all back in the box and a 10mm socket has fallen down somewhere, you know where need to start looking and finding it is way quicker.
I know moulded plastic cases or trays or tool rails do that part too.
Besides the basics a case splitter a crank puller a flywheel and primary gear puller some good motion pro tappet feeler guages, quality lipo battery charger, quality low pressure tire gauge, at least 3 good tire spoons and a tire stand and a Bluetooth motool sage setter is the bees knees
Check this Wiha Tools 76 piece tool kit made exclusively for moto riders. They support Team Solitaire too…
https://www.wihatools.com/products/76-piece-motocross-mechanic-tool-kit…
I took a pic of all the tools they have, sourced them at home depot and amazon, got 4 drawer husky boxy from home depot and built a matching one besides the laser cut foam and it was less then 200$
Nice! Have any photos?
Thanks you! I do custom Moto Boxes as stated. I have ventured out on my own about 3 years ago with my brand and no longer the the tool franchise mentioned. We have several different boxes and set ups to choose from. We also do custom orders as well. For most of the hand tools I use Tekton. I am a retail dealer for them. You can find other branded stuff in my boxes such as Motion Pro, Faastco and some of my own branded stuff. I have been in the tool industry for over 20 years and Moto for 35 years. Being a franchisee for a major tool truck brand in the past quality is important to me. With quality comes the price tag. My goal was to find something where I could meet demand in the middle, priced for the consumer and get good quality tools. The fact is these days, all tools are expensive. There are other brands out there less expensive then our stuff for sure. Great products! We are just another step above with some more specialized items and more customization. I am happy to help any way I can and you can always send me an email at dcmx.tools@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Great take. I don't mind fixing loose plastic or -maybe- fixing a flat, but I'm not doing a top end at the track. All I really need are a few screwdrivers, three sockets, two box-end wrenches and a crescent. Anything more serious than that and I'm probably just going back home.
Take your bike apart , put the tools you use in a separate box.
Add a few things like lockwire pliers, grips and punches and the like.
Then marvel at how little you need.
Then break down on the way home and realise all your 'man tools' are in the garage.
I always try to have tire changing tools for the trailer and tow vehicle, if it's anything else you're probably not going to fix it on the side of the road. I've limped to an auto parts store several times and they let me use some tools off the wall! I try to stay up on maintenance, but have had an alternator go out in Tulsa and lost a COP in Utah.
I believe Big James has a video on his toolbox somewhere showing exactly everything you need.
If we are thinking of the same video, I don’t think that toolbox would fit in my living room!
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