Question about tools(preview pics)

[Suprsignet]

I'm about to buy a new bike from a factory in China. I am curious to know which tools you have used to assemble your bike. For example I'd like to know common nut sizes and which tools are the most needed and useful.

I want to assemble a limited tool kit that I can keep with me most of the time. I also want to assemble the bike on my own so I don't have to deal with fixing other people's mistakes (I'd rather just swear at myself).

Also at present I have no tools to my name in China and don't want to end up having to lug around 150lbs of tools with me when I decide to move.

Thanks in advance.
Mike

[montanaoffroader]

Here's a list of what I had for my last bike:

Metric socket set 8mm-17mm with ratchet

Metric combination wrench set 8mm-19mm

Spark plug socket

1 pair regular pliers

1 pair channellock pliers

1 wire stripper/crimper combo tool

1 pair wire cutters

Feeler gauge (metric)

Folding allen wrench set (metric)

1 8" (200mm) crescent wrench

1 screwdriver with interchangeable bits

A pair of small tire irons

A spoke wrench

Tube patch kit

Small bicycle hand pump

It all fit into a small canvas tool bag that I could carry on the bike if I had to, and I could do pretty much all my maintenance and repairs with this set.

[IronFist]

Yep good kit.
I also have a long nosed set of forcepts, medical ones. Great for getting the nuts bolts and washers that fall into tight spots.

[katoranger]

Duct tape and wire ties go a long way.

Allen

[MATT]

Probably the best tool to carry is a cell phone so you can call someone with a truck.

[Suprsignet]

Sadly this aint the good ol' usa where everyone has a pick up and case of miller genuine draft. A car is quite a luxury in China and most people here think trucks are for farmers . So they aren't so popular.

In some of the places I've been a toilet is a luxury and I don't mean a toilet that looks like a chair, I mean the toilet that looks is a hole in the ground with plumbing. My wife is from a pesant Chinese town and it is crazy to go visit where she grew up. One tap in the whole house and it is outside 8O, houses with no heat in an area where you really need it and a lot of other conviences we take for granted.

Needless to say having a phone to call the calvery can help in a local situation but not on the when I'm in the middle of no where. I do always carry a phone with me, extra gas, and a tool kit.

I rasied the question becuase I was interested to know what nut and bolt sizes are common on the bikes. There is no point in my carrying any tools I won't use or need. I also don't have the bike yet, but it is coming and I don't want to have to run to the tool store before I can put it together.

Pepboys, Walmarts, steakhouses, gun shops, 7-11s and taco bells are seldom found here, so I really need to know what I'll need to use. Going to buy tools here is faced with finding the right tools and then fighting over a price. The more I can buy at one time the better price I'll get.

[TeamCheap]

montanaoffroader has a pretty good list of tools.

I'm one of the spoiled ones I guess as I dont carry much more than the supplied bike tool kit when we ride but thats because we have a bunch of tools at the truck and we just ride for the pure fun of it.
Although I will be carrying a small pump and tire repair kit for both tube and tubeless tires this summer (just a hunch I'll need it)
Where we ride you can ride and ride and ride but you are pretty much always near a road and we have two way radios wired into our helmets to talk to each other and they are better than a cell phone.
I plan to upgrade to garmin rino 530 (GPS) units this year so we'll always know where we parked instantly (dont ask ) and still be able to two-way each other and keep track of each other.

I remember the days long ago here where a truck was used for WORK and was fairly inexpensive and had few creature comforts but now they are plush and loaded with all sorts of useless items that cater to the pampered.(it will happen in china also- give it 10-20 years)

We still have rustic toilet facilities albeit fancy out houses at some of the trailheads. (next is a real motorhome)

I'd say in one generation china will change drastically, not all of it but a lot of it.

[MATT]

I would say that the most used tools in your kit would be an 8mm and a 10mm socket as well as a #2phillips head screw driver. Don't know how extensive of a kit your looking to construct but those are the three tools that I use the most

[Jim]

What I used when I assembled my Lifan GY-6 (yours may have different sizes I guess)...

A large phillips screw driver

21mm - for the rear axle
18mm - for the front and rear axle
17mm - not used for assembly, but it is the size for the oil drain plug
15mm - for the front axle
10mm - various bolts
8mm- various bolts

I also used an allen key, but I don't know what size.

Also, the plug for the oil screen cover I believe is a 23mm but I'm not sure on that one.

[SamM]

I used all of them!

SamM

[Suprsignet]

Thanks. I'll go pick up those tools when the rain stops.
Anyone interested in seeing the bike I ordered?
Mike





Sadly I couldn't get the camo bike. It would have been a lot like me driving a cop car around back home.

I should have the bike in early March.

The bike is a special army edition, with a 21L gas tank, aprox 800km per tank. I also got the bike with an HID light and heated grips.

[katoranger]

I want that tank. I could ride all month without filling up.

Allen

[Savage]

Those bikes looks awesome all blacked out!
You could use a 10 & 12mm to work on/take apart almost the whole bike. My Lifan gy5 that is.

How much do those bikes cost over there is US$?

[Suprsignet]

The bike with the HID light, bags and heated grips cost me about $1150 USD. I chose the bike mainly for the gas tank, huge racks, supposed frame strength, dual CDI igniton (why? I don't quite know yet) and kick start.

Looks like it should be a decent bike to trek around China on.

[Suprsignet]

more teaser pics. I'm going crazy waiting for this thing to arrive.