A well stocked kit of spares is an essential part of the adventure rider’s package. Even if you’ve only got half an idea how to use the stuff you’ve jammed inside it, you’re far closer to not having to spend a freezing night in the bush trembling at the noise the dingoes make than the bloke who took nothing to prepare himself for problems. I’d much rather be burdened by a little extra weight and make it home with the sun still shining. If you’re riding by yourself, do whatever you want, but if you’re riding with us, this is what I recommend.

The Bumbag itself:

Our tour operators use Scott’s new 2007 issue Enduro Motorsport bag. It’s hasn’t got the biggest capacity and is certainly not as tough as a model made of leather. It doesn’t come with a lifetime guarantee. It’s advantage is comfort. It has an elasticised strap much wider than any other bag, which uses Velcro to attach, backed up by the usual inch and a half wide nylon webbing strap and clip to fasten around your waist. It is far more comfortable than any other bag, meaning all others of any brand that just use the inch and a half wide nylon strap and clip to fasten to your torso. I reckon it’s grouse.

Bumbag Contents:

Many riders will carry lots of different stuff. I reckon that you should use your bumbag tools to perform work on your bike in the shed, so you can work out what you actually need and just as importantly what you don’t need. Minimizing the weight is important. It’s common for some guys to carry heavy items like a shifter to remove axle nuts, when another much lighter tool will do the job. Below is a list of the items I carry and their purpose.

1. Tyre levers - Metzeler tyre levers are the best, no comparison. Their secret is that both levers are different. The one with the ‘big’ end is used only once, to help break the bead or start to refit the tyre with help from the one with the ‘small’ end. After that you can put the big one back in your bag. The small one is more easily forced between the rim and the tyre and is less likely to protrude into the cavity where the tube lives, being therefore less likely to pinch the tube. Both these qualities are major bonuses. I have welded sockets to my levers that fit the front and rear axle nuts. First I got them turned down in a lathe to save weight. I welded the smaller socket to the small lever, as it’s the one I use the most and the small socket gets in the way less. I have now eliminated one tool (axle spanners) from my kit and saved room and weight. They are tough as and can be stood on to loosen tight axle nuts.

2. Valve tool - Whilst on the subject of flat tyres, I also have a valve removing tool. It’s just a valve cap that can remove valves, but with an 8mm bolt screwed into it to make it easier to use. I’m going to experiment with a lighter replacement for the bolt in the future, perhaps some timber dowel.

3. Pump - Six years ago I bought a $50 mountain bike pump. It’s a dual action thing that can pump a fair bit of air. It was dear at the time, but is still going strong and has inflated hundreds of tubes. Every now and again I pull it apart, clean it out, re lube with CRC type lubricant and away it goes again.

4. Puncture repair kit - I use a pushbike style kit, backed up with some heavier duty patches. Pushbike patches are OK, but just in case I went to my local tyre dealer and got some heavier duty patches for peace of mind.

5. CO2 canisters - Emergency tube inflators. Metzeler brand. I carry a couple but rarely use them. Good when you’re in a hurry.

6. Tyre pressure guage - This one was $7.95 and pretty accurate.

7. Check out my 12mm open end/14mm ring spanner combo. I found I didn’t need the 12mm ringy or the 14mm open end, so I hack sawed them both and welded the bits I wanted together, eliminating one whole spanner in the process. The 12mm open end is necessary for chain adjustment on my 450X (along with a 10mm open end) and the 14mm ringy fits among other things the sprocket nuts, which you need to keep tight. The welding may be dodgy but I’m proud of it.
   

8. The ratchet 10mm/12mm ring spanner combo is ace. The 12mm end is a real weapon for rim lock nuts, reducing the time taken to deal with flat tyres. I had to buy a whole kit to get it, but the others are in the tool box at home and I use them from time to time. I initially bought it for the Australian Four Day Enduro to save time in the work periods, but have since found it to be extremely valuable on the trail. Next to it is the 10mm I need for chain adjustment.
   

9. The one size fits all spanner from Ballards is a winner. It is light, skinny and fits every bike axle nut I’ve come across. If I was just looking after myself, I wouldn’t carry this spanner, but for my needs as a tour guide it’s a winner. It’s not as good to use as my purpose made tyre lever/axle nut spanners, but is worthy of inclusion.

10. Mini vice grips - are a valuable addition. Pliers, wire cutters and doubles as an emergency gear lever at a pinch, with a bit of wood taped in and the handle taped locked. I used it recently to free a horse tangled in a fence at Tom Groggin.

11. Spoke spanner - The original Honda one supplied with my bike fits best, however the universal ‘one size fits most of them’ unit I carry is better for my needs, as it fits everyone’s bike, except perhaps weirdo KTM spokes.

12. Spark plug spanner - Taped inside it is a 450 NGK plug. Next to it is a second plug to suit a 250X.
    

13. ¼ inch drive sockets and T – bar - I bought a ¼ inch drive socket set and raided it for the T – bar, extension bar and 8, 10 plus 12mm sockets, which are common on most bikes. KTM’s also need weirdo sized 13mm tools. This is a must – have bit of gear that I use all the time. There is also a main jet 6mm socket and a small flat screwdriver socket, both for jetting, which I may alter or delete in future.

14. Screwdriver - This one doubles as a flat blade and a Phillips head, so I can carry one not two. Cool.

15. Allen keys - Whatever fits your bike. 4,5 and 6 mm seem to be most common. The multi – sized combo units with many sized keys are popular, but heavy. It’s up to you.

16. Chain breaker - This mini unit from Ballards is good. Compact but really tough, I’ve used it a few times to break o – ring 520 chains with ease and it’ll press the plates back on too. Much better than the bigger units that just break the chain but don’t press.

17. Bits of chain - I carry two lengths of spare chain, each fitted with a joiner link at each end. The chain is useless without the joiners when you have chain issues.
    

18. Spare joiner links - The clips can wear out, fall off and your chain no longer turns the back wheel. A new joiner link can save you.
    

19. Levers - I carry spare brake and clutch levers. I cut them down to save weight. If you use Teflon tape under your perches you should never need them, but sometimes you never know.

20. Gear lever - Riding home in just one gear is not fun.

21. Wire - Tie wire is useful to hold on mufflers and the like if they try and fall off when the bolts go missing.
    

22. Cable ties - A few different sized ones are often handy

23. 2 pak metal bog - I use JB weld brand which I have found superior to other products. This stuff will fix broken crankcases or radiators perhaps even permanently. Make sure you clean the surface to be repaired as best you can. I’ve repaired radiators with this stuff that the owners are still riding around on. Quality product at only around $15 for a pair of tubes. I store mine in an old Leatherman case so they don’t wear, leak and dry out. I’ve taped the tubes to resist leakage.

24. Nuts and bolts and bits - I’ve got an old plastic tyre repair kit full of bits. Some nuts and bolts, not chosen randomly, but selected on purpose for certain jobs. A fuse for the starter motor. A spare valve and cap. Another bit of wire. Another joiner link. A hose clamp.

25. Cloth tape - Whatever you call it, this tough tape is useful when stuff begins to fall off your bike. The one on the left will help prevent blisters.
    

26. Tyre patches - Not tube patches, but tyre patches. Very rarely, a tyre will split and from then on you’ll suffer flat after flat. One of these heavy duty patches, placed on the inside of the tyre, will get you home. I got mine from a car tyre joint.

Not depicted is the rag. A nice soft nappy is my choice. Cleans the crap off your goggles well.