A word about torque wrenches
A motorcycle mechanic needs at least 2 high quality torque wrenches.
High quality torque wrenches are available from many companies. I tend to recomend SK/FACOM or Stanley/PROTO torque wrenches, although many other brands are just as good. They are very rugged and finely made. They come with calibration cards and have a vast support and dealer network. You should expect to pay between $150 and $200 for a good wrench. Many online dealers sell these wrenches for far less than MSRP. I tend to shop for torque wrenches at ToolSource. They have one of the best selections and decent pricing on over two hundred different wrenches.
I have made two handy torque conversion charts that I keep with each of my wrenches. They convert between the three mainly used torque scales, in*lb, ft*lb, N*m. CHART 1, CHART 2
I DO NOT recommend Snap-On torque wrenches for the casual or semi-professional mechanic. If you do not handle a tool several times a day, then you are wasting lots of money paying for Snap-on tools. Snap-on makes very high quality tools and special tools for automotive and industrial applications. They give very good direct support for their product, but they are priced at an absolute premium for the support they give. Often, a tool identical to a Snap-On tool can be found from another supplier for about half the price. The same things can be said about MAC or Matco tools, but Snap-on tends to ride at the top of the list.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, I do not recommend Craftsman torque wrenches. While the are widely available at any Sears or Orchard Supply Hardware store and are inexpensive compared to most torque wrenches, but they should not be purchased. They are poorly manufactured and designed. The plastic parts tend to break and the tool becomes useless. They are also not available in specific ranges that are truely useful. These are really a waste of money on every level for the motorcycleist.
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