ProBikeKit.com - 38 Piece Tool Kit Quick-Review

dynamis_dk

Since a few people post up regarding tools and bit i thought i'd post up a little mini-review of the new toolkit i just bought from ProBikeKit.com.

Arrived this morning all packed out in bubble wrap, once i managed to fight my way past the packing i was left with this:



Opened it up and you get all individually wrapped tools:




Having sat and unwrapped them all laid out you get (list taken from website:



Chain whip (for 9 speed chains).
Bottom bracket wrench.
Cotterless crank tool.
Cartridge bottom bracket tool for use with Shimano Hollowtech II and Truvativ GXP.
15mm pedal wrench.
Freewheel remover.
Chain rivet extractor.
3m/10ft tape measure.
Chainring nut wrench with plastic handle for ease of use.
3.2, 3.3, 3.5mm rubber coated precision engineered spoke wrenches.
2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm high quality hex wrenches.
Torx 25.
2 professional steel tyre levers.
2 cleaning tools for cleaning freewheels.
Easy to use chain cleaner.
Cable cutter.
1 & 2 Phillips screwdrivers.
Slotted 5 screwdriver.
Tool box with dividers and 2 trays.

Once you pack everything back in the box there is a little room for some extra bits so i've added a few more item i already had, then packed it up again:





Now although i haven't done any 'tooling' with the new tools yet, inital impressions are pretty good for the home repair guy. Not up to full time mechanics quality, the tools have a heavy and sturdy feel with average finishing on the tools (over paint spots etc).

For myself to build up and maintain a MTB i think the kit is possibly the best £30.63 i've spent in a while!! Of course only time will tell but i'm sure this kit will last me a fair few years to come!!

paulfitz

I ordered one of these the other day - was gonna wait till payday, but checked on monday night and there was only 2 left in stock...

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeee........... fancy a foot massage??? Can i lend 40 quid"

Sorted

Originally was gonna get the 40 quid lifeline jobbie, but this seems better quality. Happy days.

Gotta love the "Crunch that credit" thread.

bails87

I got one too, arrived yesterday and all seems really good quality, and excellent value. The cable cutters are the only weak point I think, seemed to do a fair bit of crushing before they actually cut the outer i tested them on. But I've already got some shimano ones, so it's not really a problem, and I'm sure the outer could be opened back up well enough once it has been cut.

Oh, and I can't figure out the chainring nut thing.... :oops:

dynamis_dk

don't it just sit in the rear of the chainring while you use an allen on the other side??

I haven't tried the cutters with an outer but they we're ok for the inner bit. My plan is to upgrade any weaker bits part at a time but its a damn good base to work from i think.

bails87

Thats what I thought, but it didn't seem to do anything. I'll try again tonight.

BTW, I dont actually need to do anything to my chainrings, it's just out of curiosity...which is exactly what caused my bike to be in bits within half an hour of unpacking the toolkit last night!

garethp1745

It's exactly the same as the lifeline kit from wiggle at 2/3 the price....

supersonic

Mine turned up today! Can't believe how much kit you get for the money.

deffler

Might have to have a look at this set, I did have my eyes on the lifeline one but looks like you guys rate this. You cant beat a 'normal' bikers recomendations.

I would be interested in comments from people who have had this set a while.

Great thread

Northwind

Yeah, I've already got the small lifeline one- same tools only less of them- but I was still nearly tempted by this one, ridiculous price.

bails87, trick is to do a small cut, rotate the outer, cut again, repeat til you're in. Works a charm. The cutters are definately the weakest part of the kit, they don't last particularily well but I've restrung 4 bikes with them now and done various tweaking and they still work. But not for much longer. Still, that's perfectly acceptable to me, considering the whole kit costs the same as one set of really nice cutters!

supersonic

Just flogged 3 of the tools I didn't need for 22 quid!

bails87

As I said, I've already got decent cable cutters (which did actually cost almost as much as the whole kit) so they might be usable, but I'll stick with the decent ones.

Oh, and it turns out my driveside BB cup (truvativ GXP) is stuck, and yes I was turning it the right way...but that'll be a whole new thread when/if it actuallyneeds removing.

irishdan13

Bought one of these in March. Very happy with it (although I haven't had to do much since then).

May have to use a few more of the tools once the new steed arrives.

M4VERICK

Hmmmmmmmm......... Just spent £400 on chainreaction.... can i justify more expense?

Trip to Dublin next weekend.......um... :?

Next payday i think!

cat_with_no_tail

DOH! I was just about to order one of these myself but it appears they are all out of these...and the smaller one...and the "budget" one

paulfitz

Just got mine today, ordered it on monday night so very swift aswell.

Top drawer for 35 quid!

nfrang

Funnily enough i was looking at toolkits this morning before i saw this thread....
Got excited...then realised i cant have one cos u lot have cleaned out their stock!

Regal

now,, if anyone could just post a picture of each tool... and then tell me what the hell its used for,, would be great... lol

No idea what 70% of these tools do!...... would be happy knowing how the chain cleaner thing wiorks how does the chain fit in it?? i take it that its meant to be used while the chain still on the bike?

*sigh* im a nub,,,,,