Best Bike Multi tool
whitestar1
Posts: 530
So what is the best multi tool to carry around in your toolkit? I currently own a Decathlon multi tool 8 way set. Not sure its the best as it doesn't have a chain tool. So what do you have?
Ride Safe! Keep Safe!
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk
0
Comments
-
I've got an ancient Cool Tool which does include a chain tool, adjustable spanner, 2 allen keys and 2 drivers. Haven't seen them for sale for a while and don't know if they are still even being made. I also carry tyre levers, a small flat screwdriver and a small spanner.Nobody told me we had a communication problem0
-
Topeak Hexus or Alien seem to get the most rave reviews and positive comments on here.
I have a hexus - ogt it real cheap and am more than happy with it but then again it aint rocket science - I am sure most of them are OK. Some have a chain breaker which could be an advantage. Hexus also has tyre levers which are useful if you get stuck in a bind but not the best.0 -
apreading wrote:Topeak Hexus or Alien seem to get the most rave reviews and positive comments on here.
I have a hexus - ogt it real cheap and am more than happy with it but then again it aint rocket science - I am sure most of them are OK. Some have a chain breaker which could be an advantage. Hexus also has tyre levers which are useful if you get stuck in a bind but not the best.
my alien II is ace.
even if you never need to use it you can spend hours admiring the design........0 -
Another fan of the Topeak Alien!Specialized Roubaix Pro Expert 2020
Boardman HT Pro Ltd Ed MTB
Boardman Pro Carbon Road Bike (Turbo Trainer)
Charge Mixer0 -
I've never needed to carry more than three hex wrenches and two tyre levers.0
-
PBo wrote:apreading wrote:Topeak Hexus or Alien seem to get the most rave reviews and positive comments on here.
I have a hexus - ogt it real cheap and am more than happy with it but then again it aint rocket science - I am sure most of them are OK. Some have a chain breaker which could be an advantage. Hexus also has tyre levers which are useful if you get stuck in a bind but not the best.
my alien II is ace.
even if you never need to use it you can spend hours admiring the design........
Had a look up of the Alien II - it is a cool bit of kit!
Topeak:
Multi tool to tackle any job on the trail or the road. The Topeak Alien 2 Tool is a 26 piece tool featuring 2 to 8mm allen keys. 8 9 10mm box wrenches. pedal spanner. Phillips and flat head screwdriver. Chain tool. spoke keys 14 and 15g. 2 tyre levers. stainless knife. bottle opener - Torx wrench for disc brakes. 10mm allen key for Shimano LX crank bolt. A compartment for 2 chain pins. Clip bag also included.
Evans Cycles has it for £32.99 there is even an upgrade - the III and some other spin offs starting at £54. I was actually planning to get the Mini 20 Pro for £24 but the Topeak Alien II 26 Function Multi Tool is going for £31 on Wiggle. Thanks for making me look further. My budget was set at £22 but I can push that to get the Alien II.
Ride Safe! Keep Safe!
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk0 -
Wicked2627 wrote:Another fan of the Topeak Alien!
And another0 -
Soma woodie.
No complaints at all and a decent price.0 -
Today I'm carrying my Jethro Tool, spare tube and a Road Morph.FCN16 - 1970 BSA Wayfarer
FCN4 - Fixie Inc0 -
Why carry one?
Never needed on on the road in 20 years0 -
Rule74Please wrote:Why carry one?
Never needed on on the road in 20 years
Now that's an Interesting comment. I have the view that, of the things that could go seriously wrong on a bike there are only very few I could actually fix at the side of the road.
I'm currently looking to rationalise my current toolset in favour of a multi-tool and I have two different thoughts:
1) On top of 'mandatory' items such as puncture kit (inc levers), pump, chain tool, 'quick' link and spare tube, work out the minimum number of tools necessary to adjust virtually every component on the bike. This leaves me with a list of four allen keys, one spanner, a slotted screw driver, spoke key, cable cutter, chain whip, cassette key, crank puller and BB spanner (the last four items I'm not likley to carry).
2) Work out what's broken in the last 12 years and what tools would have fixed the item. So that's punctures x many (puncture kit/pump/spare tube), snapped handlebar and snapped frame (welding kit), snapped spokes (no fix), snapped chain (lost link/chain tool), snapped brake cable (spare cable/cable cutter/screw driver/allen key), loose brake shoe (same allen key as before), loose cleats (different allen key), bent snapped deraileur swing arm (no fix) and a lost pedal ( :oops:).
On the back of the above, I'm just going to carry a few less tools rather than buy a multi tool.
Bob0 -
He He, see my thread in Commute Chat (Pride comes before a...)
In trying to remove my tyre with fingers only I double checked my bag, just to see if by chance there was a tyre lever, instead I found:
15mm Pedros Pedal Spanner
2x Brand New Gear Cables
2x Brand New Brake Cables
2x Old brake levers (with cables attached)
1x 60mm valve tube (for me road bike)
1x Spokey
2x Anti-Fray Ferrules
But no tyre lever...FCN16 - 1970 BSA Wayfarer
FCN4 - Fixie Inc0 -
I'm a big fan of my Alien II but in the MANY years I've owned it I have three negatives:
1: I left it in my saddle bag after getting caught in a downpour and when I eventually opened my saddle bag (days later) some of the tools (Allen keys) had surface corrosion.
2: The locking mechanism that holds the two halves together has failed so the tool will fall into two seperate bits, but that isn't really a problem as it is either in use (and that usually needs the tool to be separated) or not in use and in its carry case.
3: The spanner tool is a separate attachment and could be misplaced (but not so far). There is a clip to hold it in place, but when some of the tools are being used the spanner has to be removed.
Three minor issues after 5+ years of use is a good review in my opinion. None of the tools have failed in any way
If I lost it or it was stolen (I can't see it breaking in normal use) I would not hesitate to buy another.
The only thing missing are pliers.FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!0 -
walkingbootweather wrote:I've got an ancient Cool Tool which does include a chain tool, adjustable spanner, 2 allen keys and 2 drivers. Haven't seen them for sale for a while and don't know if they are still even being made. I also carry tyre levers, a small flat screwdriver and a small spanner.
I used to have one of thoes it was great. If I could get one these days I would!0 -
Hi,
Depends what you're aiming to cover and how far you are from help. Some folk will call for a lift if they get a puncture, others will pick up whatever's lying about to kludge a get-you-home repair. I've re-joined a chain using a stone and a nail I found in a car park before...
Mostly, I think all you really need most of the time is a tyre lever (one), spare tube and patch kit, pump and and any spanners for removing your wheels. If you're not in a hurry you can ditch the spare tube and spanner and fix the tube on the bike....
I virtually always carry a swiss-army knife anyway (not specifically for cycling) so that covers some bases (screwdrivers, for example) . A small adjustable spanner covers most of the rest, so I often have that.
Thereafter, it's down to what "special" tools you think are worth the weight and hassle- a chain tool is a good example, as is a spoke key. Allens are a likely bet, if your bike uses them. Once you get to things like cone-spanners, chainwhips and crank/cassette removers you're probably going too far!!
My feeling is that simple tools are often more effective than fiddly ones. I like the look of things like the Jethro-Tule and Pedros Trixie more than fancy gadgets with swivelly bits, but if your bike is all hex-bolts, adjusters, hoses & cables I guess they're more useful!
Cheers,
W.0 -
Rule74Please wrote:Why carry one?
Never needed on on the road in 20 years
Good point - in something like 50,000 miles of commuting I don't think I've ever needed the allen keys or screwdriver I continue to carry around. My tyre levers however are looking pretty well used and the chain tool has had a couple of outings too.
I too like simple tools rather than the huge multitools. A couple of single allen keys probably weighs less anyway.0 -
I carry a Lezyne12, its pretty light, has the main allen key sizes, both scredrivers and a chain tool, additionally I carry a powerlink and 3 plastic (decent quality) tyre levers and a spare tube and 2 scabs.
SimonCurrently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
i've got a topeak alien MX thing and an older Topeak tool as well.
heavy but more versatile than Swiss army knivesKeeping it classy since '830 -
I have a friend who complains that saddle bags (or "tool bags" as he calls them) are too flimsy for the stuff he carries. He generally rides with pretty much every tool needed to fix anything on the bike. He has only recently stopped riding with a BB tool, headset tool and crank remover. His spanners are full-size mechanic jobbies, his pliers are full-size electrician ones etc.
His tool kit weighs a ton and he rattles like a very rattly thing. He really should buy himself a multitool.FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!0 -
EKE_38BPM wrote:I have a friend who complains that saddle bags (or "tool bags" as he calls them) are too flimsy for the stuff he carries. He generally rides with pretty much every tool needed to fix anything on the bike. He has only recently stopped riding with a BB tool, headset tool and crank remover. His spanners are full-size mechanic jobbies, his pliers are full-size electrician ones etc.
His tool kit weighs a ton and he rattles like a very rattly thing. He really should buy himself a multitool.
So if he really is your friend why not get him a birthday present - an Alien II would be niceRide Safe! Keep Safe!
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk0 -
I got a topeak alien III for christmas, more than enough stuff on there, got the carbon one too so a bit eye candy i suppose. looks and feels it will last years, quite into the topeak range at the moment good stuff.
Personally the alien II has more than enough on it however!0 -
MBUK did page on bike multi tools for this month (that would be last month issue?) anyhow they only covered 5 and they didn't even have the Alien II or III there. Could have given more coverage I say! This thread as done a better jobRide Safe! Keep Safe!
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk0 -
whitestar1 wrote:EKE_38BPM wrote:I have a friend who complains that saddle bags (or "tool bags" as he calls them) are too flimsy for the stuff he carries. He generally rides with pretty much every tool needed to fix anything on the bike. He has only recently stopped riding with a BB tool, headset tool and crank remover. His spanners are full-size mechanic jobbies, his pliers are full-size electrician ones etc.
His tool kit weighs a ton and he rattles like a very rattly thing. He really should buy himself a multitool.
So if he really is your friend why not get him a birthday present - an Alien II would be nice
He ain't that good a friend!FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!0 -
EKE_38BPM wrote:whitestar1 wrote:EKE_38BPM wrote:I have a friend who complains that saddle bags (or "tool bags" as he calls them) are too flimsy for the stuff he carries. He generally rides with pretty much every tool needed to fix anything on the bike. He has only recently stopped riding with a BB tool, headset tool and crank remover. His spanners are full-size mechanic jobbies, his pliers are full-size electrician ones etc.
His tool kit weighs a ton and he rattles like a very rattly thing. He really should buy himself a multitool.
So if he really is your friend why not get him a birthday present - an Alien II would be nice
He ain't that good a friend!Ride Safe! Keep Safe!
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk0 -
Rule74Please wrote:Why carry one?
Never needed on on the road in 20 years
You saying that you never had to fix anything on your bike? That is, you do ride a bike?Ride Safe! Keep Safe!
Specialized Roubaix Comp 2017
Cube Agree Pro 2014
Triban 7 2013
RockRider 8.0 2011
http://www.whitestar1.co.uk0 -
I've got a Topeak Hexus Tool...
Has got all the bits on it I need!0 -
Yeah, i got a Hexus too, with a snapped tyre lever attachment if you wanna buy it? Free postage (edit: not snapped by my hand) Also another Hexus complete and two Aliens.
Story:
Flew home with bike and had Alien in my hand luggage, when approched by customs I admitted that my Alien had a 'blade' on it. They had to unload the plane to retreive my hold luggage so I could put it into that. I was last onto the delayed plane and suffered the 'looks'.
Flew with a CO2 cartridge from Faro to Schipol and Portu Security man x-ray'd my box, clearly showing my CO2 cartridge, in my pidgeon portuguese 'a bomba' (means a pump) didn't go down that well. Thankfully Mrs Meanie, quite the cunning linguistic, explained my error and all was good.
Those anti-bomb x-ray machines show density differentiation, you could see the welds, the axles the like everything. My advice: tell them you're carrying and please x-ray my bike and give you the print outFCN16 - 1970 BSA Wayfarer
FCN4 - Fixie Inc0