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Been looking at the basic Park Tools kit as well as the cheaper X-tools options on CRC. I guess the quality of the Park stuff would speak for itself but what about the X-tools?
Also, do you find that you only end up using half the kit and the other more obscure stuff gets unused? Just wondering if it would be more cost effective to buy individually as I go....
That's what I've done. Most jobs can be done with 'normal' tools and a few splined tools. A lot of the really specialist fork servicing and suspension frame tools aren't in those kits and can usually be bodged. One of the cheaper kits might be a good place to start if you have no existing tools.to buy individually as I go..
I like shimano stuff for the splined tools (BB, cassette, etc) as they work well and aren't expensive
Get the X tools stuff and replace with with better stuff as it wears/breaks not that impressed with a fair amount of Park tools stuff TBH.
Buy it as you need it. And buy top quality.
Just bought a 24" long 1 1/4 inch ring spanner, now known as the persuader, to remove freewheels. Some Park tools are great. You want the best pedal spanner you can afford - and that isn't in the basic kit.
I don't think Park stuff is much more than mediocre TBH
For generic tools, get something like Facom and only use the likes of Park for specialist bike stuff
I'd buy individually and as required - fixings etc change (proud owner of mint condition old style headset and bottom bracket tools..... ho hum).
BikeHand advanced mechanic toolkit is pretty good too. About £80 (got mine in Tredz sale for£50) and decent quality for a home workshop.
Park is mostly [i]reasonably[/i] good, but sometimes mediocre and almost always overpriced.
The trouble with a lot of the kits is that they're full of filler- the time honoured wonky adjustable spanner and horrible screwdrivers etc. And tools that are less useful than other tools that are ommitted (most come with an internal BB tool and a crank extractor, but relatively few come with a decent HT2 tool)
It used to be that Lifeline and Icetools did good, well priced kits but they've gone way up in price. Still OK. The Bikehand little kit is decent too, pretty much the minimum acceptable quality though.
No matter what, buy some decent quality allen keys or t-handles. You'll never regret spending an extra couple of quid on these but you will regret it if a cheap tool mullers an annoying bolt.
Facom power keys for torx and allen keys, Teng for combination spanners and hacksaws, Stanley for screwdrivers, all far better quality than cycle branded general tools.
I have got bikes in two places.
My main tools were built up over time, so I have a mixture - halfords professional allen keys, some wrench force stuff, some lifu, some shimano, some park, some home made. For home mechanic use they have all been fine, but if you are going to tweak wheels alot, park or other specific spoke keys are a must.
In my other base I have a Lifeline kit, which looks very like the Xtools set, which is pretty good and there are very few jobs I need to do where it makes sense to transfer the bike to my main workshop.
So as a start an X tools kit makes a lot of sense.
EDIT: Tacx, Pedros and VAR, the French Park, also do some very good stuff.
EDIT 2: +1, if buying not specific tools separately buy other than park, Halfords professional Allen Key Sockets are better quality and cheaper.
Find the park home mechanic stuff rather poor. Some of the pro stuff is vevy good but cost so much now
As above shimano stuff is very good fits well and ok price wise
Also been very impressed with cyclus tool
Oh and for Allen keys bondus stuff rules and is cheap
I'd say buy as you go along. Buying top quality is always good tool buying advice.
I've been impressed with both Halfords Professional Spanners and their deep sockets. I had to make an emergency spanner purchase one Sunday morning 🙄 , and was well impressed with what I came away with.
I like Park cone spanners, and both Shimano and Pedros tools have been good for me.
I got my girlfriend an X-tools kit on offer, too keep at hers just incase. It's pretty shoddy, but it's all there and it has got me out of trouble. But, I think the quality of it could get you into trouble as well.
If you're planning on doing anything serious, I'd look elsewhere. As mentioned, the top end Park kit is quite nice for things like cutters and BB tools (cycle specific) but I think you pay through the nose for non cycle specific tools of a lower quality. Beta and Snap-on for spanners, sockets and adjustables and Bondhus for Torq's and allen keys.
But, I think the quality of it could get you into trouble as well.
I think this is the key, try it and if you can feel it gnarling, if that is the right word or indeed a word at all, buy a better quality tool. But at least you can make the attempt for a fraction of the price.
EDIT:
I got my girlfriend an X-tools kit on offer
You old romantic.
I have a few Unior pieces that are well built including the nicest spoke key I've ever used
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You old romantic.
I know how to treat'em!