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What do you use? Have an ancient Topeak Alien - has more on it than I need and weighs the same as a brick. Thinking of getting something lighter but must have chain tool. Any recommendations?
I would put my money on the topeak mini pro 20. Looks a bit nicer than my hexus being made of metal and packs up a bit flatter. The hexus is quite thick which is fine in a camelbak. But not so good in a jersey pocket.
I currently use a Topeak Rocket Ratchet. I think there is a version with its own chain tool, but mine hasn't so I have the one from my old Alien tucked into the pouch with it.
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/108050/products/crank-brothers-multi-17-tool-red.aspx
Have one for each bike
What 8/10mm things are you hanging a spanner off on the bike? Not sure what I used mine for last
@mike, I've only ever used them to fix self-loosening Raceface cranks.
Topeak Hexus is still the daddy imo. Not that well made, and the tyre levers are useless but then who uses multitool tyre levers? But it has all the tools you want, and they're good sensible lengths etc. Plus the chain tool works great
Like you I've still got an ancient Topeak Alien and was thinking of replacing it but actually some of that 'extra' stuff has got me out of a few holes recently. The knife is good for dealing with zipties. The ring spanners, which had never been used before, nipped up a Hope bleed nipple that had shaken loose and started pissing brake fluid and the bottle opener dealt with post ride beers.
What 8/10mm things are you hanging a spanner off on the bike? Not sure what I used mine for last
true enough, but then why carry them 😉
Oneup EDC is awesome.
true enough, but then why carry them
Well it cuts weight from the Chain tool and Spoke key so it's not like you are carrying them they just cut the weight and add more tools to the device 🙂
Saw a video of a Crank Brothers F15. Bought one on the back of just thinking it looked really kinesthetically pleasing.
It's good, a nice example of a good tool.
Worth having a look at if you don't have one in mind.
This gets lots of good reviews...Topeak Mini 20 Pro - can be got for as little as £20 too. Could be the one...
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/bike-tools/topeak-mini-20-pro-multi-tool
Syncros Matchbook. It doesn’t have a 6mm Allen key for some reason, but loads of Torx and every other Allen key you’d need. Lighter and more compact than the Hexus too.
I’ve snapped one of the tyre levers on the Hexus so carry separate ones anyway.
The Alien 11 is a heavy beast for sure but it's also great for bodging stuff just to get you home. Most annoying thing in the world is to be stranded having just an "ok" and light tool but knowing you could ride back if you had taken the Alien instead. ..
Sorry,I know that info is no help to you though!
I have a Syncros compact multi tool...14CT, or something like that. Has an excellent chain tool, all the allen/torx keys you need, and even 2 sizes of spoke key. Finish seems very hard-wearing too, it hasn't corroded or gone rusty like some previous tools have.
I carry this, tyre levers, patches/tubeless worms, spare links, and a few other little bits in a Syncros Speed Wallet. Means I can easily swop the essentials between bags, or even just put it a back pocket for a road ride or short off-road blast.
I've also taken to taking some Knipex plier/wrenches on longer rides. They are literally the best tool ever 😉 you can fix pretty much anything with them - bent rotors, SS axle nuts, bending brake levers straight, taking dents out of rims. They've saved more than one ride over the last couple of years.
Lezyne V11 here. Small, very functional and non corroded after many years. Chain tool fixed a chain mid race no issues, has all the right hex/Torx tools. Smal, 102g.
What do you use? Have an ancient Topeak Alien – has more on it than I need and weighs the same as a brick. Thinking of getting something lighter but must have chain tool. Any recommendations?
To be honest I just do the chain tool separately...
I'm currently using a RSP one... (£10) ... after losing the last one. It's usually wrapped in a bit of old tube and being a flat design this works well when I have it in a pocket and land on it.
I find the multitool you have is better than the one you left at home/car/backpack but then I usually have a full toolkit in the car so there is almost no time I don't carry the small flat multitool even when I'm riding something I wouldn't bother carry a tube.
To be fair I tend to divide his into:
a) Can do a full job on the trail (full meaning I'm happy with the job until a more thorough bike check)
b) Gets me as far as the car/civilisation but then it needs doing properly
I change emphasis depending where/what I'm riding... but its a bit of a set of quantum leaps... for example I'll carry a gear cable but i'll coil the end up to get me back... then use some proper cable cutters back at the car.
Zip ties will be left with annoying bits until I get back etc. and I'll fix a chain but then I have a spare in the car anyway...
Regardless of multitool some stuff just takes 2.... I recently had my linkage work loose and I needed 2x multitools to tighten it back up... but luckily someone else on the trail had one. What I did find was their expensive one wouldn't have worked on the drive side... at least I'd have had to take the cranks off but the slim one would just fit.
Not seen the OneUp EDC before ^^
Looks like a brilliant bit of designing. Its very expensive, but i want one just cos its awesome.
Only thing i can work out... It has space for a co2 cartridge.. But does it have a co2 pump adapter thingy?
I've used One-up, Pedros and top peak mini-multitools, all have been great. I keep a wee pedros mini chain tool that uses an allen key in the pack that also works well. Fave, robust, chunky yet compact stuff has been from top peak.
On the stump jumper, have the SWAT stuff, and that has all worked well too.
In past, have also had 2 different Crank Brothers multi-tools... hateful, shitty things made of cheese. The worst was the chain tool as part of a multitool that ate its own threads and left me stranded. Never. Again. Probably you can still find it in a forest in the Alsace if you wish to have evidence. Yes, they look lovely, but functionally ****ing useless.
Sweeping generalisations I know, but Crank Brothers kit has failed me ever time (Joplin too, LOL!).
The worst was the chain tool as part of a multitool that ate its own threads and left me stranded.
and
Only thing i can work out… It has space for a co2 cartridge.. But does it have a co2 pump adapter thingy?
I'm firmly into it EITHER fits in the pocket or in a pack ....
A nice portable multitool (I happen to use Park) takes up next to no room in a pack (or on the frame somewhere) but I don't want it in my pockets... same goes for a CO2 cart and fitment.
I don't even bother to carry the black steel insert on this ... but the allan/TORX and screw drivers are all good enough not to round off bolts... and it packs VERY flat .. meanwhile a dedicated chain tool and dedicated CO2 are just going to work better when the chips are down and the mud everywhere.
Plus I find I tend to lose multitools...
No idea what you doing to the CB tools, as my CB 17 lasted just short of 15 years until the chain tool (the most well used part) pin eventually worn down, no issue with thread, the pin wore down too much to push out the chain pins. My main issue with it, was the short allen keys, not so much the 8mm which had tighten crank bolts up fine, more the rest as I've had bikes with fiddly allen key locations.
I'm bought a Topeak Helix to replace it (get lots of recommendation) mainly due to it's longer allen keys and am not very impressed, the chain tool is pants compared to the CB one, and I managed to lose the 8mm 'add-on' allen key bit (though it re-appeared in a works van last week!), overall it does not inspire the confidence I had in the CB 17 main due to it being more flimsy.
That said I keep looking though these threads and am not seeing anything much better than either of them.. their all a compromise (where the chain tool on that cyclepro one?)
Another vote for Lezyne with chain tool (can't remember the number). Fixed a few chains at the trailside. In fact so good my son has stolen it so am looking for another
That said I keep looking though these threads and am not seeing anything much better than either of them.. their all a compromise (where the chain tool on that cyclepro one?)
Here: Though the Pedro's is also good 😀
(As you said they are all compromises... but I prefer something that doesn't hurt when I fall on it in my pocket and just have the less compromised CO2 and chain tool separate either on the bike or in a bag)
I like "cool" tools as much as the next guy.... but given the option I'd take the separate tools out in real life.
It's not like I'd have a chain whip or crank tool or whole load of other stuff on me anyway.... and some stuff you just don't want to compromise (like cable cutters) ...
Liking that Park CT5, but my packs already full of stuff, so I'd prefer one on a multi-tool.. but you (we) have to compromise too
Things that are generally useless on multitools: tyre levers and chain tool.
I carry the Park Tool chain tool that stevextc has shared above, plus a couple of proper tyre levers. At that point, you might as well carry a couple of proper allen keys too, though I carry half of a Pedros multitool.
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Last multitool chain tool I used, instead of pushing the pin out of the chain, simply pushed the end off the chain tool.
I keep a real chain tool in each bag for that reason. And a few €2 coins for the tram home 😉
I think it was a Specialized branded multitool. Have an Alien now but forget which size.
I have a Crank Brothers M19 for any proper outing. But I also keep a lezyne v11 in my commuting kit, a park one in my brompton bag, and a knog 12 in the bag on my rigid SS.
They're all OK, although I find the knog one has hex keys are too short to reach some of the bolts, and more importantly the knog one doesn't have an allen key small enough to fit the pad retaining pins on my calipers - found that out on a disappointing (and a result slow and very hard) ride home from work. That led to it being relegated from my commuting bag
I need a new multi-tool, I seem to have 2 or 3 small ones in my tool bottle with neither of them being that good.
Not sure whether to go for this:
Or
The Raleigh one is pretty much half the price of the Topeak - is it half as good though?
Not a fan of the traditional multitool so just ordered one of these. Didn't need a chain splitter so went with this version rather than all in 1 job the do. Will see how it goes, reviews seem good.
Thinking about it, I wonder if I should just get a chain splitter as I already have a half decent tool free off CRC when I bought a bike off them a few years ago. Then again the combined weight might mean i might as well stay with the Alien :-/ Ahhhhh!
I have a brand new Ratchet Rocket as pictured above if anyone wants it cheaper than online.
Topeak Mini 20 Pro here, tiny and always sorted me out. Has a big range of allen keys so it could tighten up all the pivots on my Yeti (that I no longer have). Used the chain tool on it more than anything else, works a treat.
The topeak ratchet is the only multi tool worth using IMO (I hate multi tools with a burning passion though)
You can actually get decent torque to properly tighten things and it doesn't feel like you're holding the wrong end of a knife while trying to tighten a bolt.
The ratchet , separate tyre levers and that ct5 park chain breaker someone has posted is my go to system that deals with 90% of mechanicals
Slightly heavier compared to a 'all in one tool but I like being able to sort things and keep going instead of the dreaded walk back to the car
Things that are generally useless on multitools: tyre levers and chain tool.
I carry the Park Tool chain tool that stevextc has shared above, plus a couple of proper tyre levers. At that point, you might as well carry a couple of proper allen keys too, though I carry half of a Pedros multitool.
Yeah I got some Schwlabe levers that with and cost next to nothing.... and the chain tool goes in a little bag with some spare chain and some quick links anyway... If I'm riding seriously off the beaten track in winter I'd take a whole chain...
Slightly heavier compared to a ‘all in one tool but I like being able to sort things and keep going instead of the dreaded walk back to the car
It depends how far the walk is TBH ... balance that against how much you might botch something and how uncomfortable the walk back is... and how much messing about with multitools vs the proper stuff..
Sometimes an hours walk back then clean the bike and a hot drink and you can fix something you'd have messed about for 30 minutes and then done half a job and potentially also botched ...
Sod's law it's usually the bike is covered in mud, it can't decide to rain or snow and your hands are freezing... etc. whereas even an hours brisk walk back
I do have a similar ratchet as well but then I have a full toolkit in the car... including torque wrench, proper wire cutters etc.and I find everything gets done better when I can see the bike through the mud (and have my reading glasses nowadays) and I'm not shivering and have some proper tools...
Has a big range of allen keys so it could tighten up all the pivots on my Yeti (that I no longer have).
Presumably though if they get really loose you need a second one... or they just spin (certainly on the Whyte)???
i have 2 of these.
Works a treat, stays secure on decent trails. All for only 13 euros. Only downside is it takes about 6 weeks to arrive. At that price wouldn't be a disaster if you lost it but i have used it on about 300km of alpine singletrail and it hangs in there.
Chain splitter, i just bought a a super small one from tacx that i carry in my pocket, and to be fair how often do you really need one!!
Isn't that a rip off of someone else's design?
Gone with the Topeak Mini 20 as only a couple of £ more than the Raleigh one as on-one had put the price back up.
You chose well. Was going to add another vote for the Topeak Mini 20 as it's a cracking bit of kit. I have two and they're great for back pocket on the road bike, all day MTB trips and last minute start line adjustments for racing and coaching. Very solidly built too and the chain tool is extremely usable, unlike some other multi tools I've owned. It's only missing pliers, but you can have it all...
I need a new multi-tool, I seem to have 2 or 3 small ones in my tool bottle with neither of them being that good.
The Raleigh one is pretty much half the price of the Topeak – is it half as good though?
Gone with the Topeak Mini 20 as only a couple of £ more than the Raleigh one as on-one had put the price back up.
Functionally the same... at least what matters. The Allen and TORX on the Raleigh are not made of cheese and don't round off bolts but I'd expect the same from Topeak... I don't bother with the lil spanner attachment anyway...
The Raleigh looks slightly flatter.... not a deal breaker but I stick mine in a bit of old tube in my shorts pocket the idea being I don't get a huge bruise when I fall on it.
This also protects my phone or glasses from scratching if I forget and stick them in the same pocket whilst I'm faffing about...