Multi-tool recommendations

Darkglasses

My trusty multi-tool is succumbing to rust, in the market for a replacement up to about 30 euro. Anybody know of a particularly good one?

Chain tool not essential but preferred. There's room in the saddlebag for about a 20-25 tool one. Bottle opener also a plus.

This one looks pretty good but a touch pricey.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-blox-23-multi-tool/rp-prod74094

CramCycle

I have something silmilar to this one:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/park-tool-rescue-tool-mtb-7/rp-prod5096

Tyre levers are decent and reasonably strong, the only thing mine has over this apparently are spoke keys although this may have it and it is not listed.

I also have one of these which I think are excellent chain breakers, others have bent in the past but not these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-super-chain-breaker-tool/rp-prod2924

I have a second one from when I thought I lost the first, no allen key on it but its yours for a fiver if your looking to cut cost.

Darkglasses

I might take you up on that actually, I'll look around at other options and get in touch.

Captain Havoc

I have a park tool one similar to the one above, it's big and the allen key for the brake pads is gimped after one use. The one I carry with me is a BBB one and I swear by it.

DubVelo

I have one of the Topeak Mini ones.
Love it. Well made, solid, good tolerances.

CramCycle

Darkglasses wrote: »

I might take you up on that actually, I'll look around at other options and get in touch.

I'll be down in Wexford at the weekend if you want a look at the PT multitool,

Squidgy Black

The park tool one seems like a much better built version of the Lidl one, which I can say is absolutely horrendous and I snapped both tire levers in seconds, and rounded off most allen key heads.

What about one of the smaller Lezyne ones with less functions?

Darkglasses

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I have a park tool one similar to the one above, it's big and the allen key for the brake pads is gimped after one use. The one I carry with me is a BBB one and I swear by it.

Yeah I am currently using a BBB one, it's fantastic apart from the sudden rust problem. Don't even remember using it wet and shoving it back in the saddlebag or anything like that.

stetyrrell wrote: »

The park tool one seems like a much better built version of the Lidl one, which I can say is absolutely horrendous and I snapped both tire levers in seconds, and rounded off most allen key heads.

What about one of the smaller Lezyne ones with less functions?

Tyre levers don't really matter to me, I carry a big chunky pair around with me anyway. But I guess I'll avoid the Park Tool one if the allen key heads aren't of good quality material, that's the most important bit to me.

I might just go with the big Lezyne one I posted anyway. I like the shiney-ness and I do tend to use all the tools in my current 23 tool BBB one.

rayman1

I have this Topeak Multi Tool and it is great. It has everything you need for repairs on the run.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-18-mini-tool/rp-prod11318

lescol

I've had a Topeak for years, really great tool. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-hexus-ii-folding-tool/rp-prod47016

doozerie

For a multi-tool that I plan to carry around with me I make a mental checklist of the parts of the bike that I think might be feasible to handle issues with on the road, and I buy a tool that has all of the tools required to deal with those. Usually it's a short list comprising very specific allen keys, maybe a torx key or two (for one of my bikes only), a screwdriver, suitable spoke key(s), and maybe a chainbreaker (though these days I carry around a split link by preference). Not one of the 3 multi-tools that I carry around with/on various bikes is suited to all of my bikes due to their different parts.

The parts of the bike that I accept I won't be able to fix "properly" on the hoof are the bottom bracket, pedals (attachment to cranks), hubs (bearings), cassette (if it is loose), and some other quirky bits and pieces, none of which commonly occur as issues on the road anyway. But I can either repair or bodge most other things with the minimal multi-tools I do carry around.

In terms of brands, I like a lot of the Park Tool tools but their multi-tools invariably never had the right combination of tools that I was looking for (or the individual tools were just too short to be very useful). Instead I ended up buying various Lezyne multi-tools, which I like - some of them are stainless steel too, so longevity shouldn't be an issue.

feck sake lads

CramCycle wrote: »

I'll be down in Wexford at the weekend if you want a look at the PT multitool,

now now no selling in this thread theres a place for that.:D:D:D:D

endacl

Darkglasses wrote: »

My trusty multi-tool is succumbing to rust, in the market for a replacement up to about 30 euro. Anybody know of a particularly good one?

Chain tool not essential but preferred. There's room in the saddlebag for about a 20-25 tool one. Bottle opener also a plus.

This one looks pretty good but a touch pricey.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-blox-23-multi-tool/rp-prod74094

Anybody else just scan the OP first and read the bit in bold as 20-25 ton?

Just me....?

I've the Topeak one OP. No complaints.

granda

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yeah I am currently using a BBB one, it's fantastic apart from the sudden rust problem. Don't even remember using it wet and shoving it back in the saddlebag or anything like that.

had the same problem with my bbb multitool and just sprayed it with a bit of wd40 and its good as new,as an aside i reckon it ends up rusty just because we leave it sitting in a saddle bag wet which will happen even if use dont use it in the rain."if its not broken dont fix it"

diomed

I'm waiting for this (ordered last week). I've no idea if it is good. I spent a lot of time reading reviews.
http://www.wiggle.com/lezyne-stainless-19-multi-tool/

Darkglasses

endacl wrote: »

Anybody else just scan the OP first and read the bit in bold as 20-25 ton?

Just me....?

I've the Topeak one OP. No complaints.

Thanks all. Toss up between Topeak and Lezyne shineyness then.

CramCycle

Captain Havoc wrote: »

it's big and the allen key for the brake pads is gimped after one use.

Hmmm, mone wasn't great either when I think about it, I just thought the brake pad ones were siezed/rotted but it could have been the Multitool.

cdaly_

doozerie wrote: »

maybe a chainbreaker (though these days I carry around a split link by preference).

You still need the chainbreaker to get the snapped link off the chain before using the split link.

doozerie

cdaly_ wrote: »

You still need the chainbreaker to get the snapped link off the chain before using the split link.

Not necessarily, I reckon that in a pinch some applied brute force and ignorance (fueled by a determination not to have to walk home) would get one of the faceplates off the outer link that needs to be removed. I've not tried it mind you, so I'm speculating, but flexing a joined chain from side to side will slide a faceplate(s) along the pin a little so if you have a broken chain you have more leeway to exert that kind of pressure on a single link.

Mind you, the question of how tricky it really is is largely moot in my case as my two Lezyne multi-tools come with a chainbreaker anyway, not there because I actually wanted it, but there because the "handle" of the chainbreaker is what Lezyne incorporate spoke keys into - I wanted the spoke keys, the chainbreaker just came "for free" as such. These chainbreakers would work fine for re-joining the chain on my 9sp bike but not on my 11sp one (though it could obviously remove a damaged link from the 11sp chain if necessary).

FirstinLastout

lescol wrote: »

I've had a Topeak for years, really great tool. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-hexus-ii-folding-tool/rp-prod47016

Great quality in almost everyway but the finish of the crosshead & flathead screwdrivers could be better, esp when wet or oily, but is comparable to most every other multitool from my experience. Everything else about it is great though.

But then I will also always carry a Leatherman Juice as having the pliers is really useful and these tools really are super quality.

http://leatherman.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/7691/Leatherman-Juice-Cs4-Multi-tool-Series.html?cid=6211&chid=1600

The corkscrew for wine & knife for cheese's is often much appreciated too;)

mossym

just for a bit of variety, i have the crank brothers multitool, this one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/crank-brothers-multi-mini-tool-19/rp-prod7455

and can't fault it

ford2600

To prevent rust it future, occasionally tale multi tool out of wet saddle bag and clean with some lubricant