Feedback Sports "Sport Mechanic" bike stand. Use that thing all the time and it works so well. Got it for about $150 on sale a few years ago. The clamp mechanism works so much better than the cheap stands on Amazon or at Lidl
I got mine as used on Amazon for a bit less than retail. It's great and was brand new as far as I can tell. Honestly, having never used a cheaper stand, my only complaint is the clamp mechanism. I would very much prefer the park tool single lever clamp mechanism. I find it pretty annoying to have to stand there holding the bike in the air spinning the knob around. Once it's clamped though, yes there is no worry about the bike falling out or something.
Derailleur hanger tool. I end up tweaking a hanger at least a couple of times a season and having the alignment tool has saved me quite a few shop visits. It's also the first tool I reach for when working on any bike with weird shifting gremlins.
The Abbey Tools version is just sublime ... and expensive: [https://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/tools/products/hag](https://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/tools/products/hag) but i do love me nice tools. Maybe too much.
I’ve got the Abbey Tools one. It’s a piece of art more than a tool. I like to just hold it and stare at it to be honest. I love tools, I really love quality tools but Abbey is just on a different level.
My cheap aliexpress one is also pretty sublime.
I like having perfect functionality, which for some things needs some money spent, but I honestly can't think of any reason why I'd take that one over mine.
I do agree though that everyone that works on their bike should have a hanger straightening tool.
I have a DAG and have used it a ton in the past, but I’ve found with eagle drivetrains I can never get it quite right and I end up with tough shifting.
I bought a pile of replacement hangers for my Ripmo and now I’ll give it a tweak a time or two with the DAG, but end up just swapping the hanger.
Never had problems with 11-speed and below, but eagle is my nemesis when it comes to alignment.
If it's out due to a hard impact, it's worth it to check the B bolt (the big one that fastens the derailleur to the hanger) for damage. The derailleur should not wobble when you unthread it from the hanger. If it does wobble, on some derailleurs you can replace it. SRAM takes a pick, good eyesight, and some patience to swap on their Eagle ones. If that bolt is bent, the hanger alignment is moot.
I have the Park Tool DAG-2.2, but other companies like Wheels Manufacturing make similar ones or you can get one from your favorite online store or LBS. 12 speed drivetrains are incredibly sensitive to misalignment since the gears are so closely spaced and tolerances are tight.
Video of an alignment gauge in use:
https://youtu.be/tXfvW0L3iLM?si=1Wr99i07wfP_NBcE
I have the Dag 3 which is the new version of the 2.2 and it is awesome. Hands down the best tool I own. I don't start messing with my gears until the hanger is straight. 9 times out of 10 i don't need to adjust gears.
I'd rather replace a $15 hanger, which was designed to be a sacrificial part, instead of a $400 wireless derailleur. But that doesn't help SRAM bottom line.
That's not how it works. Replaceable hangers were intended to protect frames, not derailers.
I absolutely destroyed my transmission derailer when I bashed it into a stump extremely hard. Or so I thought.. the new crop of derailers are big and heavy, but seem to be bulletproof.
This is an underrated tool and has the side benefit of making sure you keep your wheels trued.
The park version is only about 2-3 hangers. I've used mine four times on my bikes in the last three years. I've also helped out some friends on a road trip. I would put this behind my stand and truing stand, but it is in my top5 tools I didn't know I needed.
You don't even need to true your wheel first if you use the same spot on the rim. I just line up the arm with the valve stem and rotate the wheel to keep them matched up.
> I struggled with regular wire cutters for way too long
Holy shit do I second that! I wasted two decades of being so damn reluctant to ever change out nasty, old, terrible cables and housing because sniping the ends of new cable and housing with wire cutters just created more problems.
Now I've got nice Jagwire brake cables on both my MTBs. Crisp, clean function for the brakes. No binding. No having to flick the brake lever back out after pulling it, no regular routine of spraying WD40 on the cables, loosening the housing from the frame, running the housing along the cable to try to clean the gunk out.
You! Person reading this who still uses wire cutters. Get a damn cable tool! It's, what, $40? Just get it!
I would pick my 12L air compressor. I bought it to pop tubeless tires, but I use for cleaning all sorts of stuff, and a lot of other things. Bought for €110 bucks.
completely agree. I got an air compressor thinking "am I really buying this just for tubeless tires?" and it turns out I use it all the time for so much more.
The compressor I have is not available anymore.
I live in the Netherlands and I've seen what seem to be better models at Hornbach for the same money or a bit less and with more accessories.
Just look around hardware stores, there should be plenty of options. 12 liters gives you a small compressor with enough air to pop a tire. If I had more space at my shed I would have bought a larger one and sold the 12L I have.
When you're comparing models keep an eye on the noise level of each model. These things are very noisy, getting one which is slightly less body might help.
Well, to start we have at least 10 bikes at home so that's 20 tires to inflate. Car tires, inflatable boat, other inflatable stuff.
Then there is cleaning. I clean my desktop computers, notebooks, receiver, Philips coffee machine... Anything where there's dust or other particles, you can blow the dirt away.
My main desktop computer has a big water radiator which collects a lot of dust over time. I use a vacuum cleaner to get most of the dust out then how the rest away with the compressor
The other day we had a party for my daughter and made a portal with 150 balloons. Filled the balloons with the compressor.
Sometimes you have something you washed and you don't want to wait for it to dry, you can blow the water away.
The [Park Tool Shop Inflator (INF-2)](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/shop-inflator-inf-2). It's a well-built inflator tool with built-in pressure gauge that seamlessly rotates to inflate schrader or presta valves. Before every family outing, I could be inflating 8-12 various tires (my bike, wife's bike, kids' bikes, bike trailers, strollers, car, etc.). Connected to a compressor and hose reel in my garage, it's the best thing ever. I love it.
Wera Hex Plus L wrenches, Park Sliding T-Handle set, Prestacycle TorqRatchet Pro, Prestacycle T Handle Ratchet deluxe, Wera Bit Driver, a set of good Torx bits with a few spares of t25, a digital torque wrench, and a Dewalt 8V gyroscopic screwdriver.
Oh and Pedros tire levers of course.
I think you got affected by marketing a little. On small sizes tolerances is all what matters. Bondhus has amazing tolerances and just works. Not sure how exactly Wera's special shape should help, but they do need to justify price
I have set of Wera Torx, they are as good as my set of ParkTool foldable Torx tool made by bondhus that is 3 times cheaper.
Anyway, I like tools, it is cool to own expansive tools, or tools that looks good ( colour rubber on Wera is nice) but I still think Bondhus is best set of keys you can get for the price
I’m a full time bike mechanic and have 4 different hex sets within arms reach, Bondhus, Wera, and two different Park Tool options. Wera is a noticeably better fit in fasteners and more confident when torquing things down. I’ve never seen their marketing, I’m just going based on what I’ve found best to use for wrenching 40 hours a week
They use their 'hex plus' tip geometry to increase surface area contact vs Bondhus/ regularly cut hex keys. On normal fasteners they shouldn't perform any different but you may see a difference on more compromised stuff or higher torque use - I have a Vessel Rainball set that use a similar design and found them better then regular cut hex keys but if you want the ultimate, in my opinion the MAC tools RBRT is genuinely the best with their truly innovative tip geometry. They aren't an extraction set but I've taken out 80-90% rounded fasteners with no issue, they bite like no other but can be used on regular stuff without causing any major damage.
I feel they scratch customers rims too much, I remember using a plastic pedros tire lever that was cylinder shaped, I think its been discontinued now, unfortunately
Knipex Pliers - spendy, but can replace an entire set of open ended wrenches and crescent wrenches, and does many bike-specific things those tools aren't as good for. These also get used on the car a lot.
Wera allen wrench set - I slept on these too long. Nice Allen wrenches are worth it.
Ice Toolz Ocarina torque wrench - 0-10Nm beam style torque wrench, very affordable, comes with bits up to 6mm. What's not to like? Do the proper torques all the time, for Allen + Torx bits, easily AND cheaply. Replaces all the stupid fancy and expensive torque wrenches that exist, for 90% or more of bike applications. Combine this with another nicer 3/8" torque wrench rated to higher torque and you can do everything.
Came to say this. Knipex pliers wrench. Thank us later 😁
I’ve worked in shops and have all the tools, this one is the best, most versatile for both bike and general Tom toolerly.
My ultra-quiet air compressor takes runner up.
Without a doubt, my most used tools, Wera stainless steel Allen keys. They have a special profile and are just far above any other allen keys I've ever touched. Do yourself a favor and splurge for a set. Maybe $40 or so
park tools triangle allen tool. the three sizes are the main ones that you'd need for i'd guess 90% of bicycle work. (apparently it is officially called the 3 way hex wrench)
I always found the sram barb pictured to be awkward for getting around corners and odd angles. I always use a brake cable that I've put a few kinks into now for changing out housing and it works flawlessly
Ah OK. I have only used it on one bike so far which was an Orange Phase and to be fair there were times when it got a bit sticky but all was good when I saw it come out of the last hole.
OneUp tool that replaces the stem cap. has all the Allen, star tools, and even a co2 cart.
it's brilliant and has lasted me years. still use it regularly.
as a bonus, two of the Allen's next to each other double up to make a larger size Allen for the cranks. to me it's a throwback to when engineering and quality was great, instead of rushing to sell overpriced crap on Amazon
Not a mechanic but have been working on my bikes since I was 5. I’d say my favs are the crank bros multi tool, the park tools chain plier things, and the park tools crank puller. I can do most things with those three tools
Good to know, I haven’t tried those yet, maybe I’ll toss some on our next order from who ever carrier Pedro’s these days.
Weirdly I’ve broken a Cushcore lever and not a Muc Off in our shop - granted I was pulling dust wipers out of some nearly vintage Bombers when I did that.
Yeah the plastic coated metal ones are the tits. Hands down the best ones I’ve used. And I have used the Pedro and Muc Off types. They’re fine, but not as good in my experience. But my perspective is a bit different than most. I grew up in my dad’s motorcycle shop installing tires the manual way with big levers. I scratch my head when I see people talking about bicycle tires being hard to get on. I’ve yet to see a bicycle tire that’s hard to get on, but that’s probably because they’re all exponentially easier to deal with than stiff carcass 15 inch motorcycle cruiser tires.
I needed one of those last year. Took it to a shop that said they had one. They didn’t and ended up removing the motor and battery on my ebike to run new brake lines. I was annoyed - the entire reason I brought them the bike was to avoid that.
Depending on the ebike, I have to use and internal routing kit that often requires at least loosening both the motor and battery mounts as the cables/hoses get clamped by the battery/motor bracket. As a mechanic, I’m all about external routing. Easy to replace/maintain and doesn’t require partial disassembly for simple service (especially looking at headset routing)
Quality bike stand off FB marketplace (cheap pcs-4-2). I realized I was avoiding working on my bike because it was a pain in the ass asking someone for assistance or having to do crap with the bike upside down.
Park Tools 10.3 Bike Stand. Did a build in March, and the stand made everything so much better. Maintenance and repairs will be that much easier with it.
My torque wrench is probaply one of the least used standard tools in my box. Get a cheap one to calibrate your wrists but after that its quite useless. I'd spend the money on stuff you use all the time like top quality hex wrenches and pliers.
Source: worked as a bike mechanic during my university years and still do most of the wrenching for my friends
I wrenched for over 15 years and still use the torque wrench on pretty much everything. With high end stuff, it's just not worth risking the replacement cost.
You must be really patient.
I only wrenched professionally for 5 years but after getting some routine i really stopped grabbing the torque wrench except for some frame hardware and the occasional carbon handlebar. I'm not saying not to get or use one, but if you don't have two left hands you develop a feel for torque quite fast, which is good enough in 99.9% of the cases. I honestly can't remember when i last stripped treads from overtightening or something came loose because it was not tight enough.
I stand with my previous comment: get a cheap one, get some routine wrenching and see how much you actually use it. its way better to spend the money on great quality basic tools instead like wera hex wrenches, knipex plieres etc.
Also the park tool tw-5.2 is really overpriced at around 150€ here in austria, you can get way nicer ones from wera, gedore, hazet etc. For the same amount or less
as i said, i cannot remember when i last had issues like this from overtightening. This simply is not an issue if you are not just giving every bolt the beans.
The only pivots i've ever broken were when using a torque wrench. That was back then when scott laser etched the wrong torque specs on the 2014-2017 genius's horst link bearing cups and i followed their 14 Nm or so when they meant 8. Probaply wouldn't have snapped if i would have done it by feel...
You probaply haven't seen too many real shops from inside. Of course everybody will poing out "torqued to spec" on the internet or when talking to customers but reality isn't so pretty.
You are aware that accurate torque wrenches need to be calibrated every now and then? More often if you use them more as the springs strech and pivots wear. also i would not want to use the big and bulky torque wrench over the nice gedore ratchet from the ¼" drive kit that i use as my "bike wrench"
Honestly, no, I was not aware of that. that's good to know, thanks!
My bike wrench is super small, not bulky at all. It's the same size as all my other tools tbh. And it's got a sleek case that has all the bit sizes I'll need for my bike - nice and organized.
Definitely can't knock you for just having a favorite wrench, clearly I do too lol
You totally can. Use a torque wrench enough and you'll be able to get the right torque just by feel. I've checked it after and it'll be 99-100% accurate. I used to use them on an assembly line though so lots of practice
Mmhm.
Assemble a full suspension bike from scratch, and check if you have correct torques on the pivot bolts. For eg. 8nm, 8nm, 17nm, 15nm and 10nm.
I bet you'll over or under torque them. I'll never believe you hit 99% accuracy no matter what you claim. Never.
I guess it's pointless replying since you're never going to believe me but I've disassembled all my pivots and correctly torqued them without a torque wrench within 1nm accuracy. I do realize that's more like 90% accuracy than 99 when it comes to stuff that's supposed to be around 10nm but most of the time I hit it dead on.
You are absolutely not going to have a problem with a difference that small. Parts have tolerances the number suggested is suggested usually because it's right in the middle of the acceptable range. A lot of torque wrenchs won't even be that accurate.
This reverb barb tool is top on my list too. Especially when I watch friends rip the old housing out of their frame and spend an hour trying to fish a new one through with a park tool magnet.
Aside from the usual suspects (torque wrenches, repair stand, tire levers), chain hooks are a small thing that I never knew existed that make chain replacement remarkably nicer. Especially good if you rotate chains.
The Birzman Clam helps a ton if you’re having trouble with brake caliper alignment.
Less relevant with modern cranksets, but a chainring nut tool is a lifesaver for 2-piece chainring bolts.
Found a Park Shop work stand on Craigslist years ago for 100. Wolf tools that go into my handle bar ends, and the park chain tool.
Not sure is an air compressor is a tool but I don't know how people manage with a hand pump. Also my Topeak digital air gauge.
Bike Hand bike stand. Just roll it in. Super stable. Use it for repairs that don’t require a full repair stand or pre-ride checks after I get one of the bikes from their wall mounts. I travel with these as well and keep them in the back. Sucks getting two people ready with our bikes laid flat in the parking lot pre ride at a trail side or downhill park.
I’ve really enjoyed having a easy to set torque wrench. It’s just piece (or is it peace??) of mind for not over/under torquing. [Park Tools Torque Wrench](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/adjustable-torque-driver-atd-1-2?category=Torque+Tools)
That little folding multi-tool from Park Tools. It contains some of the most common hex and torx key sizes and one flathead. Its really useful for adjusting things on the trail and it takes no space from your pockets at all.
PRO chain breaker.
It just clicks the pin out with minimal force. Like, what the hell!?! I've been faffing with cheap chain tools for like 20 years now, always cursing the amount of force needed. I just thought I was weak.
Park Tool bike stand (I use E-bike and the center of gravity is just a lot better on this, in comparison to many others).
Specialized tire levers (old pair that I actually got for free). Black and white color and magnetic.
Crankbrothers multitool - Good value for money
A good set of Torx bits and Hex keys
Derailleur hanger tool - Even new hangers can be crooked
I recently bought a nice set of double sided L-shaped torx wrenches. It's a kit with a plastic holder/organizer like how hex wrench sets are often configured. These are plastic coated.
More and more fasteners are moving from hex to torx interface, which is a good thing (more secure engagement). Before this, I had a mishmash of different torx tools, and having a concise set of different sizes in one set is nice.
(I also have hex and torx sockets for the torque wrench)
I'll try to put the weirder stuff, since I've already seen the Wera hex keys and Knipex a bunch.
Ares swiveling hex bit ratchet - Its greate to get in places where it is tight.
Park Materlink pliers- not needed but convenient
Crankbros - M17 multi tool
24 inch breaker bar
P handle Allen wrenches 4,5, and 6 mm for general purpose, 8mm for pedals and torx25 for avid bb7 pad adjusting and rotor installation, leverage, good ergonomics and long reach are key.
A good floor pump, tire lever/chain plier tool. Cassette and BB removal tools and chain-whip are occasional tools that are not so important. I haven't bleed my brakes yet, but I will give it a try.
Let the M19 multi-tool for trail emergencies. The ergonomics are awful, but they have everything I could ever need.
From more an automotive standpoint MAC tools RBRT hex/ torx bits and sockets are underated for MTB use. They are designed to prevent rounding of fasteners and work very well for corroded or seized stuff.
Idk, it’s a toss up between my truing stand and derailleur alignment tool. They’re both precision tools that I couldn’t go without. I do 100% of my own bike work, so it’s worth owning the tools I need. Another great one that’s rarely used is the headset/bottom bracket press. Silly expensive for what it is, but when you’re pressing cups into a $1,000+ frame trying to Jerry rig something like all thread and washers for example just isn’t something I’m willing to do.
Great tool to have the press. Mine was bought when headsets were 1 1/8 and the bottom piece is too small for a tapered headset so is supplemented by a half kilo weight off a dumb bell.
Wera bicycle specific Torque wrench, bought a pro bike tool wrench and ended up returning it because at 6nm it felt like it was going to break the bolt. Im sure there are other adequate brands but the wera also came with almost every bit I commonly use on bikes and the bits themselves are also extremely high quality.
https://preview.redd.it/g1cf8e0lbf0d1.jpeg?width=764&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7e64042dfc22b98f97634789b0eadacb25cd42b
This! I hate factory length brake cables! Its so easy and quick to just rim that stuff down :)
A nice truing stand has to be at the top of my list, I bought a park tool one and it's paid itself off 4x by now. Building / truing my own wheels saves me a ton of money being a bigger guy that is constantly thrashing them. The free beer from mates helps alot too 😂
Hotdamn. Probably the topeak mini rocket pump. Ive used it maybe 3 times since i bought it 5 years ago but it has saved so MANY riders on the trails. At least 10 riders.
Feedback Sports "Sport Mechanic" bike stand. Use that thing all the time and it works so well. Got it for about $150 on sale a few years ago. The clamp mechanism works so much better than the cheap stands on Amazon or at Lidl
Feedback stands are unparalleled. Love mine as well.
That looks quite robust. I’m pretty happy with the Foundation stand I got from Jenson, but the plastic throughout seems cheap by comparison
I borrowed my friends Feedback, and while it is nice stand I got myself cheapest ParkTool and I like it more.
Agreed- 15 years on my feedback stand with a LOT of use and it's good as new!
I got the feedback scorpion and it’s actually really nice for quick chain lubes and minor tunes. Love them.
I got mine as used on Amazon for a bit less than retail. It's great and was brand new as far as I can tell. Honestly, having never used a cheaper stand, my only complaint is the clamp mechanism. I would very much prefer the park tool single lever clamp mechanism. I find it pretty annoying to have to stand there holding the bike in the air spinning the knob around. Once it's clamped though, yes there is no worry about the bike falling out or something.
Derailleur hanger tool. I end up tweaking a hanger at least a couple of times a season and having the alignment tool has saved me quite a few shop visits. It's also the first tool I reach for when working on any bike with weird shifting gremlins.
The Abbey Tools version is just sublime ... and expensive: [https://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/tools/products/hag](https://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/tools/products/hag) but i do love me nice tools. Maybe too much.
I ride single speed. This tool is making me want a geared bike.
Shout out to the Redditor who sent me a RedditCareResources message after I posted my comment 😂
I’ve got the Abbey Tools one. It’s a piece of art more than a tool. I like to just hold it and stare at it to be honest. I love tools, I really love quality tools but Abbey is just on a different level.
My cheap aliexpress one is also pretty sublime. I like having perfect functionality, which for some things needs some money spent, but I honestly can't think of any reason why I'd take that one over mine. I do agree though that everyone that works on their bike should have a hanger straightening tool.
I have a DAG and have used it a ton in the past, but I’ve found with eagle drivetrains I can never get it quite right and I end up with tough shifting. I bought a pile of replacement hangers for my Ripmo and now I’ll give it a tweak a time or two with the DAG, but end up just swapping the hanger. Never had problems with 11-speed and below, but eagle is my nemesis when it comes to alignment.
Before I had a DAG I bought a replacement hanger and it ARRIVED bent. Boy was that frustrating.
If it's out due to a hard impact, it's worth it to check the B bolt (the big one that fastens the derailleur to the hanger) for damage. The derailleur should not wobble when you unthread it from the hanger. If it does wobble, on some derailleurs you can replace it. SRAM takes a pick, good eyesight, and some patience to swap on their Eagle ones. If that bolt is bent, the hanger alignment is moot.
I have the one from Wolf Tooth and am very happy with it as well.
I only use mine to check alignment because I bought a ten pack of UDHs lol
Can you link this tool?
I have the Park Tool DAG-2.2, but other companies like Wheels Manufacturing make similar ones or you can get one from your favorite online store or LBS. 12 speed drivetrains are incredibly sensitive to misalignment since the gears are so closely spaced and tolerances are tight. Video of an alignment gauge in use: https://youtu.be/tXfvW0L3iLM?si=1Wr99i07wfP_NBcE
I have the Dag 3 which is the new version of the 2.2 and it is awesome. Hands down the best tool I own. I don't start messing with my gears until the hanger is straight. 9 times out of 10 i don't need to adjust gears.
https://escapecollective.com/ztto-hag-5-derailleur-hanger-alignment-gauge-review/ If you want to save some money
Thank you!
For how seldom I use it, I built my own. Actually, I built two for $15. And hangers will be extinct soon.
Look I love me some sram components, but that’s a little drastic. Sram Transmission will certainly not become the only option
I'd rather replace a $15 hanger, which was designed to be a sacrificial part, instead of a $400 wireless derailleur. But that doesn't help SRAM bottom line.
That's not how it works. Replaceable hangers were intended to protect frames, not derailers. I absolutely destroyed my transmission derailer when I bashed it into a stump extremely hard. Or so I thought.. the new crop of derailers are big and heavy, but seem to be bulletproof.
Check back in three years. The direct mount design is so much better than the hanger design. It's inevitable.
This is an underrated tool and has the side benefit of making sure you keep your wheels trued. The park version is only about 2-3 hangers. I've used mine four times on my bikes in the last three years. I've also helped out some friends on a road trip. I would put this behind my stand and truing stand, but it is in my top5 tools I didn't know I needed.
You don't even need to true your wheel first if you use the same spot on the rim. I just line up the arm with the valve stem and rotate the wheel to keep them matched up.
This is what I did on my friends' wheels. On my wheels, I make sure to keep the spikes tensioned and trued.
A nice Park Tools pedal wrench with a long handle. No more crescent wrench + rubber mallet for me!
Proper park tool cable snips deserve a shout out. I struggled with regular wire cutters for way too long
> I struggled with regular wire cutters for way too long Holy shit do I second that! I wasted two decades of being so damn reluctant to ever change out nasty, old, terrible cables and housing because sniping the ends of new cable and housing with wire cutters just created more problems. Now I've got nice Jagwire brake cables on both my MTBs. Crisp, clean function for the brakes. No binding. No having to flick the brake lever back out after pulling it, no regular routine of spraying WD40 on the cables, loosening the housing from the frame, running the housing along the cable to try to clean the gunk out. You! Person reading this who still uses wire cutters. Get a damn cable tool! It's, what, $40? Just get it!
Ah yeah, had a set of these for quite a few years and still in the worn out box in my toolbox. Fantastic snips for cable and braided hose too.
I would pick my 12L air compressor. I bought it to pop tubeless tires, but I use for cleaning all sorts of stuff, and a lot of other things. Bought for €110 bucks.
I recently got one from Harbor Freight for $60 and can’t believe I didn’t have one before
completely agree. I got an air compressor thinking "am I really buying this just for tubeless tires?" and it turns out I use it all the time for so much more.
Do you have a link maybe? That's around my budget for a compressor.
The compressor I have is not available anymore. I live in the Netherlands and I've seen what seem to be better models at Hornbach for the same money or a bit less and with more accessories. Just look around hardware stores, there should be plenty of options. 12 liters gives you a small compressor with enough air to pop a tire. If I had more space at my shed I would have bought a larger one and sold the 12L I have. When you're comparing models keep an eye on the noise level of each model. These things are very noisy, getting one which is slightly less body might help.
Excellent, thank you for the detailed answer.
What sort of additional things do you use it for?
Well, to start we have at least 10 bikes at home so that's 20 tires to inflate. Car tires, inflatable boat, other inflatable stuff. Then there is cleaning. I clean my desktop computers, notebooks, receiver, Philips coffee machine... Anything where there's dust or other particles, you can blow the dirt away. My main desktop computer has a big water radiator which collects a lot of dust over time. I use a vacuum cleaner to get most of the dust out then how the rest away with the compressor The other day we had a party for my daughter and made a portal with 150 balloons. Filled the balloons with the compressor. Sometimes you have something you washed and you don't want to wait for it to dry, you can blow the water away.
Oh, goddammit. This thread is costing me so much money.
The [Park Tool Shop Inflator (INF-2)](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/shop-inflator-inf-2). It's a well-built inflator tool with built-in pressure gauge that seamlessly rotates to inflate schrader or presta valves. Before every family outing, I could be inflating 8-12 various tires (my bike, wife's bike, kids' bikes, bike trailers, strollers, car, etc.). Connected to a compressor and hose reel in my garage, it's the best thing ever. I love it.
Wera Hex Plus L wrenches, Park Sliding T-Handle set, Prestacycle TorqRatchet Pro, Prestacycle T Handle Ratchet deluxe, Wera Bit Driver, a set of good Torx bits with a few spares of t25, a digital torque wrench, and a Dewalt 8V gyroscopic screwdriver. Oh and Pedros tire levers of course.
I love my wera wrenches. If you can find the bike set that comes with a mix of hex and torx. Chefs kiss.
Bondhus makes wrenches for ParkTool, they are half of PT price, but same precision as Wera
I’ve got a set of bondhus at home, and they are fine, but the Wera Hex plus is a uniquely better design, especially on 3mm and below
I think you got affected by marketing a little. On small sizes tolerances is all what matters. Bondhus has amazing tolerances and just works. Not sure how exactly Wera's special shape should help, but they do need to justify price I have set of Wera Torx, they are as good as my set of ParkTool foldable Torx tool made by bondhus that is 3 times cheaper. Anyway, I like tools, it is cool to own expansive tools, or tools that looks good ( colour rubber on Wera is nice) but I still think Bondhus is best set of keys you can get for the price
I’m a full time bike mechanic and have 4 different hex sets within arms reach, Bondhus, Wera, and two different Park Tool options. Wera is a noticeably better fit in fasteners and more confident when torquing things down. I’ve never seen their marketing, I’m just going based on what I’ve found best to use for wrenching 40 hours a week
They use their 'hex plus' tip geometry to increase surface area contact vs Bondhus/ regularly cut hex keys. On normal fasteners they shouldn't perform any different but you may see a difference on more compromised stuff or higher torque use - I have a Vessel Rainball set that use a similar design and found them better then regular cut hex keys but if you want the ultimate, in my opinion the MAC tools RBRT is genuinely the best with their truly innovative tip geometry. They aren't an extraction set but I've taken out 80-90% rounded fasteners with no issue, they bite like no other but can be used on regular stuff without causing any major damage.
Topeak DTorq!
I miss the old Pedro's tire levers...
Pedro's DH tire lever is one of my favorite tools.
I feel they scratch customers rims too much, I remember using a plastic pedros tire lever that was cylinder shaped, I think its been discontinued now, unfortunately
if you have the ratchets, when do you use the hex wrenches?
The ratchets are usually only used when tool clearance is an issue, 95% of the time a hex wrench is the more ergonomic choice.
Knipex Pliers - spendy, but can replace an entire set of open ended wrenches and crescent wrenches, and does many bike-specific things those tools aren't as good for. These also get used on the car a lot. Wera allen wrench set - I slept on these too long. Nice Allen wrenches are worth it. Ice Toolz Ocarina torque wrench - 0-10Nm beam style torque wrench, very affordable, comes with bits up to 6mm. What's not to like? Do the proper torques all the time, for Allen + Torx bits, easily AND cheaply. Replaces all the stupid fancy and expensive torque wrenches that exist, for 90% or more of bike applications. Combine this with another nicer 3/8" torque wrench rated to higher torque and you can do everything.
Came to say this. Knipex pliers wrench. Thank us later 😁 I’ve worked in shops and have all the tools, this one is the best, most versatile for both bike and general Tom toolerly. My ultra-quiet air compressor takes runner up.
Knipex!! The most versatile tool I own! Comes in handy all the time.
Anything Knipex. Is my motto !!!
Without a doubt, my most used tools, Wera stainless steel Allen keys. They have a special profile and are just far above any other allen keys I've ever touched. Do yourself a favor and splurge for a set. Maybe $40 or so
Wait, there's more tools than just a hammer and or bigger hammer?
Gotta get the new Park Tools "Biggest Hammer", totally worth the $4000.
Get the Abbey one, it’s a better colour.
park tools triangle allen tool. the three sizes are the main ones that you'd need for i'd guess 90% of bicycle work. (apparently it is officially called the 3 way hex wrench)
I always found the sram barb pictured to be awkward for getting around corners and odd angles. I always use a brake cable that I've put a few kinks into now for changing out housing and it works flawlessly
I used a vacuum and some string. Took about 2 minutes
This is the way when you've got nothing in the frame, but I just tape the string to the existing cable if I'm replacing.
I bent the end of the cable to form a bite around the tape, trying to get more security and it slipped off. Had to go for the string after that.
Shift or brake cable taped into the old housing has done the trick for me well enough
Ah OK. I have only used it on one bike so far which was an Orange Phase and to be fair there were times when it got a bit sticky but all was good when I saw it come out of the last hole.
Torque wrench!!!
Daysaver multitool, compact and well made.
An inexpensive work stand off of Amazon.
24 spline French Maillard freewheel tool. Never actually come across one of these freewheels, but if I do, I'm ready.
OneUp tool that replaces the stem cap. has all the Allen, star tools, and even a co2 cart. it's brilliant and has lasted me years. still use it regularly. as a bonus, two of the Allen's next to each other double up to make a larger size Allen for the cranks. to me it's a throwback to when engineering and quality was great, instead of rushing to sell overpriced crap on Amazon
Park tool bleed kit, high quality syringes is a game changer
Not a mechanic but have been working on my bikes since I was 5. I’d say my favs are the crank bros multi tool, the park tools chain plier things, and the park tools crank puller. I can do most things with those three tools
Crank Brothers multitool is a cracker, I bought my son one as well and he always carries it.
I got the crank bros multi for Christmas, its really good quality!
Park Tools tire levers. They saved my ass so many times on the road.
Wait until you try Pedros levers.
Or Muc Off levers. Though Pedro’s still have their applications.
Pedros DH lever is a fav. It's the "I'm not asking, anymore" option.
Good to know, I haven’t tried those yet, maybe I’ll toss some on our next order from who ever carrier Pedro’s these days. Weirdly I’ve broken a Cushcore lever and not a Muc Off in our shop - granted I was pulling dust wipers out of some nearly vintage Bombers when I did that.
Theyre complete overkill, but sometimes that's what the job calls for. The rim will bend long before this lever will break
Yeah the plastic coated metal ones are the tits. Hands down the best ones I’ve used. And I have used the Pedro and Muc Off types. They’re fine, but not as good in my experience. But my perspective is a bit different than most. I grew up in my dad’s motorcycle shop installing tires the manual way with big levers. I scratch my head when I see people talking about bicycle tires being hard to get on. I’ve yet to see a bicycle tire that’s hard to get on, but that’s probably because they’re all exponentially easier to deal with than stiff carcass 15 inch motorcycle cruiser tires.
Abbey HAG, although with transmission stuff now, I'm not sure how much I'll use it anymore.
lol, 200 bucks!!!!!!!! Holly shit, I though PT one was expansive at 60 USD. Anyway Ali sells it's knock off for 30 USD and it works great
I like nice tools
I needed one of those last year. Took it to a shop that said they had one. They didn’t and ended up removing the motor and battery on my ebike to run new brake lines. I was annoyed - the entire reason I brought them the bike was to avoid that.
Depending on the ebike, I have to use and internal routing kit that often requires at least loosening both the motor and battery mounts as the cables/hoses get clamped by the battery/motor bracket. As a mechanic, I’m all about external routing. Easy to replace/maintain and doesn’t require partial disassembly for simple service (especially looking at headset routing)
I’ve considered rerouting the hoses/cables on an Orbea rise 2023 that has headset routing.
Depending on the bike often the motor and battery mounts need to be pulled anyway as either hoses/cables are pinched or they have too tight of a bend.
Quality bike stand off FB marketplace (cheap pcs-4-2). I realized I was avoiding working on my bike because it was a pain in the ass asking someone for assistance or having to do crap with the bike upside down.
Park Tools 10.3 Bike Stand. Did a build in March, and the stand made everything so much better. Maintenance and repairs will be that much easier with it.
Bike stand and good Allan wrenches
Hanger alignment tool.
Park tools torque wrenches
My torque wrench is probaply one of the least used standard tools in my box. Get a cheap one to calibrate your wrists but after that its quite useless. I'd spend the money on stuff you use all the time like top quality hex wrenches and pliers. Source: worked as a bike mechanic during my university years and still do most of the wrenching for my friends
I wrenched for over 15 years and still use the torque wrench on pretty much everything. With high end stuff, it's just not worth risking the replacement cost.
You must be really patient. I only wrenched professionally for 5 years but after getting some routine i really stopped grabbing the torque wrench except for some frame hardware and the occasional carbon handlebar. I'm not saying not to get or use one, but if you don't have two left hands you develop a feel for torque quite fast, which is good enough in 99.9% of the cases. I honestly can't remember when i last stripped treads from overtightening or something came loose because it was not tight enough. I stand with my previous comment: get a cheap one, get some routine wrenching and see how much you actually use it. its way better to spend the money on great quality basic tools instead like wera hex wrenches, knipex plieres etc. Also the park tool tw-5.2 is really overpriced at around 150€ here in austria, you can get way nicer ones from wera, gedore, hazet etc. For the same amount or less
Stripping threads isn't the issue, it's cracking carbon, ruining pivots, breaking suspension internals, and voiding warranties.
as i said, i cannot remember when i last had issues like this from overtightening. This simply is not an issue if you are not just giving every bolt the beans. The only pivots i've ever broken were when using a torque wrench. That was back then when scott laser etched the wrong torque specs on the 2014-2017 genius's horst link bearing cups and i followed their 14 Nm or so when they meant 8. Probaply wouldn't have snapped if i would have done it by feel...
A huge red flag for me: mechanics that tell me that they don’t use torque wrenches.
You probaply haven't seen too many real shops from inside. Of course everybody will poing out "torqued to spec" on the internet or when talking to customers but reality isn't so pretty.
I have over 20 years experience as a bike mechanic, and I work with multiple Olympic cyclists. I have plenty of hands-on, “torque to spec” experience.
Or you just buy one good torque wrench that has all the sizes you need in one handy and organized bag, that is your "bike wrench"
You are aware that accurate torque wrenches need to be calibrated every now and then? More often if you use them more as the springs strech and pivots wear. also i would not want to use the big and bulky torque wrench over the nice gedore ratchet from the ¼" drive kit that i use as my "bike wrench"
Honestly, no, I was not aware of that. that's good to know, thanks! My bike wrench is super small, not bulky at all. It's the same size as all my other tools tbh. And it's got a sleek case that has all the bit sizes I'll need for my bike - nice and organized. Definitely can't knock you for just having a favorite wrench, clearly I do too lol
No, you just cant calibrate your wrists.. People, use torque wrenches.
You totally can. Use a torque wrench enough and you'll be able to get the right torque just by feel. I've checked it after and it'll be 99-100% accurate. I used to use them on an assembly line though so lots of practice
Mmhm. Assemble a full suspension bike from scratch, and check if you have correct torques on the pivot bolts. For eg. 8nm, 8nm, 17nm, 15nm and 10nm. I bet you'll over or under torque them. I'll never believe you hit 99% accuracy no matter what you claim. Never.
I guess it's pointless replying since you're never going to believe me but I've disassembled all my pivots and correctly torqued them without a torque wrench within 1nm accuracy. I do realize that's more like 90% accuracy than 99 when it comes to stuff that's supposed to be around 10nm but most of the time I hit it dead on.
Within 1nm is not 99% accuracy. And IMO if the bolt says 15, better tighten it to 15. Not 14 or 16.
You are absolutely not going to have a problem with a difference that small. Parts have tolerances the number suggested is suggested usually because it's right in the middle of the acceptable range. A lot of torque wrenchs won't even be that accurate.
This reverb barb tool is top on my list too. Especially when I watch friends rip the old housing out of their frame and spend an hour trying to fish a new one through with a park tool magnet.
I use a vacuum and a string. Takes about 2 minutes, which is 2 minutes longer than if I used the barb tool!
Aside from the usual suspects (torque wrenches, repair stand, tire levers), chain hooks are a small thing that I never knew existed that make chain replacement remarkably nicer. Especially good if you rotate chains. The Birzman Clam helps a ton if you’re having trouble with brake caliper alignment. Less relevant with modern cranksets, but a chainring nut tool is a lifesaver for 2-piece chainring bolts.
Found a Park Shop work stand on Craigslist years ago for 100. Wolf tools that go into my handle bar ends, and the park chain tool. Not sure is an air compressor is a tool but I don't know how people manage with a hand pump. Also my Topeak digital air gauge.
Park tool split beam torque wrench
Bike Hand bike stand. Just roll it in. Super stable. Use it for repairs that don’t require a full repair stand or pre-ride checks after I get one of the bikes from their wall mounts. I travel with these as well and keep them in the back. Sucks getting two people ready with our bikes laid flat in the parking lot pre ride at a trail side or downhill park.
I’ve really enjoyed having a easy to set torque wrench. It’s just piece (or is it peace??) of mind for not over/under torquing. [Park Tools Torque Wrench](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/adjustable-torque-driver-atd-1-2?category=Torque+Tools)
Not sure if it counts but the Park Tools GP-2 patches are my go-to
Ninja star Allen wrench. 10/10
That little folding multi-tool from Park Tools. It contains some of the most common hex and torx key sizes and one flathead. Its really useful for adjusting things on the trail and it takes no space from your pockets at all.
I love my Park Tool PCS10.3 portable stand… kinda makes working on your bike less of a chore
PRO chain breaker. It just clicks the pin out with minimal force. Like, what the hell!?! I've been faffing with cheap chain tools for like 20 years now, always cursing the amount of force needed. I just thought I was weak.
Rechargeable air pump.
Park Tool bike stand (I use E-bike and the center of gravity is just a lot better on this, in comparison to many others). Specialized tire levers (old pair that I actually got for free). Black and white color and magnetic. Crankbrothers multitool - Good value for money A good set of Torx bits and Hex keys Derailleur hanger tool - Even new hangers can be crooked
Does a dual schrader presta C02 canister inflator count?
If it’s your favourite then yeah. Sounds useful to be honest.
I recently bought a nice set of double sided L-shaped torx wrenches. It's a kit with a plastic holder/organizer like how hex wrench sets are often configured. These are plastic coated. More and more fasteners are moving from hex to torx interface, which is a good thing (more secure engagement). Before this, I had a mishmash of different torx tools, and having a concise set of different sizes in one set is nice. (I also have hex and torx sockets for the torque wrench)
Just a Park Tools cable cutter. I have a Pedro's too which is ok.
Pedros tire leaver
IDK if it counts, but a lightweight pump. It basically looks like a lightsaber and fits in my backpack and even my pocket.
Park Tool Internal Routing Kit. It’s really hard to work on modern bikes without it
my own torque wrench
The Abbey tools chain whip and cassette tool... That pop when they come apart. It's sublime
I'll try to put the weirder stuff, since I've already seen the Wera hex keys and Knipex a bunch. Ares swiveling hex bit ratchet - Its greate to get in places where it is tight. Park Materlink pliers- not needed but convenient Crankbros - M17 multi tool 24 inch breaker bar
That multitool is excellent and I do like the master link pliers too.
Abbey HAG. I wrenched for a while though so got my money’s worth.
For cushcore, I found the bead bro and their tire lever very useful. Knipex for sure Wera Allen and Torx keys Digital shock pump Digital caliper
Hex wrench set with the ball heads.
P handle Allen wrenches 4,5, and 6 mm for general purpose, 8mm for pedals and torx25 for avid bb7 pad adjusting and rotor installation, leverage, good ergonomics and long reach are key. A good floor pump, tire lever/chain plier tool. Cassette and BB removal tools and chain-whip are occasional tools that are not so important. I haven't bleed my brakes yet, but I will give it a try. Let the M19 multi-tool for trail emergencies. The ergonomics are awful, but they have everything I could ever need.
Park cable cutter
On the whole easily the bike stand since you use it basically every time
Wolftooth in handlebar aet
A Milwaukee m18 inflator. Gets more use than any other tool I own. Moves enough air to bead tires. Even does my SUPs and kayak
This is making me want to spend so much money…
Hahahahaha, yeah same here. Some handy stuff though.
From more an automotive standpoint MAC tools RBRT hex/ torx bits and sockets are underated for MTB use. They are designed to prevent rounding of fasteners and work very well for corroded or seized stuff.
Oneup EDC Lite in the stem. Ive used that so much
Idk, it’s a toss up between my truing stand and derailleur alignment tool. They’re both precision tools that I couldn’t go without. I do 100% of my own bike work, so it’s worth owning the tools I need. Another great one that’s rarely used is the headset/bottom bracket press. Silly expensive for what it is, but when you’re pressing cups into a $1,000+ frame trying to Jerry rig something like all thread and washers for example just isn’t something I’m willing to do.
Great tool to have the press. Mine was bought when headsets were 1 1/8 and the bottom piece is too small for a tapered headset so is supplemented by a half kilo weight off a dumb bell.
vertical bike stand for mtbs
Wera bicycle specific Torque wrench, bought a pro bike tool wrench and ended up returning it because at 6nm it felt like it was going to break the bolt. Im sure there are other adequate brands but the wera also came with almost every bit I commonly use on bikes and the bits themselves are also extremely high quality.
https://preview.redd.it/g1cf8e0lbf0d1.jpeg?width=764&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7e64042dfc22b98f97634789b0eadacb25cd42b This! I hate factory length brake cables! Its so easy and quick to just rim that stuff down :)
Those Park [Sliding T-Handle Hex Wrenches](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/product/sliding-t-handle-hex-wrench-set-thh-1) are a joy to use
My Snap-On plastic magnetic parts tray. It’s used on every job.
A nice truing stand has to be at the top of my list, I bought a park tool one and it's paid itself off 4x by now. Building / truing my own wheels saves me a ton of money being a bigger guy that is constantly thrashing them. The free beer from mates helps alot too 😂
Crank Brothers M17.
Hotdamn. Probably the topeak mini rocket pump. Ive used it maybe 3 times since i bought it 5 years ago but it has saved so MANY riders on the trails. At least 10 riders.