Cycling UK Forum

I'm looking at getting a bicycle multi-tool. I've identified two that seem to be highly rated: the Blackburn Wayside 19 and the Topeak Mini 20 Pro.

Does anyone have any experience of using these products? Or are there any others you'd recommend?

Thanks!

I don't use one any more.

There's some useful discussion in the archives:

"Multitool recommendations":
viewtopic.php?t=142955

"What's your favourite bike tool?":
viewtopic.php?t=146706

Jonathan

I have the Topeak survival box. Fits on the seatpost or in your backpack etc. Good range of tools except the tyre levers. These were much to flimsy for my wired tyres.

I have a Topeak Mini and it seems a high quality piece of kit with a good selection of tools, only lacking an adjustable spanner. Used to use Cool Tools which were much more basic and no longer made.

Thanks for the replies, folks

Yes, the Topeak ones are very good value, but the best one I’ve got is a “no brand” one that came in a dirt-cheap little seat pack from Lidl or Aldi, along with puncture repair kit, and very good tyre levers. I’ve had it for 20+ years I think and the spanner thingies on it are particularly good.

My go to is a Specialized Road Tool - 10 function/tools all of which are potentially useful on my bikes. I made my choice after checking out literally dozens of options from Topeak, Lezyne, Spesh, SKS and many more which often had tools in useless sizes, stuff that simply didn't work (chain tools dor example), weighed a ton, were stupidly big/small etc, etc. The multitool is backed up by decent Tacx tyre levers and a mini leatherman which has pliers along with a blade etc.

I rarely need to use the tools, all the proper furtling is done with proper tools at home so its the rare occasions when something goes wrong that i need to be prepared for.

I'm reminded of the guy who bought a bike from us, an expensive, top of the line Orbit Romany if i recall. Three months later we had a call from Russia, he had a mechanical and didn't know what to do despite having the tools - the mechanical was a puncture! So whilst some will advocate all sorts of fancy tools to take along, their use is only as good as your ability to use them.

foxyrider wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 5:59pm So whilst some will advocate all sorts of fancy tools to take along, their use is only as good as your ability to use them.

I imagine that if you do know how to use the tools, then it is more likely that you keep your bike in good order, and less likely that you will need the portable tools. Except for punctures of course.

Mike Sales wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 6:06pm

foxyrider wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 5:59pm So whilst some will advocate all sorts of fancy tools to take along, their use is only as good as your ability to use them.

I imagine that if you do know how to use the tools, then it is more likely that you keep your bike in good order, and less likely that you will need the portable tools. Except for punctures of course.

There's a lot of helpful people out there. When our children first starting cycling without us I gave them bike multitools. Even without all of the fixing skills that they now have this increased the chance of getting going again because someone else could use the tools.

Jonathan

I tend to use Decathlon multi tools. They are cheap and probably not the best quality, but because they are cheap you can easily replace them. I find that any multi tool will wear with regular use over time. I have a separate chain breaker - a small Park Tools one, and separate tyre levers, so only need Allen/torx keys and screwdrivers on a multi tool.

foxyrider wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 5:59pmI'm reminded of the guy who bought a bike from us, an expensive, top of the line Orbit Romany if i recall. Three months later we had a call from Russia, he had a mechanical and didn't know what to do despite having the tools - the mechanical was a puncture!

I recall the interview with Anne Mustoe in the CTC mag. She couldn't repair a puncture when she rode around the world.

axel_knutt wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 6:28pm
I recall the interview with Anne Mustoe in the CTC mag. She couldn't repair a puncture when she rode around the world.

When she started or when she finished?

I use a Topeak Hexus X multi-tool

https://road.cc/content/review/244135-t ... multi-tool

It works well for me espcially as it includes a chain tool and tyre levers.

Each of my bikes has a tool bottle with a multi-tool in it as well as spare tubes, patches, a rag, gear hanger, chain link and tyre levers. I have to have each bike with it's own tool bottle as I'd never remember to switch a single such bottle atween the bikes before I ride one. Also, see below concerning the tools that need to be on your multi-tool for a particular bike.

All the multi-tools I have seem adequate for the tasks I've employed them for - which are few since I'm obsessive about keeping the bicycles in good order. Still, when you're out there and something happens, a multi-tool can cope with many loosenings of one's parts (not those parts).

The only failure I've had is when a chainset came loose. It needed an 8mm allen key to tighten it on again and the blasted multi-tool only had them up to 6mm. I found a farmer to lend me an 8mm one - after a bit of scooting along the road carefully. Multi-tool subsequently changed for one with the 8mm bit as well.

Other tools missing-from-the-multi-tool parts might be: a chain maker/breaker than works on your chain type (test yours if it's on your tool); a spoke key that fits your spokes; a teeny spanner for retightening valve cores when your pump unscrews them; a T30 Torx as well as the more common T25 if your bike has a T30 somewhere on it; anything else essential to a particular bike and its bits.

Few multi tools will fail to work. Quite a number will lack one of those essential tools needed by your bike but not 99 others bikes.

Cugel

Cugel wrote: ↑30 May 2022, 7:01pm .....chain maker/breaker than works on your chain type
.....a teeny spanner for retightening valve cores when your pump unscrews them;

You may not need both.
I don't know if it's universal, but all my chain tools (3) also fit all my valve cores (Quite a few)