Multi tool for bikes.

[Feliz]

I have racks, carriers, bags, panniers etc on most of my bikes and can carry a few tools with me when I ride the but I have bikes with nothing.......just the bike. I'd like a multi use tool I can wear on my belt for making adjustments and repairs as necessary. I see hundreds on eBay and Amazon it's overwhelming! Can anyone recommend a good tool I can take with me in a pocket or on my belt?

 

[Curious George]

Topeak Alien II Multitool.

 

[Curious George]

I won’t really try to sell it. It’s a great multitool that I actually use. There are others that I am sure you will be bombarded with in here. Good Luck!

 

[6zfshdb]

In addition to carrying tools for making mechanical repairs on an ebike, also consider items for electrical repairs as well. I know from experience it's easy to snag a wire on brush or other obstacle. Simple things like electrical tape, small wire nuts, a short piece of wire, zip ties and a wire cutter / stripper can save you from pedaling a dead, heavy ebike home. With a little thought, these items can be packaged to fit in a pocket along with your multi tool.

 

[mrgold35]

I have the Topeak tool listed above and a smaller Topeak Mini version since 2014. I don't get much use from them because of their shorter tool size to reach some bolts, the tools don't lock in place to hold steady as you apply torque, and sometimes unable to put enough torque to tighten/loosen things because of shorter tool size. I found out if I don't use the multi-tool at home, then I won't like to use the multi-tool on the road.

I ended up just using specialized tools I keep in a Ziploc bag I can transfer to other bikes to carry in the rack bag or backpack. I also have more heavy duty tools in a small tool bag I can toss in the back of vehicle if I need to hit the road with the ebikes.

What I always carry for flats:
Park Tool Valve Core remover
Screwdriver with 2 flip-able Flathead and Phillips heads
PSI gauge
small wire cutters (for zip ties)
zip ties
18mm wrench (for removing rear tire)
Topeak Mountain Morph bike pump
spare tube
Stans tire sealant
tire patch kit
5 velcro straps (to help set the 26X4 120 tpi tire when trying to air up a flat)

General Tools in another ziploc bag in the rack:
Spoke key
Park Tool Y-design Hex wrench (4mm, 5mm, 6mm)
2-3 Assorted smaller hex wrenches
paper shop towels in a Ziploc bag
individual handy wipe packets
XL rubber gloves
small tarp (sometimes I need to flip the bike upside down to work on in the field)
cheap $12 safety goggles with 1.5X bifocal (hard to see fine detail sometimes in low light)

 

[Highway550]

I use Park MTB tool (older model that I have used for years) that has most of the needed tools for on the road issues.
It is easy to carry (your belt or in a bag).

My tool is the MBT-3 and this is the issue I had


Park is a good company and even sent me a replacement chain tool part when I broke it.

mrgold35 list of items is very good. I also wrap some Electrical tape around my air pump so that I can use it if needed ... (tape up a broken spoke for example)

 

[indianajo]

Tape up broken spoke! With this new power wheel I am riding *****y ****ese spokes, aren't I. Thanks for the tip. That flying around would be a real problem 30 miles out. Sixty one years of riding and I've never had that happen.

 

[tomjasz]

I won’t really try to sell it. It’s a great multitool that I actually use. There are others that I am sure you will be bombarded with in here. Good Luck!

I have two Topeak smaller versions, but suggest an inexpensive multimeter is also a good carry.

 

[Curious George]

I have two Topeak smaller versions, but suggest an inexpensive multimeter is also a good carry.

Agreed. Certainly good to have at home, at the very least.

 

[tomjasz]

Agreed. Certainly good to have at home, at the very least.

I found a small decently rated $10 that's a little longer than a thin wallet. There are so many uses. Found a shorted wire after a fall and field repaired well enough to get home.

 

[Feliz]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I don't understand how I missed it online but I've ordered the Topeka Alien ll from Amazon and I'll put together some tools including tape to carry with me on the bikes. Having an electrical background and a hobby which is flying drones and RC aircraft I have numerous multi meters.

I want to pick up a small pump and some tire repair items, I see the Topeak dual mini DXG on Amazon, anyone have an opinion on these pumps. Thanks

 

[6zfshdb]

In addition to carrying tools for making mechanical repairs on an ebike, also consider items for electrical repairs as well. I know from experience it's easy to snag a wire on brush or other obstacle. Simple things like electrical tape, small wire nuts, a short piece of wire, zip ties and a wire cutter / stripper can save you from pedaling a dead, heavy ebike home. With a little thought, these items can be packaged to fit in a pocket along with your multi tool.

Most of us carry smartphones when we ride. Here is a nifty gadget that lets you use your smartphone as a multimeter. It connects via bluetooth and is smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/...TEzY2MfArxVh8JCsl1FYajqRSDzldsSQaAp7sEALw_wcB

 

[Feliz]

Most of us carry smartphones when we ride. Here is a nifty gadget that lets you use your smartphone as a multimeter. It connects via bluetooth and is smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/...TEzY2MfArxVh8JCsl1FYajqRSDzldsSQaAp7sEALw_wcB

Now THAT'S cool.

 

[bob armani]

I use Park MTB tool (older model that I have used for years) that has most of the needed tools for on the road issues.
It is easy to carry (your belt or in a bag).

My tool is the MBT-3 and this is the issue I had


Park is a good company and even sent me a replacement chain tool part when I broke it.

mrgold35 list of items is very good. I also wrap some Electrical tape around my air pump so that I can use it if needed ... (tape up a broken spoke for example)

Park RESCUE TOOL-Excellent tool and the price is right too! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Blackburn Wayside multi-tool. With the caveat that you shouldn't get it wet. It has a chain tool but doesn't have a bottle opener (???).

I also like the looks of the OneUp EDC System. What is cool is that the multi-tool (and a patch kit if you like) are carried in a little compartment in the pump. The downside is that the pump really can't get you past 40psi so for a lot of folks it isn't going to be adequate. They also have a larger pump that would be great for inflating fat tires. They also sold (and maybe still sell) hardware that lets you carry the multi-tool and a CO2 cartridge in your stem -- that seems neat but I have visions of it all falling apart and having to flip the bike over to get all of the pieces out.
Another cool thing about their pump is that you can use the pump head with a CO2 cartridge so you don't need to bring another CO2 inflator.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Most of us carry smartphones when we ride. Here is a nifty gadget that lets you use your smartphone as a multimeter. It connects via bluetooth and is smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

https://www.circuitspecialists.com/...TEzY2MfArxVh8JCsl1FYajqRSDzldsSQaAp7sEALw_wcB

Nice!

 

[elliot friedman]

An Alum wrench/screwdriver multtool, CO2 cartridge and inflator, electric tape, spare tube, tire gauge, 2 "kmc missing links", Presta to schrader valve converter if I'm near a gas station, and a decent flash light rounds out my saddle bag's contents. Reviewing my list now, I think I'll see if my mini leatherman would fit in as well for its added capabilities.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Don't forget some small pliers (always in a Leatherman) to pull wires or similar out of tires or to hold on to a broken spoke that you are trying to unscrew from a nipple so you can use your Fiberfix spoke that you also always have

Yeah, that second one was an issue the day before yesterday. Spoke broke cleanly, had no problem getting it out of the hub but I'll be damned if I could unscrew the other end from the nipple in the wheel. Only way to fire up the Fiberfix (a wonderful invention, by the way) was to dismount the tire and use a spare nipple, when it would have been the easiest thing in the world to get going again if I could have only held that spoke still so I could unscrew it.

Leatherman is now in and will forever remain in the handlebar bag.