Disagree on the master link pliers - they save a ton of time and effort when taking off and putting chains back on.Huh, I’ve never used them. I have only used Wippermann chains with their Connex master links and thought all chains were that easy.
Agreed, Connex is the way to go for links. No tools needed at all–you just have to remember to put it on the correct way. There is a right and a wrong way. No pliers at all–never had chain slack pop one off either & I’ve been on some really bumpy courses.
Disagree on the master link pliers - they save a ton of time and effort when taking off and putting chains back on.Huh, I’ve never used them. I have only used Wippermann chains with their Connex master links and thought all chains were that easy.
Agreed, Connex is the way to go for links. No tools needed at all–you just have to remember to put it on the correct way. There is a right and a wrong way. No pliers at all–never had chain slack pop one off either & I’ve been on some really bumpy courses.
How often are you reusing the connex? I know shimano says not to reuse the quicklink, but that sure as hell isn’t feasible with a waxed chain.
For a long time! Haven’t been on the bike in a while but think I would keep same link with new chain. But I also bought a bag of the links and have dropped many on the disappearing garage floor so I had many spares. But like others have said they’re super easy to change and work with. Hell one time I cut chain too short and used 2 links on a chain to reconnect a small section with no issues.
The Shimano master chain tool is much better than the Park tool option. I have both and Park’s version is meh. Park tool is really nice stuff though, and most of my specific bike tools are Park, along with some Abbey tools. I do all my own wrenching and have done so for many years, fwiw.
I recently added these Park Allen tool kit and they are so nice. Not cheap, but so much easier to use in many tight circumstances found in various bike wrenching.
Another vote for the Silca tools, especially the Hex keys. Great feel, they will never break unlike others and they will not strip the heads of fasteners. I’ve combined a mix as others have suggested as some of one brand are not worth buying, others absolutely. Spend good money on a torque wrench as well.
Another vote for the Silca tools, especially the Hex keys. Great feel, they will never break unlike others and they will not strip the heads of fasteners. I’ve combined a mix as others have suggested as some of one brand are not worth buying, others absolutely. Spend good money on a torque wrench as well.
The Silca ones are fine for more travel-type. But for a real home shop I adore the Park Tool sliding T-handle set.
The biggest tool mistake I’ve made recently is trying to go cheap for a hydraulic brake service kit. The cheap Amazon one was a disaster. Park all the way for that.
I feel the same way about bike tools as any tool under 1,000RPM:
Buy the cheap one. If it breaks, you’re using it enough to warrant buying the expensive one.
The only thing that’s probably worth buying a good one right away is a torque wrench. Other than that I’d get something like this and a 1/4" ratchet with allen key heads. That’ll be $150 total.
You really don’t need bike-specific tools for hardware store stuff like hex keys and brushes.
I find Park Tools to be fairy well made. I want quality so I have muktiple tool boxes full of the blue tools. Is you head worth a cheap helmet? Is screwing up a component by buying a not well designed tool? Having to replace that component will offset the badly designed tool.
Another vote for the Silca tools, especially the Hex keys. Great feel, they will never break unlike others and they will not strip the heads of fasteners. I’ve combined a mix as others have suggested as some of one brand are not worth buying, others absolutely. Spend good money on a torque wrench as well.
The Silca ones are fine for more travel-type. But for a real home shop I adore the Park Tool sliding T-handle set.
The biggest tool mistake I’ve made recently is trying to go cheap for a hydraulic brake service kit. The cheap Amazon one was a disaster. Park all the way for that.
Silca makes a set of sliding t-handles in a great case that’s much nicer than Park’s.
Silca makes a set of sliding t-handles in a great case that’s much nicer than Park’s.
The Parks don’t come with a case at all, but a wall-mount rack, pictured above. (which the Silcas apparently don’t come with). The Parks also have a strip gripper on one end, which is nice. It doesn’t look like the Silca ones do.
So I’d go Park if for your home shop (my use) or Silca for a travel kit. A full set of t-handles would be too big for my travel kit. Maybe good for the guys who roll around with a Mercedes sprinter van.
You should just buy the Park ones. They are excellent.
The Park and Silca sliding T-handles are nice quality Taiwanese tools. But they are not the top-of-the-line by any means. In terms of fit, finish, and overall quality PB Swiss, Beta, Facom, and USAG are top shelf.
Buyers should be aware that Park manufactures few if any tools. They have their tools made by various suppliers in various countries. Quality is generally good, but it varies. In particular Park is known to have had QA issues with some suppliers that resulted in some batches of very poor quality tools hitting the market.
