Bicycle Mechanics - Ideal Spoke Key

-all common varieties of spoke types
-does not need to be extremely portable
-function with a good price


What do you suggest?
thanks a bunch

Park is my favorite.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/31lYUr8VlYL._AA280_.jpg

I've tried a competitors that looks just like a park but had problems with them cracking.

Park is my favorite.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/31lYUr8VlYL._AA280_.jpg



+1

for multiple spoke types you suggest buying a single wrench for each type over a multi tool?

do the multi spoke tools work that great

is it just clean-simple-and functional to have one tool per type?

Yes.

I don't want to be trying to figure out which side is the correct when I drop it or when I pick it up.

-all common varieties of spoke types
-does not need to be extremely portable
-function with a good price


What do you suggest?
thanks a bunch

Park rules. Why? Color coded for size, precise fit prevents rounding of nipples due to incorrect fit, lasts a long time like a Tootsie Roll.

I've never seen a good multi size spoke wrench. The ones I've tried were junk.

If you like your nipples, get a quality tool.

I've never seen a good multi size spoke wrench.

While not exactly a multi size spoke wrench, I've done some things with this one that I would not have thought possible:

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=16&item=SW%2D10

Absolutely the best tool for stubborn or frozen spokes. I don't use it very often, but there is no other tool like it. It's expensive, but mine has paid for itself a bunch of times.

While not exactly a multi size spoke wrench, I've done some things with this one that I would not have thought possible:

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=16&item=SW%2D10

Absolutely the best tool for stubborn or frozen spokes. I don't use it very often, but there is no other tool like it. It's expensive, but mine has paid for itself a bunch of times.

Now I've seen a quality tool! :)

The shop I worked in years ago had one of them.

I was thinking of those four sided things.....

I use the spin doctor ones. The multisize one that came with my tool kit stunk and rounded to many nipples. I bought a set of their park knockoffs, horseshoe shaped, and they work very well.

I love my "Spokey" four-sided wrench for $7 It holds on to nipples when I let go.

I got mine at:
http://oddsandendos.safeshopper.com/20/cat20.htm?284

There are basically three sizes of spoke nipples and only two of them are at all common.

The Park size 0 (black) fits the "good" spokes, DT, Wheelsmith, etc. and should be the one you will use most of the time.

The Park size 1 (green) fits Union and a few other rarely seen European spokes and probably isn't needed.

The Park size 2 (red) fits "Japanese" spokes that were used on Japanese bikes in the past but they don't seem to be around much anymore.

+1 on the Spokey. Not quite as fast as the Park tool, but that's because it's 'four sided' and fits better.

I love my "Spokey" four-sided wrench for $7 It holds on to nipples when I let go.


+1
I've had much better luck with Spokey wrenches, color coded for sizes. I've never damaged a nipple with Spokey. I use the red one on DT aluminum alloy nipples.

The Park size 2 (red) fits "Japanese" spokes that were used on Japanese bikes in the past but they don't seem to be around much anymore.Just in case someone outside of US uses this thread as a guide: I have the red one, these spokes (nipples) seem to be very common in commuting and hybrid bikes around here.

--J

I build daily in the shop and use the Spokey Pro version. Cheap as chips, fast, comfy and never rounds a nipple. I must have collected every key availble over the years and still use a spokey. The red version fits most nipples with the yellow occasionally seeing the light of day with some older Japanese nipples.

Just in case someone outside of US uses this thread as a guide: I have the red one, these spokes (nipples) seem to be very common in commuting and hybrid bikes around here.

--J

Also, I re-tensioned the spokes on a friend's recently acquired machine-built mail order wheelset the other day, the spoke nipples were the Park #2 size.

+1 on the Park Tool spoke wrenches. I had to pick up afew to true a friends wheel the other day.