Bicycle Mechanics - Lifu Tools ?

Has anyone used Lifu tools? www.probikekit.com have some cheap, and I wondered what they'd be like for occasional light use.

Richard

I had a friend who, when he needed a tool, would go to KMart and buy the most expensive one they had. He said that he learned his lesson when he once went to KMart and bought the cheapest tool they had.

I don't like cheap tools, not even for occasional light use. A cheap tool can trash an expensive part. Good tools are worth the little extra you pay for them.

Richard, I checked a bike tool catalog and the only LIFU items they carried were hex wrenches and a display stand. Since they don't list any of the essential tools eg. cone wrenches etc. I would think that's a good indication the quality is not the best and may not be worth the money.

The Lifu stuff isn't that great, but, for occasional light use you should be ok with it.
Just don't expect it to hold up for more than occasional light use.

Lifu makes a wide variety of bike tools which they sell mostly in a kit format. If it breaks you throw it away.

Just remember, cheap tools can be detrimental to your sanity.

I have a Lifu crank bolt wrench/crank extractor combo (for square taper, not modern Shimano hollow spindle) that was inexpensive, is well made and works like a charm. I also have a Lifu bb tool for Shimano splined bbs. Also well made and works like a charm. Most of my other tools are Park because many are available at my LBS and don't cost much more than Lifu. For light use you can save money buy buying Park's home shop versions, like two ended cone wrenches rather than the padded handle shop versions. I did buy a 15 mm shop version cone wrench which also works well as a pedal wrench. I guess I would put it this way. I would not go out of my way to save a couple of bucks on Lifu but on a couple of occasions they happened to be on sale at a very attractive price so I picked them up. On the other hand I my LBS carried them I might buy more Lifu as they seem to be very good for the price.
FWIW,
Raymond

Thanks - it was a basic kit I was looking at. I can't see me using bits likes pedal spanners more than once in a blue moon. I'll probably go for it and if i find i use a piece a bit replace it with something better.

Richard

I bought that kit ages ago when I was first getting into working on bikes ($100 CDN). I still use: the BB tool, the chain breaker, the crank puller, the pedal/14-15mm socket wrench, the cassette lockring remover, the chain whip, the lockring tool/pin spanner (for older BBs), the allen wrenches (the ball-end gives a very secure fit) though I didn't get quite so many - the 8 & 10mm are a bonus, the spoke wrench (good for occasional truing; not really for wheelbuilding) and the spanner wrench (not good for most bike repair, though). The set I bought didn't come with the 9/10mm wrench and I ended up buying a seperate wrench set.

The headset and cone wrenches are so-so but you probably won't be using them that often. If you have a threaded headset you will probably need a second wrench (of course, if you have a threadless, the allen wrenches will cover you).

For that price, I'd snatch it up.

Thanks for the opinions.

Now I've got someone to blame when the bank manager complains ;)

One toolset ordered, plus cable cutters, and of course I couldn't pass up a deal on some shorts, and since someone stubbed out a cigarette on my saddle a while back, a new saddle was beckoning...

Richard

Lifu used to supply Halfords tools, until we got fed up with the low quality of the items. We now only sell Park and Topeak