Park Took Kit
 

I'd like to pick up some bike tools to start doing some of my own minor maintenance. I'm looking at the Park Tools kit AK-37.

Is this big time overkill for me? Or a necessary evil?

Also I notice these kits go quite a bit cheaper on ebay. Are there knock off kits or are by and large the kits the real deal?

http://parktool.com/products/detail....6&item=AK%2D37

If you are just going to be using it for your own minor maintenance then the value of the kit largely depends on what bike(s) and components you will be using it on. As an example, would you really use all those cone wrenches? Think about what repairs you would be likely to be doing and what tools you would need then compare to what is in the kit.

As to the e-bay pricing, if they list it as a Park AK-37 tool kit then it probably is just that.

I wonder what the price difference is between the kit and buying most of the tools separately. I probably have close to all the tools in one of those kits, however I bought the tools individually to service my parts as problems were encountered.

- i sat down one afternoon a couple years ago and did a price comparison, shopping for lowest cost per tool while using a spreadsheet with the tool list for the PK-57 (now PK-63)... i ended up getting the PK-57 from a bike vendor in New York due to a 15% off coupon and got the kit for around $600 shipped...

- IIRC, the kit+coupon saved about 30% off individual tools... however, i still have some of the tools from the kit still in their boxes (derailleur hanger straightener, wheel-building guide, etc.), and the kit did not include a tool i've used quite often: Spoke tension meter (TM-1)...

- you can get the new kit (PK-63) for $649 w/free shipping from a certain large on-line auction site (which i don't recommend), but honestly in retrospect i might have saved more money by just getting the tools as needed from the LBS...

- but it is nice having everything you *might* need for a repair...

:-)

As tools go, I've always pieced together my toolbox picking and choosing the tools best for the job. For example, I've bought the duel sided cone wrenches instead of the nicer Pro models for weight and size consideration (I'm a team mechanic so all (most) my tools always travel with me)

Then there are things like preferences. I don't like the Park or Pedro's cable cutters. I prefer the Shimano cutters or Jagwire cutters. Screwdrivers I buy from lowes or sears (or any of the tool truck guys) with lifetime warranty. If they break, its easier to get them replaced rather than wait a week or two to get them replaced by Park.

As a general rule of thumb with tools, buy the best you can afford. These things payoff in the longrun. It doesn't matter if your cheap tools have a lifetime warranty, if you are stranded (or a ways away from getting it replaced) and the tool breaks, you're stuck without a tool when you need it most

A few years ago I got one of the earlier Park AK-32 sets from "the guy on eBay". The tools were genuine and new. The tool case had discoloration spots, so I think these sets failed inspection due to these aesthetic blemishes. Again the tools inside were fine. I think I got a good deal. If I bought individually I'd have to consider sales tax at the LBS or shipping charges on the net.