Looking for best Tool Kit Values
 

Hey everyone, both my roommate and I do A LOT of bike teching and fixing and such. I would like to get her a bike repair tool kit for Christmas of sorts, but I am looking for some input on the best values around. Probably in the 40-70 dollar range. Please let me know what you think.

We need more information than that. Your proposed $40-$70 budget isn't going to buy you much in terms of shop quality tools. High quality park tool sets like this start at about $700+

http://www.parktool.com/images/produ...8514_75862.jpg

Do you already have tools? Because buying a kit will blow because some of them will be doubled up. You'll also find many tools that may be useless or the opposite depending on the type of bikes you guys will be typically wrenching on. Tell us what you have, and what you need. Again $40-$70 is about the price of one good tool. It'd buy you half of a campy 11 speed chain tool for example.

Good point, I should have mentioned more I guess. We already have sockets, open wrenches and quite a few of the allen key tools. I have all standard bike tech stuff, but I wanted to get her something so she DOESN'T use my tools. ;) What would be a decent all around Bike Tool Kit for somebody to use at a Novice level. She can turn a wrench but probably doesn't need 1000 tools to lose in a matter of weeks.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1030366_-1___

Spin doctor something or other. Also you may want to do a search, ^ I realize that's 2x your budget but the lower level spin doctor kit really isn't worth getting imho. http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1030354_-1___

You should just start a list of the stuff your roomate needs. Then par that down and get quality tools, for example a P-handle allen wrench set etc.

I was considering building her a custom mit. not a bad idea. Getting her a toolbox is easy and she really needs like wheel, crank, and spoke tools. I think I will do that. Thanks mate.

http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-BK-2.../dp/B000EPBZZ0

It's a bit more than you were looking at, but it's a very nice starter set.

Another voice here saying tool-kits are not the best way to go. Buying top-quality tools as needed will be better both economically and functionally down the road.

I bought a cheap Nashbar kit for under $150 and it has a good selection of tools including crank puller, cassette/cog tools, BB wrench, chain tool, cable cutter, etc. The quality is good for occasional bike repair, but not for serious daily use. You will still need to add some tools to this set though: pliers, mallet, saws/files, etc.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_10000_201508

I used this kit to completely disassemble a mountain bike down to a bare frame and build another one. I only needed LBS help with the headset but I found cheap tools on eBay for that too.

Adam

You mean you want to know what to buy yourself, or what to ask for?

If the former, I usually promote low-cost tool kits for value, but in this case I have to agree that you would do better with individual tools or small sets (like cone wrenches). If you have a good idea what you want, check out biketoolsetc.com


There's a side issue, though: Who's going to buy/own and be responsible for the tools? One buying a set would make it clear who owns the tools in the set. You're not going to be roommates forever.

Also if you don't want her to use your tools, get a different brand of tool than what you currently use, so there is no mix up.

Or, you could get her stuff that you don't have so that you can use her tools. Things like an der hanger alignment tool, truing stand, spoke tension gauge, torque wrench, etc come to mind.

+10 Forget the tool kit. If you buy one, you will end up with several redundant tools (do you really need allen wrenches and screwdrivers)? Instead, pick up some quality tools one at a time. With your budget, I would start with a high quality chain tool (Park CT-3) and a high quality cable cutter. If you have anything left, I would look at a decent bottom bracket tool,a crank puller and a good pedal wrench. You will find there are several different versions of crank tools, so you have to start building up a tool kit based on what you commonly need. I really like the Park tool HCW 4 and HCW-11, but I tend to work on a lot of 1980s vintage stuff.

I'm not so sure. A complete toolkit often costs a lot less than buying individual tools, so the few extra screwdrivers or a tool a two that you don't need won't hurt. I think for a budget oriented home mechanic a cheap toolkit is a better way to go. I'm happy with my El Cheapo Nashbar toolkit.

Adam

I started with a small Park tool kit. It was more than $40 but less than $100.

It had almost everything I needed.

Here's one by Spin Doctor that's on sale for $50. That'd get you started.

If you're talking about the SK-1 I did the same thing, ~$65 at treefortbikes. I kinda needed all of it so it was a good buy. It's just a starter kit obviously but it's all quality Park (cheap stuff breaks or could even damage your gear), and there wasn't stuff I didn't need like a million different cone wrenches and BB tools. I can buy more stuff as I need them. I ride a fixed gear so I've added a Campy PB wrench, Park chain whip, Hozan lockring tool, and a sweet Park PCS-10 and I should be set up for a while.

A sweet kit not yet mentioned is the Park AK-37, should be around the net for a little over 2 bills. (oops your budget was 40-70)

See my in-depth analysis/breakdown of SK-1 versus AK-37 though over here.