nashvillwill

So, I'm looking to start building a tool set. I want to get a few basic tools, but can't seem to find any decent "starter" tool kits.

I'm looking for something in the $100 or less price range, such as the Park Tools beginner set...
https://m.parktool.com/product/home-m...arter-kit-sk-1

But here is the thing, all the "starter" kits I find are mostly comprised of tools that I consider kinda silly.

•Phillips head screwdriver (find one household in America that doesn't have one of these)
•patch kit (what cyclist doesn't already have one?)
•hex wrench set (have several)
•chain lube (seriously?)
•tire levers

The things I do look for are things like a chain whip, a cassette/BB tool, crank tool...that sort of thing. Don't really have $300 to drop on a "professional" tool kit which includes these items.

So I guess my question is, are there any "real" starter kits (minus all the fluff), or should I just buy the tools one at a time?

Thanks.

cplager

Hi,

I bought one of these toolkits from Nashbar. I've used successfully it pulling cranks, changing bottom brackets, truing tires, breaking chains. I'm a pretty weak (in skill) weekend mechanic, so take this for what you will.

If you buy the tools one at a time, it will cost a lot more. If I had to do it again, I would. If I find that any of the tools aren't up to snuff (which I haven't yet), then I can replace them as I need to.

Cheers,
Charles

striknein

There are two problems you'll encounter:

1. Any tool kit you purchase will likely have tools you'll never use.

2. You may have bikes that require tools that aren't included.

For example, depending on the size of your stable, you could have one of 14 different freewheels/cassettes that all use slightly different interfaces. There are currently 3 different bottom bracket interfaces that are used on the majority of current-year production bikes, and at least that many styles installed in vintage frames. Why not buy the tool when you need to do the work? You might spend more in the long run, but you'll also get tools that will last for many years longer than what comes in the cheap kits.

jimc101

The tool kit linked to is very basic, and won't be much use for any bike produced since around 2000, as there are too many missing tools (torx wrench, HT2 tools/ crank puller etc).

Would work out what your bike specifically needs, and get the tools as needed, for most maintenance, a set of high quality hex wrenches in metric & screwdrivers will cover most of the bike, for bottom brackets cranks, disc (if fitted) more specialist tools can be purchased as needed.

cplager

I guess it's not clear to me about which kit you're complaining (the OP's original link doesn't work for me. The $45 Nashbar kit is basic, but it does have Torx wrench, crank puller, chain breaker...

jimc101

The Op's link was to the Park one, don't think it can be any clearer than the Op made it, wouldn't call it complaining, just that if the OP has a bike with modern components, it won;t be that much use.

Looking at the Nashbar one, that's a pretty generic (as in multiple branded) tool kit, which has been updated over the years to cover current bikes, they are available in the UK for the same cost as in the US, and are good value for money as starter tool kits.

wrk101

Nashbar kit is OK if you are working on a modern bike. If you work on a vintage bike, about half of the tools in that kit are not what you will need (examples being the bb tool and cassette tool), or are tools most people already own (screwdriver, allen wrench).

Myself, I continue to recommend buying tools as you need them, and consider used.

3alarmer 

+1 on this general sentiment............there's just too much different proprietary crap
that requires a very specific tool to work on it. I guess it depends on what you want
to do, but I've not seen any tool kits that I would recommend.

I could be way wrong, but I don't really get the impression that you get hosed too
badly buying tools as you need them from online suppliers in this age of Amazon.

Chain whips are not tough to make yourself, and I still have the first two I cobbled
together in the garage somewhere. The BB tool and the casette tool or freewheel
tool you'll need are gonna be pretty specific, so there are a bunch of different things,
thus they are rarely represented in a tool "kit". Most are not hugely expensive.

If the East Bay you live in is San Fran, there are a number of places you can use
or borrow the use of stuff.

somewhere on here there are one or two threads on home made tools for
bike repair which you ought to seek out and read.

ChrisM2097

If you want cheap and somewhat complete - Topeak Alien II. Add to that a home-made chain whip, a cassette lock ring tool, and you should be good to go for a while...although the tire levers on the multi-tool leave a lot to be desired. I'd add a set of metal tire levers, too.

Eventually, if you're going to be doing your own bearing jobs, you'll want an appropriate bottom-bracket tool, and a set of cone wrenches. Many other things can simply be improvised. There are some specialized tools that I've purchased that I never use anymore - cable tensioner, and brake rotor truing tool (my fingers works just as good in both cases).

wirespot

I will third the "buy 'em as you need 'em" opinion. I started out with a simple multitool (basically a bunch of hex keys and a couple of screwdrivers) plus an adjustable wrench and I went quite a while without needing anything else. Eventually I got a crankset remover (came with a pedal fixed wrench too) and a casette tool + whip, but I waited until I actually needed to replace a crankset or a casette. For the chain I got a Quick Link so I can open/close it by hand.

The thing is, consider the cost of the tool versus the type of operation and how often/likely it is to come up. It's not everyday I'm mounting/removing a bottom bracket, or opening up hubs, or truing wheels, or press-fitting a headset. It's stuff that comes up once a year, if that, and when that happens the guys at the LBS will have much better tools and lots more practice to do that stuff much faster and better than I could.

The only case when you should get all kinds of tools is if you intend to become a bike mechanic, the kind of person who actually builds and takes apart everything down to the component pieces (as opposed to most people, who stick to putting piece A in slot B). Then yeah, get the tools, and a stand, and practice your heart out.

lostbob88

I'm having a deja vu moment. I thought a similar question was asked just a few days ago. But, you should look at the Performance Spin Doctor sets and the tool lists at https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...vice_tool_list.

Myosmith

I'm not a fan of any of beginner's tool sets. You can usually put together your own tool kit for about the same price and tailor it to you bike and what maintenance/repairs you want to perform. Here is my list for a "starter" tool kit:

- A set of screwdrivers that includes #1 and #2 straight and phillips blades and a pair of stubby screwdrivers
- A set of metric allen wrenches ( I prefer the loose set to the jackknife style for the tool box ) sizes 4-10mm (you can add loose 11,12,&13mm as needed)
- A set of metric combination wrenches ( a 1/4" rachet set with metric sockets is also handy )
- A cable/housing cutter
- A chain breaker
- Spoke wrench(s)
- Rubber mallet

Your on-bike kit should already contain everything you need for tire changing as well as a bike specific multi-tool of some sort. You will also occassionally find use for common tools like a pliers, Vise-Grip, a Crescent wrench or two, etc.

Things you can pick up as needed include:

- cone wrenches
- headset wrenches
- crank puller
- BB tool
- Chain whip
- Cassette/Freewheel tool to fit your bike(s)
- any tools specific for your bike that you find you need

Items that are nice but not essential:

- chain pliers
- third hand tool
- wheel truing stand (luxury for most home mechanics)

Of course there are going to be hundreds of other tools that you can get or not as you desire or come upon the need. My rule of thumb is if purchasing the tool will cost less than having the LBS do the job over the next two or three years, I get the tool and learn to do the job myself. If it is a one time deal where the cost of the tool is more than the cost of having the LBS do it, the shop gets the job.

bkaapcke

Think about doing it like this:

In descending order, buy;

A nice set of Metric Allen wrenches,
Tire levers, patch kit and schrader valve stem tool if needed,
A chain tool,
A crank removal tool that works for your bike,
Chain whip and cassette remover tool, and
Tool for the back side of chain ring bolts

Add to these only when needed:

Cone wrenches; It takes two to do wheels. When you need them, go get the right two. Build a set as you go.
BB removal tool for your bike,
Pedal wrench
Cable cutting pliers

By the time you get here, you have a good basic tool set. There's plenty more to add as your skill level grows, but you'll know what they are.

bk

angelo212

https://www.bikesdirect.com/incredibl...pc_toolkit.htm


This is on sale right now.

RubeRad

I started with that same Nashbar Essential Tool Kit, and I'm pretty happy with it. As noted above, it is useful for modern, but not so much vintage. The one thing I've moved beyond is the pedal wrench. In particular, the allen wrenches are the first ones I always turn to; they're nice and long and the have convenient ball-ends. (But ball-end allen wrenches are nothing special!) Next I'd like to get some better spoke wrenches; but the 3-size one in there is OK.

jolly_ross

+1 for buy as you need. Aside from the kit matching your requirements exactly - you also can spend high where it matters, low where it doesn't so much.

For example it probably doesn't matter so much how good the little flat bladed screwdriver you use for limit screws is - get one made from drop forged chocolate. But cable cutters - spend high (or search patiently for a really good one on sale)

cplager

This I didn't know (but probably would/should have guessed). Thanks.

nashvillwill

Thanks for all of the input guys.

The kit that 'angelo212' linked does seem to fit my needs much better than the Park Tools one that I originally linked.





I may go with that one, since it is so cheap, but build a better kit around it. I mean, for $79, why not. That's about what I would have to spend on an empty tool box anyways, so ill just consider the contents as a bonus to build off of.

i think piece-by-piece is certainly the way to go, but I just need a starting point to inspire me to go further.

cplager

It doesn't look unreasonable. It's $30 more than the Nashbar kit and for that, you get a cable cutter and a nicer box (I'd do the Nashbar kit again given the choice of the two, but these preferences depend on needs/wants of person buying them, so...).

As far as I can tell, the Bike Direct stuff is always on sale

RubeRad

I agree, that bike direct kit looks like a good deal. It is indeed nice to get (hopefully decent) cable cutters, that is sorely missing from the Nashbar kit. Cleaning tools is a nice addition. Plus better spoke wrenches, better cone wrenches, better pedal wrench, and those cool 3-arm allen wrenches. Looks like a great foundational toolset for a great price.

(Actually though, looking at the parts list, only one of each size cone wrench? Don't they need to come in pairs?

gyozadude

I keep the Nashbar $45 set (got it for $39 a while back before it went out of stock and got free shipping too! Yay!) and keep one in my office with a cheap Nashbar floor pump and some honking big adjustable crescent and socket set. Seems to fix just about anything that should be fixed on the road.

But bike fixing is an addiction, especially with older steel frames. I find myself drooling over headset tube cutters, chasing/facing tools, alignment tools, and new stands. And the one thing you gotta get is a 4th hand tool. I use it so often during tune ups and cable replacement on old bikes that have been sitting out there forever, plus a good metric set of racheting box wrenches too. And then the....:-)