Topeak Bike Tool Review Reviewed By:Tim Cameron Reviewed On: November 24, 2003 Product Page:Nashbar Price: $39.95
In Depth Look
I first tried my all time best test by dropping it from ten feet onto concrete. No damage! I then thought that I would adjust the elevation on my saddle. It was a little ackward trying to get the allen head in position. I did manage to adjust the saddle but it was a little time hard.
The tool included a 14g and 15g spoke wrenches which fit very well. It has most all allen wrenches that you will need including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 8 mm. They all worked well except when you had close clearances.
The pedal wrench is not much, however, it will help get you back home if your peddle were to become loose while out riding. It will not loosen the pedal when properly torqued. It is not made for that purpose.
The flat head and phillips screwdrivers both were adequate. If you try and tighten a phillips screw very tight, it will strip out the head. It is not possible to put enough pressure on such a small tool.
Next, I decided to try the 8, 9, & 10 mm wrenches. They all performed good although it would be nice if they were a little longer. At the end oh the 8mm wrench is a 15g spoke wrench. It fit perfectly on my spokes. I couldn’t try the 14g spoke wrench since none of my bikes have that size.
The chain tool was next on my list. I decided to try and remove a revet from a 9 speed chain which was very easy to do. The tool worked perfectly.
The knife, tire levers, and bottle opener did just what they were suppose to.
Conclusion
I highly recommend the Topeak Alien multi purpose bike tool for anyone looking for a simple yet very reliable tool. Although it does not replace a good set of bike tools it will help get you back home if you have a breakdown. It is light weight and small enough to place in you pocket if needed.
