New tool kit needed

[helston90]

I'm wanting to start doing some more of my own bike maintenance beyond the basic p*ncture/ brakes/ chain lube and have decided a decent tool kit would be a good start.
Has anyone picked up one recently they can recommend?
I found this one at a very good price which seems to tick the boxes- what do you think? Is it missing anything?
Only looking to maintain/ upgrade my commuter leisure bikes so not looking to spend over the odds but want the kit to last.
Any pointers greatly appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Personally I wouldn't bother with these 'pre-packed' tool sets as the quality will probably be dubious and/or a good few of the tools won't be of any use on your bike(s).

Best bet is to buy tools as you need them. Start with something like decent hex wrenches, cassette removal tool, chain whip, pedal spanners, chain link extractor... oh and a decent multitool

 

[tribanjules]

aldi / lidl toolkits seem to be ok - not broken anything in mine yet !

 

[numbnuts]

Same as the first poster buy as you need them

 

[uphillstruggler]

Planet x have one for about £35 iirc, jobsworth tools are the brand I think.

 

[Tyke]

I have the same kit from Lidl as a gift a few years back it comes in handy if you do multiple bikes but most things on modern bikes are just Allen keys so a good Multi-Tool will do most things and go in pocket when out riding.

The kit is OK but not the best quality you would be better with the Multi-Tool and then buy the others as and when you need them

 

[accountantpete]

The problem with kits is that the quality is poor, you will never use half the tools and they won't include some of the tools that you need.

As above - I'd get a good quality complete set of hex keys, cheap tools for jobs that you will only do once a year (eg Cable cutters) and then individual Park Tools to do the regular jobs.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Park tools AK-37 has pretty much everything you need

 

[snorri]

Go for the cheapo kit as a starter,although the quality may not be the best, it will be adequate for most amateur mechanics. There will be sufficient tools to do most jobs and you can buy more specialised tools as you need them.

 

[compo]

I am firmly in the "buy as you need" camp. I started out with a pretty comprehensive auto repair toolkit though so just needed a few special cycle tools. Buy as you need does have one drawback. In the early stages when you need a tool you don't have you have to hold up the job until you get the tool. On the good side, only buying one tool at a time makes it more affordable to buy really good quality. I am a believer in the buy cheap by twice saying especially for tools. My grandaughter is starting college to study motor mechanics and if she is successful there will be a good home for my tool collection in a couple of years.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I have one since 2006, it stays in the car, getting used from time to time, and most bits continue to work ok.

The thing is with the kind of bikes and use in question who does not think pedal spanner, cassette lockring remover, freewheel remover, chain whip, cartridge bottom bracket tool, crank extractor, chain breaker and cone spanners to be essential parts of a basic kit? For a beginner with no experience to pick tools individually for superior material AND design, the next best alternative for a kit is probably this, at 10 times the price.

The advice I would give to an owner of this cheap kit is to consider the spoke key and the C spanner to be junk, and go get a decent spoke key that grabs the spoke nipple on all 4 sides. A semi-decent cable cutter is also needed.

 

[Cycleops]

If you are just going to do the occasional repair buy the cheap kit, but if you intend doing some major work get something more substantial. I have always thought "never buy a cheap tool" is a good axiom, I have done so on occasions and have always regretted it. Park Tool make top grade stuff but their Home Mechanic Starter kit is £95.

 

[darth vadar]

Got them in Aldi now!!

 

[tigger]

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK-SHI-18/jobsworth_tool_kit___shimano___18_piece

Or

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbu...th-july/product-detail/ps/p/bicycle-tool-kit/

 

[TheDoctor]

The Aldi kits are OK - I've built a few bikes with them.
The current one doesn't have a pedal spanner, but they're hardly expensive...