Other Bike specific tools

ebikenut

Member
Jun 30, 2022
12
7
Mississauga
I’ve got several different bikes of various age and types, including two “modern” ebikes from Trek. Specifically a 22 Rail 9.8xt and a 22 Dual Sport+.

That means I’ve got a Bosch motor and a Trek/Hyena hub motor.

I’m thinking of pulling the trigger on a Park Tool PK-5 kit to get me started since most of my tools are automotive in nature.

My question to you fine folks: What tools might be missing from this kit that I should look into getting? Specifically, I’m thinking the kit doesn’t contain any compatible BB tools for my Rail(?).

Can anyone make any recommendations on missing tools to service the Treks?
 

RustyMTB

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Jul 22, 2020
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That kit is north of £800. I'd say more than 60% of it is tools you could pick up for pennies elsewhere & 25% of it is tools you'll likely never need. Your money but outside of equipping a professional workshop, it's a huge investment when nine out of ten jobs on modern bikes require only Torx wrenches & Allen keys.

The hammer alone is £23! Far better to buy the specialist tools individually as the need arises imo.
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,583
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Coquitlam, BC
A decent bike work stand, t-25, full set of Allen keys and a torque wrench.
Most of my friends have Trek bikes so I’m fairly outfitted for those but most repairs can be easily taken care of on any bike. I’ve also some automotive tools and carpentry tools. An exclusive tool set wasn’t necessary for me…I just acquired specific tools as I needed them. The park tool stuff is nice but a similar tool for a lower price will work just fine. Hey! I have and use the park tool hammer …sometimes, but a rock works too when I switch to “caveman” mode. 😉
 

BeBiker

Active member
Aug 26, 2020
700
421
Belgium
I already had a lot of automotive tools, and a filled saddlebag.
Then I bought this for 70 euro:

and a bit later in promo for 400 euro:

Further, I bought:
-Brake bleeding kit
-Spoke tension indicator
-Chain wear indicator
-Bosch Crank spider
-Wheel alignment indicator
-Torque wrench

and a lot of small spareparts.

What I plan to buy one day, if needed:
-Bearing press set
-Derailleur alignment
-A 2nd torque wrench
-Front fork tools
 
Last edited:

RustyMTB

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Jul 22, 2020
2,853
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UK
I'd say the absolute bare essentials are a decent stand, torx set, allen key set, torque wrench, chain pliers, cassette tools & chain whip. After that, it's all generic tools or specialised stuff. A set of anodised bearing press & pullers is lovely but how often are you likely to need it?
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,583
5,063
Coquitlam, BC
The bike mechanics at the LBS have been fairly helpful imo. They have quickly sized up my ability and and suggested some tools that aren’t/are necessary. I’m able to tinker and install most things but occasionally I want/need a bike mechanic. Especially for warranty issues, or diy for avoiding long wait times.
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,583
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Coquitlam, BC
…or, you could get some basic stuff for regular maintenance and repairs.
33E20487-CDB9-4F7E-81B8-810B8F58F9C0.jpeg

Or fill a tool chest with some specialty tools.
C0BC82A8-90A1-40C8-BD37-1E2780F5270E.jpeg

or get absolutely stupid and build a Bike Cave.
439D8CF6-8A41-4435-9275-A573CAE825A5.jpeg

8672E2C3-D1CD-433B-BDA8-9BD25C826B7F.jpeg

This is difficult to hide but I tell her that it’s necessary to repair the dishwasher and other things around the house. Then she does the 🙄 🙄eye roll.
 

ebikenut

Member
Jun 30, 2022
12
7
Mississauga
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I’m going to look into piecing out my own “kit” and comparing the pricing.

The thing about me - I’m a tool nut. I strongly believe in having the right tool for the job, and nothing feels greater than having an obscure tool on hand for when it’s needed. So I don’t mind stocking up on tools! The feedback has given me a lot to think about!

Already invested in a prs-26 bike stand, so I’m looking to fill some drawers with some bike specific tools.

@Stihldog: that’s a sweet setup!! I have a similar setup minus the cool bikes! I love the Newage cabinets - I’ve got a mix of bold and pro series.
 

RustyMTB

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Jul 22, 2020
2,853
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UK
That does make you my brother from another mother. Tools are the best things in all creation, nothing beats sliding the drawer open & instinctively placing your hand in the exact spot where you left your 8/16ths right angled falangee decombinator, safe in the knowledge it's the precise tool for the job.

Park stuff is lovely, well thought out & as good as it gets in cycling & in the end it's your cave to fill how you want, so if it's worth it to you, that's all that matters. Just you know, you can do it a lot less spendy.
 

Dax

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 25, 2018
1,731
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FoD
The thing about me - I’m a tool nut. I strongly believe in having the right tool for the job, and nothing feels greater than having an obscure tool on hand for when it’s needed. So I don’t mind stocking up on tools! The feedback has given me a lot to think about!

Surely part of the joy of being a tool nut is figuring out the best combination of tools, rather than having to put up with what a vendor decides to package in a set?

Obviously part of this is personal preference, figuring out which tool works for you. For example I far prefer the wera Allen wrench set to the park tool ones, and prefer wera joker, facom 440 or snap on flank drive wrenchs to the park tool ones...but the park tool cable cutter, chain breaker, hammer and 1/4" torque wrench are great.
 

Clarrie_NZ

Member
Jan 31, 2022
15
24
Rotorua, NZ
…or, you could get some basic stuff for regular maintenance and repairs.


View attachment 94916
This is difficult to hide but I tell her that it’s necessary to repair the dishwasher and other things around the house. Then she does the 🙄 🙄eye roll.
Whaaaaaat? It is obvious that you have already massively compromised. WTF is a christmas tree (and a fake one at that) doing messing up an otherwise nice workshop.
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,583
5,063
Coquitlam, BC
Whaaaaaat? It is obvious that you have already massively compromised. WTF is a christmas tree (and a fake one at that) doing messing up an otherwise nice workshop.
I agree! A 12” tall fake Xmas tree is fine by me…but now there’s more grandkids on the way and we seem to be ground-zero for this holiday. Looks like I’ll be assembling little mtb’s for awhile and storing a fake 🌲.
 

Clarrie_NZ

Member
Jan 31, 2022
15
24
Rotorua, NZ
I agree! A 12” tall fake Xmas tree is fine by me…but now there’s more grandkids on the way and we seem to be ground-zero for this holiday. Looks like I’ll be assembling little mtb’s for awhile and storing fake 🌲.
Ok. Some compromise is allowed for mokopuna (grand children)
A house can get too quiet without some yard apes.
Without them you may even have to talk to your wife :)
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,583
5,063
Coquitlam, BC
Raining very hard today so I opted to hangout in the bike cave to reorganize some things and service the bikes. I’ve convinced myself that this is a good idea.
I’m slowly acquiring some more bike tools and with that I’ve got to add some skills. It seems as though once you have the tool you better learn how to use it. So lacing and truing it is.
IMG_6180.jpeg

I’ve only laced up one wheel so far but I’ve trued up several. (Can you see my nipple in the pic?😳) I made that box and truing stand base also with some scraps lying around.

My next project is a tension meter calibration tool. Found a digital crane scale but now I need the hardware. (Any ideas?)

Here’s a tool that I thought was absolutely useless. The listed price was rediculous, but then I noticed, on the site that they accidentally dropped the price…I couldn’t hit the buy button fast enough. 1/4 the price until they fixed the error. Too late lol. SOLD!
IMG_6177.jpeg

I use it more than I thought I would.
 

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