Opinions on the "Ultimate Bicycle Tool" by Bell?

[xmp333]

Hi All,

I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The Alien"
for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks more
comfortable to use.

Well, I was at Wal-mart and I saw an "Ultimate Bicycle Tool" by a company called Bell. It features
18 tools and was $13. Has anyone used this product? What's the quality like? Is it usable, durable?
Are there any really important tools that are missing from it?

Thanks.

 

[booyah]

While I don't have experience with the Bell tool, I would jump in and recommend other tools instead. Bell is not known to me for quality tool manufacturing, so I would stick to a 'specialist' company.

Try a Crank Brothers Multi-17 or one of the Park Tools multi tools. Both brands are usually available at good bike stores. I own the crank brothers tool and have been very happy with it as a take-along tool. The metal is durable enough for emergency repairs while being relatively light weight and compact. I think I paid $20 for it....

 

[Dan Cosley]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] wrote:
>
> Well, I was at Wal-mart and I saw an "Ultimate Bicycle Tool" by a company called Bell. It features
> 18 tools and was $13. Has anyone used this product? What's the quality like? Is it usable,
> durable? Are there any really important tools that are missing from it?

I've used the same thing under a different label. The spoke wrenches are ****, the rest mediocre.

-- Dan

--
Dan Cosley ([email protected] * http://www.cs.umn.edu/~cosley/) GroupLens Research
Lab, Univ of MN (http://movielens.umn.edu/ * 612.624.8372) *** Just a foot soldier in the Army
of Truth ***

 

[Rick Onanian]

On 15 Sep 2003 08:04:34 -0700, <[email protected]> wrote:
> I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides.

> Well, I was at Wal-mart and I saw an "Ultimate Bicycle Tool" by a company called Bell. It features
> 18 tools and was $13. Has anyone used this product? What's the quality like? Is it usable,
> durable? Are there any really important tools that are missing from it?

I've seen it, and was impressed with how much stuff it looks like it has, and yet how little
functionality it would actually have.

I don't recall which tools it did and didn't have. However, I do remember the quality of the tools,
which was obvious without even taking them out of the package; I don't expect them to do anything
other than round off bolt heads and such.

Further, that kit looks rather heavy.

You were considering an Alien; that ought to be good.

> Thanks.
--
Rick Onanian

 

[Marcus Coles]

[email protected] wrote:
> Hi All,
>
>
> I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The Alien"
> for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks more
> comfortable to use.
>
> Well, I was at Wal-mart and I saw an "Ultimate Bicycle Tool" by a company called Bell. It features
> 18 tools and was $13. Has anyone used this product? What's the quality like? Is it usable,
> durable? Are there any really important tools that are missing from it?
>
>
> Thanks.

I got one as a gift and stuck it in my in-town seat bag. Seems pretty cheap I have only used the
allen wrenches, screw drivers and one wrench and it didn't break. The whole thing is kind of a
crappy clone and the wrenches are cheesy.

Folding multi-tools are poor substitutes for real tools especially if you need an odd size allen
wrench, say 7mm.

I think one of the old metric 10-hole dog bone wrenches, a reversible slot/phillips screwdriver, a
spoke wrench, the allen wrenches that fit your bike, and a couple of tire levers, work out better. A
tube, small pliers, patch kit, pump, chain tool, a couple of links and I would be fairly happy
heading out on a solo ride.

The whole tool thing is a compromise between taking nothing and hauling that roller cabinet with you
and it is very personal. You can only blame yourself if you didn't bring your crank extractor and
bottom bracket tool.

Here's hoping you don't need any tools on your rides.

Marcus

 

[Tbgibb]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] writes:

>I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The Alien"
>for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks more
>comfortable to use.

It's hard to beat a "Cool Tool" but you may want to add some allen wrenches to fill it out. When we
tour I ask my wife to bring her Alien to compliment my Cool tool.

Tom Gibb <[email protected]

 

[bball]

On 16 Sep 2003 02:38:26 GMT, [email protected] (TBGibb) wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] writes:
>
>>I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The Alien"
>>for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks more
>>comfortable to use.
>
>It's hard to beat a "Cool Tool" but you may want to add some allen wrenches to fill it out. When we
>tour I ask my wife to bring her Alien to compliment my Cool tool.
>
>Tom Gibb <[email protected]>

-----------------

Cool Tools (Gerber) ain't no mo', not in production. If anybody finds a source please let me know;
I've searched hi and lo.

Bruce Ball.

 

[Ant]

[email protected] (TBGibb) wrote in message
> It's hard to beat a "Cool Tool" but you may want to add some allen wrenches to fill it out. When
> we tour I ask my wife to bring her Alien to compliment my Cool tool.

one more vote for the cool tool. it has everything i need for a one shot ride. the missing allen
wrenches are the smaller ones that generally arent needed for brutish get-you-home-without-a-taxi
repairs. 'course three tiny allen wrenches weigh next to nothing.

anthony

 

[A Muzi]

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971 <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> On 16 Sep 2003 02:38:26 GMT, [email protected] (TBGibb) wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected]
> >writes:
> >
> >>I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The
> >>Alien" for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks
> >>more comfortable to use.
> >
> >It's hard to beat a "Cool Tool" but you may want to add some allen
wrenches to
> >fill it out. When we tour I ask my wife to bring her Alien to compliment
my
> >Cool tool.
> >
> >Tom Gibb <[email protected]>
>
> -----------------
>
> Cool Tools (Gerber) ain't no mo', not in production. If anybody finds a source please let me know;
> I've searched hi and lo.
>
> Bruce Ball.

 

[A Muzi]

> >In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected]
> >writes:
> >>I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The
> >>Alien" for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks
> >>more comfortable to use.

> On 16 Sep 2003 02:38:26 GMT, [email protected] (TBGibb) wrote:
> >It's hard to beat a "Cool Tool" but you may want to add some allen
wrenches to
> >fill it out. When we tour I ask my wife to bring her Alien to compliment
my
> >Cool tool.

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Cool Tools (Gerber) ain't no mo', not in production. If anybody finds a source please let me know;
> I've searched hi and lo.

we have 'em.

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

 

[G.Daniels]

a large quality plastic wide mouth jar 6"x4" preferably in neon yellow with a blaze orange top.

 

[John Albergo]

[email protected] wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>
>I want to purchase an emergency all in one tool for extended rides. I was considering "The Alien"
>for its large number of tools, although I have considered the "Cool Tool" since it looks more
>comfortable to use.
>
>Well, I was at Wal-mart and I saw an "Ultimate Bicycle Tool" by a company called Bell. It features
>18 tools and was $13. Has anyone used this product? What's the quality like? Is it usable, durable?
>Are there any really important tools that are missing from it?
>
>
>Thanks.
>
>
I'm not familiar with the wall-mart tool, but I do have the Topeak "Alien". It is a high-quality
toolkit, very durable and well put-together. I end up using it at home for repairs and adjustment.
In particular, the allen keys and chain tool see a good amount of use. The allens are still in
good shape, and the tool takes as much torque as you can expect to generate by hand given its
shape - no problem.

The quality of this tool became apparent to me when I realized I was using it for at-home repairs,
in preference to my "home tools". It's compact and easily stowable. Worth the cost and weight, imho.