Hello all,
what does a rather comprehensive biking toolbox should contain?
Not talking a workshop level but something with the essential that would get me through 90% of the classics bike maintenance. For the remaining 10% I will have a more complete tool box. I just thought I could split the tool box in two, so I wont have to rummage through the big one for standard basics jobs.
So far I can think of :
Tyre levers
Hex key set
Torx key set
Flat screw-driver
Phillips screw-driver
Chain wip
Cassette removing tool
Bottom bracket tool
Cable cutter
File
Chain tool
Brake piston press
Mallet
Chain wear indicator

Am I missing something?
What brand are better than other for specific bike tool?
Cheers.

Tool to split power links
Pliers
Wire cutter (mostly used to cut zip ties)
Chainring bolt tool

2 X torque wrench

One for the low stuff (stem bolts, seatposts etc) and one for chainrings / bottom brackets.

A proper hammer.
Pedal spanner.

If you are looking at the superstar brake piston tool, don’t bother, it’s too big.

spoke spanner

Are you setting up as a mechanic or just your own bikes ?
Maybe:
cone spanners
adjustable spanners (x2)

I just own bike and I have a massive tool box with all the tools I need, but I can’t be bothered to empty most of it each time I need something. So I want to spilt it in two.
One with the most usual bike tools and another one with the rest of my tools.

Any specific extractor/s for crank preload cap/s
Plastic tube/syringe for brake bleeding
Shock pump

Magnetic dish.

beer + jaffa cakes

nail clippers for zip ties!

Definitely torque wrench, but if it’s an emergency tool box then you could go for a Ritchey torque key. Done 5 Nm so good enough for most stuff on bars, stems, seatpost clamp.

Wheel true/build stand
Scales
Tape measure
crank extractor +5p

In addition to tools:
– Tub of grease, de-greaser, 3in1
– Infinite supply of old-shirts or tea-towels

Things you should buy in bulk:
– Lots of cable end crimpy thingies
– Cables & outer

Just get a better toolbox. One that isnt just a bucket like your current one sounds

My favoured solution is to split my ‘shit loads’™ of tools into smaller tool bags. One with bike specific stuff, plus common spares, (brake pads, chain, gear hanger) one for the most used hand tools. These are both easily to hand, (in my van) for 90% of jobs on the bike and around the house. Everything else lives in a big box in the shed for the rare occasion the bags won’t do. That way I have everything near by without lots of duplication.

Which part of a bike are you fixing with scales ? I have a set on my box – they are used for measuring the preload on the kingpins in my steering swivels on my car.

Not needed for a bike.

Think of it the other way round, if you take all that stuff out then what’s actually left in your toolbox…? Sounds like your ‘10%’ toolbox would be the one with nothing in.

I’m with Terry, get a better one and sort it better.

You’ve forgotten the bottle opener.

Don’t forget your bleed kit. 😉

Think of it the other way round, if you take all that stuff out then what’s actually left in your toolbox…?

Most of my spanners, my socket kit, my hammer, 4 of my pliers, adjustable spanner and basically all the stuff I use to dismantle my motorbike, do the usual DIY in the house, fix the kid’s toy.
But some good idea so far cheers.

I keep a lot of this in a tool roll and it takes up a lot less space so easy for weekends away etc.

Soft face hammer
Flush cut pliers (tie wraps) a quid at the market no gashed legs
Standard pliers
Decent small star screw driver for mech adjustments
A bottle of cable ends.
Headset press
File flat and round
Screw driver bit set, that includes torx bits for rotor bolts and small reservoir cap screws.
Star nut installer
Headset remover / drift
Nice crown race removal tool (or a very sharp one sided wood chisel)
Pedal spanner
Cone spanners
Nice set of drifts for knocking bearings out of frames hubs etc.
Mini grease gun or small pot of grease with a paint brush for greasing up parts to be fitted without getting it on your hands

At home I woudlnt be without my mini parts washer, work stand or my vice 🙂
Decent set of vise grips can be a good last resort tool for getting the rounded off rotor bolts out, as can a hacksaw for cutting a slot in a rounded bolt reservoir cap bolt and getting a flat blade screwdriver at it.