Torque Wrench recom...
 

Torque Wrench recommendations - low to high (3 to 60ish NM)

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hey every one and happy new year

can anyone recommend a torque wrench that can do just about everything on a bike from bb/cassette/stem bolts, a all in one package?

 

ive got 2 seperate ones that have been abused a good 10 years, and regulary dropped etc so im not sure i trust them much any more - happy to pay more if i can find one that combines both i use currently (2-20nm and 10-60nm)

 

whats good out there? digital or normal - stretch around 150 max ideally hopefully including all the bits/hex/adaptors etc


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 12:12 pm
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https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/314-D-TORQ-WRENCH-DX

Not one I’ve used and not cheap but it does cover the range you want

I looked at them in the past and decided my needs were better served by two different sized budget torque wrenches


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 12:34 pm
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that does look the business - a bit over budget really but will see what i can find in the sales, comes with all the bits too which is handy - id just prefer to have one for everything and this does look to fit the bill for my needs i think 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 1:09 pm
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I came to the conclusion that with conventional ones at least you needed 2. 

Halfords own brand stuff is made by Norbar and cheaper than Norbar branded.  Worth considering, for the higher torque at least, one that does both right and left handed threads - there are a few things on some modern bikes that are reverse and to a torque (UDH hangers being the most important) 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 1:10 pm
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how much are the halfords ones to get 2 that covers everything? norbar would have been my goto other wise didnt realise halfords ones were them - guessing it may still be dearer to get 2 from there than just get the 1 topeak digital one above that would cover everything (i dont use UDH hangers so no issue to me) 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 1:21 pm
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Posted by: b33k34

there are a few things on some modern bikes that are reverse and to a torque (UDH hangers being the most important) 

Good point, best to make sure you get a wrench that torques both ways.  Personally I find the type where the square bit pushes through a perpetual annoyance as the push through bit almost always comes out in the socket rather than staying attached to the wrench 😠


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 1:27 pm
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Or you could go low tech reliability.  I do have one of these and like the ease of use in that you don’t have to set a torque.  Downsides are it’s a bit bulky for access in some areas and you have to be able to see the guage

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product/beam-type-torque-wrench-0-60-nm-tw-2-2?category=Torque+Tools


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 1:33 pm
northernsoul reacted
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One that is large enough for the bigger stuff is going to be horrible to use on small threads, I would stick with 2 separate ones. 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 2:40 pm
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yeah i saw the measurements of the topeak digital one and although its great interms of range it might be a bit bulky for all other stuff low end......

 

ive seen halfords advanced 20 which is 4-20nm which will do mostly all smaller stuff and pivots on my bike so thats a option and it looks identical bar branding to the norbar tti20 so its going to be well made for sure -

then might just get a cheaper draper one for say 20+-100nm type stuff as i dont use that end of the range very often at all (cassette/bb/cranks etc) 

 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 3:56 pm
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Posted by: oscillatewildly

then might just get a cheaper draper one for say 20+-100nm type stuff as i dont use that end of the range very often at all (cassette/bb/cranks etc) 

 For me it's the very low torque stuff like a bearing where accuracy matters most.  ON the big stuff I think theres usually a lot of margin for error, but don't want to over do it.  


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 4:24 pm
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I was looking at the TENG TOOLS 1292AG-EP TORQUE WRENCH 40-200NM 1/2" DRIVE here: https://ebay.us/m/bJl871 START15 gets it down to £69.99 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 5:21 pm
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Posted by: ogden

START15 gets it down to £69.99 

That is cheap for a Teng torque wrench, any concern it may not be genuine?  Also 40-200NM doesn't have much use on a bicycle


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 5:34 pm
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Check with mates as to whether they have a trade card for Halfords which therefore gets money off the torque wrenches.


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 7:26 pm
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£88 for the Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench Model 20 4-20NM for example.


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 7:28 pm
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Hey @golfchick Alison hope you are well and happy new year! 

that’s interesting but not that I’m aware of but that’s a good discount for sure will try and see if anyone’s got one I might know 

there’s a few on eBay cheap but guessing probably stolen so will avoid 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 7:51 pm
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Gimme a shout if you dont find anybody, I could order it online and have it shipped to you. Could probably set it to collect in store but they may ask for proof of ID if you find a jobs-body so safer to just have it delivered for nothing.

It does look identical to the norbar version of which I have and think is excellent and always recommend.


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 8:23 pm
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Posted by: Rubber_Buccaneer

That is cheap for a Teng torque wrench, any concern it may not be genuine?  Also 40-200NM doesn't have much use on a bicycle

Looks to be £75-£85 everywhere else? or am I missing something...


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 9:03 pm
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I used a Norbar one when I was DIY restoring cars. Bought through work to get discount and calibrated foc when the work ones were being done.  If you're not going to get it recalibrated (especially after dropping & abusing them) I'd not bother.


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 9:13 pm
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Posted by: ogden

or am I missing something..

Nope, I just thought I remembered Teng as being a little pricier than many but I’m probably behind the times or plain wrong 


 
Posted : 02/01/2026 10:46 pm
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Posted by: GolfChick

Gimme a shout if you dont find anybody, I could order it online and have it shipped to you. Could probably set it to collect in store but they may ask for proof of ID if you find a jobs-body so safer to just have it delivered for nothing.

It does look identical to the norbar version of which I have and think is excellent and always recommend.

 

awesome thanks Alison much appreciated an may take you up on that, I might just get both of them from Halfords the next one up too for all other applications on the bike, will just about be cheaper than buying 1 digital one 

 


 
Posted : 03/01/2026 2:43 pm
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Yeah I have the norbar for smaller jobs and then a halfords advanced for 20-100nm. That one is £100 trade price.


 
Posted : 03/01/2026 6:46 pm
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I went through this dilemma last year. I decided upon Sealey as a reasonable balance between cost, function and accuracy.

I ended up with two to cover the torque range needed for the bikes/motorbikes. If you shop around you can get them well below RRP. 

5-25 Nm

20 - 120 Nm


 
Posted : 04/01/2026 10:10 am
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Like many I use two. A Norbar and a very reasonable Jobsworth from Planet-X. 


 
Posted : 04/01/2026 11:33 am
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I bought the Halford Norbar one and have a planet-X special. I find halford staff will happily scan my British Cycling card against non-cycling stuff.


 
Posted : 04/01/2026 2:31 pm
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I have a Wera 2-25Nm one and a cheap Chinese one from AliExpress for 30Nm+ that work well but recently also bought the Topeak digital one as was on sale. I've only used it a few times so far but seems good, I don't like how easy it is to press the buttons (and therefore possibly changing the torque setting) as you're maneuvering the bit into position but that's mostly me just needing to get used to holding it a different way I think.


 
Posted : 05/01/2026 8:51 am