Topeak’s Ratchet Rocket Lite mini bit driver is exactly is a tiny ratcheting bit driver bundled into a compact set. The Ratchet Rocket is a great addition to any EDC or mobile tool kit. Even minimalists will appreciate how compact the kit is.
There are a number of bike maintenance tools that are great for general purpose use, such as Park’s Bondhus-made hex drivers. This one looks to be as equally at home in a bike saddle bag as a tool bag, pouch, or even a pants pocket.
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I am plenty fond of my Wera bit ratchet, and Beta’s is pretty darn good too. My Wera bit ratchet set is a great part of my mobile tool kit, but at $60 via Amazon it’s a little pricey for those that might not need all the bits. The ratchet is available by itself for ~$32-35 via Amazon, but that’s still a little pricey for a lot of users.
Gearwrench’s Microdriver kit, which is $17-$30 via Amazon, is also a good option, but it’s a little bulkier than other brands’ bit ratchets.
Topeak’s set is priced at about $23, which is more affordable than I would have expected for a bike tool. Bike tools tend to have niche premiums tacked onto their prices.
The set includes 10 bits: Phillips #2, metric hex 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm, and Torx T10 and T25.
Update: The Ratchet Rocket Lite has been updated and now includes a magnetic bit holder extension and 2 plastic tire levels, but also a higher price.
Buy Now(via Amazon) – New Version with additional tools
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Matt
Here is another interesting bike tool. Its actually a small torque wrench. Kind of pricey but I’m interested in a review of it.
VENZO Bicycle Bike Torque Wrench Allen Key Tool Socket Set Kit
http://www.amazon.com/VENZO-Bicycle-Torque-Wrench-Socket/dp/B00811WQT8/
Stuart
That looks to be a regular click style torque wrench with a couple of bits. Probably not bad, but doesn’t seem very special. The same kit lens looks to be relabeled for many different bike supply retailers and tool brands.
fred
I’ve always been a bit wary of using click style torque wrenches for critical applications because of concerns about reliability and repeatability of their settings. I’ve used them for convenience when I’ve thought that the expected tolerance plus or minus was not likely to result in failure – but looked to calibrated beam or dial torque wrenches for more precision. Working on a few composite frame bikes – and being retired (calibration services seem too costly) – I’m tempted to buy a new 1/4 or 3/8 inch drive click-style torque wrench calibrated in NMs to replace an old Blackhawk 0-100 inch-pound beam-type wrench that I currently use – but the mixed reviews that I see online for Park and several other brands don’t give me
lots of confidence.
BTW – the 35 year old Williams click style torque wrenches that I have – came with instruction to unload their springs after use – before putting them away.
Norm
That GearWrench set is exactly like the one at Lowes. I know because I have it. It even includes a case, which isn’t in the picture.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_338358-22328-85165_0
John Sullivan
Is it safe to assume that this would rust itself away to nothing in a high-moisture environment? You think there’s a premium on bike accessories, take a look at how boaters are gouged.
I love the compact nature of this and could see it in a tool kit for a small fishing skiff or day sailer (after swapping out a few of the tips for slotted and #3 phillips). But while organization and light weight are priorities, odds are good that this would be useless by the time it was actually needed. Pity.
Stuart
I’m not sure about that, but I would expect for the ratchet to be at least as corrosion resistance as other chromed tools.
Stainless steel and other high corrosion resistant tools aimed at boaters and other marine users can be tougher to manufacturer, hence the premium.
Toolfreak
This is a pretty dang good option for road/mountain bike weight weenies.
It’s too bad they don’t offer a kit with a 1/4″ adapter and some of the common socket sizes you’d need on a bike, or just the ratchet and adapter with a nylon carry pounch to add your own sockets and adapters that you need.
The ratchet in particular looks VERY handy, being so small, smaller than the other 1/4″ and bit driver ratchets out there.
Phenom
Purchased, waiting to fully test it out when it arrives.
Phenom
After medium usage via work. It is a good deal and a time saver in my profession. I just wish it came with some standard hex as well as the metric. Since that is mostly what I deal with, but no problem I just swapped out the philips and torx with some its from a Ridgid set.
Mike
I EDC mine, but I haven’t gotten back into biking yet with it. I am always having to push the bits back into their elastic holders, and just tonight it looks like I lost the ratchet for good at a store (clip- style ratchet holder, forgot to velcro case closed:( And that is just walking around. Would it really stand up to biking without half the bits being gone after the first few miles?
Mike
I found my ratchet, thankfully! It’s a great tool, really convenient to have on my person for most casual jobs. I do wish the bits stayed in better.