We said CHEAP, not CRAP!
Let’s clarify something right away… when we say cheap bike tools we don’t mean poor quality and barely functioning (i.e. CRAP). What we mean when we discuss cheap tools is that they are tools that provide a great value – the price is relatively low and the quality is decent. Think generic cereal at the store – it still tastes okay but it’s just less expensive.
We can summarize with this quick formula:
VALUE > PRICE = CHEAP
That means if the value is greater than the overall price then it’s a cheap tool. However, not all cheap bike tools will be the off brand or house brand tools. Some really high-end, high quality, name brand tools could be considered cheap if their value is great. A good example of this would be the Pedro’s Cable Cutters – everyone says these cutters are the best they’ve ever used and that they are worth every penny as they are the go-to cutters in their shop. At an average price point of ~$30 these would be considered cheap as they provide a high value to price (watch for a cable cutter comparison soon).
Not that that’s off our chest, let’s explore some cheap bike tools.
The easiest way to find cheap bike tools is to check out the cheap bike tool archive where you will find many of the tools we’ve reviewed that provide a great bang-for-the-buck. Some of the best cheap tools come from house brands and off brands. While the Park Tools and Pedros are great tools they can be a little pricey for the shadetree bike mechanic. Continue reading for a list of some of the cheap bike tool brands and what we recommend.
- House Brands (specific to the online bike shops)
- Off Brands (You can find an abundance of these brands on Amazon & eBay)
- RAD Cycle Products
- Conquer
- DUO
- Big Roc Tools
- Racor
- Delta Cycle
- Bike Hand (seems like it’s the same as Jenson’s House Brand but sold on Amazon)
The table below provides a set of quick links to all of the reviews in each of the six bike tool categories. The links below will take you to an archive listing of the different review articles and posts about the topics.
Bike Tool Quick Links - View Category Archives
| Tool Types | Description & Uses |
|---|---|
Basic Tools | These are the basic tools which should be found in any shop, garage or tool kit. These include wrenches, screwdrivers, allen keys, sockets, ratchets, hammers, etc. |
EDC Tools | Everyday Carry Tools: These are the tools that you should take with you on every ride and, in some cases, you should carry with you all the time "just in case". Examples of EDC Tools would be a mini pump, a bike multi tool, patches, etc. |
Essential Tools | Much like the "Basic Tools" from above, these are the tools that you should have in your toolbox no matter what type of bike you ride. These tools are the essential tools to own to maintain and repair your bike. This would include a bike work stand, a chain stretch gauge, a chain whip, a set of allen keys, etc. |
Tool Sets | There are so many different bike tool sets out there. This is an archive of all the tool sets we've reviewed and more information on each one (with a category ranking and where to get more information). These sets range from small and cheap to very large and expensive. |
Specialty Tools | There are a few specialty bike tools out there that are bike specific, brand specific or are used or special bike repairs/rebuilds. We still review those so you can review an archive of the specialty bike tools. Some specialty bike tools include the headset press, a truing stand, a frame stretcher, and many others. |
Innovative Tools | What's new and innovative in the bike tool world. Most people think we've gone as far as we can go in this realm - then someone comes up with a new tool! Here are some of the newest that we've seen. |
