TOOL GAUNTLET #2: BEST Bicycle Chain Tool Showdown

[@1988howie]

Thanks for make this kind of videos!❤

[@andrewgould8924]

it's pretty fun seeing you on the tube!

[@LarryGraham7]

Well done. Never heard of BSC tools, I'll check them out.

[@lincolnlu9869]

Ya the BSC is great. Pretty much as good as an Abbey at about 40% the cost

[@gren509]

CT-5 even though I have to grit my teeth to get enough leverage every time I use it ;-) It's so light and portable that I take it on rides too, not many of those tested would fit in my saddlbag. Brilliant review of shop tools, thank you for all you work and other videos.

[@maxcohen8449]

I love my Hozan C-371 - haven't ever had a problem with it

[@tweed0929]

Very good, informative video. Broke too many chain breaking tools, so I've just accepted that these are consumables/wear tools that need to be replaced sooner rather than later. So I've stopped searching for fancy ones and buy the cheapest option, use it till it breaks and replace with the cheapest available at the time. Also, multitool or pocket-sized chain breaker tools are PITA to use in the field.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Agreed, I think there's a healthy middle of cost and durability. Pins always break, so ease of replacement is very important. The Crankbrothers multi tool has the best travel chain breaker I've ever used on a ride (free rec 😁) - it uses the body of the tool for leverage which is fantastic.

[@paulwixman8151]

I just discovered your channel. It's terrific! I look forward to studying all your vids. in due time...Cheers! Pjw

[@WowRixter]

Great review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strange that Park says the CT 4.3 is 12-speed compatible when it does even work with Shimano 12-speed chains

[@drengskap]

The Park CT-3.3 may look and feel really sturdy and indestructible, but the bike workshop where I work has one where the spindle has totally stripped out the threads in the handle.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

That's surprising! Maybe a higher-than-average rusty chain removal environment? We ended up keeping bolt cutters around, more to preserve pins than the body threads, but sounds like it could help with both!

[@drengskap]

@@NeutralSupportNews Yeah, we work on lots of really old junk bikes, so I suppose there are rusty chains to deal with, but I interpreted this as the male steel threads being harder than the female (malleable iron?) threads

[@sprocketandwheel]

Danielle. My favorite is a cheap Sunlite (Lifu?). Works on 1-? ..the cool thing is that it has an adjustable anvil that supports the outer chain link plate.There are a few others with the same feature. I had one for years, and it's still my favorites..

[@NeutralSupportNews]

The adjustable anvil is such a great idea - that feature is in the Pedro's tool now

[@sprocketandwheel]

@@NeutralSupportNews thank you for the information..I will try to get my hand on one..Z..

[@TheDarthWTF]

Rohloff Revolver 3 is still my favourite. It's not as straightforward as other chaintools but it let's you get away with some crazy stuff.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Rohloff makes a lot of big claims about that tool! Possibly at least the victor for most expensive commercially available chain tool 🔥

[@TheDarthWTF]

@@NeutralSupportNews It's downright unreasonable, thankfully i got mine as a gift. Still cheaper than Abbey though last time I checked. I can attest to it being an excellent tool however. (The 3, I tried the 2 once and it really missed the mark)

[@Longtimerolling]

Nice review.. and good info .

[@lennartulenberg]

Could you make a video about the Rohloff Revolver?

[@NeutralSupportNews]

I don't currently have one, but if I ever come across one or am able to borrow one - I will!

[@AndrewSmyk]

Just discovered your channel. Great content! UK craftsmen are making some great tools and bike frames.

[@atboy4342]

Nicely made video, very informative. I have that Unior Pro tool. It is terrible. Maybe their Master tool would fair out better?.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Possibly! I was trying to find a picture of one in someone's hand to see if it was physically larger. That would make a huge difference.

[@atboy4342]

@@NeutralSupportNews couple of videos online kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJzShnxneL6kg5I this guy, spent 27 mins reviewing it. Blue version, unlike the US version which is orange/red. Looks more hefty

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Definitely! A much larger tool. Blue isn't illegal outside of the US 😜 Though rumor has it all Unior will be going to the red/orange for uniformity.

[@atboy4342]

@@NeutralSupportNews Don’t know why they didn’t stick with their old yellow colour. Of course, then they’d have issues with pedro LOL

[@josephphillips865]

Now I'm sold on the BSC. Not made any more but would love to see the venerable CT-2 added to this comparison since it is such a unique design compared to what's on the market today.

[@markifi]

i like topeak's all speeds tool

[@hirokiide7750]

Thanks for your great review! My favorite is (although not up-to-date at all) my Shimano cherry wood handle chain tool. It's more of an esthetic art than industrial beater but it's beautiful and the feel in your hand is amazing. I stash PRO (Shimano) chain tool that is 12 speed compatible in my portable service kit, because of its compact size. I don't plan on working on Sram or the other proprietary stuff but your recommendation BSC looks like a nice one!

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Totally understand - that was my "Campy" plan for a while, just keep a tool that can do it around and use something else every day 🙂

[@amanahmed8322]

Rohloff Revolver 3? i just got myself one. fantastic. i have 4 versions of the Park Tool too. i'm a mobile bike mechanic in Saudi Arabia.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

I hear nothing but good things - just not super common here in the states! And at $210 - pushed right outside my ability to fund it in this comparison 😬

[@bayviewcycleworx826]

Hey Danielle, great video as usual. I have an Abbey chain breaker,, yes it is beautifully made, magnificent to hold and silky smooth use. But, it will not do 8 speed chains and is a bit of a chore to change plates for a Sram Flat Top or 1/8 Chain. To do 8 speed I ordered in a Unior 623728 from my supplier. I believe it is the model below what you tested. This too is so much smaller than it looks in web pictures,.Works OK but very little leverage. Do you have any opinions on T type Hex wrenches? Particularly the sliding handle type Thanks David

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Similar with the Abbey DAG, won't do small wheels. Good if you also don't need to do them, but if you do then you have to have an additional tool just for that scenario! I have a set of the Park T-Handle torx and those are pretty nice 🤙I'm sure the hex are similar quality. Personally though, I keep an Eight Tools long L-hex set and 4-5-6 P-Handles. I've used a bunch of very nice quality T-Handle hex wrenches from a lot of good companies. I've never quite adapted fully to using them, specifically pre-torque. Driving a loose bolt in, I've always preferred to have a ball end. Whatever t-set though - make sure it's one that has detents to hold the segment where you put it. There are a few companies that have that short handle portion free sliding and that is pretty hard to use.

[@a8f235]

Really like this channel because you both care about the functionality as well as how the tools feel in use. Personally I went for the Shimano TL-CN35 when I shopped around for a chainbreaker tool some years back. I had no experience with either of the newer tools, so I just felt it looked simple and straight to the point kind of tool. I did see that it at least only is listed to do 9-12 speed and given I only have a 9 speed and now also a 12 speed bike I felt that was good enough. Sadly to my new discovery Shimano has stopped offering chain pins from 12 speed which makes these tools even less of use. I was a bit shocked when I tried finding the part number for it and it just does not exist, like what the .... So if someone want to try a bigger front sprocket for the 12x drivetrain they would need to buy a complete new chain that is longer(or use 2 quicklinks like I would do just for spite lol) I'm just a home mechanic and I only service my own bike(s) but I purchased 50 chain pins(for my 9-speed bike) online some years ago just because I really like pins over quicklinks. I just feel quicklinks are half assed to be honest, and chain pins should be on offer and not with the pricetag of gold like when you try to purchase 2 pins at a local store. It's just a tiny little metal thingie, and these things should not be expensive at all. The thing with quicklinks and newer(12 speed) drivetrains is that they claim these things are one time use, so you should install a new one if you want to remove the chain. This is another slap in the face I'm just not in support of which is why they at least should offer chain pins(sell a 50 pack and at a lower price per pin) so that people who care can rather swop a pin than a quick link. Anyhow, the chainbreaker tools will now just be something you would use to adjust the length of a brand new chain to which ever length you need for your application. That means these tools will collect a lot of dust between the few times they will be of use which to me is just weird.

[@NeutralSupportNews]

My first chain tool as a home mechanic was the original CT3 from Park. Even at only occasional use it's amazing how having a good tool will improve your life 😅 I've actually never used the Shimano tool. Multiple of their tools have been recommended to me though. I won't hide the fact that the quicklink has made life as a bicycle mechanic waaaay simpler, but it does put a purchase burden on the consumer for lengthening the chain.

[@a8f235]

@@NeutralSupportNews If you cut a brand new chain too short by mistake you are now forced to use 2 quicklinks, and it's a bit sad to be honest. I actually purchased a brand new pretty expensive bike(Pivot Switchblade) last year and it was *_delivered_* with a too short chain. I had no extra backup links nor any extra quicklinks at the time so I could not fix it and the shop had no other way of helping but to give me a brand new chain with enough links. After that episode I've saved the extra links and quicklink so I can fix something as simple as this by myself as well as having a way to lengthen the chain if need be(bigger front sprocket). I do understand the ease of use with quicklinks, but that is only 1 of all the other links in a normal chain which makes chain pins still something I feel should be on offer. Lots of other Shimano products follow the same chain of thought(pun intended) now where their calipers are screwed if you happen to crack a piston or just need spares. Products should be fixable by default, and of course I'm willing to pay for it. I used to have one of their flat pedals which only needed a new dust seal, and because it was not sold as a sparepart I just throwed them directly in the trash because I do not support that unfixable ideology. I bought a pair of OneUp aluminum pedals instead, and they are very fixable with their complete rebuild kit. That's how to do it.

[@garymoore5044]

The park ct4 was my go too tool , you could never break the pin and the chain is secured, so no putting the chain in wonky, cos I'm sure we have all done it. However it is a bit useless as it only work 3/32 hourglass type chains. Furthermore, Park have stopped making it and I can't get spares for it. The park ct3 seems to be the do it all in most workshops, the unior for me works quite well even though its small. Would be interesting to see the bsc and Abbey decade side by side

[@NeutralSupportNews]

I have the BSC, so if an Abbey and I cross paths again I'll have to do a side by side!

[@joelthebicyclist8195]

Unior make a master chain tool which is much better than their pro chain tool. It's much larger and more comfortable in the hand, AXS compatible, can peen chain pins and has a replacable plate for future proofing.

[@cezrok5405]

Hozan chain tool is the best you guys missed it ? 😂

[@NeutralSupportNews]

Hozan website confidently: "This is the only chain tool you will ever need"

Ehh. Why not Unior Master chain?

[@NeutralSupportNews]

If I could afford to have all the chain tools on the market, I would! The inclusion of the Unior Professional tool was mostly to save people from buying it INSTEAD of the Master since in the catalog you might not be able to tell it is very very small and not a super great tool. They should probably honestly rename it. I already had it, so might as well put it in the mix!

[@ellerybice3787]

🫡

[@1jimcore1]

I love that your fingernails are a little bit dirty