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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
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  #1  
Old 24 Jun 2006
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Has any one seen "grown up" versions of this?

http://www.topeak.com/2006/products/tools/alien2.php

Some useful pumps and other stuff on this site too...
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  #2  
Old 27 Jun 2006
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For motorcycles I've always found this sort of tool to be useless. All the extras and handle etc always gets in the way. Weight isn't as critical for us as bicycles, and accessibility for us is crap compared to bicycles. Carry proper tools.
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Old 27 Jun 2006
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Grant,
As an old cycle mechanic I would have to say these things are bloody useless for bicycles too!
Matt
PS: Having said that Topeaks bike pumps etc. are reasonable quality.
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Old 16 Jul 2006
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Nice road rage missile!
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Old 17 Jul 2006
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Cool

i hope by "grown up" you mean size and not quality? lol

i use an 'alien' on my bicycles and i must say its pretty good, very good quality steel tools, not cheese like the cheapo crap you can get. about the same as a leatherman for build quality and decent materials, and similarly packs good variety into a small package.

saying that the tool sizes (screwdrivers, allen keys and hex) are too small to be much use on a motorbike, especially the chain tool!! if they made a beefier version aimed at PTWs it would weigh a ton, and i agree that there is no substitute for some decent full sized tools. torques are much higher than on bicycles too, and there just wouldnt be the leverage in something this compact.
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Old 12 Aug 2006
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Not for bikes

You might be able to use this sometimes for the needle nose pliers or screwdrivers?

I carry one all over the place, and love it.

http://leatherman.com/products/tools/surge/default.asp
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  #7  
Old 6 Sep 2006
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Not usefull for motorcycles

As a mountain bike rider I purchased a tool like that for my kit while riding. As for most of the things on the trail it will work for a bicycle. For motorcycles it is,(as said above) useless. You can't get much leverage on it and the items do not lock into place when folded out. Also, when to much pressure is applied the end thats wrapped around the pivot point will bend and then will not fold down into the handle again. As I learned a long time ago, the right tools for the job make it a lot easier. Although I will say, I have recently used it for replacing the battery caps on my battery.

As for the pumps, I have used them with no problems yet, however, the cycle pump I purchased made the hand pump obsolete.
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