Best Torque Wrench for Bikes - 2023
A torque wrench is a tool designed to apply a specific torque to clamp the nuts, bolts, or large screws. The socket wrench itself has specific internal mechanisms that set proper tensions according to your device’s desired torque level.
Generally, the more you ride your bike, the more you increase the chances of its moveable parts loosening or getting damaged. This isn’t ideal in terms of your safety as you cannot ride your bike under such conditions. That’s why it is necessary to take a torque wrench with you on your mountain biking escapades with your buddies. A torque wrench will help you fasten the loose components back in place.
For bikers, a cycling torque wrench is one of the most utilized tools. That’s because it is designed to tighten the nuts and bolts as part of the bike’s maintenance. That said, we have prepared a guide to help you find the best mountain bike torque wrench for your biking. We have pointed out the best options to look at and outlined the features to consider in selecting the right torque wrench for your mountain bike.
Types of torque wrenches
Torque wrenches are categorized into three main classes based on their functionality:
- Preset torque wrenches
This type of torque wrench comes with precise factory-set measurements that suit your convenience.
- Click torque wrenches
This type of torque wrench relies on a click sound mechanism, meaning that whenever you reach your precise measurement that your fastener desires, it makes a clicking sound.
- Beam torque wrenches
This type of torque wrench is designed to let you see the torque level you are dealing with. They are not calibrated, which means you wouldn’t have to guess the torque level either.
Should I use a torque wrench to tighten my mountain bike bolts?
There has been a long-standing debate in the mountain bike world about whether you can use a torque wrench to tighten down the nuts or bolts on your bike. We all use them to tighten up, but it is equally important to torque down depending on the circumstances. So, the answer is yes.
You can extend the life span of your bike components by investing in a torque wrench. Moreover, you can cut down on your maintenance costs, minimize replacement bills on stripped or broken bolts, and most importantly, mechanics and mountain bikers alike use them. So, why shouldn’t you?
What is the purpose of nut and bolt torquing?
Torquing refers to estimating whether or not we have created enough clamping force on a particular device to keep it sufficiently clamped without overstressing the nut or bolt that it is fastening.
If you have been to a mechanic before, be it a motorcycle, auto, bike, or any other, you will perhaps agree that these guys tend to get ahead of themselves regarding their ability to turn wrenches. More often than not, they begin to think that they have developed a magic touch and can tell the tightness of nuts and bolts by the feel of their hands only.
Regardless of your experience as a mechanic, you can never be sure if the nuts and bolts have achieved sufficient torque without using a torque wrench. You might have a pretty close guess, but that can’t be good enough still. Overall, you would never know without using a torque wrench. Currently, there is no way to measure the clamping force of a device accurately.
However, mechanical engineers have nonetheless figured out how to bypass this hurdle, which is why they have developed torque specs that can estimate whether or not we have achieved sufficient clamping force when fastening devices.
Mountain bike torque wrench
Due to the efforts of engineers, we have found a way to closely estimate clamping force. That’s why the mountain bike torque wrench came into play too. This clamping force estimated by torque wrenches keeps the bicycle parts from coming loose, slipping, or even sliding out of their designated places when it is least convenient.
Furthermore, when a nut or bolt is tightened too hard, the bike can generate too much clamping force that could potentially damage the carbon parts and even overstretch the bolt or break it.
How to use a mountain bike torque wrench
The most common types of torque wrenches in the market today are click-style ones. Bikers and mechanics prefer them because they produce a clicking sound once you achieve your desired torque.
However, other torque wrenches come with an adjustable range of torque settings, while others are factory preset by the manufacturer. In such scenarios, you will have to consult the manufacturer on usage. Nonetheless, the following are standard tips on how to use a torque wrench:
- Use a standard wrench to progressively tighten all the bolts on your bike until they are snug.
- Use your torque wrench to tighten the nuts and bolts a ¼-½ alternatingly and in a star pattern.
- Keep the tightening sequence until every nut and bolt has achieved your desired torque specifications.
Best torque wrench for mountain biking
Mountain biking is a surreal experience, especially with regard to the rugged landscape. Whether it is adjusting your body to the angle of terrain, leaning slightly forward when going uphill to shift your body weight forward, or leaning backward when going downhill to counterbalance the momentum that’s pulling your body and bike forward, all these motion adjustments need a bike in good condition.
Cyclists, regardless of whatever the terrain is, use torque wrenches as a handy tool. And there is nowhere you would most need it than while going mountain biking. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best mountain bike torque wrenches for you.
The more experienced you get at maintaining your bike, the more easily it would be for you to tighten the torque. We shall detail the features, the pros, and cons of all the torque wrenches for the sake of your due diligence.
- Park tool ratcheting click-type torque wrench
This is one of the top-end torque wrenches available on the market. Its design is ideal for small nuts and bolts. It is, therefore, small in size and perfect for specific torque levels.
It comes in two different lengths;
- The 9 Inch option (1 to 14 NM) – this range is ideal for tightening or loosening small nuts and bolts.
- The second length (10 to 60 NM) – this range comes with a quarter-inch dial system and a unique dial system.
It has quite a seamless user experience. All you have to do is turn the ratchet wrench to achieve the desired torque level. And upon reaching the desired torque, you will hear a click sound notification.
Pros
- An excellent choice for beginners.
- Has a comfortable handle with an optimal grip.
- Offers optimal precision through its click sound design.
- Great for bike maintenance and repair.
Cons
- Some versions require you to buy extra supporting tools to work with.
- It is not pocket-friendly.
Ritchey bike torque wrench
The Ritchey bike torque wrench is among the most functional wrenches under $50. It is appropriate for low-budget shoppers. However, it offers a great return for your buck, as we shall discuss herein.
It comes with a seamless and pocket-friendly design that allows the user to adjust the bike’s saddle height in a quick and effortless manner. Besides, it has a click design to sound off when your desired preference is achieved.
Its only downside is that it has a small handle that makes it more difficult to work with when tightening nut and screws using one hand.
Pros
- Offers optimal precision through its click sound design.
- Great for fixing your daily bike maintenance issues.
- It is relatively inexpensive.
- Have multiple applications beyond bike repair.
- Compact and pocket-friendly design that is great to travel with.
Cons
- Not easy to fix within tight spaces.
- Difficult to use with one hand.
Park tool ATD-1 adjustable torque driver.
Great for beginners as its design is easy to use and regardless of how unskilled you are, you are almost certainly guaranteed to achieve your desired torque with this driver. It is made from top-notch stainless-steel material and has seamless handling.
Its main feature is the adjustable torque driver that makes it a piece of cake switching between different levels of torque. Its durability is unrivaled and can be used to fix multiple tasks beyond bike repair.
It has a unique handle and a dial system that you can take advantage of to make precise changes in the settings. The system stops automatically once your desired torque is achieved.
Pros
- Evenly priced and quite affordable for most shoppers.
- It has a rigid dial system that stops automatically for precision.
- Has multiple applications aside from bike repair and maintenance.
- Ideal for loosening and tightening small nuts and bolts.
- Has a comfortable handling design.
Cons
- It is relatively heavy.
- Requires additional hex tools to work with for precision.
Factors to consider when choosing the best torque wrench for your mountain bike
Having looked at the best contenders for your choice of a torque wrench, let’s take a moment to analyze the important factors to keep in mind when purchasing one:
- Price
All shoppers work on a particular budget in mind. Hence, whether the price of a torque wrench is too high or low will depend on how deep your pocket is. Overall, the price of a bike torque wrench is somewhere between $45 to $100.
However, and as s general advice, don’t purchase the first one you see. Instead, take your time to compare different products to ensure you don’t miss out on any deals or specials. Overall, to determine the best price, you should compare the features and performance of the wrench.
- Size
The size of a mountain bike torque wrench matters a lot. You don’t have to carry dead weight on your bike as you go biking. That’s why you have to select the most sizeable and pocket-friendly wrench for your bike. However, you may need different torque wrench sizes for different parts of your bike. Large torque wrenches are needed to fix the base part of your bike.
- Clearance level
There are standard bit ranges designed in wrenches regardless of whether an overseas company manufactures your bike or not. Either way, you will need a torque wrench with a small ratchet to fit your bike’s manufacturer’s standard specs.
Nevertheless, most manufacturers attach calibration stickers to your bike. The stickers will tell you what its clearance level is, as well as the specific tools you can use to fix, repair or maintain your bike.
- Weight
You will realize that every bike will need a different torque wrench, and there is no one fit-for-all type that can be used on all bikes. And whether it is light, heavy, big, or small, what you have to focus on is ease of use.
Some torque wrenches will come in light, and easy-to-use versions, whereas others are large and hard to handle. Either way, you will need a wrench that fits nicely in your hands and makes you feel comfortable while handling. Lightweight click sound design types are recommended for beginners because you can take the entire time fixing your bike without tiring your hand.
The bottom line
Torque wrenches are a tool designed to apply a specific torque to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. The socket wrench has specific internal mechanisms that set proper tensions according to the desired torque level. It can increase clamping force in automobiles, bikes, or other applications such as fixing refrigerators.
For the mountain bikes in particular, the more you ride your bike, the more you increase the chances of its moveable parts loosening or getting damaged. Cyclists and mountain bikers, regardless of the terrain, use torque wrenches as a handy tool. And there is nowhere you would need it most than when going on a mountain biking escapade with your buddies.
Overall, it is worth noting that the best torque wrench that can guarantee value for money offers a seamless repair and maintenance experience in terms of handling, weight, size, pocket-friendliness, and the general ease of use.