I can’t think of a year that I haven’t bought a Park Tool product. When bikes and the parts on them evolve, the tools to maintain them need to evolve as well. Park Tool, as always, stays ahead of the game and this year they were busy!
Sort through your tools and jump past the break to see what you’re missing now….
First up is their new TL-6.2 steel core tire levers. To have the protective layer while keeping the tip of the tire lever as small as possible without sacrificing strength, they left just the tip exposed rather than increasing its thickness by covering the whole thing up like in the earlier TL-6. Some brands accomplish the smaller end by not extending the steel all the way to the tip. While that works, they typically break as the plastic tip ends up being the weak link.
Adding to their extensive collection of freewheel and cassette lockring tools, Park Tool now has the 12mm FR-GT that obviously fits HG cassette lockrings that surround a 12mm axle. Though the pinless FR-5 works fine, the guide pin eases insertion and offers more stability.
Speaking of cassette tools, Park has a really nice shop level cassette tool with handle in the FR-5H. The Fr-5H has an open end designed to go over most quick release nuts enabling cassette removal without removing the quick release much like the Abbey Bike Tools Crombie tool. It also has a replaceable head in case the teeth become worn or damaged.
While multi-tools come in an abundance of configurations, Park Took has decided to look at the needs of specific genres of riders and develop the new multi-tools based on those particular needs.
Clockwise:
- MT-10 – Roadies – 3, 4, 5 and 8mm hex’s, T-25 Torx, cross/straight tip screwdriver, and key holder
- MT-20 – Triathletes – Adds CO2 inflator adapter and mirror to the MT-10
- MT-30 – Commuters – Adds 2.5 hex, T-30 Torx, and 8 & 15mm box wrenches to the MT-20 (no CO2 inflater)
- MT-40 – Mtn/Adventurers – Adds chain tool, 2.5 hex, and T-30 Torx to the MT-20
*kidding…. the MT-20 does not really come with a mirror
Although we showed you these back in June along with other items Park Tool released, you just can’t highlight torque wrenches enough. Just about every bike has torque specs listed somewhere on it and the more expensive the bike or part, usually the more crucial it is you use one. If you own their iconic 3-way hex wrench, (AWS-1), you better have a torque wrench right next to it at all times….. and why not make sure they match? The PTD-4, 5, & 6 and ATD-1 are easy to use and include 3, 4, 5mm and T25 bits stored in the handle so you’re ready for anything.
Lastly, Park Tool offers a new Hub Bearring Press Set with the HPB-1. It has a quick release design for fast tool installation and removal and includes two bearing presses and precision machined aluminum pilots, bushings, and spacers. The HBP-1 works with more than 20 different cartridge bearing sizes and multiple axle configurations.
