Closing out the year, Slovenian toolmaker debuts a few more nicely thought-out hand tools that may just make your winter bike service work a bit easier. All made entirely in Europe and sold at reasonable prices, Unior Bike Tools continues to deliver quality solutions designed to make workshop life easier. Pick from pedals, a Unior Nipple Shuffler for easier wheel builds, ebike service, an update to the stalwart master-link pliers, and even bearing overhauls in their latest updates for the home or pro mechanic alike…
Unior Bike Tools end of 2023 new tool round up
There’s a convenient new 3-in-1 Pedal Wrench that will spin every different type of pedal quickly on & off your bike without thinking about how they are attached. Another new size-specific set of Speed Pedal Wrenches that will make life easier and more ergonomic for one pedal standard at a time. There’s a Spoke Nipple Shuffler than will speed up custom wheel builds. An update to Master Link Pliers because even chains continue to evolve. Plus, a couple of ebike-specific lockring tools for mechanics that need top-quality tools to service premium ebikes.
Oh, and an update for servicing bearings… and that bottle opener if you don’t want to just crack a brew open with the edge of literally any of these other tools.
3-in-1 Pedal Wrench fits all pedals
This new heat-treated 3-in-1 Pedal Wrench is a classic do-it-all home shop multi-tool. On one end you get a classic open-end 15mm pedal wrench for working with standard wrench flats on pedals without a hex hole on their axle spindles. On the other end you get a 8mm hex in one direction, 6mm hex in the other.
I’m pretty sure that will take every pedal off every bike in my family’s stocked bike garage. No looking for one of three separate tools. Or confusing the 8mm of a crankbrothers pedal for the 6mm of a Shimano pedal. Compact, simple, and it costs just $20 / 22€. Perfect for the home workshop or traveling toolkit.
Speed Pedal Wrenches are well, faster
Do you only have one type of pedals, have extra room in your toolbox, or just work in a bike shop and want something a bit more pro and single use? Then, maybe Unior’s latest entirely hardened and tempered Speed Pedal Wrench is for you. It’s got a big ergonomic plastic & rubber handle, a 180° pivoting head, and comes in either 6mm or 8mm hexes.
Rotate the head 90° to break stubborn pedals loose. Flip it 180° to keep loosening sticky threads. Then rotate back to 0° to quickly spin the pedal off. A spring loaded ball detent holds it in each position to keep it from flopping around.
Each drop-forged pedal tool sells for $40 /45€, with premium flex chrome vanadium steel hex bits in either 6mm or 8mm.
Unior Spoke Nipple Shuffler lines up all nipples for quicker wheel lacing
Now here’s the big name that drew us all in. The all-new adjustable Unior Spoke Nipple Shuffler. This is a decidedly niche tool for wheel builders,
When you pour a bunch of spoke nipples in and shake, it aligns all the nipples in one direction so it’s easier to pick them out. No more fumbling in a pile of nipples.
Now, this is not the first time we’ve ever seen a nipple sorting tool, although most have been custom made. But Unior’s laser-cut folded steel Spoke Nipple Shuffler is creatively simple in how it can be adjusted. Slide the slots apart and tighten in place for widths from 3.8-5.5mm to fit almost all nipples. And it is also one of the most affordable I’ve seen, at just $25 / 25€.
Do you need one? Not unless you build a lot of wheels. But if so, it’ll save you time fumbling, and ease a strangely frustrating part of lacing wheels.
Bosch Gen 2 & Fazua Ride 60 Lockring Tools service ebikes
These are even more specialized. But for $27 / 30€ steel Bosch Gen 2 or $53 / ~50€ for the machined aluminum Fazua Ride 60 lockring tools, these will make like easier for mechanics servicing ebikes. Delivering a precise fit and 1/2″ drive, these will make quick work of removing old & installing new chainrings on the latest proprietary ebikes.
Master Link Pliers updated
What’s new in the land of chain-opening tools? Well first, these are now designed to both open and close master links. Plus, SRAM Flattop reshaped the rollers inside their latest T-Type chains, so your old pliers might not fit their new 12-speed road or MTB transmissions. Most likely you could get away with some creative filing if you already have a favorite set of chain pliers.
But if you are in the market for a new set, Unior’s updated black Master Link Pliers 1720/4DP will only set you back $16 / 22€ and they’ll open quick links on pretty much any chain from 6-13-speeds.
Universal Bearing Press kit got updated along the line
And as a small running addition… I’m not entirely sure when this update happened. But I’ve been recently doing some off-season maintenance with the latest edition of Unior’s Universal Bearing Press kit. And it’s been updated since we first caught up with it back in 2014. The kit now includes all of the latest common sizes, specifically updated bottom bracket standards like DUB. It’s a workshop-level piece of gear with the $279 / 308€ pricetag to match.
But it’ll press in pretty much any size bearing you’ll find on a bike these days, short of headset cups. And, if you only need the BB presses, there’s a separate cheaper kit for that now since last spring, too.
Some of these new tools might just make a perfect stocking stuffer for your home mechanic.
Remember that winter is the perfect time to give you neglected bike the much needed maintenance love that it deserves. Happy bike, happy life.
