Topeak 60102353 Alien II 31-Function Bicycle Tool

This thing is incredible. I know there are lots of similar items available, so I can't say this particular brand or configuration is indispensable. However, I can say that this one has served me well for about 25,000 miles now! Allen keys in all the required sizes, a few wrench heads, a nifty little detachable wrench that can also be used to brace nuts on the backside while screwing the bolt in from the front, a pedal wrench attachment that saves you from having to carry a whole separate unit, a chainlink breaker (hope you never have to use that one!), and a knife for just in case. Carry this, a patch kit, and an kevlar emergency spoke and you are just about ready for a world tour!One note: be sure to dry it off if you've been riding in the rain. I messed up and left mine in its sheath inside my saddle bag, which got totally drenched. I must have left it in for a few weeks after that. Now there's some staining and corrosion. I'm sure if I had taken care of it promptly it would have kept its sheen. In any case, it still works great and I wouldn't buy anything else!

excellent product I recommend it

I'm fairly new to the riding world (purchased a bike this year for the first time since I was 12 -- which means it's been a long time). But I've been able to use this for minor maintenance (seat adjustments, etc.) and installations (installed simple stuff like cup holder, rear rack, detachable child seat, etc.). It's also small enough to fit in my wedge bag under the seat, and perfect for quick tune-ups. I had to make a minor adjustment mid-ride to my seat height as it was too low and had to tighten some of the reflectors that loosened and were rattling, while out riding.It's nice to be able to have something relatively light that you can take with you to cover most general bases. It's not featherweight though, but shouldn't kill you unless you're going for minimal weight for speed (I'm riding more for commute/fitness). I like the feature that the tool can split in half for easier hand-holding. It also came particularly in handy when I had to use the hex wrench side on one hand, and the allen wrench on the other in order to tighten a screw and hold the bolt at the same time.All in all, I recommend it, and feel comfortable that it can handle my general needs. I've heard others need much more sophisticated tooling, but as I'm not re-building bicycles generally, this has been perfect for regular maintenance and needs.

This kit has everything you could need in a emergency, and somethings you need for regular maintenance. The almost all of the tools are durable and reliable in a pinch (excluding the pedal wrench which the manufacturer themselves say to not use it unless you're really desperate). I say almost b/c one of the Allen wrenches is actually a goofy ass slip on cover for a smaller wrench. If you need an Allen wrench in that size, you better hope you don't lose that tiny adapter thing.Another knock I have to give this thing, which I like a lot, is that ITS HUGE. Like the size of a grown woman's fist. I got around the size problem by strapping it to the pouch under my seat, but if your some crazy aero cat 1 racer dude you may run into problems putting this somewhere.That being said, if you're in anything less than race and/or are someone going really far from any support, you would be crazy and irresponsible to NOT have this thing or something like it. I give this tool my full recommendation to anyone who isn't currently in a race because it has everything you need in one, so its easy to be prepared.Trust me, you don't want to change a tube using a can opener and a keyring because the nearest real tools are at least an hour away.

The perfect balance between compact and useful. It's not a whole bike shop in a pouch, but it's remarkable just how many tools they jam into such a tiny space. And they are the tools to do the jobs you actually need to do when you're out on the road and the nearest real bike shop is forty miles away.I want to add one more plus to the general praise that this tool deservedly gets (good value, tools work, compact) and that's customer service. One of the tools in my Alien had a defect. Nobody's fault. These things happen in mass manufacturing. Topeak sent me a replacement for the defective tool, and I had it in less than a week.What you need in today's world of online shopping, since there isn't a shop owner you can go complain to if something isn't right, is a vendor / manufacturer who stands by their goods. Topeak does. Good stuff, fair price, and they make it right, fast, if something is wrong.

Kinda like a Leatherman multitool, but specifically made for bikes, this high quality tool is a great asset to any bike kit. I went through my bike to determine what tools I'd need on the road/trail and this tool set more than meets those requirements. There are more tools than most of us will ever use, and it's heavier that some weight conscious riders will accept, but for those of us who ride without vehicular backup, this tool set provides peace of mind. The tools are made well with enough metal to provide the strength necessary to prevent damage to the tool or the nuts and bolts it is used on. The chain tool is impressive, too. The design is well thought out, such as placing the allen for the chain tool on one half and the chain tool on the other so there is enough leverage to make it work. Some chain tools provide a small holding tab that is quite insufficient for the torque required to remove or install a chain pin. Even the adjustment nuts for the tool are different sizes so that the opposite side has a hex wrench to tighten or loosen the deployment of the tools. The pedal wrench will easily snug down a loose pedal, but as expected, it certainly shouldn't be used to try to break one loose. I like the added quality of etched labels on the tools, too. All in all, a great, well engineered and built portable tool set.