The 18-piece kit from X-Tools includes most of the tools that you’ll need when tinkering with your bike at home or at a race, and thanks to the compact carry case, it’s a cinch to store and is easily portable. It contains Allen keys in various sizes from 2mm to 6mm, and they’re all ball-ended, which is great because it makes hard-to-reach spots easier to get to.
What’s more, there’s a longer-handled 8mm Allen key, which gives better leverage. Also included is a chaintool, cone spanners, puncture repair kit, a T25 Torx wrench, spoke key, chain whip, cassette tool, bottom bracket tool, chainring bolt tool, crank extractor, screwdrivers and a pedal spanner along with a Shimano-compatible Hollowtech II tensioning tool and a Shimano-compatible external bottom bracket tool.
All the Allen keys have lasted well and we’ve found the 8mm key, with its plastic grip, just about long enough to undo the tightest of bolts. The Shimano-compatible bottom bracket tool is sturdy and, like the rest of the kit, good quality, considering the bargain price. Our favourite bits of kit are the tyre levers though – they give plenty of leverage for stubborn beads.
