Crankbrothers Multi 20 multi-tool review

Crankbrothers' Multi 20 – or M20 as it’s also known – features a host of tools for trailside bike repair.

Included are 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, and 8mm Allen keys, along with Torx T10 and T25 bits. There are also two Phillips screwdrivers, a PH1 and PH2 and a flat-head screwdriver.

There’s an 8- to 12-speed compatible chain tool and 0, 1 and 2 spoke keys. The chain tool has an in-built rotor straightening slot and a valve core tool as well.

Along with a packet of five tubeless tyre plugs – stored in a separate and removable plastic housing – there’s also room for chain quick links, and the tyre plug installer is on the main body of the tool.

The tool has an anodised metal body while each tool is made from high tensile steel. Crankbrothers offers a lifetime warranty on the M20.

Including the separate tyre plug compartment, it weighed 206g on my scales and measured 54mm wide, 26mm deep and 89mm long.

The M20 offers an impressive range of tools that not only help with on-trail bike adjustment and bolt tightening, but also track-side repair. It's not much heavier or bigger than its closest competitor, the Blackburn Tradesman Tool, either.

Although its size and weight might be a stumbling block for some, I’d rather trade some space for a more comprehensive set of tools.

That said, unlike the Blackburn, there’s no system for splitting quick links. This is disappointing given the wide variety of other tools on offer, and could be integrated into the chain tool as per other designs.

Adding tubeless tyre repair plugs and the required tool helps to streamline on-bike or in-bag tool kit space. The five plugs should last a reasonable amount of time – unless you happen to puncture regularly – and were easy to install with the supplied tool despite it not being especially long.

However, the plugs aren’t very thick and struggled to plug bigger rips. Although this wasn’t an issue on my road bike, if you’re buying the tool for mountain bike duties be prepared to invest in some heftier plugs. Luckily, the tool’s prong is wide enough to accommodate larger plugs.

Allen key and Torx bit accuracy was spot on, and neither required attentive seating in bolt heads to avoid rounding out.

The majority of the bits were long enough to reach most tight spaces, brake lever reach adjustment included. However the 8mm Allen key was trickier to use than I would have liked, thanks to its short length.

The axles that hold the tools in place are quite long and the tool’s frame quite thin. This meant there was a reasonable amount of flex when I was using the tool for high-torque applications, such as 8mm Allen pedal bolts. Tightening up the tool’s pins didn’t reduce flex but did make it tricky to open and close its different parts.

The chain tool’s body didn’t provide enough leverage to reliably break chains, especially when used in emergencies out on the trail. A set of pliers was required to grab hold of the chain tool to provide more force to split some chains. This undermined my ability to totally rely on the tool on all-day epics because I needed additional tools.

Using the same tool, our technical editor-in-chief Rob Weaver found that he could get stubborn links undone when he was wearing gloves and agreed the chain tool tab is too small to grip without some help.

It remained rattle-free when fastened to a bike or in a bag, and the tools didn’t loosen on their pivots during use whether folded or unfolded.

However, if I didn't fasten the plastic tubeless bung carry pocket to the same side as the chain tool, the chain tool had a habit of swinging around. I wouldn’t recommend storing it in jersey or shorts pocket because of the rather the sharp tubeless tyre repair tool, which would present a safety risk.

Crankbrothers Multi 20 multi-tool bottom line

The Crankbrothers Multi 20 multi-tool is very useful and has a wide range of accurate and sharp tools. The included tubeless repair plugs are a real bonus on the trail, too. It’s a shame the chain tool is tricky to use, though.