If you’re adjusting any of the bolts on your bike, a torque wrench is an especially worthwhile investment to make sure you’re not over-tightening or over-tightening. There’s a reason you see recommended tools in so many maintenance manuals and articles.
As frame materials evolve, tolerances become tighter, and this is especially true for carbon fiber frames and components. If the bolts are overtightened, the carbon will crack and eventually fail.
Also, under-tightened bolts can cause components to slip or come loose while riding.
In any case, it is important to make sure that the bolts on your bike are securely tightened, and a torque wrench will help you with this.
Here we will walk you through the do’s and don’ts of torque wrenches, the different types, how to use the tool effectively and the best torque wrenches we’ve tested so far.
A torque wrench is a very useful tool that measures how hard you tighten a bolt, known as torque.
If you look at your bike, you will usually see a small number next to the bolt, usually written in “Nm” (newton meters) or sometimes “in-pounds” (in-lbs). This is the unit of torque required for a bolt.
Make sure it says “Maximum” torque. If it’s “max”, then yes, and you should decrease its torque by 10%. Sometimes, as with Shimano clamp bolts, you end up with a range where you should aim for the middle of the range.
While there are many diehard naysayers out there who are happy to work for “feel”, the fact is that if you’re dealing with delicate components, using a torque wrench greatly reduces the chance of something going wrong. when it comes to your warranty (and teeth).
This is why there are torque wrenches for bicycles, although you can use more general purpose torque wrenches for bolts that require higher torque, such as freewheels, disc rotor retaining rings, and crank bolts. The maximum torque you need to apply to the bike is 60 Nm.
Ultimately, the best torque wrench for your needs depends on how often you plan to use it and what parts of your bike you plan to use it on. It is always worth investing in quality options for greater accuracy and ease of use.
Generally, there are four types of torque wrenches: preset, adjustable, modular bit system and beam torque wrenches.
If you’re only going to use your torque wrench for things like stem and seatpost bolts, you can save some money and buy pre-set designs based on the torque you need for your particular bike.
The pre-installed torque wrenches are also ideal if you regularly use different bikes to save time setting up adjustable wrenches.
You can usually buy torque wrenches preset at 4, 5, or 6 Nm, and some designs also offer preset adjustment in this range.
Because pre-mounted options often have a rather bulky design, and if you’re using a built-in seat or wedge clamping system that usually requires a low profile head, you’ll want to make sure you have enough room to mount the tool.
This option is also usually lighter, so it’s a good choice if you’re going on vacation.
Unfortunately, this means they are the most expensive type, with prices ranging from £30 to £200.
Greater accuracy is the biggest difference and ultimately a torque wrench is only useful if it is accurate.
As you spend more, other differences include better quality bits and dial indicators that are easier to read and adjust, making it less likely to make a mistake.
Less visible but increasingly popular, the torque wrench is a portable ratchet wrench in the form of a drill with a torque function.
They usually consist of a handle and a drill with a torque rod. Torque bars usually have a set of numbers indicating the torque and an arrow below it. Once you have assembled the tool, you can tighten the bolts, following the arrows carefully, until you reach the desired torque.
Some manufacturers, such as Silca, offer modular T- and L-handle bit systems that are suitable for hard-to-reach places.
It can be a great option for cycling holidays or as hand luggage on a bike as it is also a multi-tool, just a better quality option.
The last option is a torque wrench with a beam. This was common before the advent of adjustable click-through options available. Some brands, such as Canyon, include a beam wrench when shipping the bike.
Beam wrenches are affordable, won’t break, and are easy to calibrate – just make sure the needle is in the zero position before use, and if not, bend the needle.
On the other hand, you will need to read the beam against the scale to know you got the correct torque. This can be tricky if the unit you’re tightening isn’t printed on the scale, or if you’re aiming for decimals. You will also need a steady hand. Most bicycle beam torque wrenches tend to be aimed at the entry point to the market and are usually made of plastic or a softer material.
Given the number of available designs available elsewhere, there is little reason to favor a beam torque wrench. However, using a torque wrench is definitely better than nothing.
This model from Park Tool offers metal mechanical components for a reliable and reliable key. Accuracy is excellent and the cam flip mechanism eliminates the possibility of over-tightening.
The tool snaps on magnetically with a standard 1/4″ bit, and the handle includes three spare bits. This is the first choice of a preset torque wrench, although buying a set of three (4, 5 and 6 Nm versions) will certainly be expensive.
Now upgraded to ATD-1.2, an adjustable version of the Park PTD key that can be switched between 4 and 6 Nm in 0.5 Nm increments. To change the torque (silver dial) you can use a 6mm hex wrench, although the ATD-1.2 has a newer wrench that can be manually adjusted. There are three spare bits hidden on the other end.
This tool offers everything we love about the Park Tool PTD but with a lot more customization. The accuracy is not as consistent as the presets, but certainly close enough. Its American build quality is top notch, but that means it’s heavy and relatively expensive.
Although we were initially skeptical about the design, the torque tester proved that the Ocarina was the way to go. Only 88g, perfect for travel.
It works like a torque wrench so you can stop tightening as soon as the needle reaches the correct number.
The problem here is that the raised numbers are hard to read, especially when you’re cruising in a dimly lit hotel room or adjusting saddle bolts upside down. It’s comfortable to use, but the hollow plastic construction feels cheap and can cause gap issues in rare cases.
CDI is part of Snap-On, the torque specialists, and is the cheapest tool they offer. Accuracy is acceptable, but with a cam design it is impossible to overtighten.
The handle is very comfortable, although only a 4mm hex socket is included, so you will need to provide anything else you need.
Richie was by far the first to enter the bicycle market with a pre-installed torque wrench. Since then, other trademarks have appeared on the instrument.
Torqkey is still a good choice and still the lightest/smallest available, but it’s no longer the benchmark.
Made in Italy, the Pro Effetto Mariposa is positioned as a premium bike torque wrench. Tests have shown high accuracy and ease of use.
The “luxury” kits and drills are of high quality and even include a free calibration service (in Italy…). When folded, it is compact and does not take up space in the toolbox.
The ratchet head speeds up tightening but eliminates some of the backlash of the brand’s famous original non-ratchet version.
Even with that accolade, it’s still expensive and doesn’t offer much compared to the more general Taiwanese options. It will definitely appeal to those who appreciate both form and functionality.
This is Wiggle’s own brand of tools and worth the money. It’s actually the same wrench from Taiwan that many others put their own brand name on – and that’s because it works.
The torque range on offer is perfect for the bike, adjustment is easy and the ratchet head is compact enough for most situations.
Made in Italy, the Giustaforza 1-8 Deluxe is high quality and has a crisp click when the desired torque is reached.
Lots of bits, drivers and extensions are packaged in a neat Velcro secure package. It has a range of 1-8 Nm, has a comprehensive 5,000 cycle warranty, and you can send it back for repair and recalibration.
Park Tool’s TW-5.2 uses a 3/8″ driver instead of the smaller ¼” head, which means it’s not as easy to use in small spaces.
However, it feels much better than the other options, with less activity and head movement, especially at higher torque loads.
Its 23cm length makes it easy to make small adjustments at higher torque since you don’t need tools. But its fantastic price does not include sockets, the Park SBS-1.2 socket and bit set, although fully functional, costs £59.99.
Post time: May-10-2023