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review
Tools - Portable
Birzman Damselfly chain toolBirzman Damselfly

Birzman Damselfly chain tool

6
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Dec 11, 2013

0
£34.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Nifty design and top quality but the performance falls short especially considering the price
Weight: 
40g
Contact: 
www.i-ride.co.uk
How we test

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Named for the perching pose of the insect, the Birzman Damselfly chain tool is a dab hand at pushing out chain pins, but it's expensive.

The Damselfly's main body and handle are aluminium which gives a decent feeling of strength especially when you're going through those first couple of turns to get the pin started.

It's very well made to with a very smooth screwing action and that Y-shaped handle does allow a decent hand movement whether you're spinning back or applying pressure to the pin. At just 40g you're not to going to notice it in a saddle bag or back pocket.

The little prongs that position the chain are quite shallow, though, so you have to hold the chain in place while you're removing the pin.

All of this design and quality comes at a price though. At £34.99 it's a lot of loot for something you're probably not going to use that often.

Birzman state that its 9-10 speed compatible and I also didn't have any issues separating a 1/8in track chain.

Overall the Damselfly is a good design in terms of ergonomics and materials but the shallow chain guide and especially the price take the shine off. It's too expensive for an emergency tool to keep in your saddlebag and if you're looking for a workshop workhorse there are others that work better.

Verdict

Nifty design and top quality but the performance falls short especially considering the price.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Birzman Damselfly

Size tested: Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

It's a chain tool designed for 9-10 speed systems and its light weight makes it ideal for carrying with you on the bike.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Aluminium body

Y shaped handle for ergonomics

9 - 10spd chains

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Pin removal is good but the shallow chain guides mean you have to hold the chain in position with your thumb.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

The ergonomics are good.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Expensive for what it is.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

if the Damselfly shared the deep chain guides and spring of the much cheaper Birzman Light-er it would be a winner all round but the fact that you have to hold the chain in position with your thumb is a bit annoying.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The shape and the low weight.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It doesn't hold the chain in position without outside help.

Did you enjoy using the product? It was okay.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Ribble Winter Trainer for commuting, Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Sarto Rovigo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

Birzman Damselfly chain tool
Birzman
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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