The Tortec Universal Storage Hook is a very sturdy bike storage option for road or mountain bike, holding skinny and fat tyres equally well. The hook rim protection could be thicker though.
The first impression of the hook is solidity. This is one weighty bit of metal, welded in a manner that says your bike is safe with it. The hook is steel, and is compatible with wheels from 12-inch up to mountain bike 29ers. The weight limit is listed as 18kg, so you won't be hanging that 850W full-supension German e-mountain bike off of it.
The hook mounts on to any kind of wall, but it's up to you to fix it firmly. Included are standard 8mm brick/concrete plastic wall plugs and two hefty, long self-tapping Philips-head screws. If you have different needs - e.g. into wood, or a hollow or metal wall - these should do the job with the appropriate kind of plug. Tortec advise not to use the hook "on any kind of drywall, panelling or plasterboard".
Tortec recommend you mount the hook with the bike attached and 10cm of space under the rear wheel - you will need a friend for this. Holding the bike upright, judging the distance, keeping the front wheel straight and the hook attached to the wheel in the right alignment and then marking the holes will be beyond anyone with fewer than five arms.
Once it's fixed to the wall, putting the bike into place is very simple: lift with the wheel to the right of the hook, align with a gap in the spokes, shift the wheel left to put the hook over the rim and let the bike drop down. The tyre seats between the angled guides and is held firmly, regardless of size. A 23mm road tyre will sink deep enough to just sit proud of the wall plate; a 2.1in mountain bike tyre sat a little further out but was still gripped firmly.
The angle of the guides means there is a little sideways movement if required, i.e. if you have a line of bikes up on a wall you should be able to move them to one side to facilitate handlebar clearance while removing or mounting. The geometry of the hook and guides means the bike naturally returns to centre if moved.
The only concern with the hook is the thickness of the plastic powdercoating on the metal hook itself. This is there to save any scraping of the rim, but at just under 1mm thick is not overly generous. A rim with angled corners or ham-fisted mounting could see this cut through and subsequently might result in the rim being marked. It would have been nice to see Tortec use some sort of high-impact ABS plastic sleeve in place of a thin powdercoat. Wrapping/zip-tying a few layers of old inner tube around the hook should guarantee your pride and joy is totally safe from the risk of scratching.
Overall a quality product that can hang any bike, so long as it's under the recommended 18kg.
Verdict
Very sturdy bike storage option for road or MTB; the hook rim protection could be thicker
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Tortec Universal Storage Hook
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 for hanging bikes on walls. Any bike, so long as it's under 18kg, and any wall except plasterboard or paneling. Tortec say "Tortec wall hooks are precision engineered by the latest 3D CNC forming machines using premium high-tensile steel for maximum strength and durability. Each hook is coated with a tough durable epoxy based powder-coat shell with soft covers to protect wheels from being scuffed."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Holds up to 18kg, and wheel sizes from 12" to 29" / 700c. Fixings for brick/concrete included.
The words 'brick' and 'outhouse' spring to mind.
It hangs bikes, and does so without fault.
Aside from possibly wearing through the could-be-thicker hook protection, it should outlive you.
£14.99 isn't cheap, but this is a quality product.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well. Bikes of all types hung vertically and safely. They aren't coming out by accident.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The tyre centering - which kept the bike where it needs to be.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Only the thin hook protection. Which won't be an issue if your rims are smooth.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes. It's changed my life for the better, in that there's one less bike cluttering the floor.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
About the tester
Age: 42 Height: 183cm Weight: 71KG
I usually ride: Charge Juicer My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, MTB, singlespeed and Dutch bike pootling
10 comments
Bought two on eBay similar for £6 inc postage, the screws needed replacing but far more cost effective.
No pictures of the product in use?
Looks pretty much the same as the one Evans do for £10.
I really do think there is an agenda to try and rinse cyclists of as much money as possible...
You can get 4 of something very similar on eBay for £14.99:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-HEAVY-DUTY-HANGING-WALL-HOOKS-TO-HANG-BIKE...
Thats what I got, 2 hooks for £6 and they are decent enough.
I wonder if sugru would be a useful addition to help protect wheel rims
Here are two piccys on the hook in use.
I totally get those saying they have purchased more hooks, for less, and have had a good experience. I'm not defending £14.99 for a hook, just saying it works well.
IMG_5157.jpg
My cheap eBay one fell off the wall and dropped my MTB on my road bike. not impressed.
If the hook fell off the wall it's probably more a function of how well you fitted it rather than a design fault in the hook.
I've also got 4 of the hooks from eBay.
Used my own screws and they are rock solid! Also have foam rim protectors so nothing is metal on metal.
Only problem I have is that deep rims don't fit, but that is due to the v. low ceiling vs. height of hooks in room.