Pro Bike Tool 2-20Nm Torque Wrench set

Pro Bike Tool's Torque Wrench Set is easy to use with good quality bits, an extensive torque range and a handy ratchet system that makes torquing bolts easy and accurate. The price is really good, especially given the quality of construction. Highly recommended for the avid home mechanic.

• Pros: Easy to use; good range of bits; very useful extension bar; low min setting; ratchet makes quick work of tightening
• Cons: 'Torque reached' click is subtle; small scale is a little hard to read

The set combines a load of great features that make it a very easy tool to use quickly. It also beats many rivals on price and comes with an extensive range of bits.

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Ease of use

Opening up the plastic case, there's a very pleasant quality feel about it, the metal clasp in particular.

Inside you'll find the torque wrench, a 10cm extension bar, Torx 10, 25 and 30 bits, and hex key bits of 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm. Each bit sits in its own 1/4inch square driver socket. The torque range is from 2Nm to 20Nm.

Setting up the tool is a simple case of selecting the required bit and placing it on the square driver, remembering to depress the bit release button in the centre of the tool head.

Setting the torque means pulling down the sliding collar and holding it as you rotate the silver part of the tool. This is the fastest way to move from the unloaded position to roughly where you need to be. You can then micro-adjust using the 0.1Nm increments that line up easily with the scale.

Torquing a bolt is a simple process with the bits slotting in nicely to the bolt heads. The bits seem to be well made and I can't see any wear on the S2 steel bits.

The 72-tooth ratchet is very quick to engage and helps to speed up the torquing of bolts, especially if you're tightening down a difficult-to-reach bolt. Once up to the required torque, the tool gives a definite, if slightly inaudible, click.

The tool will continue tightening the bolt if you keep pushing after the click so you'll need to be careful on tight tolerances, but in practice, this is a very easy tool to use quickly.

Accuracy

The Pro Bike Tool set is 'calibration tested for accuracy to ISO 6789:2003'. That means that before it leaves the factory, it gets tested and you get a little sheet with your torque wrench's performance. This one I have here was no more than 0.3Nm out on the three set torque tests. Over time, you might want to get this recalibrated, especially if you're using it a lot and needing some low torque settings.

The only other torque wrench I have is Park Tool's ATD-1, and testing them together showed that they agreed with what torque each bolt was at.

The build quality seems really good, with solid materials being used for both the wrench and bits. Add to that the fact that you can get this re-calibrated after a few years of use and I'd say this is something that'll last a lifetime, especially for home mechanics.

At £57.99, it beats its rivals on price easily. I liked using the PRO 3-15Nm Torque Wrench Set, but at £109.99 it's just overpriced for what it is. X-Tools' Pro Torque Wrench and Bit Set is also more expensive at £69.99 and comes with fewer bits and a smaller torque range.

I am never going to be able to afford £130 for the Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza 1-8 Deluxe torque wrench, plus it has a tiny torque range.

> Buyer's Guide: 6 of the best torque wrenches

For me, this is the obvious choice. A quality tool with very good accuracy, incremental adjustment across a wide torque range, a great selection of bits, a ratchet head for speedy tightening, and a great price. My only wish is that the click to indicate torque reached was slightly more distinct.

Verdict

Great price, well built, easy to use... there's a lot to love