Brooks England MT21 Multitool

Commanding the lion's share of £50, the Brooks M21 multi tool isn't cheap, won't tackle every emergency and at 290g, it's not something you'd want bouncing around in a jersey pocket. However, its sensible, rugged design and all steel construction suit it handsomely for back of beyond touring.

In common with tyre sections, manufacturers all appear to have their own unique interpretation of what constitutes a function, which is sometimes at odds with our own. Twenty-one bits might not enjoy the same wow factor as they did just a few seasons' back but let's take a look at what you get here.

For starters there are 7 Allen keys (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm), catering for everything from balance screws, cleat mechanisms, seat binder and stem bolts through to square taper cranks.

Then come two Phillips screwdrivers, plus, a flat screwdriver and three Torx drivers, while the obligatory chain breaker (it fits 7, 8 and 9-speed chains) also hosts spoke wrenches, bottle opener and Brooks' specific saddle spanner. There's even a knife, precluding sale to younger riders but invaluable for camping and adventurous trail riding.

Compact multitools are great for general riding and minor contingencies, where you might just need to nip a mudguard stay or saddle cradle tight. But touring calls for more oomph, whether it's replacing weathered cleat fittings or a broken mech or overhauling an Aheadset.

Aside from the 8mm crank bolt spanner, all the bits of the Brooks MT-21 are 6.5cm long, so they have the reach to get to the job and the leverage offered by the 14cm body certainly helped when chomping through chains. That said, the length proved unwieldy in tight spaces such as installing bottle cage screws on smaller compact geometry framesets.

I was a little disappointed that there were no 8, 9 and 10mm spanners, necessitating more tools in the pack for mudguard bolts or some cantilever straddle wires and barrel adjusters. The spoke keys here are in last resort territory but would spare blushes were a proper, standalone unit unavailable.

Objectively, while I'm very fond of the M21 for its sheer Brooksness, it favours the latest generation of long haul, derailleur and disc equipped touring bikes. Those with an older fleet or hub transmissions with bolted axles may find something like Crank Brothers 17 coupled with model specific stuff a more suitable, cost-effective package.

Verdict

Nicely made and extremely refined multi tool, though pricey and best suited to contemporary mountain bikes or touring bikes.