Joining Crankbrothers’ recent S.O.S (or Save Our Shred) range, the BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit contains almost everything you’ll need in a neat and well-packaged bottle cage arrangement. Although its footprint is larger than other integrated tool solutions, its ergonomics are head and shoulders above the competition. However, its ability to hold onto a bottle is questionable, and its increased height limits frame fitment.
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Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit – Technical details
The BC18 integrates 18 functions onto an otherwise humble reversible bottle cage. That’s done with the addition of a cradle that sits under the bottle cage that also holds a neat tool holder on one side, and a pump or CO2 canister on the other. The whole assembly then bolts onto a standard 64mm bottle cage mount.
Allowing the option to hold either a CO2 canister or a pump is a handy adapter that provides the rider with the opportunity to switch between the two. However, the pump holder is designed to fit Crankbrothers’ Klic HV pump. Admittedly, pumps come in all shapes and sizes, making it challenging to achieve a one-size-fits-all solution.
At the left side of the cage sits a spring-loaded aluminium tube that’s home to the multi-tool and chain tool. The multi-tool comes with the full gamut of Allen bits from two to six millimetre sizes and even an eight millimetre with an adapter bit. There’s a flat head screwdriver, and T25 and T10 bits are present too.
Held onto the multi-tool via a grey plastic slider is the chain tool that’s compatible with eight to 12-speed chains. Cut into the sides are the #0, 1 and 2 spoke wrenches. Very cleverly, the chain tool is also a CO2 inflator.
In the middle of the bottle cage, sitting under the bottle itself, is a full-size tyre lever, but it’s yet another tool that has a trick up its sleeve. It’s also where you’ll find a tubeless plug insertion tool, reamer and space to hold two thick tyre plugs. The tyre lever also acts as an extra-long handle for the chain tool, using the same sliding fitment mechanism that holds the multi-tool to the chain tool. There’s also a valve core remover cut into it.
And speaking of neat tricks, Crankbrothers has done an excellent job of ramming the whole system full of tubeless plugs. Of course, there are a couple under the tyre lever, but the brand has also jammed a couple in the cap of the multi-tool’s storage tube.
To help with frame clearance or clearance of the tube that the BC18 is bolted to, to be precise, Crankbrothers includes two spacers that raise the cage away from the tube. A neat touch, if you ask me.
Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit – Performance
As far as one-stop bike repair shops go, Crankbrothers has done an exceptional job with the BC18, having created one of the most comprehensive integrated tool kits around. However, it’s not without its quirks. And although it’s designed to hold Crankbrothers’ Klic HV pump, I managed to find a different, narrower diameter pump that fit perfectly in its place.
But to start with the good stuff, well, there’s a lot of it. The metal case that the multi-tool sits in is clearly of top quality, but the fact that it’s spring-loaded makes it super easy to use. Once the cap is uncrewed, the tool presents itself, ready for whatever you’ll throw at it. When screwing the cap back in place, it does take a bit of care to make sure the threads engage properly but it’s a compromise i’m more than happy to put up with.
The multi-tool itself is built of the usual quality expected of a Crankbrothers tool, but what’s impressive is how the brand has managed to pack good ergonomics and so many functions into a relatively small bit of kit. The tool itself feels great in hand, and while it might take some finesse in hinging the Allen or Torx bit you need when wearing gloves, there’s plenty of leverage on offer when getting to work. It’s great to see an eight-millimetre Allen present too. It’s neatly held inside the multi-tool with a magnet, and although it’ll rarely be used, it’s comforting knowing it’s there.
Having a chain tool on any multi-tool is a total must-have, and Crankbrothers has been impressively clever with the one included. As mentioned before, it’s also the CO2 inflator, but while small, when used with the tyre lever, it provides more than enough leverage to break chains. When attached to the multi-tool, the chain tool also adds a little bit more leverage when nipping up bolts, but it can slide on the grey slider and come apart, so it’s not recommended for especially tough bolts.
Finally, it’s excellent to see a proper tyre lever on a kit like this. It’s solid and made from a stiff plastic that doesn’t bend with use. It’s long enough to provide plenty of leverage, and the fact that it holds a tiny tubeless tyre repair kit doesn’t add any negatives. It can be tricky to remove the tool when needed, but it’s small, and neatly packaged.
Clearly, there’s an awful lot to like about the BC18, but unfortunately, it’s not without fault and for some riders, it might not work at all and that’s all to do with clearance. Because the bottle cage part of the BC18 sits a little higher, it’s not the lowest profile bottle cage around. On some bikes, especially full suspension bikes, I’ve found that there simply isn’t enough room for it to fit without fouling on the frame.
I’ve also run into trouble with the bottle cage’s retention. Granted, it’s been hit and miss, but it’s expected that a bottle cage should hold a bottle with no issues at all. However, on a handful of occasions, I’ve found myself hiking back up a trail to retrieve a lost bottle that’s flung itself free. That’s with both the better-fitting 600ml bottles and larger, 750ml bottles. That said, 90% of my rides using this system have been hassle-free. Just be prepared.
Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit – Verdict
£100 is a lot for a bottle cage, but the BC18 is a lot more than just a bottle cage. That said, there are many options on the market that provide a similar range of tools at varying price points. The first that springs to mind is Syncros’ iS Cache 2.0 HV Bottle Cage. It’ll cost you £75, so there’s a saving to be had, but you get less for that money. You do get a pump included, but the multi-tool comes with 10 pieces.
For a little under £160, there’s the OneUp Components EDC Pump Kit. It gets pretty much everything you’ll find on the BC18, but a high-quality and rather efficient pump is included for that price. To get the BC18 with the Crankbrothers Klic HV pump that’ll definitely fit, that’ll be an additional £45, so it’s still a little cheaper. But where the EDC Pump Kit shines is that either the whole pump or just the internals can be swapped from bike to bike more easily. Although it doesn’t have the ergonomics of the BC18.
If you’re looking to ditch the backpack, the Crankbrothers BC18 Bottle Cage Tool Kit is a fantastic option that features high-quality tools and everything you’ll need out on the trail, more or less. It’s packed with neat functions that you’ll never know were there in an easy-to-use and comprehensive package. Just be sure to check frame clearance before committing the cash.
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Product purpose:
Build extra:
2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 hex tools + 8mm adapter bit
T25 & T10 torx tools
Flat screwdriver
Tire plug tool + 4x plugs
Tire lever
Chain tool
Spoke wrenches 0, 1, 2
Valve core tool
CO2 head
Tool storage tube
Fits a spare chain link + a 16g/20g/25g CO2 cartridge or Klic HV hand pump, sold separately
Product construction
Product construction extra:
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Product weight
Product weight extra:
product value
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