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LifeLine Performance 39 piece tool kit

8
£100.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Fully loaded toolkit for pretty much all your home workshop needs, with decent quality tools throughout
Weight: 
5,800g

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If you like messing about with your bikes at home then the LifeLine Performance 39 Piece Tool Kit contains the tools for nearly all of your maintenance needs in a handy box. As a one-stop solution it's easy to recommend.

You won't be surprised to know that you get 39 tools. They are: eight hex wrenches (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8mm), a Torx 25 wrench, seven cone spanners (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19mm), three screwdrivers (Philips 1, Philips 2 and slotted 5), three spoke wrenches (3.2, 3.3 and 3.5mm), a crank extractor, 15mm pedal spanner, a set of cable cutters, a cartridge bottom bracket tool, cassette cleaning brush, cassette remover, chain cleaner, chain rivet extractor, chain whip, chainring nut wrench, cleaning brush, Shimano (and compatible) external bottom bracket spanner, a measuring tape, two tyre levers and a magnetic collector tray. Phew!

Buy this online here

Assuming your bike is Shimano or SRAM equipped, and you have an external bottom bracket, that's pretty much everything you need for every workshop task short of a headset replacement. You'll probably want some other bits and bobs like a mallet and some pliers, but because the Lifeline kit comes in a normal toolbox, as opposed to one of those formed cases with a specific hole for every tool, you can just lob them in. The flipside is that it's not as easy to see if something is missing, which might come back to bite you at that far-flung sportive where your cones need a tweak.

The tools are good quality, in the main. They're not pro level and for £100 you shouldn't expect them to be. For example, you can't apply that much torque with the ball end of the hex keys, compared with our workshop set of hex keys that cost half as much as this whole kit: the tolerances aren't as tight. And the metal tyre levers are average at best; swap those out for some long-handled Lezyne ones or something similar. But everything works, and most of the bits are well thought through.

Some of the tools are really good: the Hyperglide cassette tool has a central pin to locate it in the axle and a nice sturdy handle with a plastic cover to stop it digging into your hands. The external bottom bracket tool has the star wheel thingy attached that you need to screw in that end cap on the non-drive crank, so you don't need to go rooting around for it in the bottom of the box.

The chain rivet extractor is beefy and knocks out a pin with ease, although it does lack the secondary position that's good for adjusting a link. The chain cleaner is pretty decent, and the screwdrivers and cone spanners are perfectly functional. There isn't anything that doesn't do a decent job, and the inclusion of minor-but-essential tools like the chainring nut wrench is a bonus.

The toolbox comes with two stackable trays so you can organise your bits and bobs, or keep one for spares. The magnetic tray is a nice touch, the kind of thing you didn't realise you needed and then can't do without.

Overall it's a really good toolkit for the home mechanic, or to stick in the back of your car for events. If you want to be able to service your bikes at home and you're not sure where to start, this kit is as good a place as any.

Verdict

Fully loaded toolkit for pretty much all your home workshop needs, with decent quality tools throughout

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: LifeLine Performance 39 piece tool kit

Size tested: 39 piece tool kit

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?

Lifeline say: "A comprehensive tool kit with everything you need for bike repair and maintenance. With 39 precision tools and ergonomic handles, the LifeLine Performance Toolkit is essential for committed home mechanics and small workshops.

"Regular maintenance is essential for getting the most out of your time on the bike. The LifeLine Performance Toolkit includes the tools you need for the majority of bike servicing applications such as replacing drivetrain components, replacing cables, adjusting gears and brakes, wheel/hub servicing and general fitting adjustments.

"The tools and wrenches feature ergonomic molded handles for comfort on longer applications, and a durable carry case is provided for convenient storage."

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

39 Tools/Functions

Durable carry case for convenient storage

Precision Tool Heads

Compatible with road and mountain bike components

Ergonomic wrench handles

Includes:

1x 2 in 1 Crank extractor - Square taper and splined cranks

1x 15mm Pedal wrench

1x Cable cutter

1x Cartridge bottom bracket tool

1x Cassette cleaning tool

1x Cassette remover

1x Chain cleaner

1x Chain rivet extractor

1x Chain whip - 7-10speed

1x Chainring nut wrench

1x Cleaning brush

1x External bottom bracket wrench - Shimano Hollow Tech II®, Campagnolo®, Chris King®, FSA®, Race Face®, SRAM®, Truvativ®

1x Measuring tape

1x Magnetic collector tray

1x Tool Box

1x Torx 25 wrench

2x Tyre Levers

3x Spoke Wrench - 3.2 , 3.3 and 3.5mm

3x Screwdriver - Philips 1, philips 2 and slotted 5 heads

7x Cone spanners - 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19mm

8x Hex wrench - 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well made tools, handy box.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Most tools are very good, some are better than others. Pretty much everything you need is in there.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Everything is lasting well.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Good value for what you get.

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

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comprehensive toolkit with pretty much everything you need for home fettling.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A few of the tools are a little below par.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

It's a very good kit. Some of the tools are better than others but overall it's ideal for home workshop use.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 189cm  Weight: 91kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

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4 comments

Avatar
seanaldo | 8 years ago
0 likes

Can vouch for the ball end not being strong. First use and destroyed!

Avatar
KiwiMike | 8 years ago
0 likes

Friends don't let friends use junk.

The mere fact you had to mention the hex ball ends fills me with horror. God knows what the other tolerances are like, particularly for high-torque applications like splined BB shells.

God I'm conflicted here. Tool Snob with a few items costing more than this whole kit, but lasted prob 10 yrs with a similar 'quality' setup.

Avatar
Aezreth | 8 years ago
0 likes

Like most of these kits it's got too much junk you don't need, and not enough stuff you actually DO need. By the way, is LifeLine Wiggle's own brand? Can't seem to find it anywhere else.

Avatar
vonhelmet replied to Aezreth | 8 years ago
0 likes
Aezreth wrote:

Like most of these kits it's got too much junk you don't need, and not enough stuff you actually DO need. By the way, is LifeLine Wiggle's own brand? Can't seem to find it anywhere else.

I've seen similar kit pop up under different brand names. A local bike shop has a load of similar looking kit under the "Cyclepro" brand.

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