BikeRadar.com reviews the new Mini 20 Pro - Verdict:

"Expensive but stylish, and offers a comprehensive assortment of tools arranged in a useful configuration"

While Topeak's latest Mini 20 Pro multi-tool is a close cousin of models from CrankBrothers and Lezyne, it has clearly picked up on the pros and cons of its competition and delivers a knockout punch that's chock-full of both substance and style.

First off, the tool arsenal is impressive, especially for such a compact package measuring just 75x42x15mm and weighing 152g. Tucked within the polished alloy side plates are 2, 2-L (handy for brake lever reach adjustments), 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10mm Allen wrenches.

There are also Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, a T25 Torx driver, a metal tyre lever, a chain tool, a variety of spoke wrenches (including for Mavic and Shimano) and, of course, a bottle opener – presumably for when you just can't fix it on the side of the trail and you've decided to wait for help. 

It's all buttoned down snugly with no unwanted flopping about, and no extraneous rubber bands are required. The chain tool even includes a handy clip to hold the severed links together, along with a flip-out 4mm Allen wrench to tighten up the pivots on the main body – nice. 

More importantly, all of the bits are impressively usable, with decent amounts of leverage available all around, impressively hard and tough materials and surface finishes, and suitably long reaches for most applications (one exception is the 10mm Allen wrench, which won't reach into Campagnolo Ultra-Torque cranks – then again, few things will).

Gripes are nitpicky to say the least. The fixed chain tool prevents you from poking your fingers through the back to unfurl the bits if the pivots are especially tight, and despite the lengthy tool list, some might miss a T30 bit for some chainring bolts or a 1.5mm for tiny set screws.

Topeak include a 12g neoprene pouch for storage, though we found it to be superfluous as it slows down tool access and the Velcro tab tends to snag on your gloves. Aside from that it's a definite win – and the price is even reasonable.

To the Bikeradar.com review

Bikeradar rates the Panoram V10X cycling computer – 4 Stars!

The cheapest model in Topeak’s range of Panoram cycle computers covers the basics in a user-friendly format. "A Wired computer that’s easy to use and very good value".

You get 10 functions including your current, average and maximum speeds alongside your ride time and distance.

It’s all simple to access with just one wide button on the front taking care of everything. The auto start/stop feature is handy and a low battery indicator saves you losing any information.

The bulky mount seems like overkill to us but setting up the wired sensor is straightforward, the display is clear enough, and it’s waterproof too. A wireless version is available for £42.99.

 

BikeRadar.com reviews the Hexus II

"An easy to use, practical tool that’s excellent value for money"

The Hexus II does everything you need it to, and does it well. Usually we’re less enthusiastic about plastic chassis because they tend to twist and rattle; however this design, with its solid central bridge, makes a secure base.

The Allen keys are a good length and are easy to use in all those hard-to-reach places – the only downside is a touch more flex, so you have to be light of touch when using the smaller sizes to prevent breakage. The flat head screwdriver is shorter than the other tools, and we’d prefer that to be that the same size (so we could use it as a disc pad separator too).

The tyre levers snap off the sides, with one housing the spoke keys and the other acting as a handle for the chain tool. Despite the chain tool itself being attached to the main body, having the separate handle – rather than having to twist the whole body round – makes it much easier to use.

Add to that deep plates that hold the chain really securely for pin removal, and we found this the best of its type. At £20 you may not consider this tool cheap, but the quality of tools and ease of use make it good value.

To the BikeRadar review

BikeRadar reviews Panoram V16 – 3.5 Stars!

This distinctive cycle computer measures 66mm x 35mm and gives you four clear readings on the display at any time – five if you count the pace indicator.

 

The wireless speed and cadence sensors attach easily while the head unit sits on a mount above the bar, freeing up valuable space. Apart from setting it up, you only ever have to use one button and that’s so long that you can barely miss it, so operation is about as straightforward as it comes.

You don’t get a vast number of functions but all the essentials are here along with a few extras, including a stopwatch, average and maximum cadence, and temperature, while the low battery indicator is handy too.

There’s also a second bike setting – an extra sensor kit will cost you £34.99. The only interference we had was a couple of seconds here and there from traffic light sensors – nothing overly serious.

To the BikeRadar review

 

BikeRadar reviews the Turbo Morph – 4 Stars!

The Turbo Morph is the closest you’ll get to taking a full track pump with you on rides, and for those wet and/or freezing days when you want to effect speedy changes you’ll be glad you brought it along.

The valve switches between Presta and Schrader, and once locked in place it stays there while you flip the foot out to anchor the whole thing while you pump.

The handle is comfy with good grip and together with the aluminium barrel it has the least tiring action of any pump we've tested.

Now we know there’s a pressure gauge, but we’re not fans – the thumb test is good enough trailside and it just adds weight and expense.

Overall though, this is very well made with well considered details like the rubberised grip and locking handle. This is a long-term favourite of ours and when you’re loading up the pack for a long day, the Turbo Morph offers you an element of reassurance.

To the BikeRadar review

Road.cc Reviews the MTX Trunk DryBag

4 Stars! Impressive bag with excellent detailing, you do need a dedicated Topeak rack.

Topeak’s MTX waterproof trunk bag is brilliantly designed and a delight to use when paired with the brand’s range of compatible carriers thanks to solid construction and the clever patented quick track mounting system, combining limpet like security and effortless release. Extensive internal padding gives perishables a sporting chance of surviving rutted roads and bridle path alike but I’d stop short of risking cameras and other sensitive electrical equipment. The LED tab could also be improved and incompatibility with other brands of carrier might also be a turn off.

Heavy-duty 300/600-denier sonic welded polyester construction is built to last, offering excellent water repellence-even directing a jet of water from a garden hose over the bag for several minutes hasn’t revealed any weaknesses, so it came as no surprise to find the contents bone dry after several hours riding in torrential rain. 12.1litre capacity is certainly generous (although Carradice offers a 13 litre cotton duck model), the main compartment swallowing tubes, lunch, lightweight waterproof, energy bars, multi tools and pretty much anything else you’d want close to hand on day/training rides. However, some long shackle U locks proved a tight fit.

Two side pockets with reflective strips make convenient stash points for keys, cash/coins/ mobile phones/passports etc while the zippers are easily operated wearing winter-weight full-finger winter gloves. Now to the quick track system, this is basically a bracket at the bag’s base, which slides into the carrier’s top-plate guttering while the large yellow clamp locks securely around the looped top rail. Come time for removal simply squeeze the bracket and slide off. Padded shoulder straps mean it’s both comfortable and convenient off the bike too.

Verdict: Impressive bag with excellent detailing, albeit requiring a dedicated Topeak Rack.

To the road.cc review

Road.cc Reviews the Topeak Super Tourist DX rack

4 Stars! Well designed rack for everything bar expedition use.

Topeak’s Super Tourist DX rack is something of a design classic, continuing Topeak’s tradition for keenly priced and innovative products. The super-tourist certainly manages to be most things to most riders. A 25Kg maximum payload should be enough for all but kitchen sink tourists, let alone commuters and weighing a reassuring 700g, it should satisfy all but the most particular of Audax competitors. Stick with steel for expedition touring though as aluminium is much harder to repair by the roadside.

Sturdy 10.2mm 6061 aluminium rods are neatly TIG welded to provide a strong and moreover rigid platform. Dedicated pannier rails positioned beneath the top frame overcomes compatibility woes with trunk bags and make the whole un/loading process a lot simpler, while still offering adequate heel clearance on smaller framesets.

Elsewhere, the splashguard/top plate incorporates clever guttering designed for use with the firm’s integrated quick track retention system, meaning dedicated trunk bags slot into the guttering and lock firmly around the looped top-rail. However, it accommodates more conventional Velcro types just as securely. The comprehensive stainless steel fitting kit makes for corrosion free, almost universal compatibility with framesets ranging from 14 to 25 inches, although mounting to wishbone seat-stays can still present a few challenges. Resin LED mounts provide surprisingly secure tenure for both dynamo and battery lamps but a little thread lock is good insurance.

My own has seen 18 months continuous, trouble free service with no obvious signs of fatigue. Even the glossy powder coat finish hasn’t tired despite constant attachment and removal of Klick fix luggage, the beefy tubes being just the right diameter for most brands to date. Binding electrical tape around the main contact points is an inexpensive means of extending the racks’ life further but crucially aluminium doesn’t have nearly the same fatigue life as steel so avoid habitually laying a heavily laden bike on the pannier frame at rest stops.

Verdict: Well designed rack for everything bar expedition use

 

To the road.cc review

MountainBike Magazine (Germany) readers voted Topeak the Best Brand for 2009!

In the annual market report from MountainBike magazine Germany, Topeak brand was voted the Best Brand for Pumps and Tools.

In the Pump category Topeak placed 1st over all brands with an impressive vote score of 57%.  

In the Tool category Topeak placed 1st over all brands with an astounding vote score of 70.8% – a total percentage of almost double the score of the second placed brand! 

We would like to thank all of our mountain biking customers for voting and making us the leading brand in Pumps and Tools!

 

 

 

 

RoadBike Magazine (Germany) readers voted Topeak the Best Brand in Tools for 2009!

In the annual market report from RoadBike magazine Germany, Topeak brand was voted the Best Brand for Tools.

In the Tool category Topeak placed 1st over all brands with an amazing vote score of 59.8% – almost double the score of the second placed brand! 

We would like to thank all of our road biking customers for voting and making us the leading brand in Tools!

 

BikeRadar reviews the Alienlux rear red light – 3.5 Stars!

What's not to like about an illuminated alien head? Press its forehead and two LEDs shine out of the eyes and skin; press again and they flash.

Visibility isn’t as good as more prosaic LED lights and it’s not BS6102/3 approved so legally it’s an auxiliary light, but it looks cool.

It runs for 60 hours steady or 100 flashing on two CR2032 batteries (supplied). A Velcro strap fixes it to your seatpost, but it fits better on a seatpack or saddlebag tab. Also available in black, green, pink and white, but not grey…

To the BikeRadar review

Bike Geek reviews the TrunkBag DXP

Bike Geek Blog has been using our TrunkBag DXP for some time now. The following is a full report about what the "Geek" liked about this versatile bag.

Product: Topeak Trunkbag DXP

Rating: * * * * * (5 out of 5 stars) : Outstanding!

I've used Topeak's Trunkbag DXP bicycle bag now for six months and everytime I fill this bag to the gills with groceries or work clothes for commuting, I'm impressed.

Every time.

So impressed that I feel compelled to take a photograph of the latest bunch of things I've managed to fit in this bag.

Here is what makes Topeak's DXP bicycle bag a winner. As you're about to see, it's not a short list of kudos!

• Topeak's QuickTrack system rules! The bottom of this bag slides into a track on my Topeak Explorer bicycle rack and snaps securely to the rack. This bag isn't going anywhere and it becomes ONE with the bicycle rack. No velcro straps (although it has those too for folks that don't have the Explorer rack) and no stability issues with the bag in the event you decide to attack that hill on the way home and jump out of your saddle.

• The saddlebags or panniers fold up and zip close so that they're out of the way when you don't need them. That adds some nice versatility since there are times the cavernous center storage area provides plenty of carrying capacity.

• Reflective striping keeps you visible in low light. The bag has reflective striping all around it and has a nice long vertical stripe when the panniers are down and expanded.

• The cup holder on the end of the bag can store a few extra items or that huge 32 oz drink you just have to grab when you're almost done with your commute and you're parched!

• The cup holder on the rear of the bag provides an attachment point for a rear light.

• Just when you think you've run out of room, a zipper around the top of the bag opens the "two-stage" top that expands the height of the center section by at least two inches.

• The denier nylon construction continues to hold up well despite what the elements have thrown at it.

On a recent grocery store trip I carried the following items and had room to spare: 2 boxes of cereal, 2 boxes of heat packs, bag of bagels, 4 bananas, six-pack of Jello, bag of coffee, box of cream cheese and a couple of boxes of medicine.

Small grocery store runs are very possible with this bag and the 1,220 cubic inches of storage can be a blessing to bicycle commuters.

But enough talk! Check out these photos so you'll see for yourself how the Topeak DXP Trunkbag expertly handles your storage needs and dramatically increases the utility of your bicycle.

 

Bike Geek Blog

 

Bikeradar reviews the Topeak Ratchet Rocket. 4 1/2 Stars!

If you prefer the idea of fitting a multi-tool to your bike instead of keeping it in your back pocket then the Ratchet Rocket is the answer. It comes with mounting brackets that fit onto any tube, or it can be attached to a pair of bottle cage bosses.

The top peels back to reveal a line of Allen key sockets, though the omission of an 8mm key means that you will have to rely on your home toolkit for fixing pedals, and the 6mm Allen key isn’t deep enough for Shimano Dura-Ace top bolts.

There’s also no spoke key. Otherwise, the Ratchet Rocket handled the 10-speed chain test superbly, although you have to be careful not to overtighten small Allen key screws as there’s far more leverage on offer here than with the other tools on test. You also get a pair of aluminium tyre levers into the bargain.

Go to the review

 

Test Winner: ALiEN DX

Within the (4/08) edition of "Aktiv Radfahren"-Magazine in Germany, eleven multitools with chain-riveters were tested and compared.

Topeak shows with ALiEN DX, the most fully featured Minitool with chain-riveter. Nearly everything can be repaired with this multifunctional tool.

The ALiEN DX is very sophisticated and receives the very popular "Premium-Klasse-Tipp" of "Aktiv Radfahren"-Magazine.

 

Test Winner: The Mini 6

Within the (3/08) edition of "MountainBIKE"-Magazine in Germany the silent companions were tested: Mini tools and Mini pumps. The Germans call it "sehr gut"

Thankfully they only come into play not too often, when you got a technical problem. But then they need to be reliable. The test was on the lightweight models and the powertools in pocket format.
The Mini 6 from Topeak convinced the tester for good ergonomics and rock solid quality of the product. Forces up to 15 Nm could be handled easily by the little helper.The tool could claim a "sehr gut" (engl.: "very good") and the test winner badge. 

Editors choice: The Mt. Rocket AL

Another "Sehr gut" (engl.: "very good") and a buying recommendation (German: "Kauftipp" ) for the Mt. Rocket AL. What more can you seek for?

Top companion for racing and touring.
Thank you "MountainBike". The Tester were very pleased with the quality of the product.

Test Winner: Hexus / Hummer

Within the (3/08) edition of "MountainBIKE"-Magazine in Germany the silent companions were tested: Mini tools. The classic compact tool is still state of the art.