It might seem counter-intuitive, but buying the tools needed to work on your mountain bike is a great way to save money. Bikes require maintenance from time to time whether it’s a simple tune-up or replacing old components.
Investing in some specialized tools can save you in the long run. The good news is that you don’t need to buy all of them to be able to perform basic work. This minimalist guide will set you up with just enough to tackle the simple jobs without having to pay your local shop for service.
Plus, it can be a lot of fun to wrench on your own bike. Thanks to the internet, you can easily learn everything you need to know to handle these tasks. The following is what I would consider to be the bare minimum of tools you’ll need. You can always add more if you wish!
Tire pump
You’re going to need a tire pump, even if you don’t plan on doing any mechanical work on your bike. Tire tubes are made of rubber. Rubber is porous. Over time, your tires will deflate – even if they don’t have a leak.
A good tire pump with a built-in gauge will make airing up your tires quick and easy. Most of these will have both fittings for Presta and Schrader valves so you don’t need to fumble with any adapters. It’s a good idea to double-check your tire pressure every few rides. You might also want to experiment with different pressures to fine-tune the way your bike handles.
Tire levers
Eventually, you’re going to suffer a flat tire. It’s inevitable. Rather than moping your way into the bike shop to have them change your tire for you, it’s a lot quicker (and less embarrassing) to do it yourself.
Tire levers are really cheap to purchase and will come in handy every time you have a flat. There are a lot of cases where the sidewall of a tire is too stiff to be able to pull off of the rim with your bare hands.
The caveman approach might be to reach for a slot screwdriver but this is a terrible idea. It’s going to scratch your rim and run a very high risk of puncturing the very inner tube you just replaced. A plastic lever that’s designed for the job makes it safe and easy.
Gear brush
This is another good thing to have even if you don’t plan on wrenching on your bike. Keeping your gears and chain clean and lubricated will prolong their life and keep your bike running smooth and quiet. You don’t want it making noise, do you?
Using a basic gear brush with your degreaser of choice will allow you to remove all the crud and old grease from these components. Continuing to add lube to your chain without cleaning it every once in a while will cause a build-up to form. Giving it a quick once over then following up with chain lube is all it takes to stay on top of it.
Assorted Allen keys
You can tighten, replace, and adjust nearly everything on a modern mountain bike with a set of Allen keys (aka hex wrenches). If you’re planning on doing any type of maintenance to your bike, you’ll need a set of these, preferably from 2mm all the way up to 10mm.
There are different options when it comes to Allen keys. For the most part, it comes down to personal preference. The classic L shaped style will work on everything but can be a bit slow and cumbersome at times. A Y shaped 3 way handled tool combines 3 of the most common sizes and allows you to flip throughout them quickly with one hand. If you prefer to use a ratchet, you can buy hex head sockets for that.
You can never have too many – some jobs might require duplicates. So stock up on metric Allen keys whether you’re planning to replace parts or simply keep your mountain bike tuned up.
Assorted screwdrivers and wrenches
You’ll need a Philips screwdriver if you plan on tuning your derailleur. They have tiny set screws that you use to adjust their limits. A slot screwdriver might come in handy in some areas too.
A set of metric wrenches is a good thing to have around. I know I’m not supposed to recommend this, but in many cases, a specific pedal wrench isn’t required. As long as there’s enough clearance, a regular wrench will work.
No need to worry about buying brand name screwdrivers and wrenches from the bike companies if you don’t want to. Household tools will do the job just fine.
Chain tool
If you need to replace your chain, you’ll need one of these. Even if you have a master link, you’ll still have to be able to remove links in order to get the length right.
These tools make it easy to push the pin out of a link allowing you to break it apart. Make sure you don’t push the pin all the way out though – getting it back in is tough. That’s a lesson you learn once.
Chain whip and cassette tool
Since you’re going to be replacing your own chain, you might as well equip yourself to be able to replace the other wear items in your drivetrain too. A chain whip is a way to hold your cassette still while you loosen the lock ring with a cassette tool.
These are both specialized tools meant just for this job. If you want to remove your cassette either to clean it or replace it, you’ll need both.
Work stand
This isn’t required to work on your bike but it will make your life so much easier. These can be a bit pricey compared to the other tools mentioned here. I think it’s worth it to have your bike elevated and secure so you can focus on the task at hand. A stand will allow you to do the job properly and in much less time, so I highly recommend one.
Final word
I’ve gone from flipping my bike upside down and fixing it with basic household tools to working in a fully stocked professional shop. Now I’m somewhere in between with my own arsenal of the tools I need for my specific bikes at home.
The thing with a lot of these tools is that if you need to use them once, chances are you’ll need to use them again in the future. Components continually wear out on your bike. Cables will stretch over time knocking out your gears. Of course, a flat tire is bound to happen too.
Setting yourself up with these basic tools will give you enough to be able to check to make sure all your bolts are tight, tune your gears and brakes, replace your chain, chainrings, and cassette, along with many other parts.
In the future, you might need to purchase some more specific tools for certain jobs. But this should get you going in order to avoid a bunch of trips to the bike shop.
Tim is the founder of SimpleMTB and has been mountain biking for decades. He raced in the Ontario Cup series during his teenage years and riding continues to be one of his favorite hobbies now as an adult.
