Take a look at your bike. If it’s fitted with a seatpost, a stem or a pair of handlebars, then you should almost certainly own a torque wrench for bikes. Even more essential for anyone with any carbon componentry, like a fork steerer or integrated seat clamp. Even bicycle component comes with a recommended torque for fittings and fastening; over-tightening can risk damaging expensive parts. Not tightening enough could cause a failure, which puts you at risk of an accident.
But what specifically is a torque wrench? Simply put, it is a tool for two purposes: tightening bolts and ensuring they are tightened to the correct level of tension. The best torque wrenches, such as our best overall, the Park Tool TW5.2, remove the guesswork, allowing you to make adjustments with confidence and generally maintain your bike with precision. Given the expense of bicycle components, it’s a sound investment.
There is a considerable range of wrenches, which ultimately all achieve the same outcome. Still, seemingly all do it in a very different way, making choosing the right one perhaps not as straightforward as it might seem. Fortunately, I’ve tested many wrenches and have selected a variety of the best performers for this guide, ensuring to include preset torque keys, adjustable offerings, those that are more portable and some that are better suited for dedicated workshop use.
The quick list
The classic-looking Park Tool TW5.2 performs superbly and would make a worthwhile addition to any home workshop. It's easy to use, with simple-to-adjust torque settings in 0.4Nm increments. Just be aware that bits aren't included.
The Prestacycle TorqRatchet Pro may be the only torque tool you’ll need, both in and out of the workshop. At just 28grams and 13cm/5.2" long, it's ideal for a jersey pocket but packs enough grunt to do most jobs on a bike.
Supplied with a comprehensive set of bits and offering a torque range of 4-80Nm, the D-Torq Wrench DX will cover everything on a bike. The digital readout provides a clear display and is accompanied by audible beeps.
A minimalist option that is very bike-specific, the Adjustable Torque Driver only has a 4- 6Nm range and four bits, which are housed in the handle. For 90% of jobs, this is all you need.
Easy to carry on any adventure thanks to its neat case, the Lezyne Pocket Torque Drive covers all the options that you are likely to need out on a ride. It's not really intended for regular workshop use, though; there are better options for that.
I have found the most effective tools in my workshop are ones that work, need little setup and are always to hand. Prestacycle’s Pro TorqKeys ticks most of those and more.
Load the next three models
I found the Wera 7515 particularly impressive, with a simple design and innovative features like the thumb-operated selector and the over-torque stop mechanism set this apart. I never knew I needed a torque screwdriver, but I do now.
The Effetto Mariposa Torque Wrench has a premium weight and feel to it, comes with 15 bits, and I felt in testing that it was very easy to set even in tight spaces. As such, it is ideal for those awkward bolts, although it does come with a premium price.
The Silca T Torque kit is classic Silca, with an over-the-top finish that makes it stand out. It boasts the best carry case of any we have tested, making it ideal for a saddlebag or bikepacking bag and covers pretty much everything you need.
The best torque wrenches for bikes as reviewed by Cycling Weekly
Best torque wrench for bikes
When you picture a torque wrench, the Park Tool TW5.2 Small Clicker may well be what you imagine. What’s more, as you’d expect from Park Tool, it looks and feels like a quality piece of kit too.
The lower handle is ergonomically shaped for a comfortable and confident grip, while the very bottom of the handle is where you set the torque level. This is done with an easy-to-use push-and-twist selector that moves in increments of 0.4Nm. The current torque level is displayed on a clear screen within the handle.
The ratchet itself can be switched for standard and reverse threads, with the usual thumb button to release bits (when you’ve got them).
Bits aren't included, so search out the appropriate sizes and buy them at the same time to make this tool usable. That is unless, of course, you've got another set of bits available to you. Luckily for me and this review, I had the Topeak D-Torq Wrench DX in my toolbox and its bits are cross-compatible with the Park Tool TW5.2 Small Clicker Torque Wrench.
This allowed me to use the tool and find that it works as well as it looks like it should. To be clear: it works very well.
A good quality and ergonomically pleasing tool that carries the quality you would expect from Park Tool. It is my favorite in this whole list.
Best budget torque wrench
If your wrenching is occasional, the Prestacycle TorqRatchet PRO may be the only torque tool you’ll need, both in and out of the workshop. At 5.25 inches long and weighing just 68 grams, it’s been designed to live in your saddle bag or your jersey back pocket.
However, because it’s rated for 60Nm of total force and calibrated for 5,000 cycles of torque tightening, there’s no harm in keeping it ready for action in your workshop or shed. The slender silver and red body houses a torque beam mechanism, and there’s a thumb-wheel ratchet head at one end and a black knob-like handle at the other.
I found inserting bits in the ratchet head easy, and what’s more, they always stayed put thanks to the readily adjustable thumbwheel. Removal was just a matter of gently persuading bits out with a shove from my thumb. The ratchet is reversed by flicking a small switch.
In use, I found the knob-like handle slightly fiddly to grip, but that’s a minor complaint. As I circled my bike, checking various bolts as I went, I found the indicated values clear to arrive at and easy to read within the angled slot window. The TorqRatchet PRO is accurate from 2-10Nm, but reverse the ratchet and it’s suitable for 60 Nm, which is very useful for removing stubborn pedals and other components.
The black nylon wallet is well made and small enough to fit most jersey pockets, bar bags, top tube bags and saddlebags. The range of bits is extensive, and they’re all well-made and a snug fit.
Best digital torque wrench
This is a heavy duty tool for workshop use that goes way beyond the basic requirements of a torque tool. The range of sockets, hex, Torx and adapters means you could do pretty much any job on a bike – from cassette tightening to stem adjusting.
The large handle and heavier weight of the tool as a whole mean that this wrench is robust and feels capable of any mechanic task, whether it be on road bikes, gravel bikes and so on.
The digital display – powered by two AAA batteries, supplied – allows for highly precise torquing. When you reach your desired level it gives a loud beep to alert you. However, it doesn’t click off as decisively as other tools so I was reliant on reacting to the beep rather than the tool clicking off like many other torque tools.
The beep is good when you reach the preset torque level, but I found it highly irritating when it beeps every single time I pressed a button – there are a lot of increments, each with a beep when coming down from 80Nm to 4! If I was keeping the tool long-term I’d look into whether this could be turned off. Fingers crossed.
A decent tool overall, at home in the shed or workshop of anyone looking to take their home-based bicycle mechanics to the next level.
Best compact torque wrench
The Park Tool Adjustable Torque Driver ATD-1.2 is a basic, robust and easy-to-use torque wrench that will do what you need it to for most jobs, such as torquing up stems and tightening seat post bolts.
Its T-shape is easy to hold and wield, while the storage of the spare bits at one end of the horizontal part of the handle is a clever touch.
The best part of this torque tool is, arguably, the very satisfying clunk it gives when you reach the desired level of Newton Metres. Setting that level, across a range of 4 to 6Nm, at 0.5 increments, is done with the turn of a dial on the opposite end of the horizontal handle.
Simple, robust and simple: a good addition to anyone’s tool kit.
Most Portable
A compact tool in a small carry case that will fit in a jersey pocket or even attach to the bike in much the same way as a saddle bag, the Lezyne Pocket Torque Drive will be in my toolkit on my next touring trip.
Its strength could also be its weakness, where its set up is a bit fiddly as the handle and torque adjuster detach in order to fit in the case, but for on-the-fly adjustments this is fine.
You may look elsewhere if wanting to add to your home mechanic set up, but that’s not this tool’s target market anyway.
Like everything Lezyne, it looks and feels well-made and robust. A good addition to a handlebar bag for when you need to get those adjustments just right while riding a long way from home.
Best preset torque wrench
I find the most effective tool in my workshop is one that works, needs little setup and is always to hand. Prestacycle’s Pro TorqKeys don’t disappoint. They are everything you need in a preset torque driver and nothing you don’t. Value is good too; an entire set should fall within most budgets.
I particularly like the unmistakably solid ‘thunk’ that can be heard and felt when the tool reaches the appropriate torque value. Feedback like this is invaluable when working with carbon components.
The low-profile, colour-coded handles make selecting the correct tool child’s play, and they’re compact enough to reach some pretty tight spots. Bits stay in place too, even when knocked, because the shaft is magnetic.
Finally, and this is a significant bonus, it’s safe to use them counterclockwise (unscrew), provided you’re not trying to remove damaged, stuck or rusted-in bolts.
Best torque screwdriver
I’ve found the Wera 7515 arguably a handier solution for tightening bolts on my bikes than wrench-style torque tools. Five torque Nm settings are available: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, which is enough to cover most bases.
Selecting a value is simply a case of moving the scale with your thumb until the correct number appears in a small window. The final setting locks out the tool so it can be used as a regular screwdriver/wrench for unlimited tightening/loosening.
I found the Wera 7515 particularly impressive because the mechanism boasts a slip-over torque function, which means it’s impossible to tighten a bolt beyond the selected value. It also works, in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, which is rare.
Wera is a trusted brand that makes some of the best bits available. Sadly, none are included, but I recommend you place a set in your shopping basket.
Best adjustable torque wrench for awkward bolts
This is a high-quality, high-price torque wrench. The weight and feel hint towards its premium build, while the torque-selecting winder is a simple and accurate way to set the level of torque required.
The review sample came as the £160 version, that is to say: without bits. The lower half of the handle has a rough gripper so your hand won’t slip when in use – I learned this thanks to the Topeak D-Torq Wrench DX as the bits were cross-compatible.
For its size, the Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza Torque Wrench is a weighty torque wrench – and I highlight that as a positive, as it feels sturdy when in use and hints at longevity.
If you’re in the market for a high-quality torque wrench and you’ve got the budget, spend the extra and get the bit set – unless you've got another compatible set to hand already.
Most comprehensive portable option
The first thing to note about the Silca T Ratchet + Ti Torque Kit is its carry case. It’s a miniature tool pouch that easily fits in a jersey pocket, handlebar bag or pannier. It satisfyingly folds around itself and closes with two little magnetic poppers.
The main handle and torque part of the tool can be put together in several configurations which means it can get into tight spots where other tools may not be able to reach awkwardly positioned bolts.
Without the torque driver involved, the rest of the handle can be used to loosen off bolts – again in a range of configurations – saving the ratchet from damage.
For all its good looks, high-quality appearance and premium price tag, I was slightly disappointed with the wobbly feel when using the tool.
With the parts slotted together, you can feel the join between them, given away by a movement that I feel wouldn’t be there if each part was more precisely sized to slot together more snuggly.
In the end, it might not affect the way the tool does its job, but it certainly gave a slightly cheap feel to the whole thing.
How we test the best torque wrenches
Luckily, at Cycling Weekly, tinkering with bikes is part of the job description, so there is no shortage of opportunities to test the best bike tools. Despite all these torque wrenches doing the same basic job, they go about it in different ways and offer unique pros and cons.
Aspects such as portability, ease of use, construction and versatility have been considered when it came to assessing each tool. Then we get very granular with wrenches as well, testing function and accuracy against other torque wrenches. We ask questions and answer them in testing, such as how well bits fit into the tool, how the wrench feels to use, how positive the click is, how easy it is to over torque, how readable the scale is and so on.
For more information on how the Cycling Weekly team tests the best bike tools and cycling gear, visit our How We Test page.
Meet the testers
While Simon always likes to give fixing his bike a go, it doesn't always work out, which makes him the perfect candidate to test the best torque wrenches for bikes. Simon relies heavily on the trust torque wrench to ensure no incidents occur when maintaining his fleet of high-end road and gravel bikes.
Jack is a one-man tourist board for his beloved Isle of Wight, where he believes the best way to see the island is by bike. In between literally riding in circles around an island with less than 500miles of road, Jack likes to get stuck into bicycle tech. Jack has been one of Cycling Weekly's most frequent freelance contributors in recent years.
FAQs
What is a torque wrench?
A torque wrench is a tool used to tighten bolts to the correct level of tension. Tightness – or torque – is measured in Newton Metres (Nm), and most bike components have the appropriate level of torque expressed somewhere near the bolt. If not, they can often be found in installation and maintenance instructions on component and bike brands' sites.
Do I have to use a torque wrench?
It’s a good idea.
Not using a torque wrench puts you at risk of a bolt snapping, or indeed a delicate, carbon component giving way or being crushed under too much pressure. In the case of a handlebar or seastpost this can be dangerous, and if it’s proven that you’d overtightened a bolt and caused the fracture then your chances of a warranty claim could be voided.
Some at-home-mechanics might skip the torque wrench, in favor of adjusting bolts ‘on feel’. When you’ve tightened a lot of bolts, you’ll have a good idea of what 4Nm and 6Nm might feel like.
However, estimating torque can be a risky business and if it goes wrong, you’ve not got much hope of a warranty swap.
What types of torque wrench sets are available?
There are many different torque wrench styles – the basic option being a ‘beam torque wrench’ which measures flex in materials, and the top end choice being the electronic torque wrench which can be pre-set to a desired level and provides a downloadable history (handy evidence of due care).
The two most common styles used on bikes are 'click torque wrenches' and 'preset torque wrenches'.
A preset torque wrench looks much like a normal Allen key, with a handle. It will tighten the bolt to the ideal tension. These are light and easy to transport, as well as being highly accurate since they can’t be adjusted.
A click torque wrench often comes as part of a ratchet and socket set. These come with assorted bit ends, and the user selects the correct size piece and then sets the required torque level (often using a dial on the handle). The unit will make a ‘click’ noise when the correct torque is reached.
Having preset torque wrenches in 4-6Nm (the common tensions used on bikes) is a good idea. However, you’d be hard-pressed to have one for every ideal torque in the correct size, and they usually stop at around 10Nm – hence why you might need a click torque wrench if you’re doing more than just adjusting your saddle height.
What sizes of bits are most useful?
Obviously you want enough heads for all the bolts you might want to tackle. Many small bolts on bikes are 4mm hex, but T25 Torq bolts are increasingly popular as a replacement.
There's an array of different alternative bolt sizes used in headsets and stems, particularly proprietary designs, while things like chainset bolts tend to be a different size again.
Anything else I should look out for?
It's worth checking if the torque wrench you're looking at can be adjusted to provide the required torque in an anti-clockwise as well as the usual clockwise direction. Anything with a left-handed thread (pedals, bottom brackets) will require this and it's not necessarily standard in all industries.
In fact, using many torque wrenches 'the wrong way' can damage their mechanism and stop them from accurately gauging the level of torque. If the tool you've got does not do reverse thread, don't try and use it for reverse thread (or for loosening bolts).
Also, check that there's enough range for the jobs you expect to do. Most bike bolts need fairly low torque values, often around 5Nm and usually less than 10Nm, whereas if you're planning to tackle threaded bottom brackets, pedals and power meters you will probably need around 40Nm, which can be beyond the range of many torque wrenches intended for more delicate jobs. You probably don't want to have to buy two adjustable wrenches.