Best torque wrenches for bikes 2023: what to buy and how to use them

Everything you need to know about torque wrenches for bikes: what they are, how to use them, why they're important and our reviews of the best

Torque wrenches tested by Cycling Weekly
(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

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Torque wrenches for bikes are an invaluable tool if you're doing any maintenance at home - whether that's routine part replacement or any adjustments to your touchpoints as part of a DIY bike fit. The ideal torque wrench for you depends upon your expected frequency of use and the variety of components you're intending to adjust. 

Torque wrenches for bikes come in two types: preset torque keys, which have a fixed torque value, usually 5Nm or 6Nm, and adjustable torque wrenches, which either let you set the torque figure you want to achieve or have a gauge built in which tells you when you've reached the correct torque value. 

If your usage is limited to adjusting saddle height or fitting new handlebars, you'll probably be fine with a present 5Nm unit. Many bikes use 4mm Allen key bolts for small parts, so you may even only need the one bit.

If you're going to be getting a little more involved – such as changing bottom brackets or perhaps fitting an expensive set of power meter pedals – then look to invest a little more in a 'proper' ratchet set.

If you're not sure what a torque wrench is or why you need one, check out our buyer's guide at the bottom of the page. But first, here is our pick of the best preset and adjustable torque wrenches for bikes – with a short review of each (in no particular order).

The best torque wrenches for bikes

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Image shows: Lifeline Essential Torque Set

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

1. LifeLine Essential Torque Wrench Set

Best adjustable torque wrench on a budget

Specifications

Bits included: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm hex, plus 5mm L (long); T20, T25, T30 Torx
Torque range: 2-24Nm

Reasons to buy

+
Good value
+
Very tactile and satisfying to hold 
+
Simple to set and adjust level of torque 
+
Well presented in carry case 
+
Good range of bits 

Reasons to avoid

-
Torque setting dial only shows even numbers, so odds – especially 5Nm – are a bit of an estimate 
-
Plastic case feels a bit flimsy 

The Lifeline Essential Torque Wrench set is a simple, yet effective, and very tactile torque tool that will do most (small) tasks that the average home bicycle mechanic is likely to take on. 

There aren’t any sockets, so you won’t be adjusting any cassettes or bottom brackets with this kit, but it will see you right for jobs such as realigning disc brakes and correctly tightening stems – the two tasks I immediately put this set to work on.

The Lifeline’s box looks the part but I would wonder if the slightly cheap feeling plastic will survive the usual travails of being piled in with a load of other tools in a shed or workshop; the outer feeling a bit flimsy.

Even so, the kit looks the part when you open it up and the main body of the tool is very satisfying to hold. Its tactile nature had me testing the torque of multiple bolts on my bike just to be able to use it again.

The torque setting is set by twisting the bottom of the handle and watching the little red indicator move to the desired number. Those numbers are only even, so there’s an element of estimation for odd numbers – and many bolts require 5Nm.

With an RRP of $47.99 / £39.99  and a current price of $39.99 / £34.99 on Wiggle, this is a very worthwhile investment for any budding bicycle mechanic looking to avoid stripping the thread on any more bolts.



Image shows: Park Tool TW5.2 Small Clicker Torque Wrench in its case

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

2. Park Tool TW5.2 Small Clicker Torque Wrench

Best adjustable torque wrench for workshop quality at home

Specifications

Bits included: None
Torque range: 2-14Nm

Reasons to buy

+
High quality tool 
+
Very tactile handle 
+
Easily selected torque increments of 0.4Nm
+
Easy to use push-and-twist torque selector
+
Good weight to the tool 
+
Switch between left and right threaded bolts 

Reasons to avoid

-
It doesn't come with bits as standard, so factor that into your budget and invest accordingly

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.

Image shows: Park Tool TW5.2 Small Clicker Torque Wrench

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

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 didn’t come with the test sample, so search those out 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 actually 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. Most probably my favourite in this whole list.



Image shows: Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza Torque Wrench

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

3. Effetto Mariposa GiustaForza Torque Wrench

Best adjustable torque wrench for hard-to-get-to bolts

Specifications

Bits included: None with test sample but ‘deluxe’ version comes with: 10x25mm – 2, 2.5, 3, 6mm hex, T10, T15, T20, T30 Torx -3/16, +PH1; 3x100mm – 4, 5mm hex, T25
Torque range: 2-16Nm

Reasons to buy

+
Workshop grade with a hard-anodised finish
+
Easy to set with a small head for small spaces
+
Fifteen bits supplied for magnetic head
+
Simple, accurate winder to select torque level 
+
Good gripper on bottom half of the handle 

Reasons to avoid

-
Bits not included as standard
-
Pricey

This is a high quality, high price torque wrench. The weight and feel hint towards its high end 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 learnt 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.



Image shows: Topeak D-Torq Wrench DX

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

4. Topeak D-Torq Wrench DX

Best adjustable torque wrench for wide range with digital precision

Specifications

Bits included: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15mm sockets; ½” drive adapter; bit adapter; crosshead screwdriver; T25, T30, T40 Torx; 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm hex
Torque range: 4-80Nm

Reasons to buy

+
High precision 
+
Digital screen for easy view and accuracy 
+
Wide torque range, 4-80Nm 
+
Good selection of bits and adapters 
+
Heavy duty, long handle makes it easy to use 
+
It beeps when you reach the set torque 
+
Great storage case 

Reasons to avoid

-
It doesn’t click off as decisively as other tools, so you are more reliant on reacting to the beep when you reach the desired torque
-
The beep is welcome for torque but very annoying when it beeps every time you press a button 
-
Requires batteries (included but will need replacing over time, obviously) 

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 mean 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 bicycle mechanic task.

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 you are reliant on reacting to the beep rather than the tool clicking off like many other torque tools.

Image shows: Topeak D-Torq Wrench DX in closed case

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

The beep is good when you reach the preset torque level, but is highly irritating when it beeps every single time you press 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.



Image shows: Ritchey Torque Key Set, 4Nm and 5Nm

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)
Joint-best preset torque wrench for multi-applications

Specifications

Bits supplied: 3, 4, 5mm hex; T20, T25 Torx; crosshead screwdriver
Torque range: 4Nm or 5Nm (one per tool)

Reasons to buy

+
Simple 
+
Small enough to take along with you 
+
Sleek storage of bits 
+
Feels robust 

Reasons to avoid

-
Only has a single setting (4Nm or 5Nm)
-
Not the easiest to hold due to its size and shape
-
Bits can be difficult to extract 

The Ritchey Torque Key Set – tested here in both 4Nm and 5Nm preset versions – is a compact tool for workshop use that could also go in a handlebar bag to take along on longer trips, if you think it might be needed.

The six bits are housed around the central barrel of the tool, where one at a time is inserted for use. The tool is held between your thumb and forefinger when tightening bolts, a grip that isn’t as easy to wield as some of the longer handled options seen elsewhere in this guide.

When reaching the torque level – 4Nm or 5Nm depending on the tool, but only one torque setting per tool – the click is obvious and you know you’ve reached the limit. 

This is a tool that does what it needs to without frills or fanfare, that will fit into a bar bag just as well as it’ll slot into toolbox.



Image shows: Topeak Nano Torqbar DX

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

6. Topeak Nano TorqBar DX

Best preset wrench for portability

Specifications

Bits supplied: 3, 4, 5mm hex; T20, T25 Torx
Torque range: 4, 5 and 6Nm – dictated by which fitting is used

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight
+
Aesthetically pleasing 
+
Tactile 
+
Feels well made 
+
Clever system for changing between the three torque levels – 4, 5, 6Nm
+
Nimble little case to hold the bits and torque adapters 

Reasons to avoid

-
A lot of plastic in the packaging 
-
It’s a bit difficult to extract the bits from the case 
-
Handle and bit box cannot be attached to each other so could get separated 

This is a small and handy torque tool that looks good and is satisfying to hold. There are three adapters included to give either 4, 5 or 6Nm of torque. Into the chosen one of these adapters you add the required hex or Torx fitting to tighten the desired bolt.

The hex and Torx bits can also fit directly into the handle – this is for the purpose of loosening bolts. As with most torque wrenches, it is only designed to measure torque in one direction and should not be used to loosen bolts. 

The instructions that come with the Topeak Nano Torqbar DX very clearly state that using one of the ‘TorqBits’ for loosening will damage the tool (and void the warranty).

Image shows: Topeak Nano Torqbar

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

The handle is well designed and the small carry case for the bits is sleek, however, the two parts do not attach to each other and so could easily get separated in a toolbox, shed or bikepacking bag. This can be remedied to a certain extent by storing the two most-used bits inside the handle.

This is a good little tool but with a couple of points on which it could be improved.



Image shows: Park Tool Adjustable Torque Driver ATD 1.2

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

7. Park Tool Adjustable Torque Driver (ATD) 1.2

Best adjustable wrench for compactness

Specifications

Bits included: 3, 4, 5mm hex; T25 Torx
Torque range: 4-6Nm

Reasons to buy

+
Clever in-handle storage of spare bits 
+
Easy to adjust torque settings 
+
Very satisfying clunk when you reach desired torque level 
+
Feels very robust 

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited number of bits 
-
A bit bulky to fit in the fiddliest bolts  

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 in 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 easy to use: a good addition to anyone’s tool kit.



Image shows: Topeak Combotorq Wrench and Bit Set

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)

8. Topeak Combotorq Wrench and Bit Set

Best adjustable torque wrench for occasional use

Specifications

Bits included: 3, 4, 5, 6mm hex; T25 Torx
Torque range: 3-12Nm

Reasons to buy

+
All in one with bits stored in handle 
+
Simple to use 
+
You can see what torque a bolt is on rather than just the binary yes/no of whether it’s at the set level 
+
Easy to hold and therefore easy to use 

Reasons to avoid

-
May not be as accurate as more high-tech options 
-
Limited number of bits 

The best part of this tool – and it’s pretty good overall – is the storage of the bits in the handle, keeping the whole thing as one (so long as you return the bits to their berths once finished with).

The needle pointing at a written torque range is fairly basic compared to some other tools reviewed here, including one from the same brand, but this also offers the chance to see what torque any given bolt is on rather than the binary measure of whether it’s on a specifically set torque level or not.

The handle, which stores the bits, is easy to hold and therefore easy to use. This is a basic but effective way to torque up your bolts to the right level and avoid any overtightening.



Image shows: Silca T Ratchet + Ti Toque Kit

(Image credit: Jack Elton-Walters)
Best adjustable torque wrench for portability

Specifications

Bits included: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6mm hex; T10, T20, T25 Torx; crosshead screwdriver
Torque range: In ranges: 0-3-5Nm, 0-2-6NM, 0-4-8Nm

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic carry case 
+
Highly portable 
+
Changeable handle to suit tight and fiddly bolt positions 
+
Dynamic torque measurements rather than present clicks 

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricy
-
Despite its appearance and cost, the handle parts feel like they don’t quite fit perfectly together with some wobble rather than an assured fit 

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 mean 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.

You can read a previous full review of the Silca T Ratchet + Ti Torque Kit here.