Granite Talon Reifenheber

I chose this Granite Talon ($12) over Wolf Tooth Pack Pliers ($33) because (A) this is made of stiff nylon (vs alum) as tire levers, and (B) they come apart to 2 pieces (easier when used as tire levers), and (C) 1/3 of the cost. I picked bright orange so not to be forgotten/lost on trail side. Prior to purchasing, I've read in reviews below that this item only works to squeeze/remove the master link but not to expand/install the master link (per not having the outside notches). For the price, I was eager to just Dremel out notches to shape it like Park Tool MLP-1.2 (or the Wolf Tooth for that matter). Fortunately, I tested (12spd/SRAM) and found out that it works just fine to expand/install the master link "as is" without any mod's: no slippage, no awkward difficulties. One minor mod I made was to add a small strip of magnet inside of a lever that holds master links (pic). The holes to hold master links are a bit on the loose side, and they'll just fall out when flipped. Easy mod/fix - no biggies. (There's enough depth inside a lever for a magnet strip without bottoming out against the other lever when put together.) I've also read that these don't "snap on" to each other, which is quite true, but that's fine because of the infrequency of the trail-side use of this tool just sitting in my pack. I did in fact try to mod it initially by adding another magnetic strip to magnetically snap them together (pic), but quickly decided to un-do it because (A) that made it almost worse (a master link would come off stuck to the magnet-mod lever when parting the levers), and (B) I couldn't make the magnet quite strong enough for the 2 levers to magnetically snap together, and (C) the included rubber band (x2 included) actually worked better than my magnet-snap idea especially when placed at the upper section just below the pin (pic) as indicted in the included instruction sheet. Simple yet quite effective! You just keep one rubber band there at all times; while stored in pack, and while converted into pliers. Just let the rubber band stretch when pulling apart the 2 levers, flip a lever, then put thru the pin together as a plier (& do the opposite while putting away). The rubber band doesn't not interfere with operating as pliers (pic); and just keep it on one lever when used apart as tire levers. Highly recommended!

After months in my bike tool kit sitting in the Texas sun the levers became brittle. They snapped on a stubborn link. I think they are of good design and they worked well for many months. The snapping of one lever was more my fault in that it truly was a stubborn link and required more than normal pressure to release even with steel removers. I think if I were touring or ridding in areas where I was isolated I would go for the same design but out of hardened steel.

I dont leave too many reviews but this is cool to have when traveling on a plane or just in your pack, since the tire levers are plastic its safe for carbon rims and they are sturdy as that function, then for chain pliers they are perfect and both those tools combine dont take up any extra space, its a plus that it holds an extra link. I looked at the wolf pliers and the multi tool. i love their stuff and it wasnt price that influenced my decision but based on other reviews it seemed like their bits fell out and it just bulked up the pack for other stuff i have in another tool. so with that said this is a great 3 in 1 tool. like someone else said you will want to keep the rubber bands near it or use velcro and add it to the tube strap the pin holds the 2 together descent as long as theres tension on the two.

It’s a handy little tool that works. I like the little storage cavity for carrying spare links. It’s sturdy, innovative, lightweight, precision made and it works! I wish I found this before buying dedicated link pliers. It would have saved me a few dollars.

I had a puncture while commuting to work. I used this tool to change the tire tube. I haven't changed a lot of tubes but this went smooth and quick. The tire levers definitely assisted in the changing of the tube. Great lightweight tool to carry.

Per title, had a chain issue on a long ride miles away from any convenient place to get picked up, much less a bike mechanic. Was able to use this to break the chain, put it in the right place, and re-attach it. Paid for itself with that one use. This is NOT a shop tool and it's not the most convenient or easy to use. Instructions would help, and only need to be one or two simple diagrams. But it does work, and most people aren't realistically going to carry the ordinary size chain pliers. For home shop use, get ordinary chain pliers made out of steel. Much easier to use.