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KranX F-170 - 17 Function Multi Tool

7
£19.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Well-priced multi-tool that has the main bits you'll need out on the road or trail
Good range of tools
Tolerances are tight
Chain splitter is a bonus
Tools aren't the easiest to fold out
Watch out for corrosion
Weight: 
199g

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The Kranx F-170 17 Function Multi Tool has pretty much all of the tools you need for roadside repairs, and they are of a good quality too. It folds down relatively small, and for the tools on offer it's not a bad price either. Check out our guide to the best bike multi tools for more options and get the right bits to fix your bike's bits.

I've tested various Kranx products recently, and my overriding impression is that it's decent quality stuff, with a focus on low prices – and that's a fair representation of the F-170.

> Buy now: KranX F-170 for £19.99 from Buy A Bike

It's not the smoothest in operation, and while the tools fold down reasonably flat for storage, it's not overly neat and tidy; the overall finish has a feeling of function over form.

2022 KranX F-170 - 17 Function Multi Tool - folded.jpg

None of this is a major criticism. It might not be the nicest to hold, or the most beautiful to look at, but when you're stuck at the side of the road or trail with a mechanical you'll be thankful that the F-170 is functional.

You get pretty much all of the main tools required for quick fixes, including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm hex keys. That's a full 8mm key, too, none of your little magnetic extender to slip over the 6mm and get lost in the grass when you really need it.

There is also a T25 Torx key to suit the bolts found on many stems these days, and you get both a flat and Phillips screwdriver.

You also get a five-sided spoke key, a chain extractor tool with a fold-out handle, and a metal tyre lever which, to be honest, I'd only be using in emergencies on carbon fibre rims.

The tolerances are good on the tool ends, with each of the hex keys, Torx and screwdrivers fitting tightly in the slots of various bolts, which will stop rounding off, especially on softer heads.

The chain extractor tool is a bonus, too; it isn't the most comfortable to use with its narrow handle, but it is effective and is compatible with 9 to 12-speed chains.

> Beginner’s guide to bike tools—get all the vital gear for basic bike maintenance

Weight-wise we are talking 199g, which aids its solid and reassuring build quality. You do need to watch out for corrosion, though. If it sees road spray from salty surfaces then you can start to see rust appearing. I kept it in a saddlebag, and over time it developed a rusty sheen from road spray and salt getting in. I then left it in a tub of salt water at home to speed up the process and the rust took hold quite quickly.

At just £17.99, though, it is a relative bargain compared with some. The Lezyne RAP II 19 CO2 that I tested last year has a couple more tools, with some differing selections, including that CO2 inflator, but it costs £32.

And though it covers the basics, Giant's ToolShed 13 multi-tool is much smaller, with shorter tools, and it's a quid more. Emma reviewed the Toolshed 13 in 2021.

Conclusion

The F-170 is a hardwearing tool that has the majority of the bases covered for trailside repairs. It's not perfect, but it won't let you down.

Verdict

Well-priced multi-tool that has the main bits you'll need out on the road or trail

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road.cc test report

Make and model: KranX F-170 - 17 Function Multi Tool

Size tested: 17 function multi-tool

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

From distributor Bob Elliot:

17 function multi-tool

Suitable for trail and road

I'd say the Kranx multitool is well specced for the money, and the tools are manufactured to a tight tolerance.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Bob Elliot:

2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6, 8mm hex key wrench

flat / phillips screwdriver

torx: t25

5 sided spoke wrench including Shimano 4.3mm & mavic

chain rivet extractor

tyre lever

9-12 speed compatible

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Good tight tolerances, which'll reduce damage to bolts etc.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

A full 8mm hex bit included.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The metal tyre lever needs some care to use on expensive wheel rims.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's well priced, highlighted by the competition mentioned in the review.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A belt and braces approach to a multi-tool, but it has all of the bits typically required and it's solidly built.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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