Silca T-Ratchet Kit + Ti-Torque Kit

The Silca T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque kit is a beautifully made, superlight, and multi-functional set of tools, made to the highest quality. The US brand is renowned for making tools of the highest quality, with expertly finished components that are aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing. The type of things you might give as a gift, or treat yourself to, and keep in the cleanest part of your workspace, far away from the greasy rags and lubes that perform the grunt work on your drivetrain. The T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque kit very much continues this trend.

Many of you reading this will have carbon fibre bike frames, and when working on them it's essential to have quality tools to ensure you're not rounding off bolts or over-tightening components that could damage the expensive materials. Silca's tool set covers all eventualities here.

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There's a lot to say about this tool, as it does so much. By juggling around the four core parts of the system (a steel 72-tooth reversible ratchet, titanium torque beam, steel extension bit, and stainless steel handle extension), you have either a torque wrench or a ratchet, and these can be set up to work in either a T or an L-handled configuration. What's more, if using the setup as a ratchet, the 10 removable bits provided in the set can be inserted directly into the ratchet system, or into the extension bit, giving you either a very short reach or a longer tool. As a result, every awkward nook and cranny of the bike is accessible, with not even the most awkward component left out of bounds.

All the various parts of the tool are held together though magnetic interfaces. This sounds like it may be prone to failure, but the connection achieved is tight and secure – there's no risk of a part becoming disconnected as you apply force to it. The only part of the tool that is not magnetised is the ratchet port, which operates on a clip spring mechanism. Again, this offers a very firm connection that is so tight it is bordering on difficult to disengage. On first fiddle with the tool, I was initially concerned that I'd done something wrong as pulling the pieces out of the ratchet port proved so tough (also due in part to my typically scrawny cyclist arms, no doubt). However, I'd prefer the connection to be too tight than loose – the latter could result in the tool slipping, and damage being done to valuable components.

Ten bits are included in the set: six hex keys ranging from 2mm to 6mm in size, T10, T20 and T25 torx keys, and a PH2. As such, all your needs out on the road or when re-assembling your bike after packing it away for a holiday or race are covered. The bits are made of hardened steel, mitigating the risk of you rounding bike bolts or, indeed, the bits themselves.

The titanium torque beam is based on an internal spring, which means that rather than setting the torque to a predetermined amount and hearing a click on achieving the correct pressure (the method by which many torque wrenches work), you instead have to keep a beady eye on the Nm readings printed on the barrel of the tool. There is a risk of over-tightening a bolt, but with due care and attention, and slowly and gently applying torque, you should be fine. On playing around with the tool, I did find it took a couple of goes at getting the exact correct torque without overdoing it, but you quickly pick up the knack. The wrench will measure between 2Nm and 8Nm, which covers all the areas of the bike that you are likely to need to tighten to a set pressure, such as handlebar faceplates, stems and seatposts.

In any of the configurations, the kit is an absolute pleasure to use, with rubber rings around the handles to provide grippy elements, and bevelled parts to provide an extra element of texture. The sizes of all the handles feel just right, and the option to set it up in a T or L shape means you're never struggling for grip or accessibility.

With this kit, you don't just get high quality tools but also a beautiful waxed canvas cloth case to keep it all in. The case has small compartments for the various elements of the torque and ratchet system, as well as for all the bits. The case is magnetically sealed, meaning that it snaps shut and is kept nice and compact and will fit into a jersey pocket.

However, while Silca intends this to be a portable, do-it-all toolset, on a ride I would opt to carry the basic mini-tool that stays stashed in my saddle bag. Roadside fixes can be carried out in a quick and dirty way, with complex manoeuvres like careful torqueing and awkward adjustments – the type you would use the Silca kit for – being carried out at home. This kit just feels too nice to cart around on a ride, and instead would sit in an elevated place among my box of tools, more like a display piece.

As part of the design and intention is that the kit be taken out on the road, Silca has made the kit superlight: a mere 230g including the case. Given this weeniness, and the compact size, it makes a brilliant travel accessory; it will fit in a bike box without taking up valuable weight for all the heavy nutrition you're going to carry that will offset all the super-expensive lightweight components you've bought.

Of course, this level of quality comes at a price. At £100, this isn't a piece you're going to buy on a whim or as a last-minute impulse purchase before a trip away. It's more likely something that you'd buy as the centrepiece of your home workshop, or as a present for that special cyclist in your life (i.e. yourself).

> Read our beginner's guide to bike tools

To compare the Silca T-Ratchet and Ti Torque set against market competition is quite difficult at it covers so many niches of the tool spectrum. If you're looking for a quality multi-tool to take on the road, Lezyne's 11-piece SV offers great quality and performance for £36.99. If you're on the lookout for a super-high quality set of tools to keep at home or travel with, Silca also offers this HX-One set with a greater range of bits, but at a more costly £120, and with no torque meter.

If you just want a torque wrench, there's something for all budgets, from Lifeline's £27.50 option to the £99.99 Pro set.

To sum up, this Silca toolset is an excellent piece of kit and a joy to use. It's almost faultless in its design and looks to have the quality to last the test of time. At £100 a pop, the price is a little prohibitive, but for tools that are going to be used for working on your pride and joy, sometimes, more is more.

Verdict

The Silca tool set is a super-high-quality piece of kit that is well worth the (big) investment