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review
Tools - workshop
Birzman Chain Whip2024 Birzman Chain Whip - 1.jpg

Birzman Chain Whip

8
by George Hill
Mon, Nov 04, 2024 15:45
2
£34.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Sturdy and effective, if a little on the pricey side
Robust
Offers more than enough leverage
Fits basically every cassette
Expensive
Weight: 
361g
Contact: 
www.silverfish-uk.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Birzman Chain Whip is a simple and effective tool that offers more than enough leverage to remove stubborn lockrings. The added fixed sprocket wrench is a nice bonus, too.

There's not a huge amount to say about a chain whip – after all, there are effectively two small lengths of chain attached to a handle. In short, this Birzman model works very well and I was able to easily remove every sprocket lockring I tried it on without any issues.

If you've never used a chain whip, they work by having a short length of chain attached to the handle at both ends, then a longer piece of chain attached at only one end, with the other swinging free. You wrap the longer length around the cassette under tension and hold it in place by pressing the shorter length into the cassette, which allows you to hold it still with one hand while you loosen the locknut. It sounds complicated, but in reality is perhaps the simplest tool you can find for a bike.

Leverage & grip

The handle is 29.5cm long, which is shorter than other chainwhips I have used, but still offers more than enough leverage to hold a cassette firmly in place for even the tightest sprocket lockring.

Birzman has used hardened steel for the handle and there was no flex in it whatsoever; I can't see this thing failing for a very long time, if ever.

> Beginner’s guide to building your first bike tool set

The grip is made from thermoplastic rubber and is nice and thick, making it comfortable to hold even when putting a lot of force through it.

2024 Birzman Chain Whip - 3.jpg

The chains are long enough to get a good purchase. They are designed for use mid-cassette and I found there was never an issue getting them secured effectively.

I used it on 10 and 11-speed Shimano, 12-speed SRAM, and a vintage 7-speed cassette and had no issues with any of them; grip and leverage were good.

According to Birzman this is compatible with 5-12-speed, 3/32in, singlespeed, and Campagnolo 13-speed cassettes. If you can find a cassette outside of that range then you're doing well!

You can also use it to remove singlespeed lockrings (and some disc rotor lockrings if you're in a bind) thanks to the notched wrench on the underside, which is a nice touch.

Value & conclusion

You can certainly find cheaper chain whips, although if you shop around you can find this for around £20. Ice Toolz' Freewheel Turner Chain Whip, for example, is £13.95.

But it's not the most expensive out there – Park Tool's SR-12.2 Chain Whip is £45, and if you have money to burn there's Silca's titanium 3D printed chain whip for £240.

Overall, this is a very good tool – it's sturdy, effective and easy to use, even if it isn't the cheapest.

Verdict

Sturdy and effective, if a little on the pricey side

road.cc test report

Make and model: Birzman Chain Whip

Size tested: 295mm

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?

Birzman says: "The Chain Whip is an essential tool to have on hand, allowing quick removal and easy maintenance of 5-12 speed, 3/32" single speed and Campagnolo®13 speed cassette sprockets.

"The long TPR padded handle provides great comfort and leverage, and the hardened steel tool body also incorporates a fixed-gear lockring wrench."

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

From Birzman:

Functions

Compatible 5-12 speed, 3/32" single speed and Campagnolo® 13 speed cassette sprockets

Material

Hardened steel / TPR

Size

295mm

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Solid and unlikely to break any time soon.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10

I'm genuinely struggling to think of what I could to break it...

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10

Comfortable rubber handle.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

There are much cheaper chain whips – but equally, some premium brands' tools are much more expensive.

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

Very well – it made cassette removal a cinch.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Its robustness – I have been racking my brains to think how I could break it and am drawing blanks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It's not cheap.

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

You can get Ice Toolz' chain whip for £13.95 – but Park Tool's Chain Whip is £45, and Silca's titanium 3D printed chain whip is £240!

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

It's very good: it's not cheap (but a whole lot cheaper than some!), but it's a robust tool that is also easy and comfortable to use and compatible with basically every cassette.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: CAAD13  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

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

Birzman Chain Whip 2024
Birzman Chain Whip
Birzman 2024
Birzman
George Hill

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

Add new comment

2 comments

Avatar
thax1 | 1 month ago
0 likes

I managed to break the chain link on mine. (I assume it's the same product, mine came as part of a rather snazzy Birzman toolkit).

Great thing about this design is that you can just pop another bit of chain on. Felt rather smug that I'd kept a leftover bit after shortening a new chain 1

Avatar
ktache | 1 month ago
0 likes

For double that you can' get a Pedro's vise whip Ii.

Or half, the reportedly excellent decathlon thingy.

And Sigma has the Silca for only £150.

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