SILCA T-RATCHET + TI-TORQUE KIT REVIEW

TRAVEL TOOLS WITH STYLE

When it comes to tightening bolts on our shred sleds, let’s face it, most probably just grab a trusty T-handle, give the bolt a good snug-up and continue on preparing to get back on the bike. I would be willing to bet very few of us actually torque any of the bolts down using a proper tool, after all, who actually owns a torque wrench that measures in nM? Now that we have the T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque Kit from SILCA, the excuse for not properly tightening our critical fasteners is gone.

For those that don’t know, Silca was founded in Italy back in 1917 by Felice Saachi and has specialized in making bicycle pumps and tools ever since. Silca was built on innovation, having more first’s than most bicycle tool manufacturers in world at that time. Silca was a family owned company for almost 100 years before it was sold to Joshua Poertner in 2013. A year after purchasing Silca, Joshua moved the headquarters and manufacturing facility to Indianapolis, Indiana, where Silca remains today.

THE LAB
Silca’s T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque Kit is one of the smallest multi-tools available with calibrated torqueing capabilities. The kit contains 13-pieces packed inside a neat and tidy duck waxed carrying case. There are Swiss S2 steel hex bits ranging from 2 – 6mm, a T10, T20 and T25 S2 Torx bits, as well as a 2mm S2 steel phillips head bit, all of which, are labeled very clearly. A 72-tooth precision ratchet with a convertible magnetic extension and most importantly a Ti-Torque Beam that is capable of measuring 2 – 8nM in three different scales means you can get to just about any bolt on your bike and ensure that it’s as tight as it needs to be without causing damage or possibly cracking your precious carbon accessories.

THE DIRT
One of the nicest things about this kit, aside from the superb tool machining quality, is that it packs away in such a small package. The duck waxed carrying case folds about to be the size of most wallets, allowing the tool kit to be carried in a pocket if needed. However, we preferred to keep it in the small pouch on our hydration packs. The kit does weigh in at 30 grams, which is a little heavier than some simpler multi-tools out there, but the added benefits outweigh the few extra grams in our opinion.

The ratchet offers crisp, clean clicks while providing smooth operation whether loosening or tightening hardware. The torque beam is easy to set up and use. While we pride ourselves on having some pretty calibrated fingers after years of tightening expensive carbon bits, it’s never a bad idea to take that extra step to ensure you haven’t overtightened your carbon handlebars, which could result in some less than ideal face plantage.

On the trail, the kit deploys quickly and easily thanks to the carrying case’s tidy organization. Simply pull the bit you need and slide it back into its home and off you go. No tricky folding, or needing to take your gloves off to pull sticky Allens out of tight crevices after your dried up Gu stuck them all together. The case protects your investment, keeps your tools where you need for when you need them. We like that.

The Wolf’s Last Word

This tool is a quality machined kit and will be the last multi-tool you need to buy. The case will protect your kit while also keeping everything neatly organized and easily accessible for repairs at home or on the trail. If you like to work on your own bike, and have to have everything tightened to spec, the Silca T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque Kit should be on your list. Sure, it is a little spendy at $98, but having the ability to torque things down from wherever you are brings peace of mind. Silca did a phenomenal job on this kit, from keeping the size down to labeling all of the hex bits accordingly, no detail was overlooked and that’s why we always carry one.

Price: $98
Website: Silca.cc

Disclosure: Our team selects all of the products we review and do so with honesty and objectivity in mind. Some of the products we receive come directly from Competitive Cyclist, who also value our readers and have offered them a 15% discount on their first purchase by using LOAMWOLF15. Through this program we may also receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support, TLW.