High-quality multitool from Woolf Tooth and Magura

With some things it is clear right from the start that there will be a difference of opinion. The new 8-bit multitool from Wolf Tooth & Magura could belong to this category. The fact that a handy tool can be very useful when cycling and small repairs are needed should meet a broad acceptance. But should something like this cost 90 euros? Opinions certainly differ on this point.

Bundled competence
Pliers, file and much more
If the brake gets stuck
Advantage 1 – Quality
Advantage 2 – Dimensions
Advantage 3 – Weight
Disadvantage 1 – Range of functions
Disadvantage 2 – Handling
Disadvantage 3 – Price

Bundled competence

Before we look at the pros and cons, let’s take a closer look at the multifunctional tool. As you can easily guess from the name, Wolf Tooth and Magura, two well-known specialists in the bicycle industry, have collaborated on this friend in need. In the USA in particular, Wolf Tooth is a byword for high-quality special parts and accessories. Extremely resilient, light and with a penchant for colour diversity, the product range includes headsets, sprockets, brake levers, chainring bolts and various utensils for the workshop. In principle, one word is enough to describe Magura: brakes.

8-bit system multi tool from Wolf Tooth and Magura

Pliers, file and much more

Similar to this description, the tasks on the multitool are shared out. The dominant contribution comes from Wolf Tooth with its 8-bit combination pliers. These have been on the market in this form for some time and some of you may already have come across them. At a height of just nine millimetres, the manufacturer accommodates six bits – each with a double function – a chain lock, pliers and a mini round file. A swivelling 8-millimetre hexagon socket is attached to the housing, which serves as a holder for the smaller bits. The bits are held magnetically in the tool. The magnetism is so strong that it guarantees that none of the small parts will fall out while riding or when opening the tool. Sometimes even the deliberate removal of the bits turns into a fiddly task.

The pliers have a total of 17 functions. If you want to calculate the resulting applications, you can confidently double the value. Examples include tightening loose spoke nipples, loosening a chain lock, cleaning a stuck tubeless valve or adjusting the pressure point on the adjuster wheel of selected Sram disc brakes.

Loosen and tighten the thru axle with the Wolf Tooth 8-bit pack pliers — Loosen and tighten the thru axle with the 8-bit pack pliers.

If the brake is jammed

However, a few things are missing from a complete multitool. You can therefore add the disc brake tool to the 8-bit combination pliers with a magnet. It includes a tyre lever, a rotor truing tool , a slotted 8-millimetre pin wrench for tightening the compression sleeve nut on the brake master and two gauges for checking the wear of brake pads and rotors. This tool is marked with the Magura logo. In fact, the same tool is also available from Wolf Tooth. There it is called 8-Bit Tire Lever + Disc Brake Multi-Tool. Only the two gauges are missing from this version.

Loosening and tightening the compression sleeve nut on the brake master with the 8-Bit Tire Lever & Magura Disc Brake Tool — Loosening and tightening the compression sleeve nut on the brake master

Aligning the rotor of the disc brake with the 8-Bit Tire Lever & Magura Disc Brake Tool — Aligning the rotor of the disc brake

The set, which costs just under 90 euros, contains pretty much all the ingredients a tool needs if your bike suddenly suffers a defect while you are riding or if you need to repair minor damage after a crash. In addition to the wealth of functions, there are further arguments in favour of the Wolf Tooth and Magura helper.

Advantage 1 – Quality

Hardly any other tool can keep up in terms of manufacturing quality. Aluminium housing, bits made of tool steel, tyre levers made of high-strength nylon composite. Premature wear, “rounded” edges of the bits or even breaking of bits or the tyre lever should be impossible in this case. So rather a long-term investment.

Advantage 2 – Dimensions

The low height of the individual components has already been mentioned. The length of the multitool proves to be similarly advantageous. Yes, 146 millimetres are noticeably more than comparable products. However, this is intentional. Wolf Tooth simply wants to increase the leverage and thus avoid unnecessary frustration on the trails. After all, the 8-bit combination pliers can even be used to loosen crank nuts, for example. And sometimes they are very tight.

Advantage 3 – Weight

Hardly anyone wants to lug around unnecessary grammes on a bike tour. The set of pliers and disc brake tools weighs around 100 grams in total. When stowed in a bag, rucksack or jersey, this is hardly noticeable. Since both parts of the set can be separated from each other, you could even do without a part of it and would need to factor in even less additional weight.

Despite all the praise, we also have a few things to criticise about the tool. Many of you may have different opinions about how decisive these are, what we consider to be minus points.

Disadvantage 1 – Range of functions

There is no question that the multifunctional tool really is one and helps in many situations on the road. However, in order to keep the overall package as small and light as possible, a few essential functions are missing. Anyone changing a tyre these days will quickly realise that a single tyre lever is hardly enough to win any ground. Many tyres sit so tightly on the rim that a second lever is indispensable.

We also miss a chain rivet. Especially on a tool that costs 90 euros. If the chain gets caught on the ride through the countryside and the motor of the ebike keeps turning at the same time, a chain can break. And sometimes a chain lock and pliers are not enough for the repair.

Disadvantage 2 – Handling

As a concession to the lowest possible weight and smallest possible pack size, the bits are very short. If you need to reach a screw that is recessed deeper or difficult to reach for other reasons, you will wish for a few millimetres more. At this point, conventional multitools, where the tools are folded out and attached to an axle, have a clear advantage.

Disadvantage 3 – Price

If you like beautifully milled parts, you might be happy to pay the 90 euros. Those who simply want more functions and only want to invest half as much, however, will also find what they are looking for. If necessary, with cutbacks in other areas. But especially in times when the costs for electricity, heating and food are reaching unimaginable heights, some people will probably think twice about the sum.

The truth is, however, that it is precisely this set that offers the opportunity to save money. Because what remains well below the 100-euro mark here, ends up above it at Wolf Tooth. There, the 8-bit combination pliers alone cost 90 euros. With the 8-bit Tire Lever + Disc Brake Multi-Tool, you add around 27 euros.

If your budget allows it, you can buy the chain tool we missed from the US manufacturer – for another 90 euros. In return, it comes with a knife and a tool for patching tubeless tyres. And thanks to the magnets, you can simply put this extension on top of any existing tools like another sandwich slice.