The Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool is the second largest in the line of multi-tools offered by Crank Brothers. While it is big, it’s not actually very big at all. It’ll fit easily into the palm of your hand.

It features literally almost every tool you’d need to perform simple maintenance and repair on your bike, whether on the road, trail, or in your garage. I actually used the Multi-17 for a few years at my home-shop because I didn’t have any other bike tools. With a battalion of 17 tools on it, there’s not much the Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool can’t do.

Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool Features

• Weight: 168g
• Length: 3.5″ / 89mm
• Frame: 6061-T6 aluminum
• Tools: 6050 high tensile steel
• Chain tool: 8/9/10 speed compatible
• Spoke wrench: #1, 2, 3, 4
• Hex wrenches: #2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
• Screwdrivers: phillips, flat
• Open wrench: 8mm, 10mm
• Torx: t-25
• Warranty: lifetime
• Price: $27

Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool Review

The Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool literally has just about ever tool you’d need to wrench on your bike on a ride or at home. While you won’t want to rebuild your bike with it, the Multi-17 can tackle most tasks. I’ve used it to swap handlebars, swap clipless pedals, adjust spokes, repair broken chains, adjust brakes, tighten saddles, you name it. When I first got into biking a few years ago I couldn’t afford a tool set at home. The Multi-17 handled the job. Pair with with another small multi-tool and most tasks got done.

The Multi-17 is burly. It’s solid and well-built. All of the tools are made with high tensile steel and the frame is aluminum. The Multi-17 will literally last forever. I’ve been using mine for a few years and it looks about as good as new.

One thing I like about the Multi-17 over their other tools is it’s wider, which is easier for me to hold. The frame is etched with a diamond pattern, giving extra grip to what would otherwise be slippery metal. The Multi-17 also comes with a big rubber band that holds the tools in place, but also provides extra grip.

With the chain tool I have found that it can be hard to keep a hold of the metal tab when cranking it down when using only your hands. If you have pliers it makes the job easier. You can hold onto with your hands, it’s just a little difficult.

It is compact enough to easily fit in a saddlebag, no matter how small. You could just as easily throw in your pocket or in the back of your jersey. It’s small enough and light enough that you won’t notice it.

The Good

• Tons of tools
• Compact
• Steel construction will last forever

The Bad

• If you’re concerned about weight, maybe it’s a little bulky

Bottom Line:

The Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool is awesome. It has the tools you’ll need to make those mid-ride adjustments and fixes. If it can’t do it, you’ve got bigger problems to worry about.

Do yourself a favor and Buy Now: Pick up the Crank Brothers Multi-17 Tool

One thing that I learned very quickly, the hard way, when I started bike commuting is you have to carry a pump. I thought I could get away with not taking one with me every ride. I also thought the same thing when I got my mountain bike and was going for a “quick” ride during lunch one day (that was a long walk back to the office).

In the world of mini-pumps there’s many options. I knew my pump would mostly get hauled around on the daily bike commute so I needed something that wouldn’t take a year to pump a tire, it had to be burly to stand up to the daily abuse of commuting, and it needed to have a gauge. I searched around and found the Crank Brothers Alloy Power Pump w/gauge. I chose this particular pump because out of Crank Brothers line of mini pumps it was the one that best fit my needs.

Crank Brothers Alloy Power Pump w/Gauge Features

• Maximum Pressure: 130psi (9 bar)
• Valves: Presta & Schraeder
• Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
• Air switch: high volumn / high pressure
• Mounting Bracket: included
• Weight: 173g
• Price: $38

Crank Brothers Alloy Power Pump w/Gauge Review

This was the first mini pump that I have purchased and I have only ever used one other (another Crank Brothers model) so keep that in mind. In terms of my needs: burly, ability to pump up a tire in less than a day, and have a gauge, the Alloy Power Pump has met my expectations. I’ve been hauling mine around for about 2 years now and so far the name and some paint have rubbed off the handle. It definitely holds up to the rigors to daily use.

I’ve handled both metal and plastic pumps before and I like metal. Yeah it may weight a little but I think the metal is definitely more durable. The Alloy Power Pump does feature a twistable head with a Presta adaptor on one side and a Schraeder adapter on the other. Just a simple twist and you can pump up either valve.

Probably my favorite feature is the adjustable air switch. Located at the base of the handle there’s a dial you can turn to one of two positions. The first position is ‘high volume’. You use this when first pumping up the tire and you want to get a lot of air in with each pump. The second position is ‘high pressure’. When the going gets tough just turn the dial and you start pumping less air with each pump but it comes in at a higher pressure. With mini pumps without this feature getting a road tire above 30 psi is a rough, I couldn’t do it. With the air switch it’s no problem.

I chose the Alloy Power Pump because of the longer handle. This has it’s pros and cons. The pros are you get more air in with each pump, thus taking less time and less work to fill up your tire. The cons are it’s longer and weighs more. The pump either has to strap to the bike (mounting bracket included) or go in a pack. It doesn’t fit very well into a jersey pocket and it definitely won’t fit into a saddle bag.

Second favorite feature is the gauge. I had a floor pump once without a gauge. Nothing quite like the ‘squeeze test’ to see if your tires have enough air. The gauge takes all the guess work out. Plus when I’m using a mini pump I like to know how much longer it’s going to be to get the right pressure.

The Alloy Power Pump is well made. It’s been strapped to a number of bikes, been thrown in the bottom of panniers for a year, dropped on the road a few times, and the thing keeps chugging. I haven’t broken anything on it and it still works like brand new.

My main gripe with the pump is the mounting bracket. It mounts via a couple of zipties. While I love zipties, the big drawback is what to do if you have multiple bikes. I don’t always ride with a pack or panniers. Nor do I always ride with a jersey. I’m not one to buy a pump for each bike so switching from bike to bike is a pain. A velcro strap for attaching to the bike would be killer. What I do like about the mounting bracket is it’s also a protective cover for the gauge and pump head.

The Good

• Burly, has stood up to 2 years of abuse
• Air switch
• Metal
• Longer pump action

The Bad

• Mounting bracket only attaches with zipties making multiple bike attachment a pain
• Weight (if you’re counting that)
• Takes more effort than a CO2 inflater

Bottom Line:

The Crank Brothers Alloy Power Pump w/gauge is burly, durable, and great to use. In the world of mini pumps it stands near the top.

Buy Now: Pick up the Crank Brothers Alloy Power Pump w/gauge

The proper wheelset is critical to overall bike performance. It may cost a lot, but think about it… the wheels are darn important. Next to the frame and fork, the wheels are the next most important parts of your ride quality. Flimsy, cheap wheels will ruin your ride quality faster than a Deore rear derailleur ever will, so spend wisely.

Now the Crank Brothers Iodine’s have been matched to my new Ibis Mojo for the past 6 months. When I first got the bike assembled in all its glory, I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. The burnt orange Iodine’s were just the perfect match with the natural carbon fiber black of the Mojo. The whole package just looks amazing. I wasn’t the only one… most everyone who saw the bike commented on how cool the wheels were.

While looks are great and all, they don’t get you much when the trails get gnarly. In every riding condition, I’ve been super-impressed with the ride quality of the Iodine’s.

Rolling quality is outstanding as these wheels seem to roll on and on by themselves. The rear hub provides fast and smooth engagement under all load conditions–steep climbs, fast rollers and downhill transitions. Quick adjustments in rocky sections to avoid pedal-strikes are met with a solid drivetrain no matter the location. The only negative of the freehub is the volume as you’re coasting downhill. The tell-tale whirrrrrr is really quite loud. My riding buddies have commented multiple times on the loudness, but if that’s the only flaw, it’s pretty minor.

Other than that, my initial set of 15mm end caps were machined a little off, so I had to spend a few minutes hand-sanding the inside diameter to remove a few microns. A second set of caps were much better, so it appears to no longer be an issue.

I just love laying into corners with the Iodine’s as they track straight and true no matter how hard-pressed. Tracking through rock gardens and rough terrain, the Iodine’s simply hold their line. Drops and jumps are also met with solid hoops underfoot.

Everywhere from the epic downhill of the Wasatch Crest Trail to the winding singletrack of the Ridge Trail 157 and fast loops in Corner Canyon have been perfect for these wheels.

I’ve yet to ride these tubeless (I know, I know…), but will change to tubeless in the Spring and post a follow-up.

The Good

• Lateral stiffness
• Tracking through the rough stuff
• Smooth rolling
• Unique design
• Quick freehub engagement
• Easy to service and/or replace bearings
• Amazing good looks (the wheels or me?)
• Tubeless-compatibility

The Bad

• Loud freehub
• Proprietary spokes may be difficult to find in a pinch
• Color options may clash with your ride
• It’ll cost ya’

The Final Word: Crank Brothers Iodine Wheelset

If you’re in the market for a new set of high-end all-mountain wheels, give the the $950 Crank Brothers Iodine wheelset a fair shake–they roll well and adeptly track through rough stuff.

Buy Now: Search for Crank Brothers Iodine Wheels

After drooling over the CrankBrothers Iodine wheels for many months, the moment of truth has arrived… they are in my garage awaiting the arrival of a new Ibis Mojo, which should be here in a couple of weeks. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Iodine wheelset, so it’s time to put all that into consideration as I beat the tar out of them on the trails.

For those of you who haven’t seen the Iodine wheels, you’re in for a visual treat. In true CrankBrothers fashion, they have taken a new twist on wheel design with both the Cobalt and Iodine wheels. The rim design is unique in that ther are no traditional eyelets, but instead an inner rib to which the Twinpair spokes attach at 12 points.

Hubs are easily-serviced and are built on multiple, sealed cartridge bearings for extra-long service life. Hub engagement is solid with 6-pawls and a maximum 7.5-degree engagement for quick reactions.

These rims have a design all their own and have been flogged and trusted by CrankBrothers team rider, Ross Schnell. Check out the photo gallery of Ross on the Iodine’s.

Iodine Wheelset Features

• Tubeless-compatible design
• Proprietary stainless steel spokes and aluminum nipples (really cool design)
• Front hub is 9mm, 15mm and 20mm compatible (with adapters)
• Recommended tire size: 2.3-2.5″
• 2 year warranty
• 21mm width
• Colors: burnt orange or iron
• Weight: 1903 grams (pair)
• MSRP: $1000

The wheels don’t come cheap, but they are on par with other top-notch wheelsets on the market. Stay tuned for updates on the trail as the Iodine’s tackle some killer Utah singletrack.

Buy Now: Search for Crank Brothers Iodine Wheelset

Up for the climb, down for the descent. Up for the climb, down for the descent. I just did that yesterday. Most of the time, I don’t have time to adjust the seat down when on a trail with lots of ups and downs. The result is an awkward seat position during hairy, technical descents.

“Dang! I wish I had dropped my seat down for this descent!” echoes through my mind. But, just when I think that, the trail either flattens out or starts climbing back up.

It’s trails like that for which adjustable-height posts were developed. the early versions were heavy and awkward to operate. They had too much mechanical guts to be serviceable for the long-term. And their weight didn’t make sense.

Enter the Crank Brothers Joplin Adjustable Seatpost

This little number is smartly-designed (as all Crank Brothers products are) and highly functional. With two options: 1) Lever-activated and 2) Remote-activated, the Crank Brothers Joplin seatpost offers 3 inches of adjustability on-the-fly. Not only will this benefit any all-mountain rider, but especially anyone riding an interrupted seat tube design. Available in the most common sizes (30.9 & 31.6) and weighing in at 461-534 grams, it’s a worthwhile upgrade and 200 grams of extra weight–unless you’re a weight weenie.

Here are a few more features of the Crank Brothers Joplin seatpost:

• Length: 382 mm
• Options: Under-seat lever (L model) or Remote lever (R model)
• Weight: 461 g (L model) or 534 g (R model)
• Adjustment Range: 3 inches
• Sizes: 30.9 and 31.6 mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: $250 (L model) or $285 (R model)

I’ve used the Maverick Speedball on a quick ride a few years back, but I have yet to get on the Crank Brothers Joplin seatpost. It looks like a great design and something that would be an awesome addition to any bike. If you (like me) find yourself wanting to raise and lower your seatpost all the time, take a look at the Crank Brothers Joplin.

Buy Now: Search our Bike Catalot for the Crank Brothers Joplin

I’ve long been a fan of Crank Brothers pedals. the Eggbeater design is far and away the simplest and most consistent clipless pedal platform I’ve used. Just look at the design… 4-sided entry with plenty of float and easily-cleaned design that sheds mud and dirt better than anything on the market.

On the market for a few years now, the Crank Brothers Candy C pedals provide that little extra platform for those “just in case” times when you can’t get completely clipped in. They aren’t as big and beefy as the larger and more DH-friendly Mallet or Acid pedal design, but they are perfect for all-around riding and even road riding.

After using the Crank Brothers Mallet C pedals for two seasons, I switched to the Candy’s because they are lighter and better for all-around riding. The design is small and light enough that I use them on both my mountain and road bikes. I like having the same type of platform regardless of the type of bike I’m riding, so these are a great crossover pedal. (more…)