I’ve mention Superstar Components before, and for a very good reason. They provide some high quality items for some very affordable prices – something that I happen to love. Now, not everything they sell is amazing – general rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t have moving parts then it’s great, if it does have moving parts – be cautious.
One thing that I have been completely blown away by is the Superstar bike tools. Over the years I’ve used a wide range of bike tools, from the extremely basic Halfords bike hut (avoid at all costs) to the top range Park Tools, X-Tools and Pedros. Something that never changes is that you tend to pay for what you get, which is why I didn’t expect big things from the Superstar tool range.
Superstar Tools: Bang for Your Buck
I’ve had a couple of different tools from Superstar, all coming in under the £10 mark and all doing their specified job beautifully. Currently I’m using the:
- Pro-quality Chainwhip
- ISIS and Shimano Type Crank Puller
- Tyre Lever with Steel Core
- Cassette Removal Tool Pin Type
Now I know that that is hardly all the tools that Superstar supply, but it is a fairly wide spread in my opinion and therefore gives a good understanding of what can be expected from their tools as a whole (although don’t hold me to this).
Superstar Pro-Quality Chainwhip
In the past I’ve had a lot of problems with substandard chainwhips, with issues ranging from the chain snapping or the handle bending to less important things like the grip sliding off. On this basis I decided to fork out the extra cash for a better quality product – after all, £2 is a small price to pay for this reassurance.
This has now been a staple in my toolbox for around six months and has been used a handful times on three different cassettes. The overall conclusion is that it works well, the soft grip makes it easy to grip – even when you’re putting your back into a really tough cassette – and it doesn’t damage the cassette like some other chainwhips I’ve had in the past.
Product found here: Chainwhip
Superstar ISIS and Shimano Type Crank Puller
When it comes to getting your cranks off, the last thing you want to do is strip the thread or damage the crank arms which means that a good crank puller is essential. In the past I’ve forked out for the more expensive Park Tools one, but after years of use it eventually broke so I thought I’d give Superstar a chance.
My initial impression was good, it has a sturdy build and a nice ergonomic grip that makes it easy to use. There are a few problems with the crank puller – the handle is quite short, which means you have to put a bit of extra elbow grease into it and the grip can sometimes slip. Other than that, the crank puller does its job and it is very hard to knock it at this price!
Product found here: Crank Puller
Superstar Tyre Levers
A good set of tire levers is an essential part of every biker’s tool and making sure that they are sturdy enough to tackle even the tightest rims and wire-bead (dear Lord, why!) is important. You could go for the full steel proline levers, but if you like to keep your rims unscratched then steel core is the next best thing.
How good are these tire levers? I managed to get a wire-bead Minion on a Stans Crest in under 5 minutes. If that doesn’t impress you then go and try do it yourself – it is not easy! These levers are exceptionally strong, especially for the money, and they stack nicely together making them easy to find in your toolkit.
Product found here: Tyre Lever
Superstar Cassette Removal Tool
I bought this at the same time as the chainwhip and have used the two together for around six months now. This is a pretty basic product and as long as they are built to be sturdy and take the strain, it is hard to go wrong.
Superstar have delivered a fantastic product at an incredible price again – just under a £5 there is nothing I can really say to knock this product. The Superstar logo did come off after the first couple of uses, but that’s hardly an important feature.
Product found here: Cassette Removal Tool
Overall
From the selection of Superstar bike tools that I have used, I would happily recommend them to friends and family. They are a bargain and a half at the price they are being sold at and work just as well as many, more-expensive tools that I’ve used in the past. There are a few flaws with some of the items, but overall the quality is good making it a vital buy for anyone looking to build up their tool set on the cheap.
