Lezyne RAP 21 LED Tool - Review
Based in San Luis Obispo, California, Lezyne is well known for designing snazzy looking bike pumps, tools and accessories that have a precise and polished look, and they've also just released three new GPS units and accompanying software. It's the RAP 21 LED multi-tool that's reviewed here, though, with the tool's name giving away its two notable talking points: it includes 21 different tools and an integrated, detachable mini LED light. The RAP 21 LED weighs 178 grams and retails for $34.99 USD.
RAP 21 LED Details:
• Hex keys: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm
• Spoke wrenches: Mavic, 3.22 (SW-0 blk), 3.45 (SW-2 red)
• Torx: T25, T30
• Tire lever, disc brake wedge
• Phillips, flat head drivers
• Open-end 8, 10mm wrenches
• Chain tool
• LED light
• Bottle opener:
• Neoprene cover included
• Dimensions: 54W x 81L x 21H (mm)
• Weight: 178g (claimed)
• MSRP $34.99 USD
• www.lezyne.com
The simple neoprene cover that Lezyne includes makes the tool more pocket friendly.
The RAP 21 LED may be the entry level model in Lezyne's multi-tool range, but it still boasts twenty one different tools, including the critical hex key sizes, T25 and T30 torx, and both flat and phillips head screwdrivers. Other tools include a chain breaker, tire lever, spoke wrenches, and both eight and ten millimetre open-end wrenches. It even has a disk brake wedge in case someone squeezes a brake lever when your wheel is out - that's always a pain in the ass to fix on the trail. The LED feature consists of a detachable, miniature one-lumen light that mounts to the end of the five millimetre hex key, and it’s powered by four tiny batteries that should last over a hundred hours.
The body is two CNC'd and anodized aluminium side plates, with the chrome vanadium-plated tool bits all bolted together using their center pivot design. When folded up the tool is a manageable size and fairly flat, while the neoprene cover keeps the bits in place and prevents any sharp edges from tearing the tube that it might be stored beside or ripping your jersey pocket.
The RAP 21 LED fits nicely in the palm of your hand and weighs around 195 grams on our scale, which is bit more than Lezyne claims.
Don't forget to clean the brake wedge before you open your post-ride beer with the bottle opener.
Function
The center pivot design works well to keep the tools from flopping around, but as the packaging says, you do need to check and tighten the side plate bolts every now and then - the bits get floppy when the bolts back off. The thing to remember is that the RAP 21 LED is an on-trail multi-tool, not something that's meant to be used in the shop, so while the one inch long hex keys and drivers are not great for tight spots, they work well for stem, handlebar, lever, and saddle adjustments when you're in the forest. If you a have a loose rotor bolt or need a brake lever micro adjust, you may only a get one quarter turn at a time, but it can get the job done. The stubby eight millimetre hex key and both flat open-end wrenches were a bit awkward for regular use as well, but they'll tighten whatever comes loose.
The chain tool works as you'd expect, and it doesn't feel as clumsy or hokey as some, but it doesn’t have a replaceable pin. The three spoke keys and the brake wedge also work well, with the latter being a godsend if you have that one riding buddy who thinks it's funny to pull your brake lever when the wheel is out of the bike. The stubby tire lever does its job, even if it lacks some leverage, but I'd recommend carrying a set of plastic levers if you might have to pop the tire off of a carbon fiber rim. And what about the LED light? It's actually bright enough to be useful, especially if you do any night riding (it never hurts to have another light), although it's not something most riders are going to be employing that often. It's also worth mentioning that the hardness, finish, and precision fit of all the tool bits was great, which isn't something that can be said about all the multi-tools out there.
The tool's chain breaker and spoke keys are easy to use.
Some bolts were difficult to access and tighten with short-ish tools bits, and you're better off removing the wheel if you need to snug up any rotor bolts while on a ride.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | Multi-tools should be more of an on-trail emergency type of thing than anything you'd use at home for a proper repair job, and Lezyne's RAP 21 LED fits that description perfectly. Yes, the tool bits are short, but that also allows the RAP 21 LED to be relatively small in size so you can take it with you on any ride. Given its $34.99 USD price tag and quality construction that should see it last nearly forever, the RAP 21 LED makes sense as an 'all in one' multi-tool. - Chris Johannes |
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Lezyne Developer: "I know ... Let's take a product that's been done hundreds of times, stick a cheap light to it and see if we can draw in some suckers."
Lezyne CEO: "But wait, don't most people have smart phones with LEDs much more powerful than anything we could put on a tool?"
Lezyne Developer: "Shhhhhh! ... Don't tell them."
if its that dark that you cannot see (no lights on your bike, surely if night riding you have lights?)
I'd be more concerned about being able to see clearly enough to ride your bike safely, rather than worrying about tightening a loose bolt on your bike
Forget the LED light thing, we don't need it. Instead, incorporate one of those red laser pointer things so we can make our dogs chase the red dot thru the forest. Just my two cents.
If you're going to stress pocket ease as a function then why not recess those bolts in to the frame instead of tapering the frame and just having them sit on top?