Blackburn Wayside Multi-Tool - Review
Blackburn is synonymous with epic riding and its Wayside multi-tool was created to provide a more useful range of tools to handle difficult trailside repairs in situations where it may not be possible to phone your mom for a rescue, or walk out of the back country before darkness or foul weather sets in. The Wayside has 19 functions, is only 18 millimeters thick, 85 millimeters long, and it weighs 200 grams. Its designers took care to eliminate any sharp or uncomfortable surfaces so the tool will not puncture or abrade flesh, spare tubes, or water bladders. Standout features include a chain-holding hook, five removable bondhus Allen wrenches, a locking knife blade, and a removable segment of its chain tool that triples as an ergonomically shaped spoke wrench, a brake pad spreader and a Presta valve tool. Construction and finish is top notch and the Wayside's MSRP is $35 USD.
Functions:
• Five Individual Hex Keys with ball ends in 2, 2.5, 3, 4, and 5mm sizes - 8 and 6mm folding.
• Knife Blade: Locking, with both flat and serrated edges.
• Chain Tool: 7–11 speed compatible
• Chain Assembly Hook
• Disc Brake Pad Spreader
• 8mm Hex With hollow core that will accept hex keys to provide leverage
• Torx Keys: T25 and T30 sizes
• Spoke Wrenches: on the removable chain-tool handle (0, 1 and 2 sizes)
• Presta Valve Core Tool
• Flat-Head Screwdriver
• Weight: 200g / 0.44lbs
• MSRP: $35 USD
• Contact: Blackburn
• Five Individual Hex Keys with ball ends in 2, 2.5, 3, 4, and 5mm sizes - 8 and 6mm folding.
• Knife Blade: Locking, with both flat and serrated edges.
• Chain Tool: 7–11 speed compatible
• Chain Assembly Hook
• Disc Brake Pad Spreader
• 8mm Hex With hollow core that will accept hex keys to provide leverage
• Torx Keys: T25 and T30 sizes
• Spoke Wrenches: on the removable chain-tool handle (0, 1 and 2 sizes)
• Presta Valve Core Tool
• Flat-Head Screwdriver
• Weight: 200g / 0.44lbs
• MSRP: $35 USD
• Contact: Blackburn
Wrench Report
I assemble and disassemble a lot of bicycles each year as part of the review process, which provides ample opportunity to put tools to task. Typically, most folding tools can cover the major stuff, but somewhere in the assembly process, they inevitably fall short in some huge way. I judge a good multi-tool by how often I have to dig into my Park toolbox to cover for its shortcomings.
Half of the chain breaker becomes a handy Presta valve remover...
...And, also doubles as a spoke wrench and brake-pad spreader.
In this respect, the Blackburn Wayside proved to be one of handier multi's that I have come across. The full-sized Allen wrenches made brake caliper adjustments much less of a pain. (It can be tough trying to make subtle alignment tweaks when you are banging a folding tool against the frame tubes.) The ball ends made short work of setting up the cockpit - especially the stem and handlebar clamps - while the folding, eight-millimeter Allen has enough reach to access recessed crank bolts. And, the tool's stiff aluminum chassis is tough enough to stand on in order to loosen stubborn pedals.
Most folding tools feature poor excuses for spoke wrenches - like rectangular slots along the edge of a blade. The Wayside's chain tool, however, has a fin with three popular nipple keys cast into it, as well as a wrench for removing Presta valve cores, The fin fits the hand and fingers like a pro spoke key and does a bang-up job of truing rims. The fin itself is wedge shaped for spreading disc brake pads. Sweet!
The stubby eight-millimeter Allen is hollow. It doubles as a breaker bar for full-length keys.
Bondhus Allen keys are so much better than folding types for cockpit adjustments.
I used the tool's chain breaker to shorten two chains and found that the fin, which was so handy to true wheels and convert my tires to tubeless, did not provide adequate leverage to counter the torque needed to break the rivets in SRAM and Shimano's 11-speed chains. I could barely manage to keep the fin from twisting. On a lighter note, the chain hook was a thoughtful addition. It was super handy to have the working ends of the chain dangling free while I was working on the links.
After assembling a pair of trailbikes, the only moment where the Blackburn Wayside left me completely hanging was when I needed to shorten a brake hose. The knife blade was sharp enough to cut the line, but there was no chance to remove the hoses from the levers without an eight-millimeter open-end wrench. That would be my big suggestion for a future addition.
After assembling a pair of trailbikes, the only moment where the Blackburn Wayside left me completely hanging was when I needed to shorten a brake hose. The knife blade was sharp enough to cut the line, but there was no chance to remove the hoses from the levers without an eight-millimeter open-end wrench. That would be my big suggestion for a future addition.
The Wayside's chain hook can save a lot of frustration if you need to repair a chain or remove a split master link.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | At 200 grams, Blackburn's Wayside tool is not going to find its way into most casual rider's pockets or packs, but it makes a lot of sense for anyone who puts in long miles deep in the back country, where basic survival skills and a good set of tools are a necessity, not a convenience. The Wayfarer proved to be one of the most useful and well thought-out folders that I have come across and, based upon its utility, I'd gladly toss one into my hydration pack before rolling out for a big ride. - RC |
Author Info:
Member since Mar 23, 2011
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ33HOy6thE
Whatever could you be referring to?
(Snicker)
So did I. Just means I won't have to hold both ends of the chain and a chain tool at the same time. . Or now iv got the hook I won't even have to do that anymore
To me one purpose of a multitool is to keep all the tools together. I think all those loose wrenches on the Blackburn will eventually fall to the wayside.
I'm guessing the chain assembly hook is for people with a front derailleur or chain guide? I run a n/w ring with no guide and simply take my chain off towards the outside.
And what are the 2 different sizes of Torx screws for? The only Torx I've ever had on any of my bikes were the disc bolts, and those were all the same Torx size.
Also like how it has an 8mm allen key. I always have to bring both my multi tool and a loose 8mm key if I go touring on my track bike.
As well as everything on the reverb minus the rail clamp bolts.
There's stems on the market that use Torx, too. Gravity Gap, for one, & I know it's getting fairly common on road bikes for more hardware to be Torx.
Sorry-it has been mentioned
Either way it's with never whith unless you maybe traveled back to the late 1800s I believe.
Just a tid bit of info for ya mate
I can read it well but writing is much slower, as I cannot conjugate still on the fly.
My pivot bolt welded itself to the hanger. Then some neutral support mechanic tried to see if it was loose, didn't take the time to ensure the tool was fully seated, stripped it... a months later I bent the hanger.
Loctite isn't enough to protect pivot bolt - I think best solution is a single wrap of Teflon tape.
I'd never ever consider touching that bolt with anything but the best fitting tools. A stubby pocket tool is exactly how you ruin it.
The ONLY thing I like on the Hexus 2 that this one doesn't have is the 2 tire levers... but I'd rather just toss legit levers in with the tool. It's got a rubber band around it you can stuff the tire levers into. Beyond that, the blackburn tool is better in every way.
Good luck finding longer allen keys on other tools... even the shorter ones that fold over are as long as they need to be. And the knife is a knife that can saw... it's not meant to chop down trees?
I'm holding one of these tools in my hand right now... the detachable keys are pretty much the exact same ones in my tool box at home....
This particular tool... even if you own a tool you take with you... I'd get one just to leave in my car. You can damn near build an entire bike with this thing. Add in a couple other tools in a small bag, a shop pump and you've got a mobile work shop. The removable keys are rad.
Skip to 3:25 and watch a true pro at work.
Seriously. I thought the same thing though at first. Thinking maybe the back of the knife could have one cut in but the way it rotates you cut your damn finger off. Just use the edge of the tool and pry it off. Super easy. Tested and approved.... LOL!
Or just leave one on your keys... most people toss their car keys in when they ride...