Crank Brothers Speedier Lever - Review

Feb 16, 2015 at 11:39
by Paul Aston  
Crank Brothers Speedier tyre lever

Crank Brothers' Speedier tire lever is slightly more advanced than your run of the mill tire iron. As well as the normal levering function, it offers an 'install mode' and knuckle protection. Of course, there's not much to say about a tire lever, it's made from a plastic blend, it's 144mm long and weighs 26 grams. A lifetime warranty is included in the $7.99 USD price tag. Crank Brothers say the Speedier Lever is a ''knuckle-saving tire lever that removes and installs cycling tires.'' www.crankbrothers.com


Crank Brothers Speedier tyre lever
Yep, it's a tire lever
Crank Brothers Speedier tyre lever
The handle isn't quite big enough to get your hand in to full knuckle-duster territory

Crank Brothers Speedier tyre lever

Removing the tire works in the same way as any other lever. To install the tire, it's best to work towards yourself



Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesOK, before the comments start about not needing a tire lever, if you run decent weight tires and like a tight fit so you don't blow tires off the rim regularly, you probably need at least one lever to get the tire off. For mounting tires I rarely need a lever, many years of practice changing downhill tires in cold muddy fields my hands are used to it, I also make life easier by sitting all the tire bead in to the center of the rim. But many people do need levers, I even know of a certain World Cup level mechanic that needs 3 levers to install tires with his modified tubeless system. Plus, many people don't have the technique or strength to fit certain tires onto certain rims.

I have medium size hands (you know what they say about medium sized hands...) and the handle wasn't really big enough to get my fingers in to, and could only go and second knuckle deep. Initially, I grabbed hold of the lever, and full of confidence I went in all guns blazing thinking I was now removed from any kind of knuckle to spoke interaction; I wasn't. You can still slip and bang your knuckles if your pushing the lever away from you. Second time, now with diligence, I found the knuckle-duster handle gave a little bit more force and control. When removing the tire, the lever functions the same as any other, except there isn't the little hook that can clip onto the spokes, which can be useful for super tight tires that require multiple levers.

The magic happens when you re-install the tire. Flip the lever over and engage the install mode by clipping it on to the rim, then work towards yourself rotating the wheel and holding the seated portion of the tire with your spare hand. This makes tire installation incredibly simple. You can get plenty of power behind it and it will be on before you know it. Last but not least, it helps reduce the chance of pinching the tube, which can happen when using a normal tire lever for installation. The Speedier lever really does make life that little bit easier, and could prevent bleeding knuckle related anger on a cold night in the shed. - Paul Aston


See full size and additional images in the test gallery.


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113 Comments
  • 187 16
 Did i just read a review on a tire lever
  • 83 10
 yes you did. are you confused? how about you read it again and make sure you actually did.
  • 48 8
 Meanie
  • 63 5
 Are you sure you're not Canadian? Who says "Meanie" as an insult?
  • 49 3
 Did I just look at the pictures in a review of a tire lever then scroll down to read the comments?
  • 5 1
 I hear that quite a bit. Pretty sure i was switched at birth..
  • 12 2
 Tire lever rewiev? I dont give a damn.
But the comments could be interesting! Big Grin
  • 9 1
 We'll take ya over here Nick!
  • 3 0
 Sweet! Thanks @bishopsmike! Big Grin
  • 16 1
 Hey, are you insulting Canadians?! Maybe I misread. If so, sorry man. Sorry. Totally sorry.
  • 2 0
 All jokes man, all jokes.
  • 2 0
 Or was that a joke in its own...
  • 5 0
 Ya it was a joke. Not a very good one, apparently...sorry.
  • 3 0
 Show yourself Michael, I can smell your popcorn.
  • 81 2
 Sorry I started laughing and stopped reading when I heard he could only get second knuckle deep...
  • 4 0
 I laughed out loud at that
  • 37 4
 They.. They be sayin, "Damn, you got some medium size hands".
  • 37 8
 I stopped reading at $7.99 USD.
  • 12 3
 A set of two solid, reliable Pedro's levers is $5.00. I understand the rising price of bikes on the whole, but god damn, a tire lever is a single molded piece of plastic.
  • 31 9
 We are talking about $8 here. Not really breaking the bank. The comments on Pinkbike about pricing lately are a little out of hand. To play devils advocate: This Crank Bros lever removes tires, protects knuckles, and has a separate system for installing tires. That's 3 features compared to the basic Pedro's lever's 1 feature. $2.50 X 3 = $7.50. So this lever is actually only priced $.50 too high. Not so bad.
  • 69 2
 jesuschrist no one appreciates good 'ole sarcasm anymore. I love spending money on bike crap.
  • 2 0
 ive bent pedro's before. i also jammed my finger at the same time
  • 3 1
 I was always told buy pedro's tyre leavers "there the best" ect ect....

I'm glad they have a warranty as I've snapped LOADS, I'll be trying one of these and see if it can put up with my animalistic approach to bike maintenance!
  • 4 0
 I laughed and stopped reading on "A lifetime warranty..."
lol Smile
  • 2 0
 Pedros is the best 'basic' lever out there because it has a large surface area on the side to push hard down on the rubber - are we still talking about mtn biking?
  • 2 0
 Got these a while ago, they are great for installing tubless tires that are super tight with certain rims. I have a Sun Ringle/Hans Dampf wheelset on one bike that was almost impossible to mount by hand and these saved them from going on eBay. Used it on the trail a week ago when installing a tube to get home on a 26 tubeless set up that burped flat. Worked great for that as well with no pinch of the tube. They really need a video so you can see how easy it is to use, there is nothing else like it. FTR, I only use them for the install, not the removal.

I used to absolutely Hate installing tubeless tires, now its easy.
  • 5 0
 I help take care of over 400 demo bikes, this lever helps save my hands. $8? Worth every penny.
  • 30 8
 I stopped reading when I saw it was made by Crank Brothers.
  • 13 1
 'Lifetime warranty' but when it fails, you were using it wrong.
  • 5 0
 I used to say that the only Crankbrothers products which had never let me down were a multi tool and a t-shirt. I loaned my bike out and someone backed off my pedal tension. I went back to tension pedals. Multi tool has two 2.5mm allens and no 3mm. The only Crankbrothers product that has never let me down is a t-shirt. Seriously. I think they must have outsourced the shirt.
  • 17 5
 Finally! I like the design. Bike mechanics often rip off pieces of skin from their fingers when changing tires that fit very tightly around the rim.
Now thanks to the new design, situations like that are less likely to happen! Beer
  • 38 10
 I've swapped tires hundreds of times and never drawn blood... Of course, I don't often need levers as I have manly hands. If I'm going to wreck my knuckles it's on poorly greased pedals.
  • 6 4
 The ol' chainring punch haha. On a seperate note Im not a fan of this lever at all. No much prefers the standard Pedro's lever.
  • 7 5
 I've definitely drawn blood changing tires. I have no patience though and always force it.
  • 21 6
 Coming from a full time mechanic, trust me these tire levers suck. The best and only option should be Pedro's levers by far. These crankbros may work well enough on the higher end modern mtb stuff the pb staff works on but try taking off a wire bead Michelin tire off a 20 year old campy rim and they snap like a tooth pick. Also a tire lever should never have to be used to put any tire on any rim.
  • 23 5
 Like enduro27, I too am a mechanic and believe these levers are about as useful as an asshole on your elbow.
  • 117 1
 Oh I dunno, being able to shit out of a car window while driving along would be amazing,
  • 9 2
 If anyone thinks they can get a minion DHR2 onto an LB hookless DH rim without a tire lever, I'd lone to see a video. Ain't gonna happen.
  • 3 2
 Send me some Lb wheels and I'll pay with a video of installing them with no levers?
  • 6 2
 if you're getting bleeding fingers, stop using your fingers to install tires. use your palms. lb hookless rims are a little snug, wtb vigilante took a little effort but didn't use levers
  • 1 1
 You sir made my day hahahahhaha
  • 2 0
 I think Pedros has a long handle downhill tire lever I use for puttin on UST tires on my mavic 823's (a reall pita to put a tire on properly) pedros.com/wp-content/uploads/DownhillTireLever_feature.jpg Much better design if you want to avoid bloody knuckles
  • 1 0
 @spaced Pedros dh tyre lever is best tyre lever in the world ever. also doubles up brilliantly for removing seals from forks as the tip doesnt damage the lowers in any way. worth every penny.

Also used it for helping open my mates car when he locked the keys inside it.
  • 2 1
 @wallheater best comment I've read in quite some time! I couldn't agree more, an elbow a*shole would be useful. I also agree that these tire levers are completely ridiculous. Use your hands and learn how to properly change a tire.
  • 1 0
 Some rim+ tires combo will be a pita without levers but cb ones won't help.
  • 1 0
 @thrasher2 Changing MTB tires is easy, and requires no tire levers most of the time. Not all bike shops get a privilege to work with nice bikes every day. Here in Chicago, everyone's in love with old ass Schwinn bikes. Trust me, getting a 30 year old dry tire
off the rim can be extremely difficult, and nearly impossible without a tire lever. I remember situations when we had to cut the tire, to get it off.
  • 1 0
 I just use specialized ones with the magnets. Other ones I tried they snap almost took out my eye
  • 1 0
 As Enduro27 said, wire bead Michelin tyres can be something else - I use DH16/24 tubeless DH tyres (with tubes!) and they're monsters - would like to see someone fit these by hand only! But I wouldn't use any plastic levers, from any brand - I swear by my trusty '70s Brooks lever, and even then the Michelins managed to bend it. And the Brooks has the thinnest tip of any lever I've seen, will get under the tightest bead yet not snap.

Also routinely use the levers to work the last tricky sections of tyres back on too, it's all in the technique - if I have pinched a tube before, I can't remember it! Big Grin
  • 2 0
 The Specialized tire levers are the nicest I've used at the shop. Worth the price, and they have a bottle opener Wink
  • 12 0
 After owning 300€ CB Kronolog seatpost, 2 sets of 5050xx, and air pump i can confidently say that i will never ever buy a single product that this company produces. They should employ a mechanics engineer or at least someone with common sense. They must be doing money laundering cause i'm running out of reasons why they are not extinct.
  • 3 0
 Agreed, Crank bros is rubbish. Especially the wheels. Easy to get sucked in buy the aesthetic but then find the function and durability is sadly lacking.
  • 1 1
 btw. Get a roadie to teach you how to mount a tyre without levers. Since learning how to do that I've never had trouble with my mountain bike tyres. Unsure if it would be the same for full on DH tyres though.
  • 2 0
 Yup. Their products look amazing but have less durability than Russian political promises.
  • 18 6
 Unless they release the carbon fiber laminated 7075 aluminum matrix XTR version, I'm not buying this garbage.
  • 8 2
 I'm sorry, at this time only the Di2 high engagement hand crafted micro brewed version is available to the public, the version you speak of will be available in 2 months.
  • 5 1
 I v-e-r-y rarely use tire levers, but when i do, its for unusually stubborn tires that require more than one lever - so whats the point in removing that little hook to hold the spokes? its one of the most useful features!

Thanks again, CB, for trying to redesign something in an overly complex way, putting form over function.
  • 9 1
 It's a CB product with no moving parts in it, so that may work!
  • 1 0
 I've tried the Crankbrothers lever and do not like it at all It is not comfortable nor is the end good for grabbing the tire. I prefer the solo lever. I received one of the solo levers from Mr Tuffy and been using it ever since. I will say there are times I pull out an aluminum or steel lever on stubborn tires but iv been using the SOLO (though multiple ones at times) in the shop for a year now and love them. mrtuffy.com/solo.html
  • 2 0
 Love this lever and I don't always use my tire levers correctly when I do use them so I've broken others. Picked up one of these from Crankbrothers and is always the first lever I grab.
  • 3 1
 A crank brothers item that I could afford.... nice.

considering that a normal "cheap" set of tire levers set me back at least $7.50 Aus, I'd be happy to pay a little extra if it means they work.
  • 1 0
 It's crank brothers- they don't work.
  • 1 0
 But they look nice
  • 3 0
 Why doesn't someone just copy the old yellow michelin tyre lever? Best lever ever invented, I blagged a couple in the race pits at a WC 10 yrs ago and they are still in use.
  • 4 0
 Wow - sweet blagging
  • 3 1
 Being a mechanic who changes multiple tires daily, this thing sucks for $8 bucks! Used one and it's terrible. If you do need to use one, I recommend the park tool TL-1. They work great and are only around a buck!
  • 5 0
 I have never bought a Crankbrothers product that didn't break.
  • 1 0
 After killing a number of Park Tools levers, and breaking some others my bro gave me, I did some digging and discovered SOMA makes a metal core/plastic outer lever, I ordered some, and they work well.
***the link below is just so you can see them, I'm certain there are better deals out there.....

www.amazon.com/Soma-Steel-Core-Tire-Levers/dp/B001MRYMXQ

www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=28024
  • 1 0
 to be totally honest... Im a bike mechanic at the local bike shop, and use these atleast 2-3 a day... they are great! they make such a big difference over the standard metal tyre levers..
  • 2 1
 I have unfortunately had a lot of practice lately but I always wear gloves and rarely use or need levers. Your hands will thank you for it and the levers you all have already will be fine. Your welcome.
  • 4 1
 This is more CrankBro's speed. Tire levers. Start from the bottom and work your way up.
  • 1 1
 I work at a shop where a lot of people road bike and if you've ever had to instal continental gator skins or specialized armadillo tires you would swear they're the wrong size! These levers are all we use for stubborn tires and they do work great!
  • 2 0
 These levers are so enduro... They're the perfect blend of putting on and taking off tires, though they really "shine on the descent"
  • 2 2
 these tyre levers are shit they are over priced dont actually work they dont fit in your hand propperly and you cant gain good acsess to the tyre to remove it your better off buying a normal set of tyre leavers as they are twice as cheep and twice as good
  • 5 3
 do they make a brass knuckle variant for meddlesome and ornery hikers? ahah
  • 1 0
 The only other tool you need for stubborn road tires is the Bead Jack. BEST. THING. EVER.
www.treefortbikes.com/images/raw/TF-TL4022-1.jpg
  • 1 0
 if it gives ease and convenience in mounting and demounting tires, i will buy it. macho bikers withd dirt in the fingernails don't need it
  • 5 3
 I've been using this thing for a while! It's a perfect tool, but it bends on Dh tires.
  • 1 0
 I threw this in a shoe box with other levers and doodads, and abandoned it like an unwanted baby at the last bike swap meet. True story.
  • 1 0
 When I first looked at this lever it came to my mind immediatly the process of mounting High Rollers Dual Ply on Deemax wheels. :-P
  • 1 0
 Anyone who's ever tried to mount super gravity shwallbes to flow ex rims will know you need at least one tyre lever
  • 1 0
 Never had a problem, only rims I've ever needed a tire lever for where with zipp 404s.
  • 1 0
 What next some electric rechargeable one that just does it for you? come on crankbrothers.......
  • 5 3
 It's funny because this lever has been around for a long time
  • 1 1
 For the money, the Campagnolo lever is the best out there. Super wide and thin, great for stubborn beads, and thin enough that it will barely ever pinch a tubed setup.
  • 2 1
 If it will get a tyre on to a cb rim without snapping the lever or denting the rim it's gotta be worth it
  • 2 0
 Nice. Tool and knuckle-duster one kill machine. Big Grin
  • 2 0
 or use some handgloves and regular lever ...
  • 1 0
 High Roller 2 3c onto an NS rim took me three table spoons and a ton of brute strength!
  • 2 1
 These seem as useful as their Split QR skewers and seatclamps. They're terrible!
  • 1 0
 Weird, I was given one of these at a bike store in San Clemente like 3 years ago.
  • 2 0
 Is there a enduro version ?
  • 1 0
 Looks breakable like every other plastic lever I have used. Might be interested if it had a metal core.
  • 2 0
 best tire lever i've ever used, kills the competition, worth the $
  • 3 1
 I got one, it's the business!
  • 2 0
 ... not sure how I've managed all these years without this !
  • 1 0
 sarcasm?
  • 1 0
 ...but of course :O)
  • 2 0
 If you hit your knuckles while changing a tire, you're doing it wrong.
  • 6 5
 I guess getting tires on crank bros' rims can be a real handful.
  • 4 3
 You really did give it the five knuckle shuffle
  • 1 0
 ive used one just like this a few years ago...
  • 3 2
 I hope its better than the pedros levers.
  • 1 0
 alternately just leave your riding gloves on.
  • 1 0
 Plastic - brass knuckles at best
  • 1 0
 Looks like a lever made for kids :/
  • 1 0
 best ones!
  • 1 2
 MAXXS DTH are the worst tires to put on the rim! Tight is good Wink but they're too tight!!!
  • 1 0
 These levers are crap.
  • 1 0
 I like mine.
  • 1 1
 Gimmick, much.
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