CrankBrothers y16 multi-tool review

Comprehensive trail tool

Our rating

3.0

50.00

40.00

80.00

CrankBrothers y16 multi-tool

Robin Weaver

Published: August 16, 2015 at 11:00 am

Our review

You can't fault the y16's tool selection, though a couple of design frustrations mar an otherwise strong package

CrankBrothers’ y16 comes packed with just about all the essential trail tools you could want - but the design isn't without its drawbacks.

At 257g it’s no featherweight and it’s bulky too, but much of that can be forgiven when you see what’s on offer. The twin Y-shaped tools at the heart of the package – which are magnetised so they stay in place – offer 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm and 8mm Allen keys, and provide plenty of leverage. Their shape can make jobs in hard-to-reach spots awkward and fiddly though.

There are a host of other Allen keys, Torx keys and screwdriver heads stowed in the bit compartment – handy, but easy to lose out on the trail.

The chain breaker is solid and uses both Y tools to hold and drive it. We really like the CO2 inflater too, with its spring-loaded actuation which helps with accurate inflation.

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Technical editor-in-chief

Rob Weaver is BikeRadar's technical editor-in-chief. Rob manages all of the testing here at BikeRadar and across our magazines, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus. Rob first graced the pages of MBUK back in 2001 when working as a freelance writer and went on to start testing bikes for the title in 2007. In 2010 he joined the team full-time and has been keeping a close eye on all things test-related ever since. Rob’s expansive knowledge of bikes comes courtesy of his passion for racing. He cut his teeth racing cross-country mountain bikes in the early 90s before finding his feet in downhill. After many years competing on the UK national circuit (including a year attempting to race UCI DH World Cups), Rob realised his know-how and passion for bike setup, tech and writing clearly outweighed his racing ability. A degree in sports technology and decades of riding experience all help to give Rob a thorough understanding of what’s needed to create a great bike or product. While Rob’s a mountain biker at heart and never happier than when he’s sliding down a Welsh hillside, he’s more than happy to put the miles in on the road or gravel bike, too.