About Lezyne
“Lezyne is a combination of a love for cycling and a passion for design – Exquisitely designed, intelligently engineered, and functionally complete. Our goal is to engineer and produce premium quality bicycle accessories using the best materials available.” – Lezyne
In the crowded market of multi-tools, there are plenty of choices, but so many of them come with compromises. Reducing the size of a toolkit lowers weight but inevitably drops usability. Utilizing a thoughtful and clever design, Lezyne has produced a toolkit that is small but usable, the T-Drive multi-tool.
As the diagram above alludes to, the T-Drive relies on a removable handle to make for more compact stowing.
Cutouts inside the T-Drive’s zippered case provide convenient and secure storage.
The included bits are:
- Hex / Allen for 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm and 8mm
- Torx T10, T25 and T30
- Flat-head
- Phillips head
All of which pair with the T-handle piece of the tool.
The Lezyne T-Drive features machined aluminium construction, whilst an integrated magnet keeps the included bits in place when the tool is being used.
Gram counting on a tool kit is stupid, particularly if the tool doesn’t get the job done. As such, Lezyne lists the T-Drive with a claimed weight of 153 grams. Surprise surprise, my sample T-Drive weighs much less, case included, at 134 grams. That’s 19 grams below manufacturer spec, almost unheard of!
The T-Drive stows away inside its zippered carrying pouch and measures 12cm x 6cm x 3cm. It isn’t the smallest toolkit going but it is among the handiest.
How does the Lezyne T-Drive Perform?
I didn’t record video of the tool in action, but the photos below show the tool in scenarios one would commonly expect in the “field”.
Above, a wheel swap with a 6mm bolt-on thru-axle is an essential requirement for a multi-tool. Because the T-drive lever slides, one can position it for extra leverage if required.
Tightening down a pedal with an 8mm allen key head installed into the T-Drive.
Above and below, the T25 torx bit and the Look “Gravel Design” stem of the Look 765 Gravel RS.
Above and below, the T30 torx bit easily tightens the seatpost clamp for the Look 765 Gravel RS.
In the photo sequence below, tightening a recessed two-bolt seatpost did pose an issue for the tool, but this likely applies for most multi-tools I can think of.
With the exception of the seatpost bolt pictured above, I used the Lezyne T-Drive kit to make final adjustments and a tightness check over the Look 765 Gravel RS review bike. The T-handle’s adjustable is super handy for most tight spots or when you extra leverage.
In the field, the T-Drive will take up more of your jersey pocket real estate that other multi-tools on the market, but your average gravel bike may have additional spots for storage, so I don’t see the T-Drive’s stowed physical size being an issue.
The final word on this review. The Lezyne T-Drive is a beautifully made bit of gear and a toolkit I turn to regularly for my rides, whether they be on gravel, roadie or otherwise.
Priced at $US 34.99, the Lezyne T-Drive is inexpensive, lightweight, super handy and should last for years. Highly recommended!
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| Lezyne T-Drive Multi-Tool |
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why would you ever need to tighten bolts out on a ride? dont you check and tighten at home before a ride?
You missed one of the points of this review, which I stated. To prove the tool, in addition to carrying it along for three months, I used it to perform a final check over of the Look 765 Gravel RS review before its initial ride. As for tightening bolts during a ride, I don’t know how many review bikes or new bikes you ride?, but they often need tweaks to get them dialed in. Hence, tightening and loosening bolts during a ride is pretty valid. Additionally, if you happen to puncture a tyre with a bolt-on thru-bolt, one needs to remove said thru-bolt with a 5mm or 6mm hex / allen wrench.
You were much more polite in this response than I would have been. Nice, thorough review.
I adjusted and tightened the disc calipers on a mate’s bike on Saturday’s ride.
I’m diligent about going over every detail of my bike, but when you’re in the saddle for 50, 100, 200 miles at a time, shit happens. If you’ve ever snapped a derailleur hanger, you’ll be inclined to carry a tool and an extra hanger for the rest of your life. Hell, on my first long gravel adventure, I had to adjust my cleats, saddle height, and bar position just to finish the ride.
Cool tool with impressive weight, but something like a crank brothers M17 has less bulk, a chain tool, and a spoke wrench and only weighs an ounce more. For me that makes the T-Drive a non starter to carry on my gravel bike, unless I’m missing something?
Thanks for chiming in, good to hear about other options.
This is pretty neat, but there’s no way I’m bringing a tool with loose bits out on a ride. There are just too many other tools that already do a great job without the prospect of dropping and losing parts.
Looks like a nice lightweight tool. Just purchased a new multitool myself. Park Tool MTC-40 which is a new model this year. In addition to the usual hex and torx bits, it has a great built-in chain tool, rotor straightener, bottle opener and CO2 cartridge adapter.
A small 1/4″ combination wrench would probably solve the tight access problem. Looks like there is room in the top of the case for it. Their, apparently discontinued, ratchet kit had a closed end 1/4″ wrench on the handle end. They also make a version of this with the bits stored in the handle, but it has fewer bits. I have a similar kit in my car as a backup.