Topeak Nano TorqBar X Review

The Nano TorqBar is a sleek, compact low-torque wrench designed for bike owners and mechanics. The TorqBar quickly became a favorite piece of my kit.

The TorqBar fills a specific need exceptionally well: conveniently tightening low-torque bolts with a compact tool. A low-torque wrench is almost mandatory if you’re using carbon fiber parts, and advisable for almost all the bolts on your bike. The Nano TorqBar from Topeak packages a 2-6Nm torque wrench into a clean, well-built tool with four included bits and a carrying case.

The real advantage of this tool is the ability to torque almost every small bolt on your bike from 2-6Nm without tinkering with torque settings or juggling multiple tools. It’s extremely compact – small enough to throw in your bike bag or toolbox without a thought. It’s well made and feels solid and reliable when you use it. Almost everything about the TorqBar is to love, but it isn’t without it’s quirks and I wish Topeak had put just a little more time into the packaging.

The Nano TorqBar currently retails for $54.95 – a little steep for a compact tool, but its quality and multifunctional nature do make up for the cost.

First, let’s look at the specs and features:

The Specs

Features

• Applies correct torque values on component bolts for safety. Torque range : 2 – 6 Nm
• Integrated compartment for two bits
• TorqBit is compatible with Topeak reversible ratchet driver
• Compact size easily fits in a saddle bag
• Included carry case neatly stores the TorqBit and 5 tool bits

Overview

The TorqBar ships with the tool itself and a case for the included bits and torque driver.

The tool body is high quality machined aluminum and polymer. The actual bits and driver use hardened steel. Overall, it feel awesome to hold on to and wrench with. Tolerances are all very clean and tight. Nothing feels weird or loose.

The package itself leaves something to be desired. This tool really deserves a carrying case of some kind. Not just to protect it, but to make transportation easy. It’s designed as a highly compact, portable tool but what you have is a loose tool with a fidgety box to keep your bits in. The TorqBar needs a carrying case like the Ratchet Rocket Lite DX. This was probably the biggest (if not the only) ding against this tool.

The hard case itself is not terrible, and it does do its job of securing your bits and fragile torque driver well. There is a heavy rubber strap that helps keep the case closed and can be used to strap the tool to the box if you wanted to.

Using the TorqBar

Minor grumbles aside, the tool is slick and comfortable to hold. The polymer insert is removable with a small button/tab at the end, which lets you slide it out of the tool. There is a space in the insert for two drill bits.

The polymer insert also acts to hold the torque driver. This made me a little bit nervous at first – I mean, plastic to hold hardened steel parts?? However, the insert seems very durable and we are talking about very low-torque applications. Still, I wonder if this might be just that much more durable if the entire tool was machined.

Using the tool is pretty self-explanatory at that point.

The TorqBar was designed for tightening applications only, so I don’t recommend loosening bolts with the torque driver. You can insert a standard bit into the polymer insert in place of the torque driver, but you might risk putting too much force on the plastic and/or prematurely wearing it out.

A great feature of this tool is compatibility with the Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite DX. The torque driver works on its own with the Ratchet Rocket tool, so you technically don’t even need to use the TorqBar housing! Super cool.

Conclusion

The Topeak Nano TorqBar X is a killer addition to my tool kit. Portable enough for the tool box or a bike bag, but useful enough to keep on the workbench for everyday use. I’m extremely satisfied with the functionality and quality.

This tool fills the gap for sensitive low-torque bolts like carbon handlebars and seatposts, and is equally as useful and important for alloy/aluminum parts as well. The ease of having one tool instead of juggling multiple expensive torque drivers makes it a total win, and justifies the price tag.