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LATEST UPDATE: FEBRUARY 21st
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Feedback Sports Reflex Torque Bit Driver
142g £48
The Feedback Sports Reflex Torque Bit Driver is a very compact, minimalist, yet still practical torque wrench for popping in a pocket, bar bag, or wedge pack. I had some reservations about the resin T style handle, but several weeks down the line, these have proven unfounded, and the standard ¼ inch bits mean it’s easy to build upon the stock kit to suit a wide range of bikes. My one, very minor gripe is the any-torque-you-like-so -long-as-it’s-5nm.
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Pros: Compact, lightweight, pleasant to use, standard ¼ inch driver, basic bits included.
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Cons: 5nm static torque.
Specification
The driver body is made from a nylon/steel blend. The hollow nylon head holds a chamber with S2 steel bits - 4,5 6mm and the T25 Torx, which, though sparse on paper, covers a wide range of fasteners on modern bikes, from derailleur hanger bolts, cable clamps, bottle, disc and cleat screws through to stem and seat post-binder bolts. Besides, being quarter inch, other bits are readily popped in the hollow handle to suit your needs.
In common with other torque tools, you’ll need to bring along a multi-tool to slacken fasteners, otherwise you’ll knacker the mechanism - the last thing you’d want when tackling an expensive carbon part 50 miles from base.
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S2 steel is a shock resistant steel, which is I’m told, particularly suitable for socket type tools. S2 steels are primarily a carbon steel alloy but typically with chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium elements. These feature a rugged and fetching electroplated finish. The torque is factory set to 5nm and reckoned accurate to within +/-4% for 3,000 cycles and there’s a limited lifetime warranty. Much like many others, the latter basically covers failure due to manufacturing defects, not wear and tear, modification, or misuse.
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The wrench is non-ratcheting, which might suggest its trickier to command in tight spaces, or when in a rush. I should also point at this stage, there’s an aftermarket fixed torque extension bar (£28), which we were thoughtfully supplied with.
This is particularly useful for deeply recessed fasteners. Bottle cage screws in small main triangles being an obvious example. Ours was the 5mn but there are other options.
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Back to the Fixed Torque driver, the bit end is magnetic, which reduces the likelihood of bits shooting off lost forever in long grass, or indeed, beneath the fridge.
Performance 3.5/5
Allowing for the fixed 5nm torque setting, it’s proved reassuringly effective to the point where I’ve been inclined to default to it for quick pre, mid and post ride tune-ups. You know the one’s I mean. Hmm, that seat post could come up a millimetre or so, trace play in the headset bearings...Habit and good practice means I check fasteners across the bike(s) and provided you’re sticking to (or within) the 5nm range, the Reflex is fine.
Much of this is down to decent quality materials and ergonomics, and some mechanical sensitivity is called for when tackling things like mudguard/rack mounts, which are around the 2nm mark, band on front derailleur clamps, can range from 2.5-4nm etc. Seat collar binder bolts are typically 5nm, but others can be 4nm, so it makes sense to check and note before defaulting to an auto pilot.
Otherwise, having reached the 5nm, the tool locks out, it doesn’t click, or suddenly go limp. This took me a little while to become familiar with but like most things, intuitive with practice. Contact points aside, there’s sufficient bite for cable clamp bolts on brakes and derailleurs, should cable stretch creep in or replacement prove necessary.
The standard length is fine for exposed fasteners - rack, seat post binder bolt, stem faces, cleats and “bat wing” type bottle cages. However, more traditional designs really call for the extension, especially on smaller compact geometry frames.
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Though 4,5, 6mm and Torx 25 bits cover most bases, my bikes have the odd sneaky 3mm here and there-testing Feedback’s claims I can confirm it readily accepts third party bits and there’s enough room in the head for a couple - assuming you didn’t want to pop them in a separate “baggie”.
Care/Durability 3.5/5
Fairly straightforward - usual rules about not dropping, or outright carelessness, there’s no reason it shouldn’t lead a long and productive life. The composite head feel sturdy-both to touch and in use, anodised components and bits have, as you’d expect held their looks without any intervention on my part. Ours has primarily sat in a jersey pocket, occasionally holidaying in a bar bag during a very cold, damp and changeable January.
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No orange taint on the tooling despite sitting in a soggy jersey pocket for several hours and being left in the open air for three nights. That said; outside of a testing context, I’d never treat tooling this way. Not leaving it in a soggy seat pack post-ride and quick oily rag wipe-over now and then will keep the bits happy.
Value 3.25/5
£40 is competitive, but there are some capable of giving it a good run for your hard earned. Veltorque RL Wrench Set is slightly dearer at £50 (rrp-seen it heavily discounted online) It comes with three preset torque bars-4,5 and 6nm and a very comprehensive range of bits; 2,3,4,5,6, 8, T25, T30, PH1 and SL4.
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Park Tool ATD-1 Adjustable Torque driver is considerably dearer at £76.99. However, its adjustable between 4 and 6nm, contains the same bits as the Feedback Sports, and can also use 1/4inch, so easily customisable to suit.
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At the other end of the market, Merida Adjustable Torque Wrench 4-6nm comes in at £22.99. It also shares the same 4,5, 6 and T25 bits and is made from nylon and steel. Impossible to comment upon performance and otherwise make comparison since I’ve not had the opportunity to play with one.
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Pedros Fixed Torque Driver (£43.99) is arguably the closest comparator in terms of specification and pricing. Its available in a choice of fixed torque; 4, 5, or 6nm and comes supplied with 4,5 and T25 ¼ inch bits, so easily customisable. Lezyne Pocket Torque Drive is £65 and comes complete with an EVA carry case. It’s comparatively very adjustable too, which may be a better fit if you’re looking to tackle a wider range of fasteners (2-6nm in .5 increments). Again, it’s proportionately dearer and we’ve not tested one.
Summary
Ultimately, provided you are happy with a pre-set model, the Feedback Sports Reflex Torque Bit Driver is a solid pocket-friendly ride companion. One that would enter my hall of fame, were it adjustable. It will repay the investment many times over by not stripping threads or damaging an expensive carbon post (not to mention saving the embarrassment of laying in A&E while an overworked and underpaid nurse removes shards from one’s derriere). Nonetheless, you will still need a multi tool for loosening stuff and there are several adjustable models around this price point, which may prove better fits.
Verdict: 3.25/5 Compact and user-friendly torque tool but limited by its 5nm preset.
Michael Stenning
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2025
