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- 1 TEKTON 24335 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-150 ft.-lb./13.6-203.5 Nm)
- 2 Tacklife DIN Calibrated 1/4″ Torque Wrench (20-200 lb.-in/2.26-22.6nm) Drive Click with Certification, Extension Bar, Adaptor in Case | HTW4A
- 3 Neiko 03714A 1/4″ Drive Adjustable Click Torque Wrench, Chrome Vanadium Steel | 20-200 Inch-Pound | 10.75″ Length
- 4 EPAuto 1/2-inch Drive Click Torque Wrench, 10~150 ft./lb., 13.6 ~ 203.5 N/m
- 5 Torque Wrench,AKM 1/2″ Adjustable Drive Click(10-150Ft-Lb. 28-210 N-m) with Extension Bar,Reducer in Case
Looking For The Best Torque Wrench For Motorcycle Work?
Here’s a look at our favorites, including our top pick – TEKTON 24335 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench.
So, you just bought a sick new motorcycle and you’re ready for your first long weekend ride. I don’t want to slow you down and take any wind out of your sails, but before you gas up the bike and hit the road it’s important to make sure your motorcycle is ready for the ride.
You don’t want to find out that one of the fasteners is stripped or loose when you’re leaning into a 50-MPH turn. That kind of mistake isn’t as scary when you’re in a car with a seatbelt and airbags, but motorcycles aren’t that forgiving.
Whether you’re doing a quick checkup, basic maintenance, or full-on mechanic work, you’re going to need a torque wrench to make sure all of the fasteners on the bike are torqued to the right value. Torque wrenches take the guesswork out of tightening nuts and bolts, and eliminate the problems caused by over- and under-tightening. A good automotive torque wrench is a wise investment for your garage, as it can be used on your motorcycle, car, truck, recreational vehicles, and lawn equipment.
What to look for in torque wrenches for motorcycle work
First, it helps to understand how a torque wrench works. When you need to tighten a fastener, you’ll start by setting the manufacturer’s specified torque on the torque wrench. As you tighten the fastener, the wrench will calculate the pressure while paying attention to the preset torque specification. When the preset torque value is reached, the wrench will usually make a pop or click that you can hear and feel to let you know it’s time to stop applying force.
With that understanding, here are a few things to look for in a torque wrench for motorcycle work:
- Pressure – the universal unit of torque is the Newton meter (Nm). Most torque wrenches offer a dual-display with Newton meters and either feet-pounds (ft.-lb.) or inch-pounds (in.-lb.)
- Drive – ½-inch and ¼-inch drives are the most common for automotive torque wrenches, though some situations call for a 3/8-inch drive
- Calibration – according to international standards, torque wrenches should be calibrated to an accuracy of +/- 4%
- Construction – when it comes to just about any tools, you want products that are strong, durable, and anti-rust. Good torque wrenches are usually made of steel and don’t have plastic parts
TEKTON 24335 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (10-150 ft.-lb./13.6-203.5 Nm)
If you’re looking for a torque wrench that’s widely used and highly reviewed, the TEKTON is a great pick. It has a high-contrast dual-range scale that’s easy to read, even in low-light situations. It has a reversible ratchet head that drives in both directions, and measures torque when turning clockwise. The wrench has an all-steel construction with no plastic parts, so it’s definitely built to last. The package includes:
- Torque wrench (½-inch drive, 10 – 150 ft.-lb., 13.6 – 203.5 Nm)
- Storage case
- Operator’s manual
Tacklife DIN Calibrated 1/4″ Torque Wrench (20-200 lb.-in/2.26-22.6nm) Drive Click with Certification, Extension Bar, Adaptor in Case | HTW4A
Every Tacklife torque wrench is individually tested for accuracy according to international standards and guaranteed to operate with an accuracy of +/- 4%. It’s made entirely of steel with a sand-blasted silver chrome coating and black chrome coating for the sleeve. The high-contrast dual range scale is easy to read in any lighting conditions. The ratchet tightens and loosens, and it measures torque in the clockwise direction, emitting a click when the wrench reaches the preset torque. The package includes:
- Torque wrench (1/4-inch drive, 20-200 lb.-in, 2.26-22.6 Nm)
- 3/8 in. adapter
- Extra impact socket extension bar
- Certificate of calibration
- Storage case
- Warranty card
Neiko 03714A 1/4″ Drive Adjustable Click Torque Wrench, Chrome Vanadium Steel | 20-200 Inch-Pound | 10.75″ Length
If you’re looking for a wrench with a high torque range, this is the one for you. The Neiko torque wrench has a ¼-inch drive and can handle torque from 50 – 300 lb.-ft. and 70 – 420 Nm. Given the high range, it’s an ideal choice for heavy repairs and engine work. It’s made of heat-treated chrome vanadium steel, is highly durable, and is shock resistant. Every wrench is machine tested in the factory and calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy. It includes forward and reverse lock settings, and the metric conversion chart is displayed on both the tool and the case. The package includes:
- Torque wrench (1/4-inch drive, 20 – 200 in.-lb., 50 – 300 ft.-lb., 70-420 Nm)
- Storage case
EPAuto 1/2-inch Drive Click Torque Wrench, 10~150 ft./lb., 13.6 ~ 203.5 N/m
This EPAuto wrench is made of a hardened treated chrome vanadium steel alloy (Cr-V). It has a knurled handle for a non-slip grip, a high-contrast dual-range scale, and a satin finish for anti-corrosion. The package includes:
- Torque wrench (1/2-inch drive, 10 – 150 ft.-lb., 13.6 – 203.5 Nm)
- Storage case
- User manual
Torque Wrench,AKM 1/2″ Adjustable Drive Click(10-150Ft-Lb. 28-210 N-m) with Extension Bar,Reducer in Case
This AKM wrench is a great handheld spanner for fastening nuts and bolts. It’s simple and reliable with a mechanical click torque notification, and it has an anti-slip grip for convenience. It’s a solid choice for lug nuts, brake pads, crankshaft bolts, cylinder heads, spark plugs, trailer hitches, and engine mountings. The package includes:
- Torque wrench (½-inch drive, 10 – 150 ft.-lb., 28 – 210Nm)
- 3 Sockets (17- 18- and 19-mm)
- Extension bar
- 3/8-inch adapter
- Storage case
Takeaways
If you’re just doing basic maintenance and tightening on your motorcycle, a torque wrench with a range of 15 – 75 ft.-lb. should be sufficient to handle forks, oil plugs, brakes, belt tightening, chain tightening, spark plugs, and all the other small fasteners on your bike. If you’re the mechanic that handles heavy repairs yourself, you’ll want a torque wrench with a range of 30 – 150 ft.-lb. to assemble major steering, drive, and mechanical components.
Considering how all of these torque wrenches are in the same price range and have identical quality standards (all-steel construction, high-contrast dual-range scale, mechanical click), you can’t go wrong with any of them. I’d recommend getting both a ½-inch drive wrench and a ¼-inch drive wrench to widen the range of what your tools can handle. The wrenches that come with a 3/8-inch adapter are a good way to add limited-use capability to the wrench for the rare cases that require a 3/8-inch drive.
