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review
2022 Topeak Power Link Pro.jpg£34.99
VERDICT:
Very easy to use and built strong – ideal if you're forever splitting chains, but expensive if not
Strong
Work really well
Direction change is very easy
Good unadjustable ones are much cheaper
Weight:
175g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Topeak Power Link Pro pliers make installing or removing quick links in chains incredibly easy. They're built strong and take seconds to use, plus they work with a squeeze for both installing and removing links – if you're forever faffing about with chains, they're great.
Drivechain quick links don't tend to be that quick without an appropriate tool (or fingers like a frightened rock climber), and having a tool that can both squeeze links open and pull them locked is very handy indeed. This one does that, and does it really well.
What else do you need to know? Not much. The main components are hardened steel, and the big polymer handles are comfy and grippy. I had no worries shovelling this about in my toolkit with everything else.
If you do have issues at any point, it's good to see the pivot is bolted rather than riveted for easy dismantling.
To swap from 'install' to 'remove' (or vice versa), you just pull down the grey plastic lever that locks the circular plate. One hook is attached to that plate, which you rotate until it's on the other side of the second hook.
Having located one of the two half-moon cutouts on the metal dowel, you push the grey lever back to once again lock the disc. Done. It takes seconds.
Value
At £34.99 these are a bit of investment, especially if you only deal with chains once or twice a year. Obviously they're a workshop tool rather than one for the saddlebag – if you want something for emergencies, Topeak's own Power Lever X is small enough to double as two tyre levers and is only £15.99.
> Beginner’s guide to bike tools – get all the vital gear for basic bike maintenance
Alternatively, Decathlon's Quick-Release Bike Chain Tool does the same job for £7.99, while even the Park Tool Master Link Pliers are only £19.99. Neither of these adjust to work with a squeeze for both functions, however, if that's important to you. And really it needs to be, as that's all the price premium is getting you.
> Six essential tools for cyclists who do their own bike maintenance
Overall, these work well, feel strong and should last you years. If you only remove chains occasionally or don't really mind pulling at handles to reinstall links, though, there are cheaper alternatives.
Verdict
Very easy to use and built strong – ideal if you're forever splitting chains, but expensive if not
road.cc test report
Make and model: Topeak Power Link Pro
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Topeak says: "Shop-grade, pro-quality master link pliers for removing or installing all types of chain master links. Durable padded grip for secure handling and comfortable usage."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Topeak lists these features:
WEIGHT 164 g / 5.78 oz
SIZE 17.4 x 11.5 x 1.8 cm / 6.9in x 4.5in x 0.7in
TOOL MATERIAL Hardened steel / Engineering grade polymer
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
8/10
Rate the product for value:
4/10
You're paying a big premium for a small extra convenience.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Really well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Easy to adjust, easy to use, strong build feels very durable.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Expensive for what they are.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It's high – tools for this job are generally £8-£20.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, but would probably end up buying a cheaper version.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if they ran a workshop.
Use this box to explain your overall score
These work really well and feel like they'll survive years of workshop life. They'd score higher if they were cheaper – non-adjustable pliers cost less and do the same job with only slightly less ease.
About the tester
Age: 48
I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,
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12 comments
Does anyone have experience using Wippermann Connex quick links? Asking since they cost less than this tool, and don't require any tools.
I've used them, I think 10-speed. They do what they say on the tin.
Wippermann quick links are reusable - meaning they are designed to be open and closed more than once. The standard links supplied by Shimano etc. are not reusable, which does not mean for the life of the chain but for a single time join - they are not supposed to be opened for chain removal for cleaning, for example. KMC say theirs can be used 2 or 3 times per chain except for top end 11 speed which are strictly single use.
That being said, I've never come across a failure of a quick link that has been properly closed that has been refitted a few times.
Quick links are wearing part like a chain, so should only be used for a single chain.
I open and reuse shimano and sram quick links but only for the life of the chain. It has never been a problem. I stopped using connex chains and links when I found that they didn't climb from the small to large chainring on shimano or campag as fast as the own make chains did.
I have had a quick link break, changing gear and under load. I had probably undone and done it up a few too many times, top notch 9 speed from SRAM, I have reduced the number of times I remove the chain since getting info on their limited usage.
I have had a quick link break...
This is interesting. There is a tendency for egotism to convince at least one of us that chain breakages are due to people not being careful enough when pushing a pin back in. I have never had a chain break and have now moved to quick links because the chains I buy come with them. It must be difficult to install a quick link incorrectly- it's either on right or not on at all. So if one breaks, it's down to the link itself. I'm thinking of taking my chain off more often for cleaning instead of just 2 or 3 times when implementing my 4 chains per cassette system, each chain on twice: firstly when new, remove when half worn according to the tool, then back on again in rotation. About how many times, ktache, was 'a few times too many'?
Probably at least 5 maybe as many as 10. Used to remove the chain for any reason, just because I could. Good bike, full xtr, so looks good when clean, used to pop off the chain when cleaning the cassette and jockeys, flash ali ones with holes, to stop my freshly cleaned chain flopping about. Lost half of the link when it failed so couldn't see the failure. Replaced with a spare and went on my way. Learned much later about the suggested limited refitting, guessed that it might have been something to do with it.
Gearfloss means I can get a fairly clean cassette with less need to remove for detail cleaning.
I'm guessing I managed to install it correctly, it might have done 50 miles before it went.
Thinking about it, had a brand new KMC X8 ept go at the link, only did a couple of miles, assumed faulty part. If you have a close look at them there are some areas that would be weaker than a standard link, but I'm guessing stronger than a refitted rivet.
Twisting when changing cogs at the rear was my assumption for the fail, I would think that's where refitted rivets go too.
My X1 KMC single speed quick links are single use so no refitting for them. Maybe in a dire emergency. Don't keep used SRAM quicklinks either, throw them away with the chain, to the tip for recycling.
Always have a few extra links for my 3 forms of chains, around and in the carry toolkit. Helpful for distressed fellow riders at the side of the road.
Comprehensive reply. Thanks!
I have used their connex links with the SX 11sp chain and also just the link currently with a KMC EL chain on a 1x setup. It works very well, with no performance difference to the original KMC version, as long as I remember which way round to install the link! It's a few seconds to remove or swap if the mistake is made.. the quick link does discolour over time to a duller shade if that is a problem appearance wise!
I use the BBB BTL-77 tool daily..... These I've had for 8 years now brilliant tool for on and off
Open and close quick link pliers for £8, no need to get ripped off https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/quick-release-bike-chain-tool/_/R-p-120493
+1, I have a pair of these and they've been going strong for over four years and many chain changes, work perfectly.