Some time ago we received a Mako 77 bike tool for review. It’s traveled along with me for many miles on three different bikes and trikes. Luckily for me it was never needed, knock on wood.
One morning I decided that it was time to install all those cool accessories that I ordered when we got Sandy’s trike.
Getting started, I realized that my bike tools were in the bag on the hybrid, stored in Titusville. And the tools I usually carry in my car are in the storage unit on the other side of town. Not letting the lack of the proper tools stop me, I did a quick inventory of what I had.
A six inch adjustable wrench, and an old Raleigh multiple tool. The one I received as a birthday gift in my thirties. It weights a ton, and “they don’t make them like that anymore.”
But wait, where’s the Mako 77 I’m suppose to be testing? There it was, in the seat bag on the trike I was working on. It’s so small and unobstrusive that I almost missed it.
Let the accessorizing begin! The Mako comes with two Allen (#5&6) wrenches. Both were too large for assembling the fenders.
Next came the neck rest. Maybe you can start to see why I’ve become a trike convert, fenders, neck rest. I’m telling you, that insulated cup holder is starting to look mighty good!
Here I was able to put the Mako to use. Just not as intended. Held just right, I was able to use the Torx tip in a number one or two Allen head bolt. I didn’t crank it tight or anything, just tight enough to hold it together until final adjustments will be made once installed.
If you have never installed fenders on your bike, you’re missing a big opportunity to grumble and throw the tool you’re using across the room. And a trike has 50% more wheels than your standard bike. (I just threw that one in to confuse you. Yes, THREE fenders, not two.)
The trike rear fender mounts in four locations on the frame. With rear suspension, all the mounts must be attached to the rear swing arm. These four attach points become eight where they mate with the fender. All must be adjusted together, to center the wheel and give it the proper distance between it an the tire.
The secret to aligning this many things at once is to not tighten any of them at first. Start with them loose then snug them up enough to still allow adjustments. Once things line up how you want them, snug each one just a little, one at a time. Re-tighten each one just a bit more, until they are all tight.
With the rear fender and neck rest in place. It was time to tackle the front fenders. I love these ICE trikes, they are engineered and built well … except for the front fenders! They are held in place using a single bolt attaching them to the frame. This one bolt also provides the left and right adjustments. Two addition bolts on the fender bracket adjust the height and tilt.
I’ve worked on boats, Space Shuttles, cars, bikes and motorcycles. And I’ve never seen anything that needed to stay in a fixed location held by a single attach point. Until now!
To install align, and adjust, three locations at the same time I needed three different tools. The only three I had would have to do.
The Mako uses a cut out in the body of the tool to hold the Allen wrenches in place as you apply torque. Using it like that, it worked great.
The Mako 77 was a prototype. The final version that went to market was the Mako Ti Bike Tool. They look pretty much the same. Nine tools that will fit in your pocket. I wouldn’t want it to be the only tool that I had out there with me. But today it came in handy.
Isn’t that what a pocket tool like this is made for?
Thanks, Leatherman, for letting me try out the prototype. It will be in the trike tool kit, right there next to a couple other bike-unique multi-tools.
DISCLOSURE: Our review contains an affiliate link below so you may purchase the item if you are interested in it. We earn a small commission on each purchase.
Find the Mako Leatherman Bike Tool on Amazon.com
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