Combination Wrench Buyer's Guide

Sep 23, 2023

One of the essential ingredients of any home mechanic's toolbox is a set of combination wrenches in all the common sizes for your bike. After a while, many motorcycle mechanics find they need a stubby set of combination wrenches to get into a tight spot. With that first step down the rabbit hole of wrench variations, they begin a long and interesting journey toward adjusting fasteners that previously were unreachable. Here are some of our favorite styles of combination wrenches for your perusal. And remember, if you happen to buy any of these wrenches MO gets a small infusion of cash to keep the doors open and the motorcycle articles coming.

The place to start with your combination wrench collection is with long-handled 12-point wrenches. The long handle gives you extra leverage for most jobs, while the 12 points allow the most angles to rotate the wrench in a tight space. These Crescent tools feature strength and corrosion resistance from specially formulated and heat-treated Crescent alloy steel. Off corner loading on the box end reduces fastener rounding because the wrench never contacts the corners. Chrome finish gives a good feel in your hands.

Sometimes you need the security that a 6-point combination wrench provides on tough fasteners. The box end mates with the whole side of the fastener, preventing rounded corners. The off-corner loading design augments this feature. The box end also offers a 15° offset to increase access to more fasteners. Alloy steel for strength plus chrome finish for easy cleaning and corrosion prevention.

Sometimes, you just don't have the room to maneuver a standard-sized combination wrench. In those cases, the stubby combination can come to the rescue. This 7-piece Williams set features 12-points in the box end for maximum flexibility in getting the wrench on the fastener. Sizes range from 10mm-18mm (note the missing 11mm). Once again, chrome finish is included.

Who knew that Amazon was in on the tool manufacturing gig? Well, this set looks like it could be a good starter for a novice mechanic. With a ratcheting box end on the wrench, you no longer have to remove the wrench after each rotation of the fastener. Simply ratchet it back and repeat. It's a game-changer that could likely become one of your most-used tools in the tight confines of a motorcycle. The 72-tooth ratchet means that only 5° of rotation is needed to engage the next tooth. Sizes are 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, and 17mm, and an Amazon 1 year warranty is included.

When it comes to ratcheting combination wrenches, some people don't like having to figure out which wrench orientation delivers the tightening or loosening rotation desired. (Myself included) Instead, with the flip of a switch, the rotation of the ratchet can be reversed. Again a 72-tooth ratchet makes for 5° rotation to engage the next tooth. Additionally, the reversible ratchet makes it possible to offset the box end by 15° to get better access to a fastener. The thin head and beam mean that the wrench can fit into tighter spaces. Constructed of alloy steel with a chrome finish.

When you don't have a straight shot at a fastener, sometimes a flex wrench can do the trick. In the past, however, holding the right angle of flex while applying torque to your bolt could be a challenge. The locking fleet feature of this wrench set remedies the issue by enabling you to fix the handle in one of several positions. This kit gives you 7 ratcheting wrenches, sizes 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19mm with a chrome finish.

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If you buy a ratcheting or solid wrench, get the angled head. Saves on the bruised knuckles and foul language.

Amazon Basics? Really? I realize you're trying to generate click money from Amazon, but they don't make good tools. For a few bucks more you can get much better tools.