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Orro M-Torque 5

7
£24.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Great little multi-tool – if you need to torque the Torx
Weight: 
100g

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Orro, better known for its bikes than its multi-tools, has come up with the M-Torque 5, a multi-tool that – if you have the appropriate fasteners on your bike – covers all the essentials for mid-ride tweaks. It's a smart idea, well made and a good price, but check that you actually need the star-shaped Torx keys.

  • Pros: Easy to use torque wrench, solid piece of kit
  • Cons: T30 Torx not that common, weighty

If the Orro M-Torque 5 looks familiar that is because it's made by Birzman and we tested its big brother, the M-Torque 10 just last month, and I was pretty impressed.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The main highlight over other multi-tools is that it has a built-in torque wrench, set to 5Nm, a figure that is most common for use on stem bolts at either end.

It's simple to use as you just open the required tool out at 90 degrees and grip the tool while placing your thumb on the silver disc that you can see on the longest side. It's important to hold the Orro correctly, because how you handle a torque wrench can affect the finished result, and could lead to over-torquing.

Orro M-Torque 5 - 1.jpg

Once you've hit the 5Nm limit your thumb will depress the button with a discernible click and that's when you stop tightening. Unlike most torque wrenches, the Orro will let you continue to tighten the bolt so you have to concentrate to make sure you don't miss the button click – not that that's likely, it's quite distinct.

Over recent years we're seeing more components being secured by the star-like Torx bolts rather than hex key variants, which is why Orro has chosen to include a T25 and a T30 on the torque end of the M-Torque 5, along with a 4mm hex key.

At the other end you get a 5mm hex and a crosshead screwdriver, which when you add it all up will deal with pretty much any issue you're likely to find while out for a ride.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best multi-tools

T25 is the most common Torx bolt found on stems these days, but the inclusion of a T30 on the torque end seems a bit of an odd choice. Yes there are T30 stem bolts out there, especially at the steerer end, but there are way more 5mm hex bolts, so I'd prefer to see that using the torque setting over the Torx.

Birzman actually makes an M-Torque 4, which has 4mm and 5mm torqued hex keys, with a T25 and flathead screwdriver on the other end, for two quid cheaper than the Orro, which might be a more realistic option.

When it comes to quality, the Orro is very hard to fault; it's a very well made piece of kit. There is no slop when the pieces fit into various bolts and the whole tool looks like it will last to give plenty of use.

Orro M-Torque 5 - 3.jpg

The torque wrench doesn't need to be calibrated and Birzman guarantees it for up to 10,000 clicks, which will last you for years. Using it alongside my own £150 calibrated torque wrench, the results of the Orro were very impressive and well within limits.

> Buyer's Guide: 5 of the best torque wrenches

The Orro is rated to IPX4 which means that it'll stand up to water spray – which it could be subject to if you keep it in a jersey pocket. So far, I haven't had the same rusting issues that I found on the M-Torque 10, but I'll keep an eye on things and update if needs be.

For its size the Orro is quite weighty at 100g (claimed 90g) but it is still small enough to make no real difference in your pocket or saddle bag. Most of the weight is in the torque wrench, and the gains outweigh the weight penalty.

As for value, the Orro is a cheap torque wrench that works really well for its £24.99 price tag, and the quality is very good. The Birzman M-Torque 10 does look better value, though, at just £10 more for the added tools. But if you just want the smallest tool option to cover the basics, the Orro is a good choice, although if you have no Torx bolts on your bike then I'd suggest you go for the Birzman M-Torque 4 for £22.99.

Verdict

Great little multi-tool – if you need to torque the Torx

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Orro M-Torque 5

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for

Orro says, "Orro have collaborated with Birzman to make this great multi-tool. You get the precision of a torque wrench at your fingertips whenever you need it. Your bike is just a reassuring click away from ultimate accuracy. Orro have built in a T30 on the torque side of this tool, something rarely seen on multi-tools which means you can tighten the majority of stem bolts to an accurate 5Nm."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Orro:

4mm / T25 / T30 with 5Nm torque alert function

5mm and cross head screwdriver on reverse

Material - Body: Alloy Steel / Tools: Chrome

Size - 9.3 x 3.5 x 1.8cm

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The torque wrench works really well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Well made piece of kit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The T30 piece won't get much use.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No, I'd go for the M-Torque 4 or 10.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe

Use this box to explain your overall score

The M-Torque 5 is a decent piece of kit, but I think the 5mm hex key being on the torque end would make more sense than the T30.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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