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Slime compressor - anybody got one?? Slime compressor - anybody got one??
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
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  #1  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Slime compressor - anybody got one??
Has anybody tried one of these:



http://www.slime.com/product.php?product=40001

I'd be interested to hear anybody's comments before I spend £30 on one!!
If so then how much use has the pump had and in what conditions.
I'm planning for a trip to Morocco next spring and need something that will be reliable. This seems to be the only one available in the UK from a reputable manufacturer, all the rest are the cheapo chinese versions, which I don't think will last too long in the desert!!
Last edited by MarkLG; 8 Dec 2006 at 18:09.
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  #2  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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got one
just bought one couple of weeks ago, haven't used it yet..

seems that I agree with you regarding any alternatives in uk, I couldn't find a smaller one that looks as useful.

it will came with me all they way to mauritania (hopefully) and back in a couple of weeks.. so I will be able to give first hand experience feedback..

(got mine from Nippynorman's for GBP24.00
http://www.nippynormans.com/)

BTW

there seems to be an adventure elec. pump for about 150.00 US dollars but you going to have to pay tax 4% and VAT 17.5% on top if you deliver in UK
www.cyclepump.com

or you can go for the TouraTech option which looks equally overlanding for about GBP 80.00

or wait until I get back to let you know if the slime one is ok for africa.
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  #3  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Thanks George. I've seen Nippy Normans, works out at £29 inc P&P. Let me know how you get on with your trip.
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  #4  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Go to this link and scroll down a bit to the Airman Sparrow pump.
$16 USD

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/...vc?Screen=PLST

I'm pretty sure ALL these type of units are "cheapo Chinese units",
including the SLIME one. 30UKP is a high price for $3 ball pump.

The chinese items are getting better, most are converted ball pumps or pumps for toys. I have one, rarely use it. The very very small ones take a Coon's
age to pump up a street tire. Careful, they get BLOODY HOT!

CA sport touring are going OUT OF BUSINESS....be sure to ask for additional
15% discount on everything they sell.

Patrick
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  #5  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog
Go to this link and scroll down a bit to the Airman Sparrow pump.
$16 USD

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/...vc?Screen=PLST

I'm pretty sure ALL these type of units are "cheapo Chinese units",
including the SLIME one. 30UKP is a high price for $3 ball pump.

The chinese items are getting better, most are converted ball pumps or pumps for toys. I have one, rarely use it. The very very small ones take a Coon's
age to pump up a street tire. Careful, they get BLOODY HOT!

CA sport touring are going OUT OF BUSINESS....be sure to ask for additional
15% discount on everything they sell.

Patrick
I was looking for comments on this specific unit, by people who have experience of them. Sending me links for stuff for sale in the USA is not a lot of use to me since I live in the UK!!
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  #6  
Old 9 Dec 2006
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I have the Slime pump, and have used it. It's functionable, but not worth the cost. A cheaper pump would do as well. It's no faster than a cheaper pump, and it's bulkier. If it was faster and had a built-in pressure gauge it might be worth the cost.

Alas.
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  #7  
Old 9 Dec 2006
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I've been using a "slime" pump for the past year on the road, it's still working fine and its pressure gauge is very accurate. I bought it at a bike shop in the U.S. for $15. Guess I got a good deal!
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Old 10 Dec 2006
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Your pump has a pressure gauge? Mine didn't.
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Done with Prudhoe Bay and Ushuaia.

http://www.errant-ronin.com/PrudhoeBayUshuaia.htm
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  #9  
Old 10 Dec 2006
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My "slime" pump does have a pressure gauge. It also differs from the pic above in that it is all black. I bought the pump over a year ago though- at Wheat Ridge Bicycles I believe...
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  #10  
Old 12 Dec 2006
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I carry the Touratech compressor, moto110 (i think it is) which has a plug on the end which fits both touratech/BMW/triumph style aux power sockets, as well as automotive cigarette lighter sockets. It's a robust construction, with a decent aluminium casing, and is supplied with a CaneCreek carry case, which I can fit my tyre plugs, insertor and other associated gubbins in. I've used it 3 times now, and have also helped out a colleague when her car tyre had a slow puncture.

it's £80, but well worth it imho.. punctures on the bike are now an inconvenience, rather than an annoyance or trip stopper.. I'm usually back on my way within 15 minutes now (assuming I can find the hole)

a
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  #11  
Old 2 Jan 2007
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It seems many folks carry electric pumps, but I prefer the idea of a pump that uses human power Saves my battery and less prone to failure.

Does anyone have experience of the Motrax Mini Pump (Motorcycle Foot Pump)?
http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/acatalog/Motrax_Goodies.html
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  #12  
Old 2 Jan 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkLG
Has anybody tried one of these:
It was top-rated in a recent review. I think it was in Motorcycle Consumer News, not to be confused with the British MCN.

I bought 4 of them for Christmas gifts.
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  #13  
Old 10 Jan 2007
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Thumbs up got one / used one
well as I said I was going to give some feedback on the slime compressor.

First I used it on both bikes (12GS & TT600) to inflate tyres after adding ultraseal in the tyres. It worked well although a bit slow, it takes around 4 minutes to fully inflate rear 150/70/17 tyre.

then I had it in my pannier for couple of weeks riding down and up to Mori border and used it to inflate the rear tyre on the GS although the air was going out of the punctured hole as fast as it was going in through the pump.

It worked well without any problems.

I have to admit it looks a bit flimsy and "weak" but thats just looks, I am sure I would have been very impressed if it had aluminium casing rather than plastic and was 100 pounds more expensive..

My only reservation is that I am not convinced I would get enough pressure to set the seal on the tubeless tyre. Although not sure if any portable inflator would do that.

so there..

g t
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  #14  
Old 10 Jan 2007
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Thanks for all the input regarding the inflater. I went for the homemade approach in the end. I got a 12V compressor designed for car tyres and removed all the plastic casing, switches, guage ,etc. It's very simply - no on/off switch, no guage - so there's little to go wrong, and fits in the palm of my hand. It'll get the 150 size rear tyre on my KTM up to 50psi to seat the bead without any problems.
I almost got the Slime, it looks like a nice unit, but it's just a bit expensive for what it does.
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  #15  
Old 10 Jan 2007
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Improvement?
Try to enclose the thing in a plastic box with a removable lid (you have to make a cutout in the cylinder area, to allow cooling/occasional lubing). You may need to mount the assembly on an aluminium strip/plate 2mm thick first, which can in turn be bolted to the box with 4 mm bolts.

The funda behind the box - easier to stow away without fear of something getting into the motor/damaging the gear/getting oil from the crank assembly onto other stuff/avoids stressing the solder joints on the wires. Makes it usable in the rain too, without having to worry about the rain getting into the motor.

Provided you choose the box well, it will hardly take up much more space than the naked motor+cylinder assembly - certainly a lot less than the bulky case these things come in originally.
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