portable tyre pump
 

Hi

does anyone have a recommendation ? Do you carry one or would a simple bicycle pump do ? I'm considering an 12V portable pump and looking to see where I can pick one up .

Any ideas/ suggestions gratefully received !

Kevin

Pump
 

Hi. I've always used a double action bicycle pump that connects to a Schraeder valve (normal motorcycle tyre valve). It folds down to about 10" long and easily fits in a tank bag. Easily copes with top ups and will inflate from flat - in time!

I bought a CyclePump 12V last year for my BMW. It is a nice bit of kit and very compact, but in all honesty you only need a small mountain bike pump. The first time I had a puncture I ended up inflating the tyre using my back-up mini mountain bike pump. So save some weight and space - take a hand pump.

When I get my act together my CyclePump will be on ebay. Any opening offers?

I bought a cheap (£10) 12v pump, and threw all the plastic casing away, it now fits in a tupperware box 100x100x50 mm (4x4x2 inches) and weighs 500g, I've used it a few times, even blowing up my car tyre - although that took a while.
I guess that if you are to travel mainly tarmac, and would expect few punctures, a hand pump would be lighter, but if you suffer many punctures, you would end up with a rather large arm muscle.
bill

pumps
 

I suggest hand/bicycle pumps; preferably those with a flexible connector as the quickfit ones are not dependable.

This will be a good solution for your tyre repairs and your inflatable companion....

Happy pumping!
denis

Bikers Dream...
 

Hein Gericke do a lightweight footpump that folds up into a small pouch called the 'bikers dream' - it has a flexible hose and a pressure gauge built in.

Click on the link and enter 'bikers dream' in the suche box

http://www.hein-gericke-store.com/wShop/?navid=19

This works a treat and is light and compact - as its foot operated its much easier than using a hand pump.
I picked mine up in Germany about 5 years ago - and its still going ok - should be able to get one from HG over here.
Cheers
Grif

I’ve done the same as Bill. It’s worthwhile if you have a power socket on your bike.


Buy a cheap 12v pump, remove the case, put epoxy on the exposed soldered joints to strengthen them and cut down the length of the rubber hose to save space.

When mine’s not on the bike it’s in the car. A double action bicycle pump is also a good idea (I carry one on my off-road bike) but it doesn’t do car tyres too.
Stephan

Air pump
 

Although I'll eventually get an electric pump (it's easier to use), I have used on my BMW a "chuffer" pump which screws into one of the 2 cylinder spark plug holes. The engine runs OK on one cylinder and it pumps fresh air into the tire.

Weights
 

The electric pumps - no plastic is about 0.5 kg
A floor pump ?DRG? is about 0.3 kg
A bicycle hand pump is about 0.2 kg

I find the floor pump has more volume of air flow than the others (if you can keep the foot speed up) and is less tiring than the hand pump. For laziness the electric pump wins.

12V pumps
 

I have a little 12V that is a stripped down (plastic removed). I store some of my duct tape wrapped around it (keeps grit out of the brushes). Currently I have to replace the valve end because, when trying to us it one rather cold morning, I shattered it. I am sure I could have done the same to a hand pump. Now I get to shop for a metal one and not repeat the problem.

I removed the standard cord (with the power plug) and replaced it with a cord that matches my battery charger and electric socks. I bought an "extension cable" for the battery charger and cut a chunk out of it (it started off 25' long). This leaves me with the nice molded on connector and a perfect length cord (just enough to go front to back on the bike).

From my own personal experiences (being a lazy person), I find it to be the best way to go. (Though I would take a backup pump, regardless of the primary, on any trip that would make it prudent). My big reason for having it is that I am much better about maintaining proper tire pressure when I have it. If I am 2psi low, and I have a hand pump, I am going to call it "good enough." If I am in a spot where lower pressure would help, but will soon want full pressure again, with a hand pump I'll try going through with high pressure. With the electric pump, I know that raising the pressure again will be no more than some minutes sitting in the shade having a nice drink of water.

If I had the discipline to always get it right with the hand pump, that would be fine, but I don't. With the electric, I don't even need to take my jacket off.


Matthew

Can you buy those valve ends as spares? Mine's broken too. As for the electric pump, I don't travel without it.

I've gone down the 12 volt route aswell.I've actually fitted mine underneath the seat with a long enough hose to reach the rear tyre valve when it's near the top,and powered it via a fused switch.I first did this on my long distance trial bike a few years ago and despite all the dust/mud/wet/heat it never played up.When i got to the end of a particular section i just flipped the seat up and turned it on....and smiled at all the other guys puffing and panting with their hand or foot pumps(in full bike gear of course)!

Thanks guyd for all the tips - biker's dream sounds like a runner !

Kevin

Is the 'bikers Dream' foot pump the all-plastic one?
I seem to remember a thread about a year ago which didn't give very good reviews of the all-plastic foot pump.

any stockists of bikers dream other than in germany?
 

it looks/sounds like a good pump but with my limited german i can see on the website that they only send within the fatherland...

anyone come across a stockist in UK or USA?
ta