Tyre Pump Suggestions Please
 

Does anyone have any suggestions for a tyre pump to take? Obviously smaller, lighter, not easily broken and easy to use/comfortable to pump up tyres in African heat would be a bonus. How much should I expect to spend? c£20 okay, too much or too little?

Cheers

[url=http://www.motopumps.com/]

I got mine from this guy in New York via ebay. I think it was about $30 or so but check their website. I´ve been using it all across South America and think its great, no problems at all and packs very small.

Get yourself down Halfords and pick up one of their 12V tyre inflators for about £15 (I got an identical RAC branded model from Woolworths for £15). Pull it apart and extract the motor/pump assembly. Cut down the 12v lead and air hose to the desired length and reattach.
You've then got yourself a cheap, reliable 12v inflator that will fit in the palm of your hand.

It's worth one of your group carrying a mini-footpump as backup, but it's going to take a while to get enough air into a rear tyre to pop the bead back on. Much easier to use an electric one.

Do not know what bike you got, but for bmw airheads motobins do one that fits inside the top frame tube, so does not take up any space.

Bring a small electric compressor!
 

Hi,

You may bring a cheap air pump as a backup.

But!!! Since your bike has battery, add a 12V plug and buy a small electric compressor (10-15$US).

If you are not convinced: imagined yourself in the jungle surrounded by hundreds of mosquitos at 40 degree C while you are trying to inflate your rear tire with your hand pump :(

I'd rather listen to the noise of my electric motor and be gone in a minute instead of fighting the mosquitos and sweating like crazy because you need to pump for an hour to try the put the tire bead back in place.

Patrick

None of these by it self will pop a bead back on the tubless tyre .. try it at home .. where the mossies are less. And the beer is in the fridge. The most reliable method for a tubless wheel to repair a tubless tyre .. is to put a tube in it .. fixes the problem of poping the bead, and fixes the problem of a large rip .. if you 1) have a tube, 2) can 'patch' the rip (a tee shirt etc .. anything to get you out and to a tyre repairer)

Hi, ive got a great little unite,12volt, fully sealed in an aluminium box about 150mm x 80mm x 40mm in America when i was there. Cost a lot but that is not the issue to me when i want it to work.
I carry a can of CRC/556/ lube type spray to assist in seating the beads. Works fine for me. If desperate i use oil, anything to make it slip on well. Change tyres when they are warm also helps.
regards Brian B:scooter:

Hello,

Thanks for the advice again. I had a look on eBay on went for an electric pump as suggested. It cost £9.40 inc P&P so a link is below if anyone is interested. If you cannot find it through that then the seller is 'neilnufc'.

eBay.co.uk: 12V COMPACT ELECTRIC AIR COMPRESSOR PUMP TYRE INFLATOR (item 300090372729 end time 16-Mar-07 18:43:57 GMT)

Cheers,

Chris

:thumbup1:

I got one of these from the petrol station last summer when they had them on offer - it's had regular use on my van tyres, and has been 100% reliable to date. You can do as I suggested above and remove the casing to reduce the size. I'd also remove the switch and pressure guage (not reliable anyway), and fit a brass chuck on the hose as well - less things to go wrong.

This might be the aluminium package someone mentioned, looked good but pricey at $100-$150 depending on the package you go for:

CyclePump Adventure ComboPackage: BestRest Products BMW motorcycle accessories

Also thanks for the tips Mark, I'll have a play when it turns up.

I use the Cycle Pump. A bit pricey and larger than some, however rock solid. Pumps MC tires fast. I got the extended power cord and use it to pump my truck tires in an emergency. I would not use it as my primary truck pump. Probably the thing I like the most is I can take it apart and repair any broken parts from parts available locally. Carry or use any pump long enough and it will break parts. Comes in a nice cordura case.

Why not CO2 tubes? .... small and fast ....

And they run out. How many would you carry to go throught Africa? Fine for a day or two .. after that you will want something that will continue to work month in year out. And you cannot take them on planes either.

And where to buy them while traveling...
And say your patch doesn't hold a couple of times.....
And say you forgot to re-install the valve stem....
And say your buddy(ies) need air....
And say that farmer who gave you water needs a little air....

They make zero sense to me, if you're traveling any real distance.

How 'bout them new lite-weight spark plugs that only fire 4,000 times....:)

A few suggestions
 

As mentioned, the CyclePump is a quality item that will hold up well. A bit pricey, but it's compact and easy to use. The EngineAir pump, (www.aerostich.com), seems like a good idea too. Although it would be a bit of a hassle at times. It comes with an adapter and a hose that is connected to the spark plug hole once the plug is removed. It states that it will inflate a moto tire in under a minute, while not inflating your tire with dangerous gases. They say it will not damage your engine or ignition system. I do not have any experience with them, nor do I know anyone that has used one. Figured I'd pass it on though.