In Part One of this article, we checked out a sampling of tire repair kits a rider could easily carry and use to plug a flat mid-ride. Of course, that’s only half the solution; the repaired tire must be re-inflated to become operational again. A manual pump can provide an endless source of pressurized air, but conventional varieties are too large for storage on a bike and they all rely on muscular exertion—a surprisingly large amount of which may be required to fill a modern motorcycle tire. Electric pumps that use a motorcycle’s battery eliminate the effort of pumping, but connecting to that battery may itself involve considerable hassle and the battery may be drained to the point it won’t start the motorcycle. If the pump instead incorporates its own internal rechargeable battery, the device may be heavier and bulkier, and if neglected may end up with inadequate power when it’s actually pressed into service. Finally, inflation devices that use CO2 cartridges are small and eliminate the need for electrons, but now a rider has only a finite amount of pressurized air on hand—what if it’s not enough? Also, the cartridges themselves are relatively bulky and heavy.
Here we’ll look at representatives from each of these categories. Some were mentioned as part of a repair kit covered in Part One, others are stand-alone units. All have advantages and disadvantages, as outlined above, but this collection is appropriate for motorcycling use, given the size and weight constraints most riders must consider. As with the repair kits, this isn’t a comprehensive list, nor is it meant to be a contest with a “winner.” Which type of device is ideal for you will depend on your particular priorities and available storage.
Although several of these devices have a built-in pressure gauge, always carry one with you for ready reference. Whether checking your re-inflation level after a repair or simply monitoring your tires’ status, making sure tire pressures are correct is a quick and easy way to avoid surprises with wheels turning, and to maintain optimal tire health and overall motorcycle performance and handling.
To assess and compare each device’s efficiency, a 180/55-17 rear tire was completely deflated, then refilled with a timer running. This represents a worst-case scenario, since many motorcycle tires are smaller than this, and a puncture may not result in complete deflation. Hopefully, a rider will notice lost pressure before that loss is severe. The puncture will likely stay “plugged” to some extent by the object that created it, and—once that object has been removed—the hole will mostly close itself while the tire is stationary. Hence, a plug can be inserted and further leakage halted while the tire is still partially inflated, greatly reducing the amount of air required to get it up to the desired psi.
Crank Brothers “Gem” Hand Pump – $25
As mentioned in Part One, accessories from motorcycle-adjacent avocations, like bicycling, can be useful to motorcyclists. As an example, this aluminum-bodied, hand-operated telescoping pump is compact enough to carry easily in a tank bag. Similar devices are readily available, but this particular one has a clever feature: the compression ratio of each stroke can be adjusted between low and high settings; think of it like a dual-range transmission, with the associated advantages of more leverage in one range and greater speed in the other. However, these characteristics are the reverse of what you’d expect from gearing. The pump is designed to function optimally in its low setting for pressures up to 40 psi, with each stroke delivering more air with less leverage because the pump(er) has less resistance to overcome. In high, each stroke delivers less air with more leverage to overcome the greater resistance when forcing air into a chamber that’s already significantly pressurized. The pump can continue increasing that pressure up to 100 psi, in case you want that kind of power for use with certain kinds of bicycle tires.
The downsides of this lightweight (5.4 oz) pump’s compact dimensions (8” x 2” at its widest point) are two-fold. First, even when it’s set to gulp the most air, filling a completely flat motorcycle tire requires a tremendous number of pumps—definitely exceeding most riders’ patience and/or stamina. Refilling the full-sized rear tire used for testing took over a half-hour of excruciatingly tedious work. Second, depending on the orientation of your wheel’s valve stem and the configuration of nearby obstructions, it may be awkward—perhaps even impossible—to orient the pump in a position that allows vigorous operation, since its stubby valve fitting (which can be set up to work with Schrader or Presta valve stems) is rigidly mounted to the pump’s end at a 90-degree angle.
Nuetech Mini Floor Pump – $27
This pump’s clever folding design allows it to occupy a fairly small amount of space while stored (11.3” x 1.8” x 1.3”)—too large for some tank bags, but okay for others and the average tail pack. It weighs a scant 6.5 ounces. Unfolded, the pump allows its user to set its base on the ground near the tire and operate the plunger vertically like a regular floor pump. This is a reasonably stable arrangement, with the user’s foot holding the base steady by way of a little fold-out pedal, and it provides decent leverage (if not stellar comfort) at the small fold-out handle. This ease of operation will be most welcome if a tire needs a lot of air, as the pump’s narrow chamber simply can’t deliver much volume/pressure per stroke. Expect a completely deflated full-sized rear tire to over 20 minutes of stooped tedium (its short height means the operator will be bent over during the pumping process). A hard-to-read gauge is built into the pump’s nozzle housing (which can be configured to work with Schrader or Presta valve stems) and is attached to the pump’s body with a flexible, swiveling, telescoping hose that facilitates its fitment on any valve stem.
Aerostich Mini Compressor – $53
For those wanting to avoid the manual labor of pumping up a tire by hand, a variety of miniature electric pumps make use of energy from a motorcycle’s battery instead of the rider’s muscles. Aerostich, well known for their range of riding apparel, offers this little device among their lineup of accessories. Stored in its heat-resistant textile bag with one of its electrical connectors (see below), it measures 7” x 4” x 4” and weighs 19 ounces. True to the company’s function-over-fashion ethos, the pump itself makes an immediate impression as crudely constructed, even unfinished. The motor’s electrical contacts are exposed and there’s no housing around it to protect a rider’s hands from the intense heat it generates during use (presumably, the latter allows maximal cooling of the motor). The on/off switch, located partway along the power cord, looks like an afterthought. Nevertheless, this device gets the job done and features a number of useful details, including a carabiner for hanging the pump where its hot surface won’t contact skin or other sensitive surfaces, and four electrical connection options: battery terminal clamps, a cigarette lighter plug, an SAE plug with rings for mounting permanently on the battery, and the device’s integral SAE plug which can be connected to an accessory cable already installed on the motorcycle. Operation involves simply connecting to power and valve stem and switching on the motor, which is claimed capable of generating a maximum of 90 psi. Without a target pressure shutoff, the pump must be stopped and detached to check pressure along the way. It required a lengthy 18 minutes of pumping time to reach 42.2 psi in the test tire—much longer than the other electric pumps here, but less time (and much less effort) than the manual choices. The generous lengths of hose and power cord make it easy to use the pump from a place where it can dangle safely, although the carabiner’s small size limits attachment options. For $87, Aerostich sells this pump in a kit that includes the essentials for tire repair, too. Aerostich warranties their products for two years.
Testing revealed some noteworthy cautions. Because the pump takes a long time to build pressure, it gets quite hot and this seems to cause internal components to expand, creating more friction and requiring more amperage to run the pump. Although there were no problems during the first 10 minutes of operation, the pump eventually blew a 7.5-amp fuse in the accessory cable pre-installed on the test motorcycle—twice! None of the connection options supplied with the pump are outfitted with fuses, so this would not be an issue if using one of those. However, the pump may drain enough power from some batteries to prevent restarting the motorcycle. This happened on the test motorcycle, which was a large-displacement, high-compression twin that demands serious amperage to start—and it was outfitted with a hybrid lithium-iron/AGM battery that likely has less tolerance for extended drain of this sort than a conventional battery would have. After switching to the battery terminal clamps supplied with the pump and connecting them to a conventional battery off the motorcycle, there were no more problems, but this is not something a rider would want to discover on the side of the road.
MotoPressor Mini Pump – $58
The only device here that comes in a hard carrying case (7” x 6” x 2.5”), this somewhat bulky package weighs 24.3 ounces with one of its electrical connection options in the case with the pump. Those options include battery terminal clamps, an SAE plug with rings for mounting permanently on the battery, a generously lengthy SAE cable for use with an accessory plug already mounted on the bike, and a cable outfitted with the EC5 plug style used in most jump-starter powerpacks—very handy if there are any concerns about draining the bike’s onboard battery, and if such a powerpack is, er, packed. Operation is straightforward: Connect to the chosen power source. Remove the hose from its storage channel in the back of the pump housing and connect it to the valve stem. Using the three buttons beneath the backlit LCD digital readout, select a pressure scale ( psi, kPa, or bar) for the built-in gauge and set the target inflation pressure (100 psi max). Flip the power switch on to activate the pump, which will automatically turn off when the desired pressure is achieved. Set at 42.5 psi, this pump required 7.5 minutes to achieve an independently measured 42.4 psi. It carries a five-year warranty.
VACLIFE Cordless Tire Inflator – prices vary on Amazon
Rather than working off the motorcycle’s battery, this pump contains its own rechargeable power source, which is kept alive with occasional use of a familiar USB charging cable. The device is comprised of a 6.3” x 2.5” x 2.5” pump/battery unit and a foot-long hose that plugs into the unit during use and detaches so everything can be stored in a silky textile pouch. The whole package weighs 22 ounces To use, make sure the battery has adequate charge remaining according to the indicator light (instructions suggest recharging every 4-6 months). Twist the hose into place and turn on the power switch. Attach the hose fitting to the valve stem and note the current pressure reading on the bright LED screen. Using the buttons surrounding the power switch, select the inflation mode—car, motorcycle, bicycle, ball, or custom (each of these has a preset pressure range appropriate to the application), then select the desired unit of measurement (psi, bar, kPa, or kg/cm2) and the target inflation pressure up to a maximum of 160 psi. Pressing the power button again will initiate inflation, and the pump will stop automatically when it achieves the desired level. Seven minutes were required to reach a preset value of 42.5 psi, which translated to 43.3 psi measured independently. VACLIFE claims a fully charged unit will inflate over a dozen motorcycle tires; this test confirmed it will easily take care of at least several, which should be more than enough to get any rider to a place where the pump can be recharged.
An LED flashlight can be activated on the top end of the pump/battery unit, there’s a USB port for charging other devices (using the built-in battery as a power bank), and a Presta fitting and ball inflation needle are included, along with a one-year warranty.
CXWXC Tire Repair Kit – $29
This kit doesn’t come with any CO2, but it’s designed to make use of standard-sized cartridges with threaded tops. (These are available at sport, hobby, and hardware stores, as well as online outlets; for example, a six-pack of 16g threaded cartridges costs $13 on Amazon; a 12-pack of 25g cartridges was $35.) First, screw off the head of the device, outfitted with a pivoting valve control and valve stem fitting. After making sure the valve is closed (clockwise), screw the cartridge into the smaller threads inside the head, then screw that assembly back into the (emptied) body of the device, with the other end piece removed (this is only possible with the smaller 16g cartridges; 25g versions won’t fit and must be used without the body as an insulating shield). Screw the fitting onto the wheel’s valve stem and twist the valve counter-clockwise to allow airflow. When the cartridge is empty, close the valve and unscrew the fitting from the valve stem. Check your inflation pressure and repeat this process or release excess as needed.
It only takes a few seconds for each cartridge to make its contribution, but understand many cartridges may be required to refill a completely deflated tire. CO2 cartridges may be adequate for topping off a partially deflated tire, but the few 16g cartridges typically included in a kit were woefully inadequate for reinflating the test tire. Three such cartridges produced only 12.3 psi; six yielded a mere 25.7 psi. Six 25g cartridges succeeded in reaching 41.9 psi. Given the bulk, weight (2.1oz each for the 16g variants and 3.3 ounces for each 25g), and expense of these cartridges, they’re not a very practical alternative to a pump. For much the same money, space, and weight, a rider could buy and stow an electric pump and have little or no concern about running out of air before any tire was properly inflated. On the other hand, CO2 cartridges are extremely fast, and if you have plenty of storage capacity they may work fine for you.
As noted in Part One, this item hails from the bicycle accessory world. In case you’d like to use the CXWXC kit on your bicycle, it comes with both Schrader and Presta valve stem fittings, along with a Presta valve core removal tool. Also included is a simple straight needle for inflating a football, basketball or the like.
Rocky Creek Designs/MotoPressor Puncture Repair Kit – $57
This kit comes with three 16g CO2 cartridges of the threaded persuasion (when purchasing additional or replacement cartridges for any of these kits, be careful to avoid unthreaded versions). To use, screw one of these into the base of the valve head after ensuring its knob is snugged clockwise to the closed position. Screw the fitting on the other end of the attached hose onto the wheel’s valve stem. Twist the knob clockwise to open the valve and allow airflow. When done, close the valve, unscrew the fitting, and check your inflation pressure. Important note: The precipitous energy reduction accompanying discharge of a CO2 cartridge causes dramatic cooling of its metal casing—enough to create a layer of frost on its surface in humid air, and serious discomfort or even skin injury if you hold a bare cartridge during this process. Wear a glove, wrap the cartridge in something for insulation or be very careful not to touch it while operating such an inflation device.
In actual use, the hose in this kit leaked air, wasting precious CO2 during the inflation process. However, it was easy to detach the hose from the valve and use the latter by itself. The fitting between hose and valve worked perfectly connected directly to the wheel’s valve stem.
Stop&Go Pocket Tire Plugger – $60
In contrast to the complexity of the rest of this kit, the inflation mechanism couldn’t be simpler. You just screw the fitting at one end of the hose onto your wheel’s valve stem, and then screw one of the four included 16g CO2 cartridges into the fitting at the other end—in that order! If you attach a cartridge before you’ve secured the valve stem connection, you’ll release the CO2 prematurely, wasting its contents as you struggle in vain to screw on the valve stem fitting amidst a blast of frigid air. Keep in mind the above warnings. Because this device has no valve with which to initiate/regulate airflow, discharge will begin immediately upon screwing the cartridge into its fitting (the fitting pierces a seal at the cartridge’s tip). The kit shown was purchased many years ago (miraculously one week prior to my need for a roadside flat repair that required only two of its CO2 cartridges). The current version is identical, but appears to include an insulating cartridge sleeve to address the cold metal casing issue.
Electrical pumps (that run off the motorcycle’s battery) not included here but worthy of consideration are Rocky Creek Designs’ MotoPressor Pocket Pump V2 ($59 for what appears to be a smaller update of the MotoPressor Mini Pump described above, sans target pressure preset) and BestRest Products’ uncompromising, ultra-heavy-duty CyclePump Expedition Tire Inflator ($150-215, depending on configuration), available at bestrestproducts.com. Many others are available on the market, along with countless rechargeable and hand-operated pumps. Hopefully, this article has sparked your curiosity, prompting you to track down a combination of puncture repair tool and reinflation device tailored to your specific needs. Being stranded with a flat can be truly terrible, but resuming your ride can also be remarkably quick and easy with some inexpensive preparation.
