Portable Tire Inflators - Airmoto or ???

[mcmd]

Curious to see which portable tire inflators forum members are using? Which brand / model do you like? After looking around on the internet it seems that the Airmoto is popular. I see they provide a usb charging cord with the unit. I presume this is for those individuals who are charging them on their bikes while traveling. How does one charge this device at home? I'd appreciate any and all input on these devices. Thanks!

 

[chan2565]

I've heard good things about this one from Ryan Fortnine, I picked it up but luckily haven't had to use it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00388NUPI

 

[dmonkey]

I use a Dynaplug Micro Inflator for maintaining tires away from home and would definitely recommend it. Compact and they hold up well. I keep one in my touring kit, and I ended up buying another one specifically to keep with the CT125 since it has tube type tires. I run it off an SAE pigtail from the battery, but it can also be powered off a cigarette lighter outlet or alligator clips to the battery terminals. It is a good practice to run the bike in neutral while using it so you're not draining the bike's battery.

Dynaplug® Online Store | Dynaplug® Micro Pro Inflator

www.dynaplug.com

It's also a good tool to have on hand for helping other riders. Not a great photo to show the tire inflator itself, but here's my 2022 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Centenario 850 providing the 12v power (SAE plug is behind the passenger footpeg) to run the inflator to air up the tires on a friend's 1947 Harley Davidson EL. It's just the sort of thing that is convenient for morning pre-ride checks, rather than riding over to a gas station and hoping they have a functional air machine.


At home I use a DEWALT 20v Cordless Tire Inflator, it's easier for me to carry that over to a vehicle than it is to use most regular air compressors.

 

[sieg]

I've had a powered one fail, I've had CO2 ones fail. I just carry a good quality bicycle pump.
...............and if your wife operates it for you, it's just as easy.

 

[dmonkey]

Is there a particular bicycle pump that you or your wife have had good luck with? My bicycle pump experience has my arms feeling fatigued looking at that photo.

 

[sieg]

IDK, Probably have a different brand on every bike. Not the cheap ones. But they ain't bad, I've pumped dirt bike tires (and so has my wife) it doesn't take that long. And little CT tires or much smaller.

 

[m in sc]

ive carried one of these, (similar) for a few years. even had to do the the cb1100 rear tire once, and a roadside plug. small enough to stuff in a jacket pocket. nice thing is you can set the tire pressure and it will automatically turn off when done. https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Inflator-Compressor-Cordless-Backpack/dp/B096ZRWGPC

I have a really nice 'viair' unit for the cars, but def not a 'carry on a bike' unit.

 

[Kritou]

ive carried one of these, (similar) for a few years. even had to do the the cb1100 rear tire once, and a roadside plug. small enough to stuff in a jacket pocket. nice thing is you can set the tire pressure and it will automatically turn off when done. https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Inflator-Compressor-Cordless-Backpack/dp/B096ZRWGPC

I have a really nice 'viair' unit for the cars, but def not a 'carry on a bike' unit.

Why do these inflators pump to such high pressures? Is it not possible to trade output pressure for volume in the deign stage or is there some basic law of gasses that I am missing?

 

[dmonkey]

My guess is that they want their product to sell to the widest market possible, so they would want their product to be useful on road bicycles which regularly run 90-120 psi.

 

[Msfitoy]

I carry this one with me...it has preset and automatically stops pumping at target PSI...Super compact...
Shame it's out of stock...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NVWKCDT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[RayWebb1]

This is what the serious adventure boys carry!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ROCKY-CREEK-Designs-MotoPressor-Approved/dp/B08P8TD4N8/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1VXVCU9CZTME9&keywords=rocky+creek+motorcycle+pump&qid=1675893818&sprefix=rocky+creek%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-2

 

[m in sc]

my trailer tires take 90 psi.

 

[SneakyDingo]

My guess is that they want their product to sell to the widest market possible, so they would want their product to be useful on road bicycles which regularly run 90-120 psi.

Donut tires typically require a fairly high pressure which would be my guess. Compressors are usually equipped with Schrader valve openings and don't usually carry the converter for a Presta valve, which is what most road bikes use.

Is there a particular bicycle pump that you or your wife have had good luck with? My bicycle pump experience has my arms feeling fatigued looking at that photo.

We joke at this but there are certain features that make a difference - pumps with a fold out T-handle and foot peg, so you're using an easier motion, and a small hose, so you don't have to actuate against the valve. The Topeak Morph series does this, and the Mountain Morph is designed for high volume, low pressure like our bikes would use, as do the Silca series mini pumps. Then there's combined CO2 booster + regular pump actuation pumps, where you can use the air pump to inflate it partially and then give it a shot of CO2, or use the air pump to top it off. I carry two pumps in my motorcycle toolkit; a screw on CO2 inflator because it's ultra compact and minimal effort, and a mini bike pump for situations where I'm out of CO2.

• https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Bike-Pump-Inflator-Auto-Switching/dp/B09WTY77RF - example of a dual mode pump with CO2 inflator and a hand pump. These are typically shitty at one thing and ok at the other.
• https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/245-MOUNTAIN-MORPH - The Mountain Morph with the fold out handle

 

[Little_Thumper_Boy]

Proclaimed benchmark for all M/C tire pumps, bigger bucks though (and bigger, period).

CyclePump EXPEDITION Tire Inflator - Best Rest Products

CyclePump® EXPEDITION Tire Inflator

bestrestproducts.com