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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 5 Dec 2008
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M & P
M & P sell a tyre inflator you screww into the spark plug with a lead to the tyre involved, and just turn the engine over on the starter button. It would be advisable to not allow petrol to that chamber and on some electronic ignition systems you must make sure the spark plug is earthed.
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  #2  
Old 5 Dec 2008
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I have the Slime Powersports pump as well, it has worked fine so far.
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  #3  
Old 5 Dec 2008
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Slime pumps $10.00 at the moment from these guys.
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  #4  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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I've used a slime pump for the past 6 months, so far, so good. What I like is the nifty packing and the choice of connectors - I keep the battery lug attachment permanently connected, so that I do not even need to use the cig lighter.

But 6 months is not really a time frame in which you can judge reliability.

I had a cheaper stripped down unit for some time. That worked fine for 2 years, then one fine night the casting connecting the motor to the pump assembly split into 2 leaving the electric motor spinning uselessly, forcing me to travel on a near empty front tyre for 100 km.

Point is - this is a piece of equipment which needs to be reliable, and cheaper ones may not fit the bill.
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  #5  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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HGP47 I tried to use a cycleair pump and they really are not up to the job, the conecting pipe is to short to reach comfortably to a rear tyre and then try re seating a tyre with it it just about kills you to get anywhere near enough pressure into the tyre. There simply is not enough volume in each pump for it to work on motorbike tyres - its fine for mountain bikes etc.
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  #6  
Old 22 Dec 2008
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A CyclePump went with me when I rode around the world in 2005 and it served me well. For a time I had to use it every morning because of a slow leak and it never failed. I chose it because it seemed to be the most durable and reliable 12V pump I could find at that time, and I didn't think this was item to scrimp on financially (imagine having your problem in the middle of Siberia and not being able to speak the language - having a solution at hand was priceless). Although I haven't researched this I've been told there are two basic types of compact electrical air compressors, diaphragm and piston types, the less expensive types being diaphragm designs and the CyclePump a piston design, with the piston type being superior. But, I could be mistaken about this.

I've had some experience with cheap pumps and didn't like the two I tried (slow to inflate) but have no experience with the Slime pump which may well be just as good as the CyclePump.

For whatever it's worth that's my experience. Hope it's of some help.

Mike
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  #7  
Old 24 Dec 2008
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Another vote for the Slime pump. It has treated me well for the last 8 months on the road, and I use it quite a bit changing pressures for on/off road.
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  #8  
Old 29 Dec 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daytonatwin View Post
M & P sell a tyre inflator you screww into the spark plug with a lead to the tyre involved, and just turn the engine over on the starter button. It would be advisable to not allow petrol to that chamber and on some electronic ignition systems you must make sure the spark plug is earthed.
I tried using one of these plugged into one cylinder on an R100GS. With the bike running on one cylinder (I took the float bowl off the other carb and crimped the fuel pipe with a mole grip and earthed the plug), the problem was the internal diameter of the air exit is so small that forcing 500cc of air through it at 500 rpm meant the plug fitting got so hot it melted the airline within seconds.

I use CO2 at the moment but would probably go for the Cyclepump for a longer trip because of its reputation for reliability even though it is a lot more expensive than the Slime.
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  #9  
Old 18 Jan 2009
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We have a 12v pump that came from Sears. Never had a problme and the numbers are large enough to read without straining. you can set it so it stops pumpiong at the selected pressure. $19.95. Plugs into the cigarette letter under the glove box cover, but I cut a slot out of the door, put a three plug in and made a hinged, water-proof cover for the slot. I can charge the laptop, etc while riding. I just stick them in the hump bag and go.
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  #10  
Old 3 Feb 2009
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i use a foot pump

it works every time, but takes a bit of time to inflate.
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