Bicycle Mechanics - Topeak Road Morph as a 'home' pump

Is there any reason to not use this as my regular home pump as well as my portable/emergency frame pump? Obviously the total life of the pump will drop as it's being used more frequently, but I guess I'm wondering if it is designed to stand up to regular use. Anyone have any experience with this? Guesses welcome too :D

I don't mind working harder at the house if I can save a couple bucks ;)

I have one that I use for travel with an S&S coupler equipped bike (you have to deflate the tires to get the wheels in the travel case) and it works ok for the limited use I need.

However, I find it awkward to use as the handle is cramped and I tend to hit my knuckles on most strokes. The gauge is better than nothing but very crude. I would not want to have to rely on it for routine use and I doubt it's durability in daily service.

Of course you're right about it not lasting as long if you use it frequently at home, but I'll say this about the Road Morph: if there's any portable pump that can stand up to the use/abuse, this would be the one. I really like mine. :)

True, it's better built than most mini and frame pumps and will last longer in routine use. That said, "longer" doesn't mean very long. Sort of "the best of a bad lot".

I guess I'm spoiled by my 15 year old Silca that has had the rubber valve washer replaced twice and no other repairs and I use it keep four bikes topped up. I can't imagine any portable pump lasting in that service or being tolerable to use that much.

You can find floor pumps for less than $20 that will work better.

"The right tool for every job!"

Even a $10 floor pump will outperform even the best mini-pump. Invest in a good floor pump.:)

Reasons not to use a road morph pump as a shop pump:

A floor pump is easier to use than a road morph.

A floor pump is faster than a road morph.

A floor pump will almost certainly last longer than a road morph.

Switching a road morph between schrader and presta (if required) is a pain.

I like the morph pumps, but they have their place and the shop is not it.

Topeak got more than their run for the money in free publicity for their morph (after all I bought one after reading some rev reviews on BF). True, it is innovative as a cross breed between floor pump and frame pump, but let's be honest: if you own one and previously owned good floor and frame pumps, it is neither of both.

...but let's be honest: if you own one and previously owned good floor and frame pumps, it is neither of both.
Very good summary. The Road Morph is a good travel pump for the times you want an approximation to a floor pump as it has a flexible hose, T-handle, it can rest on the floor and has a (sort-of) pressure gauge. It is not what you want to use on a daily basis and is rather heavy and bulky for regular on-bike use.

It's a niche product that is good for limited applications. I'm happy with mine for the limited uses I put it to, but that's all.

I've had a Mountain Morph for about 3 years now and have had nary a problem. I'd pit it against any $10-20 dollar floor pump any day. It doesn't have a pressure gauge but I have ten of them between two hands.

I agree that the Road Morph isn't as good as a decent floor pump, but, based on my experience, I disagree with Cycliste and HillRider about its merits in comparison to other frame pumps. I find it significantly more efficient--and easier to use--than my Silca or Zefal, with the only drawback being a small weight penalty.

I'm just blown away that someone would buy a frame pump before buying a floor pump.

interesting replies :p

While I certainly agree that it isn't the best tool for the job, it gets my tires filled without too much trouble and that's all I really care about. I've already got the Road Morph, and it works, so it's hard justifying to my cheap ass broke college student self why I need to spend more on another tool to do the same job.

I dunno, thanks for all the input though

interesting replies :p

While I certainly agree that it isn't the best tool for the job, it gets my tires filled without too much trouble and that's all I really care about. I've already got the Road Morph, and it works, so it's hard justifying to my cheap ass broke college student self why I need to spend more on another tool to do the same job.

I dunno, thanks for all the input though

Exactly the same situation here. If you take care of it, it will last enough - normally one does not need to pump more than once a week. Otherwise, you could have bought a more lame frame pump and a mediocre floor pump.

It's not ideal, but it does the trick for me. I've had it for a year, and it is beginning to get a bit ragged around the edges from all the use. When I decide that I can burn $40 or $50 on a new pump, it'll be a floor pump for sure, but if you can only have one pump to use at home and on the road, the Road Morph is a pretty good choice, I think.

Topeak's products carry a lifetime warranty, and Topeak's customer service is very good. My road morph is still working very well, but I think that Topeak will replace it when it craps out.

Has anybody ever had a worn out pump replaced by Topeak? The issue of wearing out the pump quickly may be a moot point.

.... it can rest on the floor and has a (sort-of) pressure gauge.

Just a personal note on the accuracy of the gauge ....

I have two road morphs with the little in-line gauge (there is a different model with a dial gauge, also) and I checked the accuracy of both pumps a bunch of times when I first got them. When checked against an expensive dial gauge, both pumps were never more than 5psi off. I am using them in the 90-110psi range. Great little pumps. I got tired of moving the one pump between bikes all the time so I bought a 2nd. If I can get within 5psi out on the road, that's plenty close enough for me. Again, that's just my experience.

P.S. After many years of riding and many frame and mini pumps, this is the first one that I did not hate using.

Just a personal note on the accuracy of the gauge ....

I have two road morphs with the little in-line gauge (there is a different model with a dial gauge, also) and I checked the accuracy of both pumps a bunch of times when I first got them. When checked against an expensive dial gauge, both pumps were never more than 5psi off. I am using them in the 90-110psi range. Great little pumps. I got tired of moving the one pump between bikes all the time so I bought a 2nd. If I can get within 5psi out on the road, that's plenty close enough for me. Again, that's just my experience.

P.S. After many years of riding and many frame and mini pumps, this is the first one that I did not hate using.

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