Fifty Plus (50+) - High pressure frame pump?

Over the past year I've had two Blackburn frame pumps fail. The first was about ten years old and just wore out. The second pump, less than a year old, the spring mechanism that holds it to the bike isn't working. I guess they don't make them like they use to.

I thought I had read someplace about a frame pump of some type that enables the rider to reinflate high pressure tires to their required inflation. Something that is very hard to do with a standard frame pump.

Anyone know what pump this is?

THX

TC

I remain highly satisfied with the Zefal HP-X. I also have a pretty decent Mt. Zefal on my mountain bike.

The Topeak Road Morph.

The Topeak Road Morph.

I think a few other folks have praised that one, as well.

+1 Zefal HP-X I have one that's ~ ten years old.

If your bike doesn't have the nub under the toptube headtube /---- you can fit it from rear QR lever to seattube seat cluster or BB to seat cluster.

Also, I've moved up to slightly larger cross-section tires as I'm not at my old racing weight.

Zefal HP-X works for me. I've never tried to go above 110 psi, but it handled that with no problem. Could probably go higher.

I liked the Zefal HP OK, but mine didn't fit well on my touring bike as outfitted, so I used the Topeak Mountain Morph on the touring bike (it was shorter than the Road Morph and fit better on the bike in question). After having to keep the tires inflated on three bikes all summer on the TransAmerica, I am a big believer in the Topeak Road or Mountain Morph pumps.

At home the floor pump is the one that gets used and the frame pump only for flats on the road. On tour I had to use the frame pump all of the time. If you are just going to fix a flat once in a while it is less of a big deal, but if you need to use it everyday it is.

... At home the floor pump is the one that gets used and the frame pump only for flats on the road. ... That is my system, as well.

The Topeak Road Morph works like a floor pump. That's why its so good.

The Topeak is head and shoulders above any other frame pump I've used. The built in pressure gauge is a great feature in a frame pump.

Get the Topeak Road Morph G. The G means it has a built in pressure gauge. It works as a floor pump but doesn't have to if the ground is soft or uneven.

I also have a "Wrench Force" frame pump on another bike which goes to high pressure very well.
http://store.trekbikes.com/jump.jsp?itemID=883&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=883&bShopOnline=0&path=1%2C2%2C280%2C311

This frame pump will mainly do duty on a 25" trek 520. Its has a very long top tube. That's one of the reasons i bought the bike. Ocaasionally I may use the pump on my Lemond Zurich. The 59 cm Lemond's top tube is shorter than that on the 520. Its equipped with its own frame pump, another Blackburn. I tried to make due with switching one pump from bike to bike and of course got caught with a flat and no pump far from home. each bike having its own pump eminates the "dah" factor.

I'll check out the pumps mentioned.

My one size fits all including mountain bike tires/valves floor pump gets the biggest workout.

THX

T

My zefal is 15 years old and still works great. Doesn't fit the current bike though which makes me miss my nishiki all the more.

HP-X comes in different sizes to fit different sized frames.

The Zefal HP-X works well for me, too. I've got two of them plus four HP's.

In my workshop I use my trusty 25 year old Silca floor pump.

I thought I had read someplace about a frame pump of some type that enables the rider to reinflate high pressure tires to their required inflation. Something that is very hard to do with a standard frame pump.

The laws of physics can't be violated no matter who makes the pump.

Think of the pump's barrel diameter. If it has a section area of 1/2 square inch and you want to inflate your tire to 100 pounds per square inch, you are going to have to push the plunger with 50 pounds of force. That's a lot to do with 1 hand while you're trying to stabilize the chuck against the valve stem with your other hand.

That's why so many people like the road morph. It works like a floor pump so you can use your upper body weight to help push and it has a hose so you dodn't need to stabilize the valve stem.

I've got a couple of Zefal HPX's and I like them fine but I have to brace the wheel and my left hand against a tree or sign pole or something to get the last few psi into the tire. My artist's side won't let me buy a road morph because they are clunky-looking and ugly. 7 or 8 years ago I started carrying CO2 on my tandem and on my Klein. It's so fast and convenient to use that, if you don't have too many flats, I think that's the way to go.

Have a road morph and my only concern with it is the low volume of air at each stroke. Takes a long time to put air in but at least I can get pressure in. On the MTB's I use Blackburn Mammoth's and they are good but getting to 90 psi is about the pumps limit- My limit is lower.

There is a reason Why Frame pumps used to be popular. They work. With the modern design of frames though- It is not always possible to fit to a modern bike. Can't get a frame pump to stay put on either of my bikes but Take your bike to a Good road shop and get them to find the one size that fits your bike. Providing you don't leave it at home- You will have a pump for life- Or at least as long as you have that frame.

I put 120psi in with my Road Morph, but then I'm 6'2", 235#. You do have to use the little flip out foot and use your upper body to go above 90 psi, but it can be done. Another thing I'd note is--don't bother with knockoff versions of the Road Morph. Had a Nashbar one that worked great--about 10 times, then stranded me.
As far as frame pumps go, just replaced the Blackburn on my steel bike with a Road Morph because the Blackburn bit the dust (luckily after getting just barely enough pressure in the tire to get home). For me the Morph is easier to use and definitely easier on valves than a frame pump--YMMV.

Never taken advantage of it- but Blackburn have a lifetime warranty on their pumps. Reason I never took advantage of it----is that I always seem to lose mine on the trails. The pump works fine but after a year or so of bouncing around- The frame bracket breaks losing the pump at the same time.

Never taken advantage of it- but Blackburn have a lifetime warranty on their pumps. Reason I never took advantage of it----is that I always seem to lose mine on the trails. The pump works fine but after a year or so of bouncing around- The frame bracket breaks losing the pump at the same time.

Had zero luck with Blackburn customer service on an issue with my Delphi computer (speaking of which, anybody got a recommendation for a computer that does cadence, doesn't cost and arm and a leg, and works in wet weather?), but maybe I'll give it another shot with the pump. As far as your magic disappearing pump, three words: Velcro pump straps!

Oh yeh. I forgot to mention that I had a Zefal for at least 20 years and no problems. Good to hi pressures (100 psi for me). Gave it away along with the bike 6 months ago.

I remain highly satisfied with the Zefal HP-X. I also have a pretty decent Mt. Zefal on my mountain bike.

+1 -- Had an HP-X for years before I sold it with one of my road bikes.

I remain highly satisfied with the Zefal HP-X.

+1 -- I had an HP-X for 15+ years before I sold it with one of my road bikes.

Topeak Road or Mt.Morph. The Mt.Morph is a bit lighter/shorter.
With either model, 100 pump strokes gets in 100 lbs of pressure in a 700x25 tire.
Can easily got up to 120 psi. *Almost a pleasure* to get a flat!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

I have had good luck with a Topeak Mountain Morph. I've used it both on my mountain bike with Schrader valves and on my road bike with Presta valves. It will inflate the road bike tires to 120 psi.

Due to my ham handedness I broke the original frame mount. I contacted Topeak to buy a new mount. They sent me a new mount without charge and threw in a new hose as well.

I've got a Road Morph and an HP-X4. The Road Morph wins hands down for ease of use as well as results.

Gotta go +1000 on the Road Morph. I have a mini and also one with a gauge. Both can hit 120 with no problems. The foot peg greatly lessens the chance of bending the tube ste. The peg makes pumping a whole body effort instead of an arm effort.

I have a Topeak Road Morph with gage. The gage goes to 120, but the pump is supposed to be able to pump to 160 psi.

One comment on the above comments. The floor pumps when used by smaller people (ie women 100 lbs) can still be difficult because its not "upper body" that should be used. Instead, its the legs.

Next time you guys try pumping air before a ride, experiment with keeping the back straight up and bend the knees on the downstroke. That way the body weight pushes the pump handle down. If you bend your back forward, then its mostly the torso weight. Also, that downstroke has to be done with quickness. Its more of a jerk motion than a slow descent. This is most important when you get past 90 pounds on the gauge.

The Road Morph is good because its like a floor pump. The problem with the Road Morph is that its not as tall as a floor pump. This makes the process not quite like a floor pump. For short people, the Road Morph will be better than for taller people. Even though I recognize these shortcomings, I still like the Road Morph. If I were to make one improvement to the Road Morph, it would be to make the handle a bit wider so when I press down, my grip won't occassionally slip.

Luckily, the Trek is equipped with Conti Top Touring 2000s which need omly 80 pounds. Still, couldn't get that in with the Blackburn.

I tried the CO2 cartridges. My problem was always one of coordination. I'd puncture the tube and release all the CO2 getting little if any in the tube. I realize this is a practice thing, but even with practice I could easily go months between flats(I once went 5 years. Then fate evened the score giving me 5 flats in 3 weeks, and at least five more over the following year. Now it's been over a year since my last flat). I figured coordination regression would set in between flats and I wouldn't be able to get the thing to work when I needed it. So back to the frame pump.