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Compact air pump?

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Old 06-10-14, 11:20 PM
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Compact air pump?

My faithful under $20 air pump gave up the ghost earlier this week. I bought a Topeak Mini DXG and I couldn't get it above 60 PSI and it blew out a tube. So obviously it's not a keeper! Anyone have a suggestion for a good compact air pump that can go up to 110 PSI but ideally up to 140 with a built in gauge?
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Old 06-10-14, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by walrus1
it blew out a tube.
I don't think that's the pumps fault.
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Old 06-10-14, 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by DVC45
I don't think that's the pumps fault.
Nope definitely the pump! Technically it didn't blow out the tube per say but broke the vale tip on a Presta valve. I've never had that occur with any other tube or pump.
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Old 06-10-14, 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by HydroG33r
Topeak road morph G is well reviewed, and I had one for a bit, but never got it to work properly for my Presta tires in my (admittedly limited) testing.
What was wrong with the Morph G?
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Old 06-10-14, 11:41 PM
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Topeak road morph, I like it very much, however it's durability has proven to be weak in the past. As a occasionally used pump to solve a flat issue along the road side, it has worked well for me. I'm on my 3rd pump. Lezyne makes a pump that is reported by some to be a bit longer lasting, though more expensive I believe.
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Old 06-10-14, 11:44 PM
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My nephew has the Lezyne pump. Seems to be well made. He likes it a lot.
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Old 06-11-14, 09:21 AM
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Road Morph G works well for me.
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Old 06-11-14, 10:17 AM
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Yeah, if you want to go above 60psi, it's the Topeak Road Morph with guage (or Lyzene and others make copycat models) -
Topeak® Cycling Accessories ? Products - Road Morph? G



It's not the smallest, though. The mounts it comes with either mount under the top tube, or steal a water bottle cage, so it's kind of annoying. (It's possible to find a beside-the-waterbottle-cage mount, I have one on my winter bike, but bizarrely it doesn't come with one.)

There's no smaller pumps that will get you above around 60psi (Edit: What I mean is, the Road Morph will get you into the 100's for psi, but no pumps smaller than the Road Morph will get you above about 60psi). Only way to do that is to use CO2. I don't like CO2 myself, because I don't like having to replace cartridges (it's more the hassle and remembering to do it, if I use one then forget I could get stranded), and...well a whole bunch of other reason that I am personally not fond of CO2.

It's not really a problem for me though, as I very rarely get flats with puncture resistant tires, so riding home on 50-60psi very rarely is fine with me.

For a smaller pump I use the Road Morph Mini on my commuter, because it's smaller size means it fits in my trunk bag (only need to remove 1 bag when I arrive at work). It would work better for the specific situation you had a problem with because it has a hose so it doesn't put pressure directly on the valve stem (the larger road morph also has the hose). It will only get you up to 50-60 psi though -


It comes with a beside-the-water-bottle-cage mount.

Here's a pic of the size difference between the full size road morph vs the mini -

Last edited by PaulRivers; 06-11-14 at 10:58 AM.
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Old 06-11-14, 10:22 AM
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Road Morph - FTW
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Old 06-11-14, 11:15 AM
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Barbieri Carbone carbon fiber-I can get above 60 PSI, small (nine inches) and lightweight-fits alongside waterbottle or in pocket-$25 on amazon. I've used it many times (too many!) over the past 5 years, never had an issue.
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Old 06-11-14, 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by HydroG33r
I've only ever had to use it a couple times, but I *LOVE* the CO2. I know it probably doesn't save me much time, but it's so much FUN :-)
Lol, well, if you carry both a pump of some kind and also CO2, I don't have a problem with it. I stranded out in the desert when the bike shop I rented from only gave me CO2 and the accidentally let all the CO2 out without filling the tire.
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Old 06-11-14, 01:30 PM
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Topeak Morph is OK but Lezyne Micro Drive is superior - much more sturdy, attaches better to the vent, generally finer product.

Last edited by 2_i; 06-11-14 at 01:34 PM.
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Old 06-11-14, 02:02 PM
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I've given up on compacts. I have a Zefal frame pump that should be arriving via UPS today. I figure if I'm going to hang a Road Morph off my top tube, a full frame pump doesn't really take up any more space and it'll get me pumped up that much faster.

As for the original question, up until a week ago I was running a Topeak pocket rocket. It's OK, I could get to pressure OK. But the roads around my house are starting to fall apart (Michigan seems to be spending about six bucks a year on road repair these days) and I'm pinch flatting a LOT on my 23s, and it take way longer to pump up to a rideable pressure with a pocket rocket than it does to do the whole rest of the tube change.

If you flat less than I do, the pocket rocket is a perfectly good pump.
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Old 06-11-14, 02:14 PM
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Topeak Road Morph G users, where can one purchase a "beside-the-water-bottle" mount instead of the "replaces a water bottle cage" mount that mine came with?

I had two other (different brands) "beside-the-water-bottle" mounts. One was too small and broke when I attempted to put my Road Morph G pump in it, and the other is larger so, even with a velcro strap, the pump is too loose to carry on it.

I want my second bottle back!

Thanks.
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Old 06-11-14, 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by HydroG33r
Yeah... I've screwed up CO2 before also. I carry 2 canisters in my under-saddle pouch, plus the little Specialized Air Tool Mini frame pump. I use the pump to put a LITTLE air in the tube to help put it back on the rim without pinching. My Specialized CPro2 head actually will let me dispense just a small burst of CO2 to do this, but I prefer to use the pump for the small volumes, and just let all the CO2 go when doing full inflation.
Ha, yeah, I'd personally prefer the hassle of having 60psi when I have a (rare) flat than the hassle of remembering to replace a CO2 cartridge, but I can totally understand other people having different preferences. :-)
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Old 06-11-14, 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Squeeze
Topeak Road Morph G users, where can one purchase a "beside-the-water-bottle" mount instead of the "replaces a water bottle cage" mount that mine came with?

I had two other (different brands) "beside-the-water-bottle" mounts. One was too small and broke when I attempted to put my Road Morph G pump in it, and the other is larger so, even with a velcro strap, the pump is too loose to carry on it.

I want my second bottle back!

Thanks.
I called Topeak on the phone and paid for one and they sent it to me. Part of it was flimsy and broke though (I think it was the part that held the velcro band on), but I took it off, attaches the velcro band via under the mount, and it's worked fine since then.

Also try doing a google search, you'll find a number of threads on the topic. (Though to be fair, some of those mounts aren't sold any more, which is annoying).
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Old 06-11-14, 05:12 PM
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I like Lezyne pumps, they're very nice and well made.
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Old 06-11-14, 05:17 PM
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So I looked at the Lezyne seem like good pumps however they're really expensive! The microfloor one of the few with a gauge is almost $60 USD with shipping. That's insane! So I got a Road Morph G. Thanks for all the recommendations!
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Old 06-11-14, 06:43 PM
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Lezyne pumps are great. I have the small HP model, and although it takes a lot of pumping to fill higher volume tires, I chose that one so it would work on 120 psi tires, as well.
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Old 06-11-14, 10:42 PM
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Lezyne Pressure Drive. Make sure you get the pump that is for road bikes. It's worth every penny of the $35 I paid for it. I've used it 5-6 times. It has the best features you could want in a bike pump. I have a smaller frame and this pump doesn't impede my ability to bike.
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Old 06-12-14, 05:18 AM
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I use two Lezyne Road Drive pumps, one carbon and one aluminum, with the optional pen guage hose. They work very well for a mini, look fab, mount easily and discreetly, and are built well. I don't know if they'd do 120psi; the only 700c flat I had was on the last leg of a ride, so 85psi got me home fine.

On my winter/spring bike, I run an old school, frame fit, Zefal HPx. Pumps fast, because when it's cold and nasty out, I really put a premium on getting the job done fast.
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Old 06-12-14, 06:30 AM
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I have a Lezyne Pressure Drive. It has saved the day many times.
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