Looigi

I was abstaining from the discussion, but now that you bring it up, I'm not at all fond of the Silca chuck either. I've seen people pull the valve stem out of their wheel trying to get it off. Operator error? Perhaps. But there are many lever operated and thread-on chucks that work easier and reliably. Their side lever chuck looks pretty, and might even work well, but the price is a bit steep.

Jed19

I guess that means Assos new flagship $600 bibshorts is out of the question for you, eh? LOL

lsberrios1 

When my dead what?

lsberrios1 

Agreed, he can leave it to me. I like Colnagos too.

KenshiBiker

I disliked my Silca chuck back when I first had it, in the 70s. When I got back into biking and needed to get a new pump (I also disliked the chuck on the Topeak I had), I got a Silca pump, but the first thing I did was cut off the Silca chuck and replace it with a Hirame. Best pump-related decision I've ever made.

Cyclist0383

Jaa, I think I'll pass on those. Ralpha too. I've got no problem paying good money for quality items, but it seems lately the trend in the biking world has been one of fashion first, which seems to be bad value for money in my eyes.

chaadster

In what way would you say the Silca SPUltimate puts fashion first?? I think your line of argument is spurious, because while the pump may be expensive and stylish, it's also arguably better made, of higher quality, and better performing than any other pump out there, and guess what? Getting the best costs. We get that you may be unable to access the best because of your usage, ability or willingness to pay, or whatever, but that doesn't take anything away from the pump.

And I'm not throwing barbs, here, because I aint running out to drop $450 on a pump either (1/2 off holiday sale, though, and I'm definitely in!), but trying to paint it as a tool that sacrifices function to fashion is BS.

Cyclist0383

As side from bragging rights (a form of fashion, I'd say) why would one need a 12,000 psi race car and airplane brake hose to pump up their bike tires? Sure seems like a fashion element to me.

I'm sure it pumps up bike tires really well, but the trend of bike accessory and part makers to cater to the yuppie market doesn't sit well with me as whenever I've seen this happen in other industries quality usually suffers, prices rise dramatically,and the once great product becomes mediocre. Have you seen the silliness that Brooks is now putting out? Their quality has certainly gone down in the last 10 years.

GP

The standard one or the one with the lever? I've never had a problem putting the standard one off but I've had to pry it off with a Leatherman several times.

I've had a Silca for almost 30 years and it's a POS compared to a modern pump.

TrojanHorse

I only have the standard one and it seems to require threaded valve stems, which I don't care for. Regardless, it's sitting in its cute little silca bag in the back of the shed and I use my cheapo performance brand pump as my daily driver.

MileHighMark

The new locking Silca chuck works really well.

chaadster

My problem with what your saying is that I don't understand how a high quality hose translates to lower quality? It doesn't make sense to me.

Even if the hose is overkill, it's queer to call it fashion over function, because function doesn't go down. However, it's not hard for me to get my mind around the possibility that a hose capable of delivering 12k PSI or whatever it is can confer benefits accessible to a bike pump. For example, maybe the swiveling fittings at each end are designed to work only with that type of hose, or perhaps the hose doesn't flex and improves the feel of the pumping action. Or maybe the hose is spec'd to work in extreme temperatures and not get brittle in the cold or melt if the metal fittings hit 130° when you leave the pump out in the staging area of the Tour of Oman.

I dunno the answer, but it sure looks as though the quality is tip-top, so your suggestion that it's an insustantial, fashion-driven choice is bogus. Sure, the breadth of your cycling life my preclude you from realizing the benefits, and so the pump may be more than you need, but that doesn't make it a fashion item.

I certainly understand a revulsion with conspicuous consumption and excess, but it's right that better should cost more. Supporting American industry is worth a premium to me. Style has value. Quality has value. Durability and serviceability have value. Higher prices are the cost of realizing value. We're not talking about a Topeak made in China plastic pump rebranded as Chanel, here.

But listen, this pump doesn't make sense for me either, so I'm not defending or trying to rationalize my wealth position (more precisely, low wealth position!), but I do appreciate the quality of the pump and would easily and happily spend much more on it than I have ever spent on a pump. It would definitely be an indulgence for me to own.

I have been using a $60 or $50 Nashbar Ultimate pump for about a decade, and aside from lubing the piston a few times, have done nothing to it and it works pretty well. I have small gripes, though, like stability, hose stowage, function of auto selecting valve head, getting replacement seals/gaskets, hard to read gauge (like rotating marker bezel, though) and some slop and unpleasant feel in the stroke. I'm not ashamed to say it would be nice to eliminate and fix these issues, and wouldn't it be nice if your pump actually had some substantial dollar value if, God forbid, you needed to liquidate assets? I mean you've got one anyway, but it fetch only $5 at a yard sale and zero on eBay! I'm sure the Silca would fare better at resale.

danmc

I just plunked down $180 on a helmet, and $200 on a taillight. No way I'm spending $450 on a pump (it's on my Christmas list.)

Cyclist0383

How does this perform better than my bog standard Super Pista? What substantial benefits, aside from atheistics and bragging rights does it offer or my Super Pista? The Super Pista is fully serviceable (in fact it seems to have the same internals as the $450 model).

As for quality going down, it's a process that often happens when manufactures turn to fashion houses.

JohnJ80

I don't know if it's quality going down, but it's not a quality improvement either. If the pump internals are the same, it's just a waste.

I'm disappointed. This is just a stupid change on an outstanding product. At least for the additional $375 for so, they could have added additional functionality. What do you get for the added money over the original? Better reliability? No. Better operation? No.

J.

Cyclist0383

The only difference I noticed in the specs is that the gauge has a smaller margin of error, 1% compared to 5% on the standard pumps. Can't really see how that will effect anyone in real world situations.

Jed19

It is an overpriced piece of equipment. I don't mind good, well-designed functional equipment or garb, but how does a $450 floor pump make sense? Assos is another brand sliding towards irrelevance in my view. I own quite a few of their bib shorts and jerseys, but I have now stopped buying them. I'll be darned if I'll start spending $500 on bibshorts, kuku penthouse or not!

Jaeger99

Agreed.

chaadster

So many crabs in the basket. Quick! Throw 'em a Topeak and let's get the hell up outta here...

Brian Ratliff

So much judgement on this thread. Here's a hint: if you start a sentence like "Not to judge, BUT...", you are judging. Who cares how a few rich people spend their money.

And if you use your head a bit, you'll realize that, even though only a handful of people would actually buy this thing, we are all sitting here on Bikeforums.net talking about Silca pumps and I'll bet that more than a couple people here visited Silca's website and checked out their more down-to-earth offerings... So, mission accomplished it would seem.

Cyclist0383

Sadly there aren't any less expensive pumps on their webpage. The $450 is the only one that I could find. If someone else saw one that I missed please point it out.

Also, why doesn't it come with the fancy chuck instead of the bog standard one? That part surprises me.

Brian Ratliff

Not on their site, apparently, but the Silca name is everywhere, and they sell plenty of pumps in the $70 range. This is advertising. I'll bet the marketing types even have a name for it.

Cyclist0383

Perhaps it is a form of advertising, but odd that the reasonably priced pumps are missing from their website. They are great pumps; I've got two of them.

Brian Ratliff

The company apparently was bought by an American last year, so maybe this is a reboot of some sort.

Cyclist0383

Jaa, I hope it isn't what I was talking about earlier regarding companies changing their long standing core products for high-end fashion stuff. It is good to see that they still have replacement parts for the older steel pumps. Probably should pick some up as I just changed the leather in my current pump. Might not still have the parts in 10 years when I need a new one.