HillRider

First the disclaimer: I have no connection with the manufacturer or either of the internet suppliers mentioned below.

Now that that's out of the way, I have discovered the absolute best presta-only pump head in existence; the Hirame HP-20. It's obscenely expensive at $75 for just a pump head but once you try it you will think it's underpriced.

After years of dealing with the Silca presta-only chuck and, more recently, a series of dual-use presta-Schrader heads on a variety of floor pumps I decided to bite the cost bullet and see if this thing was as good as I'd heard. It's better. It adjusts and locks onto any type of presta valve stem, smooth or threaded, stays put and doesn't tilt or leak. And, since it's adjustable, the gasket should last forever.

Excel Sports Boulder has them (https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?...ajor=3&minor=9) but I got mine from Ben's Cycle (www.benscycle.net) in Milwaukee. They use USPS Priority mail and I got mine 2 days after I ordered it.

BTW, this thing doesn't come with a clamp for your pump hose so allow another $1 or so for a suitable small clamp.

bkaapcke

Going with schraders is a better solution. bk

2_i 

I vaguely remember encountering two different Hirame heads, similarly looking but at different price. Since you might have researched the issue, what is the difference between them and is yours the more expensive one?

thirdgenbird

why dont you point us all to tubes with long schrader valves and tubulars with schraders.



my preference it the old small "presta only" silca head. it never slips or leaks.

HillRider

Mine is the HP-20 (aka "Pump head Yoko" on Kuwahara's web site) model so it's the only one I have experience with. I've seen prices from $58 from a supplier in Japan to $A85 from a supplier in Oz but $75 US seems to be the going price here.

There is less expensive version referenced on the Kuwahara site as "Pump Head Tate" which has a different locking lever configuration and sells for about 75% of the HP-20 price based on the MSRP's given on the web site. I don't know anthing about it and no one here seems to sell them.

Schrader? Yes, indeed if you are driving a car or motorcycle!

fietsbob

not much left on a narrow rim .with a big hole schrader requires, reamed out.

I just own 2 floor pumps.. Thumb lock Schrader [wider rim wheels]
push on Silca, presta valves have an unthreaded line on the stem,
the pump gasket seals around that.

FWIW after years of having them fall over, in storage,

then I had a lightbulb moment..

Set the tall stool over both pumps, and toe strapped each of them to a leg...

Problem resolved.

z90

I like the head on my Lezyne pump. It has no lever, but simply screws on to the threads that the valve cap goes on. I don't know if they make a floor pump with a head like that.

bkaapcke

Schwalbe makes some longer schrader valves. bk

thirdgenbird

40mm is not long.


if you are drilling out narrow road rims schrader valves you are compromising the strength of the rim. on top of that, there is not sufficient room between the bead to properly fit the larger valve.

still looking for schrader tubulars?

shrader valves are not a "better solution" it is not even a viable option.

joejack951

The Lezyne alloy drive pump I have has a head that screws onto the valve. This one: https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...9&category=135

You unscrew a small barrel on the end of the head and flip it over for Schrader. It's not as fast as a dual fitment head but it is secure.

Jed19

Yeah, the Lezyne floor pumps are great. I posted here a few days ago asking how I can work my Lezyne presta pump head with removable presta valve cores, without sometime having the pump head unscrew with my removable valve core tubes. Lezyne had told me to put a drop of light lube oil in the pump head. That worked for a while, but things reverted to their old ways.

A superb and cheap solution is to flip the Lezyne chuck to Schrader, use a presta/schrader adaptor on the tube, then pump away.

The brass adapter, I have on hand, but they usually sell for about $1 at bike stores.

Kimmo

Actually, a screw-on Schrader head works great with an adapter. No slips, leaks or valve damage.

thirdgenbird

my silca head never slips, leaks, or causes valve damage on presta valves. why add another part?

Dan Burkhart 

+1. If the bicycle industry were to adopt a single standard, it would have to be Presta, and I'd be good with that.

HillRider

Then you are either super lucky or super skillful. I used a Silca presta-only head for years and it was always touchy to get a decent seal, particularly on threaded valve stems.

I now have two of these as surplus in my parts box, one never used and will never be uses, at least by me. Any takers?

kamtsa

What kind of clamp did you use?

thirdgenbird

if they look like this i want both:

kamtsa

Looks similar to this one

https://clee-cycles.co.uk/cc/catalog...2e7m693kqupnc0

HillRider

Close but no cigar. That one looks very similar but it's not the same one.

rogerstg

Probably the most expensive, but I'm not sure what makes it best. They either work or they don't. That said, I've never had a problem with my Joe Blow.

well biked

Hillrider's a very knowledgeable, experienced guy who's contributed a lot to the forum. If he's excited enough about a pump head to start a thread about it, I'm gonna check it out-

2_i 

But which one to aim at , subject to getting an inheritance, if you yet have none? KCNC certainly knew the Hirame design which had been around for years and the KCNC goes down to 27 euro from other vendors.

Jed19

Yeah, I like this solution. Simple and cheap.

chucky

I don't get it, every Presta pump head I've ever used has worked just fine. What's the problem?

DRietz

Some don't. My current floor pump's presta fitting sucks. The schrader fitting works great, but the presta sucks.