Seeking pump suggestions.
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Seeking pump suggestions.
Hi, I'm in the middle of setting up a new Trek 520. I've been researching the Zefal HPX Classic and the Road Morph G pumps. From what I can see, both pumps should work well for me. I think my indecisiveness may stem from not being sure how I want to mount the pump if I want to mount it at all. It might be something I don't like on the top tube (but not sure why) or any tube and may carry it in my bags or even strap it to my rack when out for a short ride. If I were certain I would want to mount my pump to the top tube I definitely would go with the Zefal. I don't think I want to deal with Co2 cartridges, right? I was wondering if I might be able to glean something from the wisdom/experiences of others who have first hand knowledge. Thanks for all of your insight. Sport.
#2
just another gosling


Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,555
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Pumps are good.
I mount my Road Morph on an MTB pump bracket that mounts under a water bottle cage. My bracket has a velcro strap. Don't remember where I got it.
I mount my Road Morph on an MTB pump bracket that mounts under a water bottle cage. My bracket has a velcro strap. Don't remember where I got it.
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,013
Likes: 24
From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
Been using the Mt. Morph for several years on our tandem.
100 strokes gets you 100 lbs of air in a 700x25 tire.
Dependable, and easy to turn into a mini-floor pump.
*Almost* fun having a puncture!
100 strokes gets you 100 lbs of air in a 700x25 tire.
Dependable, and easy to turn into a mini-floor pump.
*Almost* fun having a puncture!
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 929
Likes: 11
Bikes: A few
I have and use both on my bikes. As others have said both are great pumps and work well. It really just comes down to your own personal preference. The Road Morph G is small enough to put in your pannier if that is how you want to carry it.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,239
Likes: 8
From: Bay Area, Calif.
I've got three Zefal HPx and one HP on my bikes at the moment. I've used the Road Morph and it also works well, but I still prefer the Zefals. Three of mine are located under the top tube but the folder has no top tube so the HPx on that one is in front of the seat tube.
#10
Senior Member



Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,727
Likes: 2,105
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
On a different bike that has a pump peg, I carry a cheap Zefel that is similar to the HPX. (But when I tour on this bike, I also carry a Road Morph G or the Lezyne pump in the pannier, as I prefer to use those pumps.)
If you see a pump bracket that looks like it will work but find that the pump is slightly smaller diameter, I put a bit of inner tube rubber over the tube on both my Road Morph and on the Lezyne pumps so that they will fit better in the Blackburn bracket. The Blackburn pump was slightly larger in diameter.
#11
...I carry the Road Morph G or Lezyne Micro Floor Drive for touring but around town where possibility of theft is high, I instead carry the cheaper Blackburn in that bracket...when I tour on this bike, I also carry a Road Morph G or the Lezyne pump in the pannier...
I also have some 20+ y/o ZHPx pumps that still work fine, however my left elbow not so much. I prefer the ground-anchored TRM or LMFD pumps for this reason.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 3
From: Victoria, Canada
Bikes: Cannondale t1, Koga-Miyata World Traveller
I like pumps with larger volume than a Road Morph. 100 pumps to fill a tire exhausts me.
However, the Road Morph sits nicely in its rack under my top tube. It is only there for show. I never get a flat. (Now I'm in for it!) I use a proper floor pump at home before I ride.
However, the Road Morph sits nicely in its rack under my top tube. It is only there for show. I never get a flat. (Now I'm in for it!) I use a proper floor pump at home before I ride.
#13
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Have a road Morph or 2, bottom of the Panniers on my Commuter.
I also user of long frame fit Pumps, Silca Imperos, and a Blackburn one
the long Cylinder obviously has a longer stroke so higher compression per stroke.
I also user of long frame fit Pumps, Silca Imperos, and a Blackburn one
the long Cylinder obviously has a longer stroke so higher compression per stroke.
#14
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1,062
From: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
Another Morph fan here. It served extremely well on my last 4500 mile tour. I no longer had to rely on LBSs to get 120 psi--I could top off every morning. The built-in gauge is great.
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,428
Likes: 2
Bikes: Cervelo RS, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro, Schwinn Typhoon, Nashbar touring, custom steel MTB
Like most of the others here, I use the Topeak Road Morph G pump. I typically mount mine under the top tube using the bracket that comes with the pump. On my touring bike I use Performance Bike's Hurricane ATB Extra Mini Pump Mount to mount the pump next to the bottle cage on the seat tube. The pump is exposed to a bit of road grime when mounted in this area, so you need to run fenders or make sure the pump doesn't get too dirty.
#16
Senior Member


Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 1
From: Hampton Roads VA
Bikes: '07 Trek 520, '09 Gary Fisher Triton, '04 Trek 8000, '85 Trek 500, '84 Trek 610, '85 Trek 510, '88 Trek 660, '92 Trek 930, Trek Multitrack 700
I have a Mountian Morph mounted next to the down tube bottle cage on my 520.
__________________
"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
T. Jefferson
"When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification."
T. Jefferson
#17
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
I've got both pumps and you can't go wrong with either. It mostly depends on how you want to carry the pump. If your frame has a pump peg, then the Zefal HPX is very convenient to carry under the top tube. The Road Morph is better if your frame doesn't have a pump peg, or you prefer not to carry a pump under the top tube, or you can carry it in your panniers. I've got my Road Morph mounted on the spare bottle mounts under the down tube on my touring bike, since I have no need to carry 3 water bottles. If my frame only had two bottle mounts, I would probably use the Zefal since that bike also has a pump peg so it fits well under the top tube.
#18
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 100
From: Walyalup, Australia
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Salsa Mukluk, Riese & Muller Supercharger GT Rohloff (Forthcoming)
Past user of a Topeak pump, a Turbo Morph G. I am a past user as the foot plate broke on the first day of what was meant to be a 5,000 km tourer. As things turned out that tourer ended early and I replaced my Topeak with a Lezyne HPG micro floor drive. I now have three Lezyne pumps and purchased two more on behalf of work colleagues. IMO a much better product than what Topeak offers/

All that said I have heard very good things about the Zefal HPX Classic and had I gone with a frame pump this would have been on my short list for sure.
Andrew

All that said I have heard very good things about the Zefal HPX Classic and had I gone with a frame pump this would have been on my short list for sure.
Andrew
#19
1, 2, 3 and to the 4X


Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 425
Likes: 34
From: Ashland, OR
If you decide not to use the pump peg and would rather use a bracket mounted pump you could check into PDW pumps:
https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/inflation
No personal experience with them, but they look to be well made.
https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/inflation
No personal experience with them, but they look to be well made.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 7
From: Portland, Oregon
Bikes: Cannondale Topstone gravel bike Dahon MU folder w/2x8 speed internal drive train
Pretty much what I find are pumps made for 622x23 low volume/high pressure tires and 26 x 2+ inch high volume/low pressure tires. To quote a poster on another thread, “The market has spoken.” It just hasn’t spoken to touring cyclists. What we are offered are pumps that take half a day and two aspirin to inflate the average touring tire or the arms of Hercules to get ten to twenty psi shy of your desired pressure.
For me the problem is compounded by the fact I can be on paved roads with 28/32 road slicks (100+ psi), but I have a set of 40mm wide dirt tires in the bottom of a pannier if the road/single track less traveled calls out to me(40 to 80 psi).
My answer is a two stage pump. There a several on the market speaking to me. The ones I have owned are all Blackburns: Mammoth 2 Stage, Airstik 2 Stage and the Airstik Longneck 2 Stage. It depends on what tires I bring as to the pump(s) that get attached to the bike. The Mammoth get to 40 to 50 psi very quickly at the LP setting and I can get up to 70-80 psi with some effort on the HP setting. The two Airstik pumps’ LP setting are about equal to the Mammoth HP setting in volume and effort. Because I am changing air pressure if not my tires pretty often on my recent tours, these two stage pumps have work well for me. Often I take two pumps giving me in effect a three stage pump.
https://www.blackburndesign.com/pumps.html
For me the problem is compounded by the fact I can be on paved roads with 28/32 road slicks (100+ psi), but I have a set of 40mm wide dirt tires in the bottom of a pannier if the road/single track less traveled calls out to me(40 to 80 psi).
My answer is a two stage pump. There a several on the market speaking to me. The ones I have owned are all Blackburns: Mammoth 2 Stage, Airstik 2 Stage and the Airstik Longneck 2 Stage. It depends on what tires I bring as to the pump(s) that get attached to the bike. The Mammoth get to 40 to 50 psi very quickly at the LP setting and I can get up to 70-80 psi with some effort on the HP setting. The two Airstik pumps’ LP setting are about equal to the Mammoth HP setting in volume and effort. Because I am changing air pressure if not my tires pretty often on my recent tours, these two stage pumps have work well for me. Often I take two pumps giving me in effect a three stage pump.
https://www.blackburndesign.com/pumps.html
#21
1, 2, 3 and to the 4X


Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 425
Likes: 34
From: Ashland, OR
My answer is a two stage pump. There a several on the market speaking to me. The ones I have owned are all Blackburns: Mammoth 2 Stage, Airstik 2 Stage and the Airstik Longneck 2 Stage. It depends on what tires I bring as to the pump(s) that get attached to the bike. The Mammoth get to 40 to 50 psi very quickly at the LP setting and I can get up to 70-80 psi with some effort on the HP setting. The two Airstik pumps’ LP setting are about equal to the Mammoth HP setting in volume and effort. Because I am changing air pressure if not my tires pretty often on my recent tours, these two stage pumps have work well for me. Often I take two pumps giving me in effect a three stage pump.
#22
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 7
From: Portland, Oregon
Bikes: Cannondale Topstone gravel bike Dahon MU folder w/2x8 speed internal drive train
I destroyed my first Blackburn Mammoth 2 (Lesson learned don’t oil your pump with dry chain lube.). Blackburn replaced it for free under their lifetime warranty. One of the weaknesses I see with all my 2 stage pumps is there are a lot of parts and complications. Each with its own potential points of failure out on the tour. That is one of reason I often take two pumps on tour. Certainly the Longneck at $40.00 is not cheap, but it is complicated.
I put the quality of my Blackburn 2 stage pumps on par with the Topeak Morph series except they are not 2 stage and quite inadequate for my needs. I do understand others love them and sometimes take offense at anyone casting anything but 5 star praise. I do own a Mountain Morph, which lives in my mother in law’s garage in Hawaii where it is used mostly to pump up volleyballs and other beach equipment. It actually works decently with my low volume/low pressure 20” tires on my folding bike. I also own a Topeak Harpoon 2 stage pump. It is battle ship ready, but only puts out enough volume for very high pressure tires.
I have a classic 30+ year old Blackburn frame pump and next to my two stage pumps it is the most versatile and useful for my touring style. It is certainly the most durable pump I have ever owned. I don’t think anyone make one that good anymore. Certainly the new Blackburn frame pump is only a shadow of its predecessor.
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 963
Likes: 2
From: Orange County CA
Bikes: Surly CC, Raleigh Team Pro, Specialized Rockhopper with an xtracycle
Not sure if i'm digressing from the OP question, but I have a surly cross check. I mount my topeak road morph along the seat tube but behind from the corner where the chainstay and seattube meet and the seattube and seatstays. It fits fine on a surly cross check without fenders. Then on my steel road bike, I can either mount beneath top tube or from corner where chainstay and seatstay meet and seatstay and seattube meet. Topeak has lifetime warranty too! Or maybe that was Blackburns..
#24
I carried a Blackburn pump with me on my tour last September. The bracket that was included with it broke, so I had to carry it in the pannier--no biggie, but I would've preferred it on the bike. In hindsight, it would've been better to buy a replacement before I even left on tour, since the pump had already been ruined...by a bicycle maintenance instructor, of all people!!! I was taking a class to educate myself on the basics of bike repair, and rather than use the piece that converts the pump from Schraeder- to Presta-compatible, the instructor thought he'd be clever & DISMANTLE THE WHOLE THING to make it permanently Presta-compatible for me! Needless to say, the fit was never quite as good since then...grrrr...
Also, it didn't have a built-in gauge, so I had to carry a separate one; now I'm thinking the Road Morph would be a good fit for me too!!
Also, it didn't have a built-in gauge, so I had to carry a separate one; now I'm thinking the Road Morph would be a good fit for me too!!
#25
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Bruce Gordon's Hand made Titanium 'impero' replica pumps, using Campags' steel p/v pump head ..
are said to be a good defensive tool against chasing dogs ,
and still pump your tires when done with the contest.
are said to be a good defensive tool against chasing dogs ,
and still pump your tires when done with the contest.



