Tyre Inflator

[Bruce Lee]

One of my pet peeves is trying to use the gas station tyre inflators on motorcycle wheels. I always manage to end up with greasy workshop hands after fondling with getting the nozzle onto the valve through the massive discs.

So I picked up one of these from Bunnings and it works great. The nozzle is such that it makes it a hell of a lot easier for tight spaces. Good for cars, cycles, balls, etc.

[Blackbird]

Good stuff! I've had a similar setup for a good few years, mainly because I don't trust gas station gauges. Bought an Arlec pump from the Warehouse. However, there's about 90% unoccupied volume inside the plastic case, so I chucked the case out and the pump itself is small enough to carry on the bike, along with a repair kit and a digital pressure gauge.

[jellywrestler]

i brought a small right angle adaptor that fit's in my pocket, easy

[Bruce Lee]

i brought a small right angle adaptor that fit's in my pocket, easy

Yeah I got one too but never ended up using it as you still have to go through the process of getting it on. Now that I can inflate at home I’m more inclined to keep good pressure.

[nzspokes]

Yeah I got one too but never ended up using it as you still have to go through the process of getting it on. Now that I can inflate at home I’m more inclined to keep good pressure.

Under pressure to keep up?

[AllanB]

I've Enkei wheels on the Ducati - comes factory fitted with a 90 degree valve on the front - rears a piece of piss being single-side swingarm.

Pumping them up I'm all old school and have a hand pump. The mountain bike tyres get pumped up pretty high now days so any pump for them is fine for a motorcycle.

[FJRider]

Yeah I got one too but never ended up using it as you still have to go through the process of getting it on. Now that I can inflate at home I’m more inclined to keep good pressure.

What do you do if you need air and you're a long way from home ... or don't you ride far from home ... ???

[Bruce Lee]

What do you do if you need air and you're a long way from home ... or don't you ride far from home ... ???

It's not like I don't use the one at the gas station when I have too, it's just always such a mission when you're dealing with

[jellywrestler]

It's not like I don't use the one at the gas station when I have too, it's just always such a mission when you're dealing with

i've now got a compressor at home, but used to bend these every time i was in my car so they would work for bikes, till one day i leaned on one with a solid shaft and snapped it...

[GazzaH]

It's a bit awkward but not impossible to use the straight wands, with a bit of give in the valve stems, manipulating the wand into place between the spokes if necessary. No bending or right angle adapters needed. Even at home, the workshop compressor is fitted with a cheap straight wand - good enough for my TransAlp anyway. Maybe different on sports bikes, or for grumpy riders in a hurry ...

[Bruce Lee]

https://youtu.be/U5Mz7SJyZ84

[russd7]

It's a bit awkward but not impossible to use the straight wands, with a bit of give in the valve stems, manipulating the wand into place between the spokes if necessary. No bending or right angle adapters needed. Even at home, the workshop compressor is fitted with a cheap straight wand - good enough for my TransAlp anyway. Maybe different on sports bikes, or for grumpy riders in a hurry ...

they work at a pinch on the zzr but i don't mind getting my hands dirty whilst fondling to get the nozzle on

[GazzaH]

Fondling your nozzle is all part of the fun of bikin'

[WALRUS]

I think I've ended up putting 90 degree tyre valves on all the bikes I've ever owned.. Even the scooter :P So much easier.. Also, over here the pumps at servo's are constantly dropped and knackered to the point where they're barely accurate so I've just got a small compressor in my garage/workshop which I use to check my pressures and adjust before I head out

[GazzaH]

The pump GUAGES are dubious, true, but the pumps usually work. So carry a guage. As a last resort, you can guess whether a tyre is 'about right' by squeezing it, provided you've squeezed it often enough to learn how hard it should be (ooo err missis). The squeeze-test is not ideal, but it's got to be better than just driving away with a flat or a tyre fit to burst.