Tire pump suggestions

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MSRP said:
Protip for you all: At the majority of the big gas stations, if you fill up, call over the intercom or walk inside and request for the pump to be turned on. MOST, can remotely bypass the $1 and turn it on.

Protip 2: either ask them to wait 30 seconds for you to mozy-on-over, or relocate to the pump before asking.
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In case anyone thinks this is an anecdote from the 1930s, I have done this in recent years. I find paying at the register and making the request in person to be more effective.
 
Foot pump over a gas station any day. If you pump the hose without hooking it up at the vast majority of gas stations you'll see that water comes out. They never empty the compressors and your filling your tires with water. This makes the tire much more volatile to temperature and a lot harder to get correct pressure.

Use a bicycle pump. Simple, easy, no worries about water in the line. Moto tires don't hold that much air so it doesn't take very long to inflate them.
 
I believe it is true... any place that sells gas must provide free air.
 
I never knew gas station air was free to use, I always thought nothing was free these days. But good to know ahah I'm going to try this next time I get gas.

I have a floor bicycle pump I picked up yesterday. It seems to work just fine except the hose could be a little bit longer though.
 
I use the helium from the department...gets me 10 extra hp and the ability to fly over traffic snarls.
 
jc100 said:
I use the helium from the department...gets me 10 extra hp and the ability to fly over traffic snarls.
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I only use helium in the front tire. Easier wheelies.

Bicycle pump. As pointed out gas stations pump air/water. No thanks
 
Bicycle pump...I've even used it a couple times in an emergency to fill my car/truck tires when I had a slow leak.
 
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Funny--I was reading this yesterday and figured my Canadian Tire pump works great for the bike until yesterday afternoon when the cigarette lighter plug just completely broke apart inside the socket. What a mess. Definitely time to take some of the suggestions to heart :)
 
Jason416 said:
Funny--I was reading this yesterday and figured my Canadian Tire pump works great for the bike until yesterday afternoon when the cigarette lighter plug just completely broke apart inside the socket. What a mess. Definitely time to take some of the suggestions to heart :)
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One of mine did that, "Active Lifestyles" or similar nonsense. The power cord on another frayed (no stress reliever on case). Repairing both was dead simple, even with my clumsy soldering skills. To the manufacturer's credit, the gear/piston arrangement was metal. Cheap metal, but still metal and they're still going strong today.

A bit annoying to think a throwaway pump from a few years back is actually premium in comparison to the stuff you get today.
 
DemonPig said:
You have a Costco nearby? Go to the tire shop, hoses reach outside, free to use.

At home I use a small electric pump that I plug in to my car's cigarette lighter jack. Places like Canadian Tire have them for $15-20.
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+1 ...i have an airmate electric pump for about 8 years now. Bought it for 25 bucks...musta paid itself off by now!
 
Well I have a 8 gal compressor so.....but I do carry either the guts of a cheap plug in compressor or a small bicycle pump when I tour.
 
How do you guys manage to fit a bicycle pump nozzle over the valve? There's so little space between the valve and the wheel hub and around the disks for me, it's a huge struggle with even small nozzles.

Update: Nevermind. 90 degree adapters.
 
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This used to work for me. Now it seems spotty. Some will say they no longer have the ability to remotely turn it on :(
MSRP said:
Protip for you all: At the majority of the big gas stations, if you fill up, call over the intercom or walk inside and request for the pump to be turned on. MOST, can remotely bypass the $1 and turn it on.

Protip 2: either ask them to wait 30 seconds for you to mozy-on-over, or relocate to the pump before asking.
Click to expand...
 
I used to buy the 12V blue pumps from canadian tire, they were slow, but cheap and lasted a few years. Lately I have been using the red ones, much much faster and they go on sale for 1/2 price quite often.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/heavy-duty-air-compressor-0095079p.html#.U7bNkpRFMqw

Obviously, these require 12V power and are large for carrying on a bike.

For on the bike use, I carry a C02 inflator, or for long trips a small double acting bike pump
 
Jason416 said:
Funny--I was reading this yesterday and figured my Canadian Tire pump works great for the bike until yesterday afternoon when the cigarette lighter plug just completely broke apart inside the socket. What a mess. Definitely time to take some of the suggestions to heart :)
Click to expand...

I had a Slime model that blew the fuse to all my interior lighting and accessories. That was kind of irritating. Many of my older ones got retired because I left them loose in the trunk and as soon as you put something heavy inside the connector gets all crushed and destroyed.

I filled up a completely flat car tire with a portable bicycle hand pump once. That sucked.
 
Got this for $27 in Walmart when in PA...
slime_box.jpg
http://www.gadgetjq.com/slime_pump.htm
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