Looking for a new pump
05-11-23, 02:29 AM
#26
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 75
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport Sora (now), Whistle Modod Flatbar (retired)
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 43 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times
in
17 Posts
Plus one on the Hirame love. I have it on a ~1986 Silca Pista pump, Columbus tubing! It, and the Silca Hiro copy, are just wonderful. In fact, I'd argue that there's not much difference between pumps; if the chuck is easy to use, any pump is adequate. When I went to fatter tires with lower pressure, I replaced the original Silca pressure gauge, which went to 220 psi, with a 0-60 psi gauge, so I can pump to 40 psi, which was difficult to see on a gauge that went to 220.
My other pump is a 1974 Rampar-branded Medai. I replaced the original hose and chuck with one of the Shrader/Presta double heads, and mainly use it to air up the car tires.
I wish I'd bought the Hirame chuck when I first learned of it, instead of waiting until I was a bit more flush. For many years I used that Silca brass bell chuck, what a pain in the keester. But it was authentic Italian...
And yeah, the Pista just wants to fall over.
My other pump is a 1974 Rampar-branded Medai. I replaced the original hose and chuck with one of the Shrader/Presta double heads, and mainly use it to air up the car tires.
I wish I'd bought the Hirame chuck when I first learned of it, instead of waiting until I was a bit more flush. For many years I used that Silca brass bell chuck, what a pain in the keester. But it was authentic Italian...
And yeah, the Pista just wants to fall over.
05-11-23, 02:37 AM
#27
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 75
Bikes: Specialized Allez Sport Sora (now), Whistle Modod Flatbar (retired)
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 43 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times
in
17 Posts
SKS Rennkompressor is another good one. Super sturdy and replacement parts are available. Mines about 10yrs old and gets used around 3 times a week and is still all original. A little pricey these days at just under $90 and if you shop around maybe cheaper but you won't have to buy another one. Don't know if it's the best pump but certainly one of the best. Rennkompressor Floor Pump – SKS USA (sks-us.com)
Likes For papaki72:
05-11-23, 04:43 AM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,598
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1618 Post(s)
Liked 2,233 Times
in
1,113 Posts
Hiro on sale on Amazon. $60.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
05-11-23, 05:32 AM
#29
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,283
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1302 Post(s)
Liked 951 Times
in
492 Posts
I'll second Veloz's recommendation to go with Blackburn. The various iterations of the Piston model can be had for not-much-money.
__________________
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!"
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!"
05-13-23, 01:30 PM
#30
Keefusb
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 177
Bikes: 60cm 1992 Paramount, 60cm 1995 Cannondale R900 (son's bike), 1994 Cannondale H300 (mine), 1994 Cannondale H300 Killer V (wife's bike), 60 cm 1989 Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra SLX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times
in
37 Posts
I had a Joe Blow floor pump that lasted for 25 years of heavy use before it crapped out due to a leak inside the gauge. So I just got another one, forgot how much it cost, but it wasn't much. If I get half the service life out of the new one, I'll be delighted.
05-14-23, 07:30 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,848
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1139 Post(s)
Liked 1,242 Times
in
786 Posts
I have 5 floor pumps (one in the garage, one at the office (when I was working), one in the camper we store away from home, and one each in the cars we carry bikes in). They are all inexpensive Performance Bike or Park pumps. The all work perfectly. I had to replace the head on the oldest one, but otherwise they all have been totally maintenance free. They all have gauges which are consistent enough. The Performance pumps are both 25 years or more old. The Park are 10-15 years old each. I don't see the point in expensive pumps.
05-14-23, 08:36 PM
#33
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 8,143
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5049 Post(s)
Liked 8,314 Times
in
3,926 Posts
While shopping for a new floor pump I’ve realized a few factors that are important to me…
1. Range - A 220psi max capacity is useless to me. There aren’t any tires (or even my Airshot canister) that I pump up more than 120psi.
2. Visibility - My mediocre eyesight makes seeing a small gauge mounted on the base of the pump (Silca Pista, for example) is pretty much useless to me.
3. Resolution - 2 of the bikes I ride regularly use pressures less than 50psi. For my MTB, especially, I use F/R pressures that are 2-3psi different. I want a gauge that will provide 1psi resolution at the lower end of the range.
I would love to splurge on the Silca SuperPista, but that’s probably not going to happen. The Silca Terra, however, seems to fit my needs pretty well. The dual-stage gauge, and 120psi range fits my needs. I’m open to other options, too.
1. Range - A 220psi max capacity is useless to me. There aren’t any tires (or even my Airshot canister) that I pump up more than 120psi.
2. Visibility - My mediocre eyesight makes seeing a small gauge mounted on the base of the pump (Silca Pista, for example) is pretty much useless to me.
3. Resolution - 2 of the bikes I ride regularly use pressures less than 50psi. For my MTB, especially, I use F/R pressures that are 2-3psi different. I want a gauge that will provide 1psi resolution at the lower end of the range.
I would love to splurge on the Silca SuperPista, but that’s probably not going to happen. The Silca Terra, however, seems to fit my needs pretty well. The dual-stage gauge, and 120psi range fits my needs. I’m open to other options, too.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
05-15-23, 04:55 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,954
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3617 Post(s)
Liked 3,038 Times
in
1,838 Posts
05-15-23, 01:37 PM
#35
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
While shopping for a new floor pump I’ve realized a few factors that are important to me…
1. Range - A 220psi max capacity is useless to me. There aren’t any tires (or even my Airshot canister) that I pump up more than 120psi.
2. Visibility - My mediocre eyesight makes seeing a small gauge mounted on the base of the pump (Silca Pista, for example) is pretty much useless to me.
3. Resolution - 2 of the bikes I ride regularly use pressures less than 50psi. For my MTB, especially, I use F/R pressures that are 2-3psi different. I want a gauge that will provide 1psi resolution at the lower end of the range.
I would love to splurge on the Silca SuperPista, but that’s probably not going to happen. The Silca Terra, however, seems to fit my needs pretty well. The dual-stage gauge, and 120psi range fits my needs. I’m open to other options, too.
1. Range - A 220psi max capacity is useless to me. There aren’t any tires (or even my Airshot canister) that I pump up more than 120psi.
2. Visibility - My mediocre eyesight makes seeing a small gauge mounted on the base of the pump (Silca Pista, for example) is pretty much useless to me.
3. Resolution - 2 of the bikes I ride regularly use pressures less than 50psi. For my MTB, especially, I use F/R pressures that are 2-3psi different. I want a gauge that will provide 1psi resolution at the lower end of the range.
I would love to splurge on the Silca SuperPista, but that’s probably not going to happen. The Silca Terra, however, seems to fit my needs pretty well. The dual-stage gauge, and 120psi range fits my needs. I’m open to other options, too.
05-15-23, 01:41 PM
#36
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 8,143
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5049 Post(s)
Liked 8,314 Times
in
3,926 Posts
I just picked up a Spesh Air Tool Comp Floor Pump - it was cheap (51 bucks!) and it's bright enough I won't lose it in the cave that is my garage. Seems pretty decent for the price, has a nice oversized dual face gauge and the dual-chuck clamps on the valve pretty firmly. Online reviews seemed to have issues with the accuracy of the gauge, but it was spot on with both my mechanical and digital pressure gauges I have.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
