How to choose a tire inflator or portable motorcycle compressor?

Whether you're a track racer on a circuit session, a trail rider after a puncture or a long-distance adventurer, you're faced with this existential question: how do I manage my tire pressure on my own? It's true, in all three cases, it's not necessarily possible to ride to a gas station equipped with a compressor. Is the good old foot pump the panacea? Are there any portable inflators suitable for motorcycle road-trips? We tell you all about it.

At this point, you might be asking yourself, "Why on earth would I need to ride with an old foot pump?". Well, there's no shortage of occasions when you need to adjust the inflation of your motorcycle tires. Whether it's to get the pressure just right for a series of laps around the track, to gain autonomy on a trip, or even adaptability on your trail rides. Just one example? A mini-compressor plugged into the cigarette lighter lets you reinflate your gumshoe after a puncture - the foot pump too, after 200 flexes -. Above all, it lets you adjust tire pressure to suit your riding style. And yes, if you're riding in grease, sand or gravel, riding under-inflated gives you better grip, and then you can simply re-inflate your tires before returning to the road.

Last but not least? Carrying an inflation device is an act of solidarity. And yes, your mates will look to you as the messiah when you fly to the rescue of that poor road-trip buddy who didn't realize his gumshoe had a slow puncture.

Are you an adventurous biker? Owning a portable inflator saves you the hassle of finding a gas station with a compressor. Whether in France or abroad, this is unfortunately a service that's tending to disappear. Here's an overview of portable tire inflation solutions:

The trusty foot pump

The low-tech par excellence. The foot pump was created in 3800 BC, 200 years after the invention of the wheel and hence the motorcycle. Its big advantage? It's not dependent on a battery. Handy for us neanderthal bikers. What's more, it guarantees you calves of steel when it comes to putting 2 bars on your gumshoe. The foot pump does have one major drawback, however: it takes up space (as well as our energy). Not ideal for off-road use.

----> CGN MANO bicycle foot pump 180 PSI/12 BAR

Gas cartridges

According to a recent Ipsos survey, 98% of motorcyclists have never heard of this device. Admittedly, this figure is absolutely wrong, but it's clear that this technology remains a mystery. So what exactly is it? Compressed CO2 cartridges. After a puncture, all you have to do is release the contents into your tire to reinflate it very quickly. So this device is super-compact, easy to use and fast.

But what's not to like? The buts are numerous. Firstly, unless you use a pressure gauge, the pressure setting is imprecise. Secondly, CO2 escapes more easily from the tire or chamber than traditional air. So it will deflate fairly quickly. Finally, once you've emptied all your cartridges, well, you're left with nothing. This device is therefore very suitable for emergency re-inflation after a puncture, but not really for regular use.

----> Kit 4 Gryyp CO2 cartridges + adapter for emergency inflation

The self-contained inflator aka mini compressor

Let's get down to introductions. What exactly are we talking about? This device is nothing more than a pocket compressor. A small pump pumps a volume of air into a small pressurized reservoir. As you'll have gathered, the key word here is compactness. Some models take up as much space as a karaoke microphone. So you'll have to choose between re-inflating your tires and reinterpreting "downwind" at the top of the Col de l'Iseran. In terms of autonomy, what does it say? There are two schools of thought here. Some models require a power supply (cigarette-lighter socket or crocodile clip on the motorcycle battery), while others are equipped with an internal battery.

What's wrong with a self-inflator? You're dependent on a battery charge (whether built into the compressor or on the bike). No juice, no pressure.

Stop&Go mini-compressor

Compact, lightweight and super-affordable, this inflator from Stop&Go offers great value for money. With its built-in pressure gauge, you can adjust your tire pressure to the nearest thousandth of a bar. But what's the problem? It's not completely self-contained. Yes, to use it, you'll need to wire it to your bike's battery or plug it into a cigarette-lighter socket. In our opinion, it's ideal for occasional use in an emergency. The kind of product you leave in the bottom of your top-case.

----> Stop&Go RCP 12-volt mini-compressor

Chaft Smart Pump II

Here's a super-versatile self-contained compressor! Bicycle, motorcycle, car, balloon, mattress, nothing will escape your new fad of inflating everything you find. Its big plus? Its 6000mAh internal battery, which means you'll never run out of flat tires, its ultra-clear digital display and its maximum pressure of 10 bars. Strong stuff in an ultra-compact format!

----> Chaft SMART PUMP II self-contained wireless compressor

Osram self-contained compressor

Introducing the motorcyclist's best friend! A true Swiss Army knife 2.0, this portable inflator can also serve as a power bank for your electrical appliances, as well as a flashlight. Pretty handy, don't you think? Well, when it comes to inflation itself, the Osram has an ingenious feature: automatic shut-off. That's right, it stops by itself when the preset pressure is reached.

----> Osram wireless self-contained compressor

Well, we hope we've convinced you: the self-inflator is a must-have! Whether you're a trail rider, a long-distance adventurer or just an occasional biker, this ingenious tool will ensure you're always riding with the ideal pressure, and will help you out in the event of a puncture. Your tires are your only point of contact with the road, so you might as well take good care of them. On that note, we wish you a pleasant ride!

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Header Image Credit: Image by Freepik