Almost everyone carries some form of onboard air. Whether used for inflating tires back to street pressure, repairing flats in the backcountry, or, for those who have large compressors, powering air tools, air is life for backcountry explorers.
As many of us are trying to lighten our loads, small is sometimes better. In this case, we had received E-mail from readers in the USMC and British Special Forces currently deployed to the Middle East. They told us how they used the CyclePump (CP) because it works. That was good enough for us, so we went on a search and found BestRest Product's CyclePump Adventure Combo Pack. They even had photos of the Brits using their CP in action.
Dual Sport riders and other motorcycle adventurers love this little pump. It's reliable and does a great job. Yes, we realize that the CyclePump is designed for use on a motorcycle and its small size makes it slower than the larger pumps we're used to, but the CyclePump's small size and light weight make it the choice for us to move from vehicle to vehicle, especially when testing 4x4s that have no onboard air.
The CyclePump is built right here in the USA at BestRest Product's plant 15 miles north of Seattle, Wshington. Every component is selected for ease of use, quality of manufacture, and durability. They want the CP to last for years, so they design them to work every time. There are no shortcuts taken when it comes to manufacturing. Every one of them is carefully fabricated by hand and tested before it leaves the bench. They take pride in these little units and know that each unit has the potential privilege of being carried to the remote corners of the globe.
The CP Adventure is provided with four powering methods: BMW plug, cigarette plug, a 2-prong SAE connector, and small alligator clips so you can power off any 12V battery.
There's a top quality locking brass air chuck, not a cheap plastic flip lever air chuck. The chuck can be rebuilt if it gets worn, damaged, or won't seal properly (a very rare event).
The rugged aluminum case does three things - it protects the internals against damage, it protects your hands from the working parts and pieces, and it acts as a heat sink to dissipate heat. The case is strong enough to drop on rocks, stand on, drive over, or otherwise stand up to reasonable amounts of roadside abuse, and the CP still keeps working. Not so with a cheap yellow plastic inflator or a homemade Tupperware sandwich box model. Drop them on a hard surface and chances are you'll be walking home.
BestRest Products can rebuild, repair, and service the CP. They seldom have any reports of failures, but when they do, they can repair the unit or can replace the defective part. Usually the problem is traced to the ingestion of dirt or sand. The CP has been around for years. As a service to existing owners, they offer a program where they can have their "old" CP upgraded to ADVENTURE specifications for a nominal fee. The CP Adventure expedition-grade inflator has many added features including folding legs, additional powering options, an extra power cord for automotive applications, an improved case design, hardened internal components, and more.
BestRest Products has the track records and certificates to prove that the CP is the best choice when it comes to small, lightweight compressors. World travelers, world record holders, and world touring companies select the CP because they know they can count on it to perform when they need it. If someone's going to the tip of Alaska, or the Horn of Africa, or somewhere exotic they usually order a CP. Why do they insist on the CyclePump? Because they know it'll work when they need it. They know it's the best, and they're willing to invest in a quality piece of equipment that will last for years.
The CyclePump is rated to pressures over 100 PSI. The aluminum case is less than 2" high x 4" wide x 6" long. With all the wires and power connectors and hose the storage pouch dimensions are 2x6x9". Weight is 34 ounces. Quality isn't cheap. The CyclePump Adventure costs $100.00. Then again, we'd rather pay more to begin with than purchase a number of cheap plastic compressors that fail and leave us on the side of the trail.
As mentioned, we ordered the CyclePump Adventure Combo Pack that came with the CyclePump Adventure compressor, EZAir Tire Gauge and the Stop&Go Pocket Plugger. The EZAir Tire Gauge allows easy monitoring of air pressure while inflating tires and is also a regular tire gauge and pressure bleeder. The Stop&Go Pocket Plugger has innovative rubber plugs that repair puncture leaks easily and quickly - much easier than sticky worms will. The worms still work when dealing with large tears in the tire, but the Stop&Go's plugs are better for small holes.
We'll keep you updated as we use our quality, lightweight CyclePump Adventure.