Tyre inflator for small motorbike/scooter wheels.

robbsafc

I am looking for recomendations for a tyre inflator that will fit small scooter tyres. I have a Honda Dylan that I commute with. With the small size of the wheels I find a bicycle track pump head does not fit the valve correctly. I am looking for a suitable inflator that will fit into the small wheels to allow correct infaltion.

Many thanks in advance.

BeenThroughItAll

Next time you have tyres fitted, get 90deg valves fitted. In the meantime, buy a 90deg inflation adapter then you can use any airline you like.

forgotmyname

Get the longer valve stems fitted if the above mentioned right angled ones won't work for you.

Several different sizes available.

Do you have a power socket? How big i the battery? Do you have a kickstart also?

A compressor will typically draw 8amps upwards and can take a while to inflate a tyre, the tiny little ones are useless. Very short lived.

Richard53

I'd be very wary of using a 12V compressor off a bike battery. Typically bike batteries are 10Ah or less, and it wouldn't take long to drain it unless you kept the engine running.


Does your bicycle track pump have a Schrader valve fitting? I use mine on my car tyres with no problem at all.

pappa_golf

OP , I like you actually have motorcycles , unlike the car drivers in here can I make a suggestion.

most of the "snap on" type connectors (right angle) will fit bikes I have 2 units that are regularly used to inflate tyres on bikes.
the first is the "battery back" type device , jump leads , flashing lights AND a tyre pump , this can be easily recharged either in your garage or at home using mains power.
the other unit I use is one that came from "lidl" , red thing , classed as a mini pump , runs off 12v , cigar plug chopped off and croc clips fitted , YES many bike batteries are less than 10ah , a bike tyre can be blown up in about 20 seconds compared to a car taking 5 mins ! and we are usually talking about replenishing 3-5 psi not blowing a flat tractor tyre up .

the mini compressor has worked best for me , clip the leads onto the battery , press the switch , 20 secs later , the PSI I need , move to next one

BeenThroughItAll

pappa_golf wrote: »

OP , I like you actually have motorcycles , unlike the car drivers in here can I make a suggestion.

most of the "snap on" type connectors (right angle) will fit bikes I have 2 units that are regularly used to inflate tyres on bikes.
the first is the "battery back" type device , jump leads , flashing lights AND a tyre pump , this can be easily recharged either in your garage or at home using mains power.
the other unit I use is one that came from "lidl" , red thing , classed as a mini pump , runs off 12v , cigar plug chopped off and croc clips fitted , YES many bike batteries are less than 10ah , a bike tyre can be blown up in about 20 seconds compared to a car taking 5 mins ! and we are usually talking about replenishing 3-5 psi not blowing a flat tractor tyre up .

the mini compressor has worked best for me , clip the leads onto the battery , press the switch , 20 secs later , the PSI I need , move to next one

Wow, there's a totally unnecessary leap.

forgotmyname

The mini compressor may inflate a bike tyre fairly quickly, but they fail far too quickly and in my opinion not worth buying unless its for the occasional or one off emergency use.

For regular use even on a bike then it may not last much beyond its warranty.

I bought a larger one from Halfords many years ago and its still running, used for my cars and other peoples cars, used for brake pressure bleeding kits and caravan/trailer tyres etc etc. A lot of use and abuse and it still runs well. It does use more than 10amps though under load.

Its not just the battery capacity as its easy to have the engine run whilst you use it, but the actual wiring to the socket assuming it has one.

Richard53

pappa_golf wrote: »

OP , I like you actually have motorcycles , unlike the car drivers in here can I make a suggestion.

Although currently motorcycle-free, I have ridden almost daily for 40+ years and have owned more motorcycles than cars.


Don't make assumptions.

Richard53

forgotmyname wrote: »

The mini compressor may inflate a bike tyre fairly quickly, but they fail far too quickly and in my opinion not worth buying unless its for the occasional or one off emergency use.

If you buy something of poor quality that's likely to fail, surely it's the last thing you want in an emergency. For home use when you have an alternative at hand, fine, but in an emergency you want something that is going to work.


To be fair, the cheap 12V compressor I have has been banging about in the boots of various cars for 10+ years and it still works perfectly.

BeenThroughItAll

Compressors aside, I still stand by these (in an appropriate size for the valve opening on your wheels):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2Pcs-90-Degree-Motorcycle-Rim-Wheel-Valve-Stems-Tire-11-3mm-CNC-Aluminum-Silver-/401247730034?hash=item5d6c3a7972:g:-hQAAOSwImRYXQLN


and in the interim, one of these:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/90Degree-Valve-Adaptor-Tyre-Tube-Extension-Adapter-Converter-Angle-Bent-/332075062730?hash=item4d513755ca:g:9HMAAOSwUuFWzs4U


Funnily enough, I used the latter of those just yesterday when I checked the pressure in the tyres of the motorcycle I apparently don't own, and I have a pair of the valves ready to fit when I next have a set of tyres fitted, which won't be long since I do at least 6K a year on the bike I don't own and a set of boots only lasts me ~2K.

pappa_golf

OP

the mini compressor I referred to in my post above was this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Speed-Mini-Compressor-UMK/dp/B00JQ9P6GE

I removed the cigar type plug , fitted croc clips , I can confirm in use TODAY (not tested in the last 40 yrs) that the unit takes substantially less currant than posters are suggesting , if you were to have any concerns , then simply leaving your bike running would alleviate them .

fortunately bike tyres seem to be manufactured better than they were 40 yrs ago , some bikes even use tubeless tyres now - I have been told!