Topic: Your air solution?

[70CB750]

I realized, I don't carry anything to provide air on the road.

OK, maybe my head is full of it and hot too - at least my wife says so:) - but I looked around and found:

- hand pump
- 4th cylinder spark plug adapter - the word is that's really slow
- miniature electrical compressor
- bicycle style bomb with plastic adapter to discharge it

What do you carry?  I am leaning towards the bomb since I use it for my bicycle while on the road and it works well/cheap enough.

In my jeep I have old  York AC compressor behind electrical clutch for onboard air and in the family Grand Cherokee we have electrical compressor, both solutions are very dependable, but bulky and heavy for motorcycle.

My question is:  what do you carry for air and how do you like it?

[lucky]

Having a flat on a motorcycle is VERY rare.

If you really think you need it then I would carry 4 tire spoons,
co2 cartriges and a heavy duty front and rear tube and the
 valve core remover in my pocket. Oh and some soap in a container.

[brooze72]

I agree with lucky.  Only very long distance trips to desolate places do you need to worry about that kind of issue, coke just finished 2,000 miles, ask him what he carried.

[BobbyR]

Getting a flat on the road is not rare at all. I was stuck on the Pa border for 3 hrs in the sun, and try to get the tire off with spoons. Ask Andy CB750 how many flats he has gotten on his many tours. I am researching a flat fix in a canister that will work on tubes. I would suggest you
carry baby wipes as I do. Yeah baby wipes for obvious reasons.

[70CB750]

Rare or not, engineer always has a backup.

[JimJamerino]

You can get a bead breaker that looks kind of like a heavy-duty c-clamp.  That'll fit in most saddlebags, along with the CO2 inflator, a couple irons, and spare tubes (or at least a patch kit to get you home).  It seems like a lot, but all of it will fit in a lunchbox. 

Personally, I prefer to have that whole setup with me when I ride, even if it's just a local Sunday cruise.  It's all part of my regular OSK (Oh S*** Kit) from when I rode a Harley.

[CycleRanger]

They make small cans of fix-a-flat just for bikes. Yeah, it'll trash the tube but it will generally get you home.

[BobbyR]

You can get a bead breaker that looks kind of like a heavy-duty c-clamp.  That'll fit in most saddlebags, along with the CO2 inflator, a couple irons, and spare tubes (or at least a patch kit to get you home).  It seems like a lot, but all of it will fit in a lunchbox. 

Personally, I prefer to have that whole setup with me when I ride, even if it's just a local Sunday cruise.  It's all part of my regular OSK (Oh S*** Kit) from when I rode a Harley.

What size tire irons do you use? And what is your procedure to do the work, on bike off bike?. A lot of people wouuld need to know that. This has come up before and nobody seemed to have luck doing it.

[CB500_k2]

My '57 R27 BMW came from the factory with a good hand operated air pump which neatly clipped on the frame and tool kit with tire irons and an inner tube patch kit.  Thank God I never had to use them but if you are motoring down the Pan American highway it might be a good last resort.

[my78k]

CAA plus....or AAA for those of you south of the border.

Dennis

[orange550]

I just got a flat on the weekend. Got me thinking that no matter how close you are to home, you're pretty screwed without an ability to repair it. Otherwise what are the options? Push it to... Or call for a pickup? Those are big pains, eh? I could have repaired it on the side of the road as easy as anything else. A good samaritan helped me truck it to my house, but had he not helped... plus when I got home, the tire change went very quickly. I could a done it on the road I think. It wasn't very difficult. On my next tour I'll make sure I bring stuff. Maybe one of those small bicycle pumps that fit to the seat post.