Two essential accessories on every bike I own: a powerlet plug and an air compressor for motorcycles, that and a quick tire plug kit both fit under the strom seat. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, the solutions are already out there.

 

this.. you can pick up a slime brand one that will fit under the seat (little larger and thicker than a pack of smokes) for 9.99

 

Yea...I would just buy an actual compressor. I got this one.

Amazon.com: Slime 40001 Power Sport Tire Inflator: Automotive

Shop around and you can find it cheaper.

 

This is what I use. Works a treat.

Aerostich Mini Compressor :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear

 

The Slime pump work for five minutes then it must be shut down because it overheats. In that time its adds 5 psi to the typical motorcycle tire. I am not impressed.

How many tires could you fill with air from a paintball can @ 3000psi?

 

Can't vouch for or against the slime, but to not quite answer your question, it depends on the size of the tank.

 

If you'd provided a link, I coud look and see exactly what it is you're talking about. I assume this is a refillable tank and probably doesn't come pre-filled with air. Where would you get it refilled? Will it hold air indefinitely? How do you get it hooked up to an air hose chuck?

I've refilled seriously low car tires (after fixing a flat) with my 12V compressor without any great trouble. The instructions that came with it said to let it have a rest after something like 15 minutes of continuous running. And I have run the engine on the bike while using it at times - keeps the voltage up.

 

Guerrilla Paintball Air Myth 48ci 3000psi HP Tank

I think they fill them at paintball stores. It prolly cheap enough. You would have to make an adapter for a hose and chuck.

 

I use a Harbor Freight 12V air compressor that sells for $8.88. It is considerably faster than the Slime compressor that I keep on the other bike.

The downside, is that it is just large enough not under the seat ... barely. I keep it in my JC Whitney cheapo Tail Trunk on the back of the DL. It has worked flawlesly for over 3 years. It get's lots of use as I use it for my ZTR mower wheels, manure wagon tires, golf cart etc. So the the 1" to wide to fit under the seat has not proven worth it to me to get another slime or comparable portable mini compressor.

 

The inflator hose on my pump screws onto the valve stem. Don't buy this type. The unscrewing is usually good for a few PSI making inflating it a hit and miss thing.

 

Why not use CO2 cartridges - small and available with a kit to fill a tyre?

 

+1 for the CO2 cartridges.

 

It may have 3000 psi but it lacks volume. It is hard enough to fill a car tire with a 10 gal. portable tank.

 

A 10-gallon portable tank isn't pressurized to 3,000 psi either, closer to 100 psi, but your comment is valid. A 10-gallon tank pressurized to 100 psi will contain about 9 cubic feet of air at atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi). A 48 cubic inch tank pressurized to 3000 psi will contain about 5.67 cubic feet of air at atmospheric pressure. Plus, as mentioned, you are going to have to find a high-pressure regulator that can reduce that 3,000 psi down to less than 150 psi (which is all that normal hoses and fittings can handle).

 

I play paintball and use an HPA exactly like this one. They are charged to 3000psi and the 47 Cubic inches would be more'n enough to fill a tire. However, you'd have no way to access the air inside the tank without an ASA adapter, a shut off and a proper step down regulator. High pressure fittings ain't cheap.

A tire needs tens of pounds of pressure, my paintball marker runs at around 200 psi. For the cost of the adaptor, you could purchase a decent compressor that would fit more easily on your bike and wouldn't need to be retested for pressure every five years.

Though once these tanks are filled, they do not lose pressure.

 

you want air

buy a 12V compressor from Walmart - toss the housing, put it under your seat

find a way to hook it up to 12V (in the field) that works for you

I have one on each of my two bikes

 

I carry a hand pump and a CO2 kit.

 

48 ci @ 3,000 psi = 4,800 ci @ 30 psi.


I don't feel like calculating the volume of a toroid this early in the morning, but based on some Googling, a rear tire holds roughly 2,500 - 3,000 ci. (Probably a bit less, since a V-Strom's rear tire is smaller than on a sportybike.)

So, that tank might give you two fills. Assuming your plugging technique is flawless and that you can pre-arrange for only one neat puncture at a time.

No thanks. I'll carry a cheaper, lighter electric pump.


I used to carry a CO2 kit that used the small "BB Gun" cartridges -- I learned the hard way that it takes at least four of those to get a rear tire ridable (over 20 psi or so). And I also learned the hard way that you're stuck if there's not just one neat puncture...

 

fwiw, my idea is first go to 2 into 1 exaust on my Vee, then mount a 2½ gal air tank in place of the exaust can that was removed, a quickfill compressor under the seat, plenty of pressure under seat to blow up a tire or operate a 175 db air horn

 

The math on your volumes of air would be fine but the CO2 is liquefied so I am sure as the liquid boils you will get more then that in volume.:yesnod:

 

Excellent point. Did I ever mention that I started college in engineering but somehow ended up with a degree in Professional Writing? :mrgreen:

Anyhoo, look what I found:
About CO2 | CO2 Inflation Chart | CO2 FAQ

Here's a chart of inflation pressures vs. grams of CO2:
http://www.genuineinnovations.com/images/Inflation Chart.jpg


Looks like it takes about 40-50 grams of CO2 to inflate a motorcycle tire. So how many grams of CO2 does a 48ci tank hold? Dunno. The Google, it does nothing.

 

Obviously, as my user name implies, I've been into paintball for a "few" years. I've had (and still have) several high pressure air tanks, both steel and carbon fiber. A steel 3000 PSI high pressure air tank is fairly heavy compared to the alternatives to filling a tire and probably would not fit under the seat very well. While I didn't do the math on volumes at 30 PSI (more than enough to get to a filling station in most cases), I also wouldn't really want to carry around a tank containing 3000 PSI on a motorcycle. I did use a 88ci 4500 PSI tank hooked up to an oldschool MaxFlo regulator in my Blazer to power air horns at 100 PSI for a while, but it was only a temporary solution.

If you really wanted to carry around a compressed air source already stored in a tank, I'd buy a cheap CO2 tank for paintball and the necessary adapters. You can get the tanks in smaller sizes, they're usually aluminum, usually contain about 800 PSI (the contents are mostly liquid), and you can pick up a pre-charged replacement at Wal-Mart. I'll stick to my small compressor, however.

 

I just bought a Microflate with three 16g cartridges. It was $7 and change. I figure this will get me out of most situations. They also have a 45g cartrigde, but I don't have one yet.

I'm still looking into a small compressor as well but was worried about their quality.

 

.
You do not have to have an electric motor to raise & lower your car window.

Like P38arover, I carry a hand-pump (bicycle pump).
A bit slow - but how many punctures a day do you get?

Lightweight, compact (well . . . in 2 of 3 dimensions).
Simple, old, reliable technology. Nothing much to go wrong.
And never overheats [though I can't say the same about me].
.

 

I carry a tyre plug kit which does have some CO2 cartridges but I also carry a small compressor.

I've had 4 punctures on the road over the years. When I had my first one all I had was a tyre pando to get me going (and I was 250km from the nearest bike shop and at least 100km from a service station). I was very lucky in that the pando actually worked and got me back to civilisation.

Having now used tyre plugs (the cord type), I would have to say that this is the only way to go and they are easy to use. Always have them with ya.

My little compressor is pretty good and has been used to top up a few tyres now. It has a digital pressure gauge built in and you just dial-up the pressure you want. Also has a torch built in so that could come in handy if I have to go through a puncture at night.

 

I went out for a little ride this afternoon. It started raining, but no matter. I got under way, but thought the bike's handling felt funny on the on-ramp to the highway, like it wanted to stand up and wouldn't settle into a lean angle. Went down the highway a short way and at an exit which has a dip in the middle the bike felt really squirrelly. So, found a place to pull off and check the rear tire. Sure enough, it was going down. A little inspection quickly found the culprit - a 2 -inch spirox finishing nail. So, out came the sticky string plug kit and my 12v compressor. Took a little while but it eventually got the tire back up to pressure.

I have a tire plug kit with CO2 cartridges and some extra cartridges, but I've never used them. The 12 g size, I think. I've heard it can take several of them to return a tire to normal operating pressure. The pump works for me, but the CO2 carts could make a decent backup, I suppose.

 

I went out for a little ride this afternoon. It started raining, but no matter. I got under way, but thought the bike's handling felt funny on the on-ramp to the highway, like it wanted to stand up and wouldn't settle into a lean angle. Went down the highway a short way and at an exit which has a dip in the middle the bike felt really squirrelly. So, found a place to pull off and check the rear tire. Sure enough, it was going down. A little inspection quickly found the culprit - a 2 -inch spirox finishing nail. So, out came the sticky string plug kit and my 12v compressor. Took a little while but it eventually got the tire back up to pressure.

One of the very best standard features of the Connie is it's onboard tyre pressure sensors. I've had early warning (there is an alarm at something like 30-34psi) of two punctures to date - well before that squirrelly feeling. There are after market versions of these but I hope it won't be long before they're standard fitment on all bikes.

 

" have a tire plug kit with CO2 cartridges and some extra cartridges, but I've never used them. The 12 g size, I think. I've heard it can take several of them to return a tire to normal operating pressure."


It only takes a couple to get the tire up enough to go home or to a station. Been there/done that. I use the mini slime pump. fits under the seat.

 

"Have you ever filled a tire with zero psi in it? "
Yes I have.
Rear tire, using Slime ac connected to bike battery.Bike off.
0 psi to 38 psi in 10 minutes. No ill effects to battery. That little motor isn't pulling enough amperage to worry about for that amount of time.

p.s. An idling bike isn't going to charge your battery anyway.

 

Ya, me too,many times for myself and friends. I don't have a Slim pump, but have a $9.00 compressor that I stripped the housing off and carry in my Givi. I've had it for years and still works every time I need it.

As someone else said,why try to reinvent the wheel?

Here's my pump...

Stopped on the side of I75 fixing a flat.

 

Aren't you guys over thinking this. Seems like the problem was solved long long ago. I carry this. No battery concerns, no CO2 shortage concerns, no cost concerns, no 'it takes up too much room concerns', etc.

 

Yes it works. How many strokes to get a rideable pressure though? Also you have to be some kind of contortionist to pump the tire up with it. This will male it easier to attach the pump. Also good for getting air from standard gas station air pumps.

Check-A-Spare
Price: $7.95
ID #: 1714T
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Keep your spare tire properly inflated
Don't risk having a flat spare tire in an emergency. This 39 in. extension hose attaches to your spare tire, extending the valve for easy pressure checking without removing the tire. Regular valve cap attaches to end of hose. If your spare is low, simply connect air hose to the Check-A-Spare valve.