Thanks to Jerry from Lincolnshire Advanced Motorcyclists, who has more sense than I do, I replaced my plethora of “SodaStream” compressed air cartridges with a portable air compressor some months ago.
The compressor is slightly larger than a standard coffee mug (12.4 x 7.1 x 4.5 centimetres) and fits neatly under the seat of both the Tracer 9GT and the Multistrada, where it has lived, almost ignored, for months.
SodaStream® Cartridges
Not everyone will be old enough to remember the original SodaStream. The one I remember used CO2 cartridges similar to those popular with cyclists.
I was never quite sure how many of these I needed to re-inflate a 180/55/17 Dunlop on the back of the Tracer, so I carried eight cartridges around with me, along with a release valve and tyre plug kit, in the hope this was enough, or they would at least get me to the next garage.
Poking around the internet, it seems that four is the minimum number if you go with the 16-gram cartridges, but smart-thinking people, carry two of the 45-gram cartridges you can find in the aquarium section of the local pet shop. Just be mindful of the thread sizes when matching the cartridges to the release valve. They are not all the same.
However, all of that is a thing of the past and good riddance to it. What a faff.
Portable Air Compressors
I bought the Xiaomi Portable Air Compressor, which can be found on Amazon (no affiliate). There are several, all very similar designs but with different brand names. I went for that model because it is USB charged, and both bikes have a USB socket under the seat.
Even if I’d let the compressor’s battery go flat, the worst-case scenario is that I have to wait while the compressor charges from the bike’s battery before I can use it, which is still likely to be quicker than waiting for the breakdown truck to arrive.
On longer trips, as I try to remember to check the tyre pressures each morning, I’ve been plugging the compressor into the USB port at the start of each day … just in case.
Pressure
Providing circumstances don’t conspire to separate the tyre bead from the wheel rim; the only requirement is to get the tyre back to pressure.
If the bead does need reseating, according to the product specification, the portable air compressor can pump out 150PSI, yet I’m not sure any portable air compressor could deliver air fast enough to “pop out” the tyre and reseat the bead unaided.
I’ve seen several tricks for reseating the bead, including the infamous trick of igniting stuff like WD40. I’ll leave you to look those up on YouTube and mention using a ratcheted tie-down strap to help seat the bead as a less flammable alternative.
Another way to reseat the bead is to use the compressor to over-inflate the good tyre and carry a length of pipe with a chuck valve on either end. The theory is that the air – moving quickly – from the over-inflated tyre will reseat the bead on the flat one.
And if you don’t get it the first time with a compressor, there is always the option to refill the good tyre and have another go.
Practicality
While riding around Europe for a month, my Xiaomi Portable Air Compressor was a real asset. It isn’t one of those headline items that would save me from disaster. In reality, they are rather boring, but as something to have tucked away under the seat, quietly comforting my paranoia, it is perfect.
Without it, each morning becomes that loathsome stop-start affair, where, having just got ready to go, you stop at the first garage and check the pressures before the tyres get too hot.
Instead, while still loading up in the hotel car park, I could plug the Xiaomi in and let it do its thing while I ensured I’d locked all the luggage lids, but it’s best not to mention the number of times I tried to ride off with the keys still in the top box lock.
Clarity
I bought my portable air compressor and with my own money too. I liked the Xiaomi, but there are numerous other portable compressors with a range of features and prices to match.
SodaStream® is a registered trade mark of SodaStream UK Inc.
One Response
I had this, worked great for about two years. Then it stopped pumping.
Now as a replacement I got an Osram OTIR2000. It works the same as the Xiaomi, but also has flashlight and powerbank functions. The only downside is that it is a tad larger than the Xiaomi, but on my bikes the Xiaomi didn’t fit under the seat either. Time will tell how it holds up.