The question has been asked, “Is the CyclePump worth it? Why should I spend $100 when I can buy a cheaper pump somewhere else?" If you really want the answers, read on ...
The old sayings go like this, "You get what you pay for." "Buy cheap, buy twice (or even three times)." "Spend your money wisely (and buy the best the first time) and you'll save money in the long run." These basic truths haven't changed and they certainly ring true when it comes to selecting a motorcycle tire inflator.
Yes, you can buy a cheaper pump from Wal-Mart, or you can buy a blue or yellow plastic inflator made by others. Yes, you can even make your own pump if you're handy and have some mechanical skills. Frugality and ingenuity are admirable qualities; if you make your own stripped down inflator you’ll have a sense of achievement and you’ll save some money, but you won’t have a better (or more reliable) motorcycle tire inflator.
We firmly believe that the BestRest CyclePump is the finest 12-volt on-board motorcycle tire inflator available anywhere. Thousands of other riders from around the globe agree. Here's why:
We make the CyclePump right here in the USA, at our plant 15 miles north of Seattle, WA. Every component we use is carefully selected for ease of use, quality of manufacture, and durability. We want them to last for years so we design them to work every time, and we don't take any shortcuts when it comes to manufacturing. Every one of them is carefully fabricated by hand and tested before it leaves the bench. We take pride in these little units and we know that each unit has the potential privilege of being carried to the remote corners of the globe. We don't take that responsibility lightly.
We provide 4 powering methods for the CyclePump: BMW plug, cigarette plug, a 2-prong SAE connector, and small alligator clips so you can power off any 12V battery.
We provide a top quality locking brass air chuck, not a cheap plastic flip lever air chuck. We can rebuild the air chuck if it gets worn, damaged, or won't seal properly (a very rare event).
Our 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 CyclePump still keeps working. Not so with a cheap blue plastic inflator or a homemade Tupperware sandwich box model. Drop them on a hard surface and chances are you'll be walking home.
When you use our CyclePump you won't have to worry about burning your fingers or getting them caught in the wildly spinning (and usually unprotected) gears found in many home brew units. It only takes once to make you a True Believer. Every day we get calls from hobbyists who want to step up to the CyclePump and prevent more cuts, burns, or other painful "episodes".
We can rebuild, repair, and service the CyclePump. We seldom have any reports of failures, but when we do we can repair the unit or we can replace the defective part. Usually the problem is traced to the ingestion of dirt or sand. Read our instruction sheet - keep it out of the dirt and it'll keep on pumping. Take care of your CyclePump and it'll take care of you, just like your motorcycle. As a service to our existing customers, we offer a program where they can have their "old" CyclePump upgraded to ADVENTURE specifications for a nominal fee. Click here for details: CyclePump Upgrade .
No other manufacturer offers this level of service. When a cheap plastic pump needs service or upgrades, you throw it away and buy another. And another.......... Pretty soon you've spent more on cheap plastic inflators than you would've on a CyclePump.
We actually had a unit "wear out" late last year - Glen Hegstad, the Striking Viking used his CyclePump for 2 solid years and chalked up countless inflations in remote corners of the globe. His comment was, "I wouldn't leave the city limits without your CyclePump." When we sent him a replacement unit Glen was in Addis Ababa, Ethopia. He's back in the States now and we've learned that his CyclePump didn't actually "wear out". Instead it just got so dirty from all the dirt and muck that it needed to be cleaned and serviced.
We have the track records and certificates to prove that the CyclePump is the best choice when it comes to inflators. 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 a rider's going to the tip of Alaska, or the Horn of Africa, or somewhere exotic they usually order one of our units. 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.
We have testimonials and endorsements from Iron Butt Rally ® winners who used our CyclePump to earn their trophies. Iron Butt Association President Michael Kneebone says, "CyclePump is a must-carry item whether you are riding across town or around the world. I won't leave home without mine."
We have Guinness World Records on the wall, sent to us riders who used the CyclePump to break “around-the-world” and other long distance records. These riders didn’t earn their places in history using a plastic inflator from Wal-Mart, or a cobbled together home-brew unit. Instead they purchased the best unit they could find - the CyclePump - because they knew they could count on it when they needed it.
Here's what Kevin Sanders of GlobeBusters fame, holder of two Guinness World Records said: "When there's a team of 15, with the entire Americas continent and a combined mileage of 300,000 miles ahead, getting punctures is going to be a dead certainty. Dealing with them quickly on the side of the road is a must. As Guinness World Record Holders for the Fastest Circumnavigation of the World by Motorcycle and the Trans Americas by Motorcycle, having effective and reliable kit is the norm. So, having a Cycle Pump with us the whole way on the Trans Americas 2005 Expedition Team was a no brainer. It does exactly what it says. From flat tyre to fat tyre in a matter of seconds. No one wants to spend time waiting on the side of the road and with the Cycle Pump, we didn’t."
This photo shows Kevin at Garibaldi pass, Tierra del Fuego, tip of South America. That's a CyclePump sticker on his tank. We don't pay him to display our stickers or carry our gear. He does it because he knows the CyclePump is best motorcycle tire inflator in the world, and that's what he needs when he's traveling.
Here's some comments from a rider a little closer to home: "I was 30 miles east of Deming New Mexico on I-10 when my rear tire went flat. It was 12 noon and about 105 degrees and there was no shade to be had. I only had about 8 ounces of water in my bottle. Nobody stopped to help so I unpacked my tire irons and CyclePump. I replaced the tube and remounted the tire. Thank goodness the CyclePump quickly set the beads and pumped it up to 35 psi. I made it to a nearby Border Control station where I was able to get more water. If your CyclePump hadn't have worked I'd have likely had heat stroke. Thanks for making a great product. - Brian Redman, Katy,Texas"
We make thousands of CyclePumps every year. As a result, we've gotten pretty good at it. We continue to improve the design, adding a feature here, strengthening a component there, and always aiming for improvements in durability, longevity, and reliability. We listen to customer input and we resolve issues whenever possible. We're committed to quality and reliability; we’re not interested in using plastic components or cutting corners just so we can offer lower prices. Does the CyclePump cost more than other inflators? Yes, of course it does, and for a good reason. It's made to a higher standard, and quality doesn't come cheap.
In March 2006 we introduced the new ADVENTURE model CyclePump. This expedition-grade inflator has many added features including folding legs, additional powering options, an extra power cord for occasional automotive applications, an improved case design, hardened internal components, and much, much more. It's so advanced that it sets the new Gold Standard for motorcycle tire inflators. It's money well spent, and only spent once.
One of our customers put it this way, "Cheapest is rarely the least expensive in the long run. I'm perfectly content to try to do what I can so that I don't have to use your fine pump. If I need it though, at least I'm confident that it will work and help me get underway again. If I had to swap a tube out in the desert in eastern WA or somewhere, I think I'd have a sinking feeling in my stomach if I was pulling out one of those cheapie pumps and knew that I had to rely on it. Thanks for such a great product."
Another comment, "There is a good chance that when you need a pump that you could be quite some distance from civilization. I personally feel better about having a proven product that I can rely on than saving a few dollars and ending up greatly frustrated or inconvenienced when the cheaper alternative fails me. To me it isn't much different that trying to get a cheap emergency beacon for a bush plane, or a cheap liferaft for a boat. In a pinch, you want something you can rely on."
Do you travel to the remote corners of the world? Perhaps not because you seldom get a chance to ride more than a few states in any direction. But you still need a reliable, dependable, and sturdy tire inflator that you can carry on your travels. You wouldn't think about compromising when it comes to tires, or helmets, or riding gear, why should you settle for less when it comes to a pump?
In November 2006 the highly respected Motorcycle Consumer News did a test comparision between the CyclePump and three other brands of inflators. The CyclePump easily outperformed all challengers in their tire inflation tests, beating the competition by 18-36%. We didn't win the grand prize because of our higher price, but their testing proved what we've been saying all along: Quality and perfomance always win out over low price and compromise.
We could go on and on, but we think the point's been well made. Simply stated, the CyclePump is the best motorcycle tire inflator in the world. Period. That's why you should have one.
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Dyna Beads
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Best Rest now stocks Dyna Beads
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