Fillmore Valve – did the worst bit of bike tech just get better?

Are Schrader valves actually better at the things causing frustrations with Presta valves? (In particular having to take the core out to inject sealant or for extra airflow to pop a reluctant tyre on, along with getting clogged over time by sealant.)

I’ve a vague preference for Presta, despite it’s frustrations mostly on the basis that I presumed that Schrader were as bad at the bad bits, but with a couple of extra drawbacks – needing a fiddly tool to take the cores out, and looking (IMHO) a bit bobbins. If they’re actually significantly better at some aspects I might rethink that.

Well if nothing else this has reminded me to order some spare cores which I had run out of, and in doing so I discovered that most mythical of beasts, a 29er latex tube!

I use my MTB far too rarely these days and swap tyres virtually every time I do use it, at least this way I can run tubeless for proper MTB rides but go latex tubes in the lovely lightweight gravel slicks for those gravel rides that I choose to take the MTB.

These do look like a good idea though some of the claims are pretty bold

it’s claimed you won’t even need a tubeless inflator

Most of the time tubeless works really easy for me but every now and then I get an awkward tyre/rim combo that needs core out AND an inflator/compressor. Do these valves flow better than a coreless regular presta or will they occasionally make my life a little bit harder?

Also, this has rather pissed on 76Projects new valve launch https://76projects.com/collections/shop-other-accessories/products/hi-flow-no-clog-tubeless-valves

“The cost of progress” is a well known economic term and now we can quantify it. It’s a £20 tyre valve.

most importantly of all, the tip of the little bottles of Stan’s fit in the end so no spillage.

Edit: Little not litre, fair comment but they fit in a coreless presta fine too

To help avoid clogging park your bike with the valves at the bottom of your wheel, that way the sealant doesn’t pool in the valve.

I must be doing it wrong. Zero issues with presta valves

No, you are doing it right but I am doing it wrong because all my valves clog up and need a clean. But forty quid a pair, **** me!

I think these guys are a bit miffed if the attention SC are getting

Pissed off that we hadn’t publicised ours earlier after having them for months. The designs are quite different though.

But yep still wish we’d settled on schrader.

This.

To be fair about cost, these will probably be standard on the reserves, so 1.5k wheelsets and so on, progression is always good, plus 40 quid isn’t horrific these days when wheelsets are getting more expensive.

I think these guys are a bit miffed if the attention SC are getting

Or they’ve just got a load of interest out of it? Theirs are ‘unavailable’ to buy.

I’d clicked on “adaptor” which selected
“No colour”.

Clicking on a valve then says not available. (Have to select pink or black )

D’oh

What injectors are recommended for Stan’s Race sealant? Their own version states it is not suitable as the fibres clog the outlet.

Having had 2 rides on the last week where I’ve had a Presta valve not seat and need pumping up multiple times I can see the need.

Infact if they really work as claimed £40 seems fine. Not from the point of view of how much they should cost to make but how much better they could make my life. I’d say they would add more value to my life than £1500 wheels or a carbon bar

What tyre valves need this?

Ones that cost forty quid 😀 (yes I read it, yes they hold air without the cap but the cap appears to do the job of the threaded bit on a presta of holding the valve shut)

I’m pretty sure the cap holds it shut to give an extra bit of security. Sorry, I probably didn’t actually read it here but in the Pinkbike comments where reservewheels were being really good at fielding questions/criticisms.

e.g. they said

The poppet doesn’t ‘need’ the cap to work. Air pressure in tire would hold poppet closed. If you lose the cap, the valve still works to get you home. And, you can contact us and we’ll get a new cap out to you.

I’d love to try some for six months to see if they are the last valves you ever need but that price is too much of a stinger

Ah thanks Rubberbuccaneer, I stand corrected

presta love? now that’s niche! 😳

Plenty of other brands doing innovative things with valves well before this, Reserve are just the first one to do it with the full weight of Santa Cruz’s marketing budget behind it.

@DrP your inserts may have a slight impact on how they work but I think it will be trivial. In fact I’m so sure of it that if you try some Fillmore valves and aren’t impressed I will buy them from you.