Lezyne Shock Drive 400psi Shock Pump review

by 10

This Lezyne Shock Drive 400psi is very much a premium – and reassuringly chunky – affair. Capable of going all the way up to 400psi.

Lezyne Shock Drive 400 PSI

Pros

  • Doesn’t trap your fingers
  • Fits on to valves easily
  • Clear and battery free pressure reading

Cons

  • Fairly bulky gauge
  • Handle is a little tiny and slippery
  • Spendy (but worth it)
The handle stops here, stopping any pinching.

Many riders will need a shock pump once in a blue moon. Setting up a new bike, getting ready for a different sort of trail to usual, and perhaps if you’re carrying a very heavy pack/it’s been a while since you rode and you have a new ‘stomach pack’. As a serial bike swapper, I probably use a shock pump more often than you. Anyway, first world problems and all that, but I find it inordinately annoying to have to go and find a new battery on those occasions I need a shock pump. It fills me with faff-induced rage. And so, this battery-free pump from Lezyne looked right up my street.

Obviously you lose a little accuracy in the analogue vs digital option, but I don’t think that really matters. What matters is being able to measure where you’re at, and then add or remove air accordingly. You might think this would be a simple affair, and surely all shock pumps do this. But no. Not all shock pumps are created equal, and to my mind this one is better than most.

As well as not needing batteries, on the plus side this shock pump is not a finger trapper. The pump handle does not meet the pump body in a skin-pinching interface. If you’ve ever been vigorously pumping only to trap a flap of skin, you’ll know how disproportionately painful that is. Especially if you were already suffering from battery rage.

Quite dinky handle

The handle is nicely shaped with no sharp edges, but it is perhaps a little dinky. It’s not the easiest to get hold of – although usually shock fettling is done at your convenience, rather than in an emergency fashion, so perhaps a bit of patience and focus here is all that’s required. The gauge is big enough to read easily, although it is quite deep and chunky, which adds a lot to the overall size of the pump. There’s a bleed valve so you can let air out as well as add it.

Gauge end is perhaps a little chunky

The braided hose can be screwed into the handle – again a little fiddly – if you really want to store it neatly, or perhaps keep crumbs of flapjack and other backpack detritus out of your valve. The valve screws easily on to every shock I’ve tried – it’s not too bulky to fit into some of the tighter shock layouts. It also twizzles freely. By that I mean that the valve turns easily on the end of the hose. That means the as you’re screwing the hose onto the shock or fork valve, you haven’t got the whole pump doing somersaults as you turn the valve on the pump. If you’ve ever had a pump that does that, you’ll know how frustrating it is having the pump flip and thwack into your precious fork stanchions.

Overall

A shock pump is one of those things you don’t need all that often, but when you need it you want it to work, and work well. A poor one can be very frustrating, and at their very worst they let all the air out of your fork before you can get the damned thing detached. This Lezyne Shock Drive 400psi shock pump is pretty much ideal – it pumps, it’s faff free, and it doesn’t trap your fingers. Job done. Get one.

Join our mailing list to receive Singletrack editorial wisdom directly in your inbox.

Each newsletter is headed up by an exclusive editorial from our team and includes stories and news you don’t want to miss.

Signing up to our mailing list is not only a great way to keep up-to-date on all things Singletrack but it is also a great, free way to support us.

Sign up to receive awesome editorial content from Hannah every week.

We appreciate how handing over your email address is a mark of your trust in us. Check your inbox for our confirmation email and click the link to activate your newsletter.
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check out a previous newsletter here

Nothing found.

Review Info

Brand: Lezyne
Product: Shock Drive
From: upgradebikes.co.uk
Price: £57.00
Tested: by Hannah for 9 months
Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

More posts from Hannah

Home Forums Lezyne Shock Drive 400psi Shock Pump review

  • This topic has 10 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 1 year ago by nickc.
Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
  • Lezyne Shock Drive 400psi Shock Pump review
  • dc1988
    Full Member

    Does anyone do a shock pump with a decent grip for both hands? This looks like the handle is good but not the barrel. I tend to find shock pumps are a pain to use when you start getting near 300psi and you can’t get a good purchase on them

    zerocool
    Full Member

    I have one and it works great.

    Kramer
    Free Member

    I have to say that with the sensitivity of modern forks and shocks to set-up conditions, I much prefer the precision of a digital shock pump, and use a lifeline one.

    Getting consistent pressures with an analogue pump is nye on impossible IME.

    sharkattack
    Full Member

    Also a Lifeline digital user here. It’s the same one you can buy branded as Fox or Rock Shox for £100. I won’t go back to a clockwork gauge now.

    mashr
    Full Member

    dc1988
    Full Member
    Does anyone do a shock pump with a decent grip for both hands?

    Lezyne are particularly good at forgetting that people need to hold shock pumps. I had one* of their digital ones, but gave up after they both fell apart

    *two

    mrchrist
    Full Member

    Wtf are people pumping up to 400psi?

    bigyan
    Free Member

    Wtf are people pumping up to 400psi?

    Rear shock IFP. Some high pressure shock pumps (600psi) are also require a lot less force at normal shock pressures than a 300psi pump, so easier to use.

    rickon
    Free Member

    My one of these lasted a couple of years before the seal went. I suspect it was due to the way you’re forced to hold the pump them inflating, which is the grab the dial, and when pumping it then rocks against the shaft putting pressure on the seal.

    It was ok. It looks nice. But the basic ones you get with a fork are much nicer to use and last longer.

    zerocool
    Full Member

    Do people not just hold on to the shaft when they use the pump?

    nickc
    Full Member

    Getting consistent pressures with an analogue pump is nye on impossible IME.

    I use a Topeak one, the pocketshox and it’s very easy to get consistency with it despite it’s analogue dial. I think it’s probs more to do with build quality than read-out method. Perhaps the Lifeline pump is just well made?

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.