Alternatives to Bon...
 

[Closed] Alternatives to Bonty flash charger - topeak - any other?.

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yes, yes... A 9p pop bottle is fine, I know, but I'm wanting something a bit more purposeful for the van - my joe blow is about goosed, and I'd rather buy a new track pump that has a tubeless type inflating option a la the flash charger.

Topeak are bringing out the joe blow boost shortly, no prices or details yet, but any others?.

Cheers.


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 9:22 pm
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Why not the Bonty? I used one for the first time recently - absolutely brilliant.


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 9:30 pm
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My LBS isn't a trek dealer, I'd prefer to let them get me something in tbh.

And I like to keep my options open!. I'm surprised it's taken so long for anyone else to get an alternative to market.


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 9:37 pm
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Airshot and any old track pump. Been a winner.


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 9:44 pm
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I don't want an air shot, I want something completely self contained, as I need to buy a new pump and space in the stealth camper is at a premium.

No airshot, no pop bottle, thanks!.


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 9:51 pm
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The Airshot is great, only used out a couple of times but it has worked a treat for me, just put 120-140 psi in it, turn the lever and woosh the tyre is seated and inflated to 30 psi ready to go


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 9:54 pm
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I don't want an airshot.


 
Posted : 11/10/2015 10:39 pm
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You should get an Airshot. Apparently they're really good. Or you could go #ghetto with a pop bottle?

😉


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 4:00 am
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Seriously, on of the big Lezyne floor-pumps reckons it will pump up a tubeless tyre (which it will, with a following wind), but it's nothing like the Bonty.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 4:01 am
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Bonty, brilliant


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 7:47 am
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Not aware of any alternatives but I will share my one minor irritation with the Flash Charger. You have to pump via the chamber so unless it is already pressurised it lets your tyre down a bit when you connect it. Otherwise great.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 8:07 am
 nach
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Have you thought about an Airshot? I've heard they're brilliant.

(Sorry, I don't know of any others apart from the Bonty and the Joe Blow)


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 9:32 am
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I've got an Airshot which is great, but I won't mention that.

A mate has a Birzman Zacoo Maha pump, it's not a flash style device (and has a silly name) but it's very high volume, is designed for tubeless inflation and works really well. I would have got one but as I already had a good track pump I got an Airshot. Has anyone mentioned how good they are?


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 10:09 am
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As far as I know the Airshot and Bonty Flash are the only similar things on the market today.

Looking forward to getting more information on the Topeak one but apart from "its on its way" I haven't found much info on it.

The other choice is one of the Lezyne Dirt range of pumps. These are high volume pumps rather than most track pumps which are high pressure. They only pump to 60 psi but the air shaft and piston is twice as wide so you get a lot more volume of air rushing into the tyre. I've had very little issue getting tyres inflated and seated using the high volume pump and highly recommend them.

Birzman have recently released a high volume pump specifically for MTBs too but I've not read reviews or used it my self so can't comment on it.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 10:14 am
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That Birzman MTB pump looks good.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 10:37 am
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I have a flash charger and its great for seating tyres. Its not that good as a track pump though.

When you are inflating a tyre you are also pressurising the chamber so it takes more strokes than a normal track pump. This is particularly noticeable on road tyres. Some method of locking off the chamber for general inflation duties would make it a great product.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 10:49 am
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The main annoyance of the flash charger is the air chamber getting back filled when you attach it to the tyre - otherwise it is great and the valve connector is excellent - much better than the standard one on the joe blow mountain.

But I really think an airshot is your best bet, so you avoid that backfill issue - then you can just get a decent track pump with a good valve connector.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 11:17 am
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TurnerGuy - Member
The main annoyance of the flash charger is the air chamber getting back filled when you attach it to the tyre

^^^this

I found the bonty a faff to get pressures set up right, works well to get tubeless up

but my coke bottle job works almost as well and i still have a useable track pump


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 11:29 am
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I'll wait and see if the topeak is any better, ie if the accumulator can be bypassed when not in use.

If not, I'll make myself an airshot out of that fire extinguisher I've had for ages, and save myself 60 quid.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 12:06 pm
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I have an old Sigg bottle, I might try knocking up something like that Airshot


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 1:39 pm
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Nobeer I've got the bonty one and the top peak one looks exactly the same. It's probably the best bit of kit I've bought. All my bikes are tubeless, I've spent numerous hours trying to inflate stupid combo's of tyres and wheels (bonty wheels seem to be the absolute worst - a whole Saturday afternoon lost to them!). Flash charger puts every one of them up first time.

Im pretty sure there was a review of the top peak one in one of the bike mags last month. I'll see if I can find it.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 9:38 pm
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Review on you tube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rv1IV7n-uc

It's got a switch to swap between inflate and charge.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 9:57 pm
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Superb Julz, that looks ace!.


 
Posted : 12/10/2015 10:58 pm
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Just got an email back from ExtraUK, Topeak Boost to land in mid december.

That's my christmas present to myself sorted.


 
Posted : 13/10/2015 10:00 am
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looks like it will still backfill the chamber when you attach it to the tyre.


 
Posted : 13/10/2015 10:04 am
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TurnerGuy - Member
looks like it will still backfill the chamber when you attach it to the tyre.

Ill stick with the cone bottle then !


 
Posted : 13/10/2015 10:06 am
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I recieved my Bonty charger this week - After taping up some new wheels last night I've just spent 10 minutes - including the Flash Charger learning curve - without wasting any Sealant mounting two tires. Pump on, charge up, pull the lever pop, pop, done.

Worth every penny.


 
Posted : 16/10/2015 1:05 pm
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Pump on, charge up, pull the lever pop, pop, done.

Same using my pretty much free coke bottle inflator 🙂

Worth every penny.

I'm not averse to spending silly sums on bike kit, but 80+ quid for something that I can do just as well with a few pennies worth of coke bottle inflator 😕 I guess if I was running a workshop and did it a lot I might get one, but then I'd probably just get a decent compressor.


 
Posted : 16/10/2015 1:31 pm
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The Bontrager sounds good but seems very expensive. I bought a compressor for just over 100 quid from machine mart and other than not being portable it's a fair bit more effective. If I'm out then I'll just stick a tube in till I get home.


 
Posted : 16/10/2015 8:45 pm
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+ really good for lots of other stuff


 
Posted : 16/10/2015 8:46 pm
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I still inflate tubeless tyres with a 6.99 Tesco track pump.

Am I missing something..........


 
Posted : 16/10/2015 8:54 pm
 poah
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airshot FTW even better when you borrow it rather than buying it yourself.


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 10:30 am
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Airshot... 60 quid for a bottle and a valve... 😆


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 10:33 am
 poah
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cheaper than the alternatives which are the same but with a pump attached. I borrow it from my bro in law if I need it.


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 10:46 am
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I quite like the bonty flash charger, my only bugbear is the way the air has to equalise between the large cylinder and the tyre. It takes a wee while to get a proper reading on the pressure gauge but to be fair its a not really an issue. Just an annoyance.

I too have a 9p coke bottle rigged up and it does work a treat. Like everything just use whatever suits you and you pocket.

Would i buy another one. Probably not but as i have it now ill use it till it dies 🙂


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 11:10 am
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The Airshot is way overpriced. A brand new full Co2 2kg extinguisher can be had for £20, add some fittings and you have the same thing for around half price with some Co2 in it if you want it.


 
Posted : 17/10/2015 4:46 pm