Several years ago I developed a movement disorder, which resulted in a significant loss of dexterity in my hands. Consequently, I find using the typical valve chuck on most bicycle pumps quite difficult. In addition to the movement disorder, I have peripheral neuropathy so my fingers aren't as strong as they might otherwise be. What attracted me to the Silca pump was the chuck mechanism, which simply slides on and off of the valve. Chucks with locking levers are difficult for me to use. In the few years that I've owned it, my Silca pump have served me well, despite the fact that I've already had to replace the gauge. However, the folks at Silca replaced it free of charge. Next, I started having trouble with the leather gasket. I think it needs to be replaced or reconditioned. Most recently I noticed that the magnet that holds the valve chuck in place when the pump is stored has stopped working. Ideally, a $400 bicycle pump would last forever and never need servicing. But at least it appears as though Silca supports their product. Prior to purchasing the Silca, the most I'd ever spent on a bicycle pump was $100. Do I think that the Silca is a good pump and one that I would recommend? Yep. Do I think that the Silca is worth $400? Nope. Would I buy another Silca product? Yep. I paid a premium for a product that could accommodate my handicap. As a disabled person, you get used to paying more for specialized tools, so I guess it was easy for me to rationalize the expenditure. For others, the price might be hard to swallow.
This pump is simply the best. It's not just pretty, it's quality. The Hiro nozzle is steampunk beautiful. I love that they didn't have to design it so intricately and artfully, but they did it anyway. It brings joy to see function with flair... like in the old days.
Great video. But I cant believe that I just watched a 10 min video about a fucking 500€ bike pump :D Once you get deep in the world of cycling its hard to come out again :D
I'm a huge Silca fan. I think Josh does great in product development, but further, his podcasts are very educational. Good products with an education, what more? 👍
Well, That is some very nice bike pump. Thank You for demonstrating the difference of a good and not so good pump. I am lucky enough to be able to afford such expensive tools but I don't quite see the point for me to do so. Bike pumps are simple tools to do simple things. There are a lot of good bike pumps out there which do the job just fine. A pro rider may need a precision tool like that. For mere amateurs like most of us here this is just expensive jewellery, I guess.
The cheap $20 Walmart pump sits outside in the weather where I get ready to ride. It sits upside down to prevent rain from filling it. When it fails, I'll buy a new one!
Nice pump, but difficult to justify at that price even if it lasts for ever I chose mine by the type of head, as the pumps are usually not the issue Lezyne heads that screw on are great. They also come with a plastic adaptor that turns 90 degrees for disc wheels. I bought the extra long Lezyne hose, in a braided version, not too expensive. And a couple more to put on some cheap Joe Blow track pumps Two legs still work, you are meant to put your foot it..... I do not trust any of the gauges, I get it approx correct from the pump then use a handheld digital gauge. The dials cannot be accurate from say 20 to 160, you have to buy a gauge for the type of pressure you need e.g. 20 to 30 is all you need for cyclocross if you want to set at say 24 Another alternative is an electric pump that looks like a power drill, it comes with an digital gauge. Necessary if you are setting up multiple wheels sets for several bikes, as used by the pro teams
Your criticism of the Rennkompressor doesn't make sense. You can buy it with multi valve (I think this is the one where you must press it deep enough onto the schraeder valve or else it will seem not to work) but also Presta-only (brass) and there is another type. They last for ages and you can get spare parts for anything. Mine is 26 years old (presta only)... I replaced only the rubber that goes onto the valve, as that wears of course, and last year I put some oil on the axle of the gauge to make it unstick. The feet are not meant to make it stand stably on any floor! They are for your feet when pumping! (this is likely why that one guy called you an idiot). You can get a wall mount, or put it in a closet or in a car or big toolbox, unlike with the Silca where you will likely want to put it into protective foam and then a box or so, and still worry about scratches :) And the Silca will take up far more space in those cases too. The bad point on the Rennkompressor is mainly the pressure gauge, it (well mine, I haven't tried more of them to see if it's always so) has got an offset of +0.35 bar (pressure shows higher than it is, checked with proper pressure gauges), and I'd need to loosen and rotate the shield to make it accurate. Newer ones also have PSI which I dislike, no need for 18th century units... And who needs 16 bar? Would be nice to have a gauge with 6 bar max. And a bigger dial. Even better a dial at the top though it has a downside of being more likely to get damaged if you let it fall over.
It is nice that Josh Poertner, who bought the Silca brand in 2013 from the original Italian Sacchi family does try to deliver new products that live up to the reknowned quality of the old brand: www.bicycleretailer.com/international/2013/09/11/former-zipp-manager-buys-silca-will-move-it-indiana
Hey Ronald! I like your videos! I am curious if you could make a video or tell me about your training. I am cat 4 road racer in America and I need to start training with more structure. I have a power meter and I know my power numbers pretty well, but i don't know what kind of training to do or when. Any tips or help would be appreciated, thanks!
What is SKS thinking?? Who thought that was an acceptable design? I mean, I understand optimizing for cost, but sheesh... a common dome-cap nut protruding from the top? My Cannondale Precise floor pump was cheaper (i think) and this is what I'd call an acceptable cost optimized pump. It's a great pump actually 🙂
I bought a $20 Walmart floor pump. The handle is designed to break off, but with a wooden handle easily fitted it's good. Suspect this is 95% as good as Silca. I owned an original Silca pump in past. Pump leather dries out, didn't work so well. Awful really.
1% precision... for full scale? I'm doubtful. Such precision is only typically found in industrial digital gauges. Mechanical gauges typically have stepped precision, with best at centered 1/2 scale. So 1% precision from 40 to 120 psi, which is perfect for bike tires. Outside this range it may only be 2 or 3 %.
When you first got the Hiro chuck, is it very tight and it doesnt pop off after you open the lever? I just got mine today and was testing it. The chuck doesn't pop off. I am guessing the rubber seal is new and is too tight. What you think?
Hi Ronald, Thanks for sharing this video. I was wondering, does the 'Hiro' head swap out for the standard Presta chuck? And would you ever need to do that?? What if you wanted to pump up a Schrader valve?
@@ronykuba Buy that and you'll be ahead of the curve! It's going to be trendy to use Schrader valves with mountain bike tubeless! Most pumps have this feature.
I would guess he used Slickoleum. It did not seem to stain the leather gasket. The product is also sold as Buzzy's Slick Honey when repackaged for QBP. You will not regret spending $25 for a pound of this stuff.
The Rennkompressor is legendary for robustness and durability, and can be ordered with 3 different types of head. One of them may seem to give a problem if you don't press it far enough onto the schrader valve. See my other comment.
Several years ago I developed a movement disorder, which resulted in a significant loss of dexterity in my hands. Consequently, I find using the typical valve chuck on most bicycle pumps quite difficult. In addition to the movement disorder, I have peripheral neuropathy so my fingers aren't as strong as they might otherwise be.
What attracted me to the Silca pump was the chuck mechanism, which simply slides on and off of the valve. Chucks with locking levers are difficult for me to use.
In the few years that I've owned it, my Silca pump have served me well, despite the fact that I've already had to replace the gauge. However, the folks at Silca replaced it free of charge. Next, I started having trouble with the leather gasket. I think it needs to be replaced or reconditioned. Most recently I noticed that the magnet that holds the valve chuck in place when the pump is stored has stopped working.
Ideally, a $400 bicycle pump would last forever and never need servicing. But at least it appears as though Silca supports their product.
Prior to purchasing the Silca, the most I'd ever spent on a bicycle pump was $100. Do I think that the Silca is a good pump and one that I would recommend? Yep. Do I think that the Silca is worth $400? Nope. Would I buy another Silca product? Yep.
I paid a premium for a product that could accommodate my handicap. As a disabled person, you get used to paying more for specialized tools, so I guess it was easy for me to rationalize the expenditure. For others, the price might be hard to swallow.
This pump is simply the best. It's not just pretty, it's quality. The Hiro nozzle is steampunk beautiful. I love that they didn't have to design it so intricately and artfully, but they did it anyway. It brings joy to see function with flair... like in the old days.
Great video. But I cant believe that I just watched a 10 min video about a fucking 500€ bike pump :D Once you get deep in the world of cycling its hard to come out again :D
true, I may never come out again :D
I'm a huge Silca fan. I think Josh does great in product development, but further, his podcasts are very educational. Good products with an education, what more? 👍
Well, That is some very nice bike pump. Thank You for demonstrating the difference of a good and not so good pump. I am lucky enough to be able to afford such expensive tools but I don't quite see the point for me to do so. Bike pumps are simple tools to do simple things. There are a lot of good bike pumps out there which do the job just fine. A pro rider may need a precision tool like that. For mere amateurs like most of us here this is just expensive jewellery, I guess.
The cheap $20 Walmart pump sits outside in the weather where I get ready to ride. It sits upside down to prevent rain from filling it. When it fails, I'll buy a new one!
I've been watching you for quite a while now, and they are great! Keep it up!
thanks for the support!
Nice pump, but difficult to justify at that price even if it lasts for ever
I chose mine by the type of head, as the pumps are usually not the issue
Lezyne heads that screw on are great. They also come with a plastic adaptor that turns 90 degrees for disc wheels. I bought the extra long Lezyne hose, in a braided version, not too expensive. And a couple more to put on some cheap Joe Blow track pumps
Two legs still work, you are meant to put your foot it.....
I do not trust any of the gauges, I get it approx correct from the pump then use a handheld digital gauge. The dials cannot be accurate from say 20 to 160, you have to buy a gauge for the type of pressure you need e.g. 20 to 30 is all you need for cyclocross if you want to set at say 24
Another alternative is an electric pump that looks like a power drill, it comes with an digital gauge. Necessary if you are setting up multiple wheels sets for several bikes, as used by the pro teams
Cool vid, but I think I'll stick with my $50 Specialized Works on car tires as well (Schrader and Presta both).
Your criticism of the Rennkompressor doesn't make sense. You can buy it with multi valve (I think this is the one where you must press it deep enough onto the schraeder valve or else it will seem not to work) but also Presta-only (brass) and there is another type. They last for ages and you can get spare parts for anything. Mine is 26 years old (presta only)... I replaced only the rubber that goes onto the valve, as that wears of course, and last year I put some oil on the axle of the gauge to make it unstick. The feet are not meant to make it stand stably on any floor! They are for your feet when pumping! (this is likely why that one guy called you an idiot). You can get a wall mount, or put it in a closet or in a car or big toolbox, unlike with the Silca where you will likely want to put it into protective foam and then a box or so, and still worry about scratches :) And the Silca will take up far more space in those cases too. The bad point on the Rennkompressor is mainly the pressure gauge, it (well mine, I haven't tried more of them to see if it's always so) has got an offset of +0.35 bar (pressure shows higher than it is, checked with proper pressure gauges), and I'd need to loosen and rotate the shield to make it accurate. Newer ones also have PSI which I dislike, no need for 18th century units... And who needs 16 bar? Would be nice to have a gauge with 6 bar max. And a bigger dial. Even better a dial at the top though it has a downside of being more likely to get damaged if you let it fall over.
Wouter Scholten compared to the Silca, it's a plastic toy and I'm glad I've replaced it.
It is nice that Josh Poertner, who bought the Silca brand in 2013 from the original Italian Sacchi family does try to deliver new products that live up to the reknowned quality of the old brand:
www.bicycleretailer.com/international/2013/09/11/former-zipp-manager-buys-silca-will-move-it-indiana
great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts
thanks for the comment
Hey Ronald! I like your videos! I am curious if you could make a video or tell me about your training. I am cat 4 road racer in America and I need to start training with more structure. I have a power meter and I know my power numbers pretty well, but i don't know what kind of training to do or when. Any tips or help would be appreciated, thanks!
Sure, I was planning to do something like that, it is in the pipeline for sure
What did you use for lubrication?
im curious as well
NFS LEATHER CONDITIONER AND PUMP LUBRICANT
I have an old silca pump , when the leather seal failed at 100psi I made my own seal and now I can pump it more than 400psi , it's true
My road bike is half of that :(
What is SKS thinking?? Who thought that was an acceptable design? I mean, I understand optimizing for cost, but sheesh... a common dome-cap nut protruding from the top? My Cannondale Precise floor pump was cheaper (i think) and this is what I'd call an acceptable cost optimized pump. It's a great pump actually 🙂
Just ordered one for the black Friday sales! Now I'm very concerned when you mentioned the pump needs lubrication...
perwiratempur don't worry, it works perfectly afterwards. Try ordering the pump blood as well.
I bought a $20 Walmart floor pump. The handle is designed to break off, but with a wooden handle easily fitted it's good. Suspect this is 95% as good as Silca. I owned an original Silca pump in past. Pump leather dries out, didn't work so well. Awful really.
I highly doubt that
1% precision... for full scale? I'm doubtful. Such precision is only typically found in industrial digital gauges. Mechanical gauges typically have stepped precision, with best at centered 1/2 scale. So 1% precision from 40 to 120 psi, which is perfect for bike tires. Outside this range it may only be 2 or 3 %.
When you first got the Hiro chuck, is it very tight and it doesnt pop off after you open the lever? I just got mine today and was testing it. The chuck doesn't pop off. I am guessing the rubber seal is new and is too tight. What you think?
perwiratempur the seal preload is adjustable
How does one adjust this preload ? Brilliant vids
Hi Ronald, Thanks for sharing this video. I was wondering, does the 'Hiro' head swap out for the standard Presta chuck? And would you ever need to do that?? What if you wanted to pump up a Schrader valve?
adam sims yes it does. I have a disc wheel, so I use the Hiro. If you remove the chuck, then you have a Schrader thread underneath
Very nice. I'm going to tell Santa Claus.
@@ronykuba Buy that and you'll be ahead of the curve! It's going to be trendy to use Schrader valves with mountain bike tubeless! Most pumps have this feature.
I can recommend PRO Performance Pump. For about 25-30 euro. It is nice.
What grease did you use on the leather parts?
I would guess he used Slickoleum. It did not seem to stain the leather gasket. The product is also sold as Buzzy's Slick Honey when repackaged for QBP. You will not regret spending $25 for a pound of this stuff.
4 years later, how do you like it
Wouldn’t change it for anything
@@ronykuba ordered the superpista ultimate. Thanks!
@@averagerider92 I’m sure you won’t regret it!
Yes I think I will get a couple of $500 bicycle pumps. Thanks! I'll leave my address so you can send me food the next years.
I have that German pump and its terrible! It just wont hold on to the valve!
Yeah, it should be much better for that price
The Rennkompressor is legendary for robustness and durability, and can be ordered with 3 different types of head. One of them may seem to give a problem if you don't press it far enough onto the schrader valve. See my other comment.
How does this guy make money? Or he comes from a wealthy family?
Which guy?
Pump Porn nice. Next time fiddle with the valve a little bit longer pls :)
no problem :)