I got a CO2 unit and also carry three cartridges. The one I got will use the bb gun size too. One of those will get a flat rear tire to 10 psi. Never needed it, but now I'm gonna carry a few extra just in case.

 

I would just be soooo mad if i didnt get it on right and hit it and all the CO2 just went everywhere except into the tube. With a pump it may take a little longer but i know it will work in the end.

 

I sent you a PM with some Q's on this. I've often wondered what sorta gyrations and swearing it might take without some kind of help and I am out alone more than not. The pump (Mountain Morph) will be here tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Its not too bad removing the wheel with the bike laying on the ground...

 

The one I have gets threaded on to the valve stem. It also has a trigger to control the flow. My only real concern is not getting the bead set or messing up the patch job and not having enough CO2 for a second try.

 

EMS, yes it's definitely possible to lay the bike on the ground to fix a flat or change a tube, and after many years of racing enduros I've done it a few times. But frankly, it sucks. Even during a race, most riders tried to find a large rock or log to raise the bike, but that's not always possible. It's a decent challenge trying to work the chain, adjusters, spacers, and everything else into place while gravity is trying to juggle all your parts out of place while you try to stab the wheel and axle. Doable, but so much easier with this stupid little aluminum cane jack. I even used it on my boat anchor KLR650, and it is surprisingly stable and plenty strong enough to prop the rear or front wheel up for removal and installation. It might also be noted that many carbs, fuel tanks, and other fuel components will leak fuel like a severed femoral artery with the bike laying on the ground. And while you can turn the fuel tap off, many tanks allow fuel to flow out the vent cap...so you can poke a smooth stick in the cap's the vent hose. Bottom line, with this small, light, easy to use cane jack, you never have to pick your bike up off the ground after the tube/tire repair, never have to worry about fuel overflow, never have to worry about oil seeping into the airbox, or the difficulty of trying to stab the rear wheel and axle while all the parts are trying to move or escape.

 

I use a cheapie bicycle hand pump, I think it's a Bell brand pump. It was only eight bucks or so. It appears to be all plastic, and not what I would call particularly burly looking, so i won't use it as a pry bar or hammer. However it is quite compact (less than 10-1/2" long), very light, and fits nicely in my compact tool kit. i currently keep my entire tool kit in a Pelican 1170 box mounted directly to the fender in place of the OEM tool bag. I've used this pump to do a tire change in the garage and it does the job just fine; not as good as a full size manual pump or ideally an air compressor, but more than sufficient for the trail.

I don't like CO2 cartridges as a sole source of inflation gas, as I've seen folks run out of them before a tire is seated on the bead, and i've seen duds straight from the package...you'll never know that they're not charged until you need them. I actually don't use them at all, but if I did, I'd still have a manual pump. Plus, they're damn expensive.

 

I'm a cheap skate, but $16 bucks ain't expensive.

Genuine Innovations Ultraflate Plus Tire Inflator - Chaparral Motorsports

15 CO2 cartridges at wallyworld is only $8 bucks. I haven't found a dud yet.

JT 12 Gram Co2 Cartridges - Walmart.com

I have had my share of broken hand pumps and 12V compressors. If I come across a quality manual pump I'd probably buy it as a backup. I've been pretty happy with my current 12V compressor. Going on 4 years old. The 12V plug broke shortly after I got it, but it's been great since I replaced the plug. The little guy will even fill 80 psi RV tires. I use it all the time when I need to air up my baja and Jeep. It's a MasterFlow MF-1040 I picked up onsale for $25 at Pepboys. Tough little unit... other than the plug.

 

I bought a lezyne hand pump from REI. This thing is super compact and light weight. I also bought a small slime compressor that is super compact but weighs a lot more than the hand pump. I can power it from the bike battery.

 

High roller!

Did I also mention that all the extra cartridges you need to bring along are super bulky?