I just posted a new video reviewing a portable air compressor. I was actually surprised! It's the Balit portable, rechargeable air compressor - a great little device to save your skin if you get a puncture or flat tire far from home. Rechargeable, battery powered and small, we give it a real-world test.
Motorcycle: Current 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade 205K Miles 2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort 46K Miles Previous SOLD 1999 - GL1500, 161K Miles SOLD 2003 - GL1800 ABS w/117K - Sold SOLD 2003 - GL1800 w/67K Miles SOLD 2001 - ST1100 w/33K Miles
Where things are made is not really a deal breaker for me. I can remember when I was a kid that so many of the adults would say they would never buy anything from Japan because it was all junk. Though I do go out of my way to avoid buying Chinese bearings and chain, I prefer not to be as narrow minded as the adults of my childhood.
That said, I really don't think a battery operated emergency compressor, no mater where it is made, is the way to go when there is a totally usable battery in the vehicle with the low tire. If the electrical system is not sufficient to power the compressor, you have more problems than a low tire. And, the chance that the battery in the portable would be flat when you need it is too great.
I keep a Ryobi One+ air compressor in the side box. Came in handy when I stopped to help a lady with a flat and her donut had no air. Inflated it to 60psi without a problem.
I use the Bauer Heavy Duty Power Inflator from Harbor Freight. It's a drill-shaped device. Uses a 20v battery, and doesn't take up much room. I have my bike wired so I can charge things in the trunk if needed. I have used it to inflate flat tires on my Van, SUV, and my lawn tractors. It works great, and after checking the PSI after each use, found it to be accurate within 1 PSI. You can get extra batteries if you think you'll need them, but I only carry the one. After inflating my SUV tire, it still had plenty of juice left. It has an analog guage, and comes with all the different types of tips for inflating just about anything.
I recently received https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B6 ... UTF8&psc=1after discoivering I had a small leak.
The 1st time I used it I had 10 lbs PSI in my tire and it filled it to 40 in less than 5 minutes.
I'm not sure where it's made but works great and is relatively quiet.
Fortunately, I later discovered the cause of the leak was the valve core being about 1/2 turn loose.
Motorcycle: 1999 GL1500 50th Anniversary SE 1989 GL1500 FOR SALE A pack of Super Cubs Z50A (pre-headlight) Formerly (in order): Honda Super Cub (bought 1968, sold ?) Kawasaki Coyote (early 1970s) Honda 350 (mid 1970s) Kawasaki KZ900-PS (1977) Honda Super Cubs (various years) Kawasaki KZ1000C (1978) Kawasaki KZ1000P (various years, 1980 - 2005) Honda 360 (1983) BMW R1150RT-P (2001) BMW R1200RT-P (various years 2007 - 2018, NEVER AGAIN)
Motorcycle: 1999 GL1500 50th Anniversary SE 1989 GL1500 FOR SALE A pack of Super Cubs Z50A (pre-headlight) Formerly (in order): Honda Super Cub (bought 1968, sold ?) Kawasaki Coyote (early 1970s) Honda 350 (mid 1970s) Kawasaki KZ900-PS (1977) Honda Super Cubs (various years) Kawasaki KZ1000C (1978) Kawasaki KZ1000P (various years, 1980 - 2005) Honda 360 (1983) BMW R1150RT-P (2001) BMW R1200RT-P (various years 2007 - 2018, NEVER AGAIN)
Great video Scott. Not a bad little item. I have a small compressor in my side bag that plugs in bike. Small and takes some time to do a tire, but still helps when I had to put a plug in 2 summers ago. I don't have a compressor in my bike anymore. Gave out yrs ago and didn't want to put out 800 bucks for another, so have valve in bag for rear end.
Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with bolt on trike kit, made by Kit Trike Portugal. 2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it) 2009 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive 2021 RETRO 1960's Vespa 5kw electric, (chinese)
I've had one of these for over 1 year, bought on Ebay, a lot more than 24$, but every time I tried to use it the battery was flat or not enough charge to do the job, when used on a freshly charged battery it was great, you just have to remember to recharge it once a month. NOT very convenient.
So being me, electronics engineer, I took it apart, removed the rechargeable battery and fitted 2 electronic regulators, one for the 8volt circuit and one for the 4 volt circuit, fitted a DC socket and made a lead to connect it to the bike's 12v power socket. Now now need to keep it charged, cable bike to charger no problem, still very small and completely useful at all times.
agedbikeman wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 3:34 am
I've had one of these for over 1 year, bought on Ebay, a lot more than 24$, but every time I tried to use it the battery was flat or not enough charge to do the job, when used on a freshly charged battery it was great, you just have to remember to recharge it once a month. NOT very convenient.
So being me, electronics engineer, I took it apart, removed the rechargeable battery and fitted 2 electronic regulators, one for the 8volt circuit and one for the 4 volt circuit, fitted a DC socket and made a lead to connect it to the bike's 12v power socket. Now now need to keep it charged, cable bike to charger no problem, still very small and completely useful at all times.
Alex
Definitely not my experience! I had this one actually in my car for over a year, and it had been probably at least a year since it was charged. I got a low tire pressure warning on my car, and by the time I pulled over, the tire was very low. I had picked up a nail. I plugged it (I keep a tire plug kit in my car - and my bike, for that matter) and planned to use this compressor to fill the tire, but I thought for sure it was going to be dead. When I turned it on, it said it had 78% charge, and was more than sufficient to completely reinflate a tire that was almost flat.
Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with bolt on trike kit, made by Kit Trike Portugal. 2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it) 2009 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive 2021 RETRO 1960's Vespa 5kw electric, (chinese)
I think I must have a faulty battery as it never charges above 88%, however when I did use it on a freshly charges battery, it worked as you said, but the battery did go down a few times unused.
I figuered that the 2 adjustable buck regulators I already had in my workshop was cheaper than bying a new battery, hence the modification.
Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with bolt on trike kit, made by Kit Trike Portugal. 2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it) 2009 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive 2021 RETRO 1960's Vespa 5kw electric, (chinese)
Evetually binned my original one with the sad battery, bought another from Amazon, this one cordless or corded whichever you want, battery still full after many months with the added feature of corded if it is flat, great item and cheaper than the original useless one.
. She very well could have been made in the USA. 
