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Submitted by
Rocky
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Light weight, pumps up to a high pressure. | | Weaknesses: | Falls apart easily. | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to use this on a bike trip across Japan. Within the first week it started to fall apart. First the fold out lever to step on broke, then the high pressure blow out valve failed, then the handle to attach to the the tire valve fell off. I wrote to the company about the product, they never returned an answer. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chainleg
a Weekend Warrior
from Farmington, Wi USA
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Canon valley | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | GSP Bikes | | Strengths: | Small , light weight, easy to attach and remove, great in emergencies | | Weaknesses: | Very hard to read gauge, head sometimes loosens up | | Similar Products Used: | Smaller pumps | | Bike Setup: | Road | | Bottom Line: | For the money the best emergency pump. Until,,, the turbo morph with dial gauge, looks promising. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pam
a Racer
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | When it works it works great | | Weaknesses: | rarely ever works, deflates your tire if it has air, does not stay connected to valve, would be useless in a race. Takes forever to inflate if it does work, which is rare. | | Similar Products Used: | Road Master Blaster | | Bike Setup: | Trek 1600 | | Bottom Line: | I would not recommend to anyone, totally unreliable | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Provo, Ut, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lambert Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Amazon | | Strengths: | Pumps air very well when it works! | | Weaknesses: | I didn't even get to use this pump. I got it so that I wouldn't be stranded out in the middle of nowhere however, when I did need to use it the clip that holds it in place had fallen off on the trail somewhere. So much for being reliable. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 | | Bottom Line: | Don't get this pump unless you want to keep track of all the small pieces as they fall off on the trail! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chucko
a Weekend Warrior
from Silicon Valley, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Saratoga Gap | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Valve head on hose prevents tearing up valve stems, allows pushing against ground. Built-in gauge saves time and trouble. Reasonably ergonomic pump handle. | | Weaknesses: | Gauge sticks, not all that accurate. Fold-out "foot" kind of flimsy. Valve head flops around a bit on Presta valves, but stays sealed. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn Mini Mtn Pump, Zefal Double Blaster, other Topeak Morph pumps | | Bike Setup: | Ex-MTB POS commute bike | | Bottom Line: | This pump has proved its worth to me recently, as I've suffered a series of thorn and glass punctures on my commute bike. It has no trouble pumping slick tires into the 90 PSI range very quickly, and with no worries about buggering the valve. The gauge shouldn't be considered authoritative, as it tends to move in 10 PSI increments, but it will get you into the ballpark. On the whole this pump isn't perfect, but it's plenty useful. I consider this the current benchmark for on-the-bike tire pumps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew
a
from Olympia, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Olybikes | | Strengths: | Great design concept with the floor pump style and extendable hose; gauge is great to have | | Weaknesses: | Some cheapness in material, I though. The plastic fold out part that makes it a floor pump broke off after about 6 months. | | Bike Setup: | 2 wheels, frame, seat, cogs, chain... | | Bottom Line: | I just wish it were sturdier. I'd pay 10 extra dollars for a more solid version of this design. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
North Fork Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Camp Connell, CA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Ease of use in pumping up to 100 psi compared to handheld pumps, there is no other portable pump on the market that I am aware of that compares with the ease of use of this pump when inflating high pressure tires. | | Weaknesses: | Unreliable gauge on my two year old Road Morph. It was unreliable when I purchased it. They may have solved this problem, or mine may have been just bad luck. | | Similar Products Used: | Venerable Silca portable pump. | | Bike Setup: | Castelleno Mtn Bike, Bruce Gordon touring bike | | Bottom Line: | This is a superbly designed portable pump that makes pumping skinny tires to 100 p.s.i. a breeze. I used to sweat and struggle using my tradition Silca portable pump. I had to hold the wheel just right so I didn't damage the Presta valve stem, while I pumped with all my might. The ability to place the Road Morph on the ground and stabilize it with my foot, and then push straight down on the handle makes it easy to inflate tires to 100 p.s.i. The flexible hose works great. True, the hose is short, but that just means I have to rotate the tire so the valve is at the bottom near the ground. No big deal.
It does have delicate parts, so I am careful with the pump, and use it ONLY as needed on the road. I have not had any parts break in two years of steady use. It pumps both Presta and Shrader valves without any leakage, and it is easy to convert from presta to shrader configuration and back again. At home, I ALWAYS use a regular floor pump.
My only criticism is the gauge, which was unreliable from the day I bought it. If I take three successive pressures, it gives three different readings, so I have to carry a separate gauge no matter what. I bought my Road Morph two or three years ago, so I cannot testify to its current reliability. I have addressed this problem by ordering another hose directly from Topeak without the gauge. Topeak's customer service, by the way, is the best in the industry. You call them, and they solve your problem. That's been my experience on several occasions.
I will continue to carry a separate handheld gauge which is a good idea anyway. That way I can measure pressure in my bike and those of friends without having to hook up the pump, and I'll have the pump when I need it to inflate my tires. The overall weight of a Road Morph without a gauge and the separate gauge will be just about the same at the Road Morph with the gauge, because the gauge on the Road Morph is not super lightweight.
I use the Road Morph for both my moutain and road bikes. I would not get a Mountain Morph because the larger diameter tube of the Mountain Morph would make it harder to pump tires to 100 psi. Plus I don't notice it takes me long to pump up high volume 2.3 inch mountain bike tires with my Road Morph.
I am giving this pump 5 and 5 rating, even in spite of the gauge issue, because there simply is no other portable pump I am aware of that can so easily inflate skinny tires to 100 psi. Its design is clean and intelligent, it's inexpensive, the valve head hooks up to Presta and Shrader valves easily and without air leakage, and Topeak's customer service is first rate. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr. Cheney
a
from ny, ny, usa
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | Local bike shop | | Strengths: | See below | | Weaknesses: | See below | | Similar Products Used: | See below | | Bike Setup: | See below | | Bottom Line: | Question:
I'm a bike idiot and I can't figure out how to convert this from Schrader to Presta. Suggestions? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Half-Fast Biker
a Weekend Warrior
from Hollidaysburg, PA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Great Allegheny Passage | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Ease of use, quality, built-in gauge, easy removal of pump from it's frame mount. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't cook, clean, or iron my clothes. | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal frame mount pumps....Grrrr !. | | Bike Setup: | 1990 Schwinn 434 Aluminum road bike | | Bottom Line: | Easy to use...much more so than the old style frame mount pumps like the Zefals I used to have, I HATED getting flats with those old pumps, with this one it's more like carrying a floor pump around with you. I remember the time I was using the Zefal and the bike fell over from the force of me using the pump...nothing like having the tube's valve stem stap off to make your day !. No more of that nonsense with the Topeak. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Eureka
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | One handed pumping. High pressures with minimal effort. Fills tires much faster than those little thingys. | | Weaknesses: | My only complaint was the size of it. But if you want fast high pressure pumping you have to concede somewhere. It still fit in my camelback mule though that was its ultimate demise. It snagged on a tree limb and was yanked out. I didn't notice it was gone until my next ride when one of my riding buddies found it on the trail we were riding. Some animal had chewed the hose off. | | Similar Products Used: | I've used nothing which compared to the Topeak road morph. | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent pump for its intended purposes. Anybody complaining about the lack of durability needs to keep in mind it's not designed to be your home floor pump. It's for on the road or trail. I fixed plenty of flats with it before it met it's untimely end. I'm looking for my best deal on another one right now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | northpark, san diego | | Strengths: | Can get it up to 100psi no problem,
Less work than typical minipumps | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Some Specilized Minipump | | Bottom Line: | 2 years using this pump and it is still great. My wife is sick of hearing me say that everytime I pump up my tires. This is an awesome pump. It's nice to have a gauge on the pump. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Grande Cache, AB
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$33.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Size
Metal construction
Foot brace | | Weaknesses: | Short hose
A little pricey | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Road Morph without the gauge.
My Crank Bros. Power Pump wasn't cutting it on road rides - despite a "high pressure" setting, there's no way to get more than 60-70 psi out of it, and the effort required is extreme. It's fine for mtb rubber @ 35-45 psi.
The Topeak has no problem getting 120 psi into a 23C tire; in fact, I have the model without a gauge and actually overinflated the tire to 125 psi on the first test. Can't comment on durability. The hose might be a little short for foot-braced pumping, but at least I won't be limping home with half-pressurized tires any more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Cincinnati, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | Floor Pump like inflation | | Weaknesses: | Lots of moving parts (potential for failure) However, this has not happened. | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal HPX, CO-2, and numerous other mini-pumps. I've used them all. | | Bike Setup: | Rivendell Rambouillet with Ultegra. | | Bottom Line: | At one time or another, I have used most kinds of portable pumps. I can say without hesitation that this is the finest frame pump I have ever used. It's like having a floor pump with you.
I like it so much, I have two.
Topeak's customer support is first class. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Howes
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Harold Parker, Middlesex Fells | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Small, light, and the built in gauge. I compared this to its mountain bike sibling. I found them to be identical, except that the mountain bike version was fatter to deliver more air, and didn't have the gauge. The Road Morph is a little more skinny, so more pumping is required. This inconvenience is more than offset by have a gauge built in. Otherwise I would have to carry a gauge with me too, and disconnect one to connect the other. | | Weaknesses: | Presta valves can be a little difficult to get seated properly. The rubber gasket inside the head can be very tight, and may bind against the valve stem. This is in part due to how new the pump is. As it is used, I suspect this will loosen up a bit. The head can be tightened or loosened to make the gasket fit better. | | Similar Products Used: | A variety of frame mounted and stand alone pumps. | | Bike Setup: | Completely stock 2004 Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | For $34 this pump is worth every penny. I don't hang anything off the frame of my bike for fear that it will snag in the brush as I am riding. It's just the right length to put into a backpack or any of the larger hydration packs. If you have a CamelBak Blowfish or similar pack, the pump will fit right in the main compartment. You won't even know it's there.
I give this five flamers for value, because it's inexpensive and meets my needs better than I thought. I give it four flamers overall because of the minor problems I've had getting it connected to and disconnected from a Presta valve. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byron Birdwhistle
a Cross Country Rider
from Chitna, AK
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Iditarod | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Easy and quick to get pressure to 100+psi, typically less than a minute for road tires. Easy to mount on frame. Pressure guage a big advantage. | | Weaknesses: | Critical parts are flimsy. First the foot support broke, within a couple of months. Today the tube coming out of the pump broke off while I was using it, without any unusual force being applied. I was out on a ride and had to turn around and come home, as I was now without a pump for emergencies. A lesser weaknesses is it is fairly hard to convert it from presta to schrader. It would be nice if I could repair it, but it does not look like it. | | Similar Products Used: | Variety of pumps, including a dual stroke cannondale, which got set aside after a week. | | Bike Setup: | Road with reynolds 853 and full ultegra. | | Bottom Line: | It was pretty good while it lasted. But it broke after about four years of moderate use, and it does not seem to be reparable. I will not buy again, as it is not dependable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Balzac gas plant loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Once you figure out exactly how to hold the pump and use your whole body, the Road Morph really *is* effortless - I have the version without the gauge, and the first time I used it on the road, I almost put the wheel back on without checking the pressure. 140 PSI in a 120PSI tire, and I didn't even notice. | | Weaknesses: | The plastic gear clamp for the mount is way too weak and brittle. Mine broke, so did my girlfriends. I replaced mine with a stainless steel gear clamp from Princess Auto. I took the mounting clip off the pump and reversed it so I could mount the unit on the left side of the seat tube, rotated much towards the back so the handle touches the seat stays. This is a common set-up amongst randoneurs who need to keep the top tube clear for a frame bag and the front of the seat tube clear for a second water bottle. Be sure to reverse the clip and mount the pump handle-up - if you leave clip as it is and you don't get it locked in the mount, the pump will fall into your wheel - ditto if you mount it handle-down. | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal HP, Zefal doubleshot | | Bike Setup: | 1982 Peugeot UO 9 consumer toy with home-built wheels, MTB triple chainwheel upgrade, touring gear and lighting, full fenders, 27 x 1 1/4 tires. | | Bottom Line: | I highly recommend this pump for the women in my life because, handled properly, it compensates for lack of upper body strength. The trick: right foot on fold-out stand, right hand on handle, heel of palm on friction dimples and fingers under flip-up end of handle so that you are pulling the handle into the open position. Left hand on right. Use both arms. When the going gets tougher, lock elbows and put your body weight into it. Carefull not to let the pump flip from side-to-side, I suspect that you can break that little flip-out stand if you really try. I've found the performance of the this pump well-worth any aggravation I had with the mount. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Move, Nagoya | | Strengths: | Light, tough design, gauge, clip attach to bike, foot brace for easy pumping (up to 120psi) | | Weaknesses: | Pump hits frame when riding | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000 '03 | | Bottom Line: | Gotta be one of the best pumps around, given its size, quality and gauge system. My only problem is with the clip system to the frame. i've had to add sponge tape to the frame to stop the pump "clanging" against the frame when riding. Recommended to everyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Mosocw, ID
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | B&L Bikes--Pullman, WA | | Strengths: | Solid performer that exceeds other pumps I've used. Not a home floor pump though. | | Weaknesses: | Hmm, yes, I guess it is lrg/heavy. But I ride a 62cm LeMond. It mounts under the downtube (use a bagel bag and rubber bands for protection from spray/grit if you ride winter as I do--still comes out clean and working well). | | Bottom Line: | Gauge is great for my road flats (which are too frequent). Not sure if I'm a weeney (6' 4", 190??) but past 90-100psi is STILL hard to do. Effortless? Yea right…but it is doable given the excellent design. As for Topeak, they ROCK. Not about the other fella's experience, but when my pump needed a new rubber thingy to seal inserted stem--after 2yrs--they sent TWO repair sets free & fast. Cool support folks IMO. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terry Koko.
a Weekend Warrior
from Greenwood VIllage, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mojave Desert | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Analyst | | Strengths: | Easy to use. Fold out handle and foot piece that allows the pump to work like a conventional floor pump. | | Weaknesses: | Thd fact that pumping still requires a minimal effort and that acquiring the pump is not free of charge. | | Similar Products Used: | The kraut SKS minipump. Like the Volkswagen Beetle, it should have face the firing squad long ago. | | Bike Setup: | 1995 Specialized Rockhopper. | | Bottom Line: | The guage is accurate and pumping is effortless. However, I wouldn't use it as an everyday floor pump which is why I plan to get a Silca Super Pista. The Road Morph works for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Benefiel
a
from Morgan Hill, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Works great. Easy to fill to 100#. Not as heavy as expected. | | Weaknesses: | Fat & hard to mount on my road bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn Air-Stick | | Bike Setup: | LeMond Buenos Aires | | Bottom Line: | Stop by a store & see how you would mount it. It's not thin & streamlined. The pump itself is amazing, though. Nearly as easy as a full floor pump. Guage is accurate. Recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckley, Wa usa
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Below Her navel. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Best mini-pump I've used so far and I don't give a crap about Topeaks well being. I am grateful for a working product though! I only use it on knobbies. Gauge is accurate an is still working after a year. It fits easily in my pack. Size and weight not an issue with me. | | Weaknesses: | Priced too high. My opinion. | | Similar Products Used: | Zephal, Aerion. | | Bike Setup: | Fatty HT's. | | Bottom Line: | It works when I need it and I have needed it on the trail a few times. I feel confident that its going to do the job for me when I'm miles out there. Keep in mind I don't use it daily. I have probably used it 10 times roughly in a year. I use my black /decker compresser at home for tire duty there. So the times I've used it have been crucial. Plus it outperformed the other pumps listed above. I get about 35lbs out of the Zephal before it feels like it can't pump any more air. I have a bummer of a time getting the Aerion to seat on the stem so I can get air in the tire. Basically I don't use them. No problems using the Road Morph. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Weekend Warrior
from Winchester UK
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Puts 100 psi in a road tire with little effort, adequate gauge, folds up small. | | Weaknesses: | Too big to carry on the bike. Not cheap. | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal frame pump, Airboy which came with the bike - both useless!, Halfords footpump - great for MTB tires not enough pressure for road tires though. | | Bike Setup: | Giant OCR2 with flat bars and bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | This is the only pump I have which will blow up a road tire to the correct pressure. The fold out handle and foot grip really make a difference and let you pump with both hands. The head pops on to a Presta valve easily and stays there when you clamp it. The gauge seems to read in 5 psi steps only but that's OK for a bike tire. It works fine as an everyday pump and doesn't take up too much space in the car or garage. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GlowBOy
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Grays Butte | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Gallery, POrtland | | Strengths: | Cool design with the little hose and flip-out foot. It's a mini floor pump! | | Weaknesses: | Too heavy to carry on the bike. The gauge on mine broke after a few months. | | Similar Products Used: | Many, many mini-pumps, and a Silca Pista floor pump. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Bianchi Volpe cyclocross/touring bike, 1992 Fuji Sundance rigid mountain bike | | Bottom Line: | I bought this a floor pump but something that was small and easy to travel with (but not to carry on the bike - it's too heavy for that!). It seemed like a great design until the gauge broke after a couple months. I bit the bullet and exchanged it for a Silca Pista floor pump - harder to carry in your luggage, but well worth it. Sorry Topeak - the overall concept is worth 5 chilis, but you only get 3 due to breakage. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Con deHonc
a Weekend Warrior
from BrisVegas, Queensland
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Stephens Classic | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Big Gav's - Logan Road Cycles | | Strengths: | Pumps up a tire farkin hard and easily
Well built and finished
Clever top tube mount | | Weaknesses: | Won't pack me a bong after my ride | | Bottom Line: | Good pump - I don't even read the gauge - pump until your tire is farkin hard and this won't take long. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AlanAlan Fowler
a Downhiller
from San Carlos, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: |
|
$ 39.00
