TESTED: Beto Surge Tubeless Floor Pump
Inflating tubeless tyres with a floor pump is normally fine, but the Beto Surge Tubeless Floor Pump makes the process even simpler.
If you have never owned a track pump, or floor pump, then you’re missing out on the benefits of easily pumping up your tyres at home, or at the trailhead. While a compressor is a very useful addition for any home workshop, they’re still a luxury. And while they can be transported, a track pump is far more versatile to throw in the back of your car, van or ute to have on hand at the trail head or on your riding trip.
Tubeless systems have presented some unique issues for track pumps over the years, with the need for excellent air flow to help the bead pop into place on the rim and create an airtight seal. Most modern rims and tubeless ready tyres seal up with a regular track pump, but there are a few options out there that let you create more pressure in the pump to release it all in one go, to help ‘pop’ the bead of the tyre into place on the rim. Bontrager was a leader in bringing such a pump to market with their TLR Flash Charger that sells for $259.99. It’s pretty hefty, but has a large digital gauge built into the top.
BETO may not be a common name in the pump game, but they should be. They have a huge range of pumps and they tend to be reliable and incredible value. Selling for $129.95, their Surge Tubeless Floor Pump is a good value pump that will assist with tubeless setup.
My wants and needs for a track pump are as follows: sturdy base, large gauge at the based to keep it steady, a long hose that can be stowed, an adaptable head and a good height so I’m not crouching down. The BETO Surge has all those features, along with sports ball adaptors stored in the handle. At 73cm tall the pump is easy to use but can still fit under a workbench. I really like how the 10cm gauge is easy to read, and is in a steel base,to keep the pump nicely weighted (and upright).
The pump operates inverse to most track pumps, with the top barrel overlapping the lower inner barrel. This does mean having the hose stored over the handle and secured is essential to lift the pump up by the handle without it extending – but that doesn’t take long to get used to.
The red lever at the base of the pump lets you either use the pump as per normal, or charge the barrel with air. The alloy barrel can take 160psi, although I needed to put all my body weight on it to get it to complete a stroke beyond about 110psi. It gets there with about half a dozen strokes, and then you can release the pump into a flat tyre.
If you’re trying to set up a non-tubeless ready tyre, your success may be mixed. I had no success doing this. But with tubeless ready tyres, it worked a treat. Although I needed three rounds of charging and releasing to hear the pleasing crack of the tubeless beads settling into the rim. The seal was ok after one release, and I could have just used the pump normally to complete the inflation.
I did find that the Surge gave me a little bit more assurance that I could set a tubeless system up. My other track pump is fine as well, but I do tend to remove the valve core when using that pump to optimise air flow. I never felt the need for that when loading the Surge tank.
If you need a new track pump, or want faster inflation when at the trail head or on a road trip, I’d recommend the Surge. If you have a track pump already and want something for the easiest tubeless inflation possible at home, then I would suggest a small compressor for your home workshop.
Hits:
- reliable tubeless inflation
- Good design and easy to use
- Easy to read gauge
Misses:
- Needs a few charges for complete inflation
RRP: $129.95
From: KWTimports.com.au
