AIGO-TEC is one of those brands that’s been around for ages, but you’ve probably never heard of them. The German company traces its lineage back to Margarete Steiff, and the invention of plush toys with the first Steiff animal – a felt elephant. Margarete’s nephew Richard Steiff then had the idea for the world’s first plush bear with moving arms in legs, way back in 1902.
Soon, Richarge was producing bicycle valves in 1919, which led to the ALLIGATOR valve factory in 1920 (named for the alligator-like teeth on the valve threads, and so the company would be first in the phone book). Over the years, the company introduces a number of patented valve inventions, including the valve cone “Pump Light” which was a predecessor to the lightning vavle, or Dunlop valve. The innovations focused on tire valves and even tire pressure monitoring systems continued until 2020, when ALLIGATOR spun off its classic tire valve business to Wegmann Automotive, and changes their name to AIGO-TEC.
All that is to say that the brand knows their way around a tire valve, and how to make it better. Their new Capless Speed Valve is an update to their Check Valve Cap, which was invented in 1998. Instead of relying on a valve cap to keep the valve clean, the Capless Speed Valve (CSV) uses a double-sealed design to keep out water and dirt. Because of this, you no longer have to fiddle with a valve cap to inflate the tires, just push the schrader chuck on the vavle, and inflate.
In addition to being easier to inflate, the CSV offers other benefits including higher airflow than a traditional presta valve. When adapting a presta valve, the presta valve core is removed and the CSV is threaded on top, which AIGO-TEC claimes increases the overall strength and durability of the valve core. They also claim it’s been tested to 300 bar (4351.13 psi!) and it still worked.
The CSV will be available as an adapter for existing presta valves for tubeless rims, or as a complete valve built into inner tubes themselves. AIGO-TEC mentions an anodized black version is in the works, and they have the ability to make custom CSVs with QR codes or branding on the valve.
Currently, there seems to be one place on the internet that is selling CSVs, with a pair of silver adapters priced at € 9.95.
