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TPE16: Bimp Air turns your bike into a portable compressor to fill tires on the fly

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Bimp air tire inflation system auto fill canister compressor

When you get a flat, normally you reach for your pump or co2 inflator. Both are proven methods that will get you out of a bind, but each still has its drawbacks. Pumps are often slow and require a lot of effort, while co2 is limited to the number of cartridges you can carry.

We’ve seen a number of concepts for portable air canisters, but the Bimp Air system is the latest to take it to the next level. In its most basic form it allows you to carry a reusable compressed air canister to inflate one or two tires. Add in the full system though, and you have a portable compressor with a never ending supply of air…

Bimp air tire inflation system auto fill canister compressor-4

Shown in a functional prototype form with a number of 3D printed parts, Bimp Air has been in development for over 3 years and is scheduled to be in first production later this year. Like so many things, Bimp Air plans on running an Indiegogo campaign for funding to get the first run off the ground.

At the center of the system is the main canister which holds 50 bar of compressed air. Equipped with a gauge and flexible hose for presta or shrader valves, it’s said to hold enough air to fill one mountain bike tire (even seating tubeless) or two road tires. The weight of the canister alone is expected to be around 200-300g. If used alone, the canister is meant to be mounted to your downtube or stashed in a hydration pack for emergency use.

ensemble compresseur capsul PE.108

Bimp air tire inflation system auto fill canister compressor-3 Bimp air tire inflation system auto fill canister compressor-5

If you want to be prepared for more than one flat, or run bigger tires, the full Bimp Air system adds in a portable compressor for filling on the fly. Mounted to the front hub and leg of the fork, the compressor is filled by the movement of the front wheel with 6 minutes of pedaling supposedly enough to fill the canister. This should theoretically give you a never ending supply of air in the canister – fix your flat, replace the canister, fill, and wait for the next flat. In total the system is said to weigh less than 1kg and can be turned off when not in use so it’s not adding extra drag to the bike.

Bimp air tire inflation system auto fill canister compressor-2

If you don’t opt for the bike compressor system, there will be an electronic fill station available which can fill the canister before your ride. The biggest hurdle for the fill station was supposedly creating a compressor that would fill the canister off of a 12v outlet from your car that was still portable.

Once the system reaches production, pricing is expected to be somewhere around €299 for the bike system and €399 for the electronic fill station. Check out bimpair.com for more.

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Dustin
Dustin
8 years ago

Ahahahahahahahaha

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

Lets see, €299 and 300 to 1000 grams to replace a $40, 90 gm minipump or a couple of $2 CO2 cartridges plus carrying a significant amount of 700 psi air in the canister. Sounds like a must buy!

The only way this thing makes sense is if you get a flat every two days.

Nick
Nick
8 years ago
Reply to  Dave

You generally can’t fill tubeless fat tires with a small hand pump. Still, I’d rather throw a tube in & spend 10 minutes pumping than carry this $$$ pump.

NASH
NASH
8 years ago

And what is so wrong with a hand pump these days?

Skip
8 years ago

For my one time a year that I do get a flat, I will just use my small Topeak frame pump.

DJ
DJ
8 years ago

Freds rejoice, this is your pump/compressor.

Francois
Francois
8 years ago

My main question is: why does Bikerumor publishes an article on that stuff?
Is there an in-house bet on who can find the most useless piece of “bike tech”? Does someone owe a big favor to the creators of that thing? Or is there money involved?
Right after NAHBS, it’s probably not because of lack of content…

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
8 years ago

How does this actually attach to the hub? Do you have to ride around with the “inflator” attached? What is the mass of the entire system that I would have to carry? Will their ever be broad compatibility with other axle standards?

kbark
kbark
8 years ago

Would like to see a picture of the wheel hooked up.

kbark
kbark
8 years ago

Took a look at their website, sort of looks like a special hub or at the very least a big hub attachment.

I guess technology isn’t to the point where a very small battery operated compressor is possible, at least for high psi.

Eric
8 years ago

You know what else has a never ending supply of compressed air? A pump.

Stendhal
8 years ago

Bring out the Gimp!

Oli
Oli
8 years ago

“Pumps are often slow and require a lot of effort, while co2 is limited to the number of cartridges you can carry.”
Is this just copied from the marketing guff or did Bikerumor jorno’s come up with this themselves?
Makes so little sense on so many levels.
Can we have another review of that Diamondback please?

Tak
Tak
8 years ago

The bike compressor should attach to the rear instead so you can flip the bike upside down and pedal it to fill the can. One can probably won’t fill up a fatbike tire so a fork attachment won’t help since you can’t ride.

Morpheous
Morpheous
8 years ago

Better Idea, and loooong overdue, Solid foam tires.

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