Just let it pump: Test ride with the Cycplus AS2 Pro

Note: After my article about air pumps, I contacted Cycplus, who provided me with one of their electric air pumps for a test. I can keep it. So that's advertising.

It’s not often that I hope for a puncture or even look forward to one. But during the rides at the Gravity Festival, I did. The Cycplus AS2 Pro electric air pump had arrived just a few days earlier and after initial tests at home I was eager to use it in the field.

And as is so often the case, nothing happened. I was already sad, but on the second day it finally happened and I got a flat tyre on the front wheel. In my mind, I was thinking more of a scenario where several cyclists were desperately standing around a flat tyre, at their wit’s end and sweaty from desperately pumping it up. Then I pedal into the middle as a beaming hero with my electric pump and after a few seconds the tyre is full again and I ride off to roaring applause and shouts of hurrah.

So it was “only” my mate Stephan who was able to witness the miracle. The sealant had sealed the hole on my front wheel, but the tyre was almost flat. I set the pump to 2.2 bar, put it on the valve and pressed the start button. When the Cycplus starts working, it’s loud. So don’t be alarmed. And be careful, because the pump also gets warm during pumping.

The Cycplus AS2 Pro has a pressure display (switchable between PSI and bar) that shows the pressure reached in real time. Inflating the 29-inch, 2.25-inch wide tyre took about 1.5 minutes, after which the 2.2 bar was reached and the pump switched off automatically.

The Cycplus AS2 Pro is just one of three models that the company has on offer:

Cycplus AS2

The entry-level model is the AS2, which weighs 97g and pumps up to 6.8 bar/100 PSI. It costs around 80 euros and can only pump once or twice depending on the tyre size. With a tyre size of 700x25mm, Cycplus states that the battery lasts for 4 charges at 4 bar. According to the manufacturer, the charging time is 20 minutes.

Cycplus AS2 Pro

Then there is the AS2 Pro that I tested here, which can pump up to 8 bar. According to my tests with a 29×2.25 inch tyre, one battery charge is sufficient for 3-4 times inflation up to 2.2 bar. At least under “laboratory conditions” in my bike cellar. According to the manufacturer, the built-in battery capacity is 420 mAh, which is higher than the smaller model with a 300 mAh battery.

The pump has an aluminium body. In terms of dimensions, the AS2 Pro is 5mm larger than the AS2. But to be honest, it is still quite compact and small. The dimensions are 70 mm x 49 mm x 28 mm. This makes it quite handy.

It weighs 137g including the silicone case ( self-weighed). According to the manufacturer, 120g without cover. The charging time for the battery is stated as 30 minutes. I have experienced this rather faster, but my battery was never fully discharged. And you can also charge the pump with a power bank. All Cycplus AS2 pumps are equipped with a USB-C connection, which I find very good for compatibility reasons.

The white-transparent silicone cover is very useful as it protects against dirt and moisture. And the heat when pumping. Cycplus also includes a small bag to protect the pump from water during transport.

The big difference to the AS2, apart from the performance, is the digital display on the AS2 Pro. And this is really helpful. It shows the current tyre pressure and then also the progress quite accurately during pumping. This is very convenient and I am happy to accept the extra weight. However, 137g is even less than the Lezyne MicroFloor pump (191g) or the Silca Tattico (156g), for example.

Of course, there are inserts for Schrader and Presta valves. I’m curious to see how quickly Cycplus will react to the new Schwalbe Clik valves and offer the pump heads accordingly.

Cycplus AS2 Pro Max

The third pump in the group is the Cycplus AS2 Pro Max. The Max refers to the larger battery, which is also reflected in the size of the pump and its weight: according to the manufacturer, it weighs 205g. At 120 PSI/8.3 bar, it builds up just as much pressure as the AS2 Pro, but has a 600 mAh battery. Charging this battery also takes an hour.

Practical experience with Cycplus AS2 Pro

If, like me, you have a puncture on tubeless tyres, you patch the hole – if it doesn’t seal itself with the milk – with salami. And this is where an advantage of the electric pump over the CO2 cartridge comes into play: if you seal the hole with the salami on tubeless tyres, you should be careful and not build up pressure in the tyre so quickly. This can push the salami out again – at least that’s what happened to me from time to time when I wanted to get the tyre afloat again quickly with a CO2 cartridge. The Cycplus, on the other hand, pumps more slowly and with less volume than a cartridge, but this is an advantage.

And it doesn’t damage the valve, as sometimes happens with CO2 cartridges, where the valve head freezes and has broken off twice. With the Cycplus, it only gets a little warm.

The second tip when using the electric pump: if the tubeless tyre repair does not work, a tube, usually a TPU such as Aerothan or Tubolito, is often used. Cycplus points out here that the pump should not be attached directly to the valve, but only via the tube included in the scope of delivery. The reason for this is that the glued valves can be damaged by the heat when pumping.

And speaking of tubeless: in my opinion, the performance of the pump is not sufficient to mount a tubeless tyre and make it “pop” into the rim. It doesn’t produce enough air in a short time. However, the Cycplus AS2 Pro can build up to 8 bar of pressure, which may be of interest to hardcore road bike fans. In my typical usage scenario, I only need to build up around 2 bar of pressure, but in wider tyres.

In any case, the operation is so simple that it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone. Air at the touch of a button!

Conclusion Cycplus AS2 Pro

I can make a long story short: the Cycplus is now on board with me when I’m travelling by bike. Firstly, because it really is easier and quicker to inflate a tyre with it. Secondly, I can save myself the CO2 cartridges.

And, of course, I really want to shine with the pump and, as described above, cause oohs and aahs in the event of a puncture 🙂

Of course, this is yet another electrical device that now rides along on a bike that is actually so mechanical and simple. But from my point of view, it simplifies an annoying process in the event of a breakdown. And everyone I have shown and demonstrated this pump to has been similarly impressed by this support.

However, I have yet to see how the pump performs on a long and demanding tour. But I’m going to try it out, especially when it’s exposed to dirt and moisture over a longer period of time. And how it performs at low temperatures and tolerates the cold.

I would only change the display on the Cycplus AS2 Pro. It sits opposite the valve mount and when I inflate a tyre, I can only see the numbers if I turn the head. Or I have to turn the valve downwards and put the pump on from above. However, as I don’t do this and the valve is usually on the side or on top, I would like to see the display below the valve holder. But that is really very individual.

It will be interesting to see how the Schwalbe Clik valve is handled. I will be testing it soon and would also like to use the Cycplus pump.

The price for the Cycplus AS2 Pro is 110 euros. This is slightly more than the Lezyne MicroFloor (approx. 55 euros) or the Silca Tattico (approx. 70 euros). And for the sake of completeness, here are the prices for the other Cycplus: the AS2 costs around 90 euros, the AS2 Pro Max costs around 130 euros.