Planet Bike Air Kiss CO2 Bike Tire Inflator

by Planet Bike

Product Features

• Includes 16g threaded CO2 cartridge & insulator sleeve
• Fits Presta and Schrader valves without adapters
• Controlled with one hand

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000IQEAMA
• Item model number: 1023
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Product Description

The Air Kiss CO2 Inflation Device is so easy to use it can be controlled with one hand.

• Includes 16g threaded CO2 cartridge & insulator sleeve
• Fits Presta and Schrader valves without adapters

Item Specifications
Cartridge Type	Threaded

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Portable, Works Great, February 21, 2009

By 

D. Selvage (Federal Way, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Planet Bike Air Kiss CO2 Inflator Bike Pump (Sports)

I have owned the Air Kiss for a couple seasons now. I have fixed a few of flats and used this to re-inflate after replacing or patching the tubes. It has worked very well on both Schrader and Presta valves.

Something this small has to be clever in how it is implemented. Some of its operation is not immediately obvious and it pays to read the instructions that come with it to make sure that you understand the finer points.

A couple of hints here:

-Cartridges come in two distinct types: threaded and unthreaded. You need threaded ones with this. They also come in multiple sizes. Get the right size for your tires and pressure requirements.

-The cartridge is punctured as it is threaded on. Do not thread the cartridge onto the the Air Kiss until you are ready to use it.

-The sleeve that comes with it is important. The cartridges get very cold when when used and this keeps you from freezing your hand. It is a tight fit and the only real inconvenience for me is moving it from a spent cartridge to a fresh one. I normally keep the sleeve on a full cartridge so it is always ready to go at a moments notice.

-Take your time to get the Air Kiss firmly on the valve stem. You want it well seated before you inflate - you only really get one chance per cartridge.

-You actually inflate the tire by moving the cartridge. The point at which the cartridge threads onto the Air Kiss is a slide valve. You move the cartridge toward the tire (perpendicular to the valve stem) in order to open the valve. This is not intuitively obvious and you should make sure you are comfortable with the operation before you need to use it on the road.

I have used this for repairs for my own tires as well as for others stranded on rides. I have had no problem with its operation. I like that it is ultra portable - very little more added beyond the weight of the cartridges.

I have found that it is difficult, although not impossible, to fill a tube just enough to diagnose a puncture. The CO2 releases quite quickly and the problem is reacting quickly enough to release just a tiny amount. I carry an ultra-compact frame pump so that I can put enough air to locate the puncture without popping a cartridge. Once the tube is patched, I can then quickly re-inflate using the Air Kiss.

5.0 out of 5 stars Operator Error, September 13, 2011

By 

William D. Miller - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planet Bike Air Kiss CO2 Inflator Bike Pump

I purchased this item several years ago. It seemed like a great idea for a bike commuter. I threw the item NIB in my bike bag. Today I picked up a stab-in mini fuse in my rear tire. I swapped out the tube and confidently opened the Air Kiss box and screwed in the cartridge. Initially, I could hear a very faint hiss but not enough to partially fill the tube. No matter what I did, I could not get CO2 to flow. I could unscrew the cartridge slowly until it hissed (still full). I've since removed the cartrige (yes it was full).

Later I find that I just didn't slide the valve body along it's longitudinal axis. Ha--simple but not intuitive. Make sure you test your unit long before you need it! I posted a user photo with the product that has important arrows. Take a look. I give it 5-stars for the handy bottle sock, don't lose it.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good one day but not the next, March 26, 2010

By 

John D. Kimball "Doak" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planet Bike Air Kiss CO2 Inflator Bike Pump (Sports)

I was very happy with this little pump. I used it successfully once. I previously had the Innovations Ultraflate Plus CO2 by Genuine and this thing caused the co2 to blow up in my face (slight exaggeration)...on threading the Ultrafalte I somehow cross threaded and when it punctured the cartridge all the air went flying out as I had it close to my face to look to see if I was threading correctly. Thus, that day I was stuck in the middle of nowhere and a long walk into the dark evening. ANyway, this little Air Kiss seemed really nice (much simpler to thread)....Then, last weekend I was again way far away from any stores, out of phone coverage, and got a flat. I pulled out the air kiss and new cartridge expecting I'd be up and riding in a moment to find out that the little puncture insert (little metal washer looking thing) had fallen out of the Air Kiss and therefore I could not puncture the co2 cartridge and again was stuck.
Now, I not only carry a great little hand pump, but I upgraded my co2 to the Portland Design Works Shiny Object CO2 Inflator....this one is a much better desing.