Customer Reviews

Planet Bike Air Kiss CO2 Bike Tire Inflator

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

well i have had this product covered up with a sock and taped with duck tape for 2 year waiting until i would need this product and ysterday was the day-my bike basket in back was full as i was shopping walmart and home depot. well going down the street a car passingger told me my tire was low-well i pulled into food for less toget some food and pump up my tire-after unloading everything getting ready to reload i took this nice little pressure tool out and tryed it and sure enough it would not work at all no matter what i tryed. well today after reeading about this prduct i read where theres a pin inside that was lost on a post and when i looked same thing no pin inside to insert threw the metal to let air out-i payed 20 dolars for this at inkys wow there expensive and when the part doesnt work it gets real bad. well here i sit wondering if i should ever try a product like this again and that answer is of course just maybe try someone else product first. amazone has them for 10 dollars so i will get another but for air kiss they stink-i am going to ask them for money back and they wills ay wheres your reciet-over 2 years ago so its a loss for me and they dont really care you know what i mean . so i shall try someone new down this road of life. enjoy all steamer not a very happy camper with air kiss-wish i bought it threw amazone haha steamer

Buy one if you don't want to walk 40 miles away from home with your clited shoe. last summer I had a puncture and it did its job 3 times on the way back.

If you would like to get stranded on the side of the road with a flat - go ahead and buy this tire inflator. I got one free when i bought my last bike. Today I got a flat - and this thing refused to work. Terrible design - impossible to grip - once i did grip it - i got blisters all over my hands from trying to screw on the C02 canister. Finally ended up walking home. Save yourself a lot of aggrivation and do not buy this product.

Product did not preform as advertised.
Ther has to be a better product to do this job