Categories: Accessories and GearReverenceTechnology

Reverence: Kuwahara Hirame Pump Head

The Kuwahara Hirame pump head

I pump my tires up every single day, and every day it is the only part of Cycling I don’t like. The act of pumping while holding the pump in place is itself a bit of a bummer, especially if you are trying to do it in your Cycling shoes because your brain is too small to contemplate doing it while you’re still wearing your Adilettes. But even under the best circumstances of pumping your tires with rubber soles, it is still just pumping. Up and down, up and down. Is the dial pointed at the right spot? Up and down, up and down. Yuck.

Ignoring all that, the worst part of pumping tires is actually connecting the pump to the valve stem in the first place. My old Silca pumps would always pop off under pressure. Infuriating; if there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s an inanimate object that refuses to obey my strictest orders. At one point I had a velcro strap with a hole in it that I wrapped around the tire to hold it on for me. Greatest pump ever, my ass. Other lever pump heads are so tight you’re likely to tear off your valve stem in the process of connecting or loosening it. Lezyne has the best mainstream solution with the screw-on head, combined with a lovely air-release button you can use to maximum woopie-cushion effect. If, however, you use valve extenders like I do, then it’s maddening to get a good seal on the devil and eventually you lose your patience and ruin the threads, making it as good as a Silca pump head.

Enter the Kuwahara Hirame pump head. @Oli flashed a photo of his a while back and I became immediately obsessed. I was also amazed at how expensive they were, which only served to deepen the fascination. Amazon’s checkout is so easy that I don’t even remember placing the order; all I remember is putting it in my shopping cart. Thusly I was amazed to find one of these little babies in my mailbox a while later.

We Keepers have a pact never to post a Reverence within 6 months of owning a product, but pacts are made to be broken. This thing is insane; I’ve only had it for about a month, and I’m in love with thing. I occasionally walk into the workshop just to look at it. Even when I have nothing whatsoever to pump up, I’ll just flip the lever back and forth and hold it in my hand a bit.

I don’t even hate pumping up my tires anymore. Connecting it is as easy as can be, it holds tight without stressing the valve, and it comes off just as simply.

Just, awesome.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Chris says:

Jun 23 2015 at 10:19 am

@wiscot

@Chris

@PT

@ Frank – I add air before each ride and thoroughly enjoy the process.

Totally agree. It’s part of the pre-ride routine and subject to its own little nuances and OCD touches.

Rear first, undo the valve, bleed a little air, attach the head, pump to the designated pressure (always in psi for tarmac, bar for pave and never, ever kPa), release the hose pressure, unscrew the head, repeat for the front before donning one shoes, cap, helmet and eyewear.

Only then should one commence the serious business of pushing down on the pedals. We after all talking about the most important of contact points.

It is possible that a tool can be so beautiful so as to distract from the process and lessen the overall experience.

Yup, it’s always rear tire first, then front for me. Then bottles in cages. Then shoes, load pockets, helmet, sunglasses, gloves. My routine is so second nature that I don’t even really think about it which is why it’s good to have a routine – that way you don’t forget something and I can focus on the important thing – the ride.

Bidons are an earlier part of the process, they go on the bike when it goes outside and the Garmin is switched on to find satellites. Gloves go on earlier, much earlier, they're Rapha's perforated leather Grand Tour mitts and are too gorgeous not to wear as much as is possible.
Maurizio says:

Jun 24 2015 at 11:38 am

TrackSupermarket has the Hirame pump head for $55. Of course, if you want to keep your Silca all Silca, there's the new Hirame clone ..... The Silca Hiro! It'll cost you about $100.
Brad says:

Jun 30 2015 at 6:32 am

I just got the Silca Hiro head. It does take a little practice taking off. When you pop it off, the valve is open so you have to be quick to close the valve and stop the escaping air. Or am I doing it wrong? I like that it has a Schraeder butt end so it screws right into the pump hose end of my existing Silca hose, or it can fit in an existing chuck.
chiasticon says:

Jul 2 2015 at 9:53 am

re: greatest pump ever... I'm thinking you're not referring to the silca super pista ultimate; because the valve holds very well with only a press, comes off well with only a pull, and the pump is very easy to keep stable while wearing road cleats. in fact, the base was designed specifically for that purpose.
Ben says:

Sep 12 2015 at 3:04 am

Hi Frank

I purchased a Hirame pump head having recently been introduced to (and impressed by) one on a trip to Japan, but am having some difficulty finding a pump hose that will fit - the diameter seems too large for standard pump hoses. I have been to six bike stores in Singapore with no joy. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks

Ben
Andrew says:

Sep 17 2016 at 11:05 pm

@Ben

I've found the stock, modern Silca tube worked just fine with my Hirame pump head.

I continue to use my 22yr old Silca SuperPista and I"m deeply satisfied with it and its stock presta adapter. It is, hands down, the best money I've ever spent on a tool. As a father of 4, however, my presta's are outnumbered by shraeder's 5-1.

After 4 shraeder pumps gone bad over the past 12 years - years of abject frustration with crappy pumps for shraeder heads, I'm now set for life. I picked up a Hirame and paired it with an 80's vintage Silca track pump I bought off Ebay for $20. The hirame head with a shraeder gasket is a masterpiece. I wish I'd spent the money on it 12 years ago.
Guy says:

Jun 8 2018 at 1:20 pm

I recently replaced my trusty Joe Blow with a Blackburn pump because it has a massive dial that is very pleasing to read. The pump head, however, was spectacularly awful, really unpleasant to use. I somehow found this thread a few weeks ago and, being in a somewhat 'relaxed' frame of mind, successfully managed to 'drunk order' one (these things are expensive - £80 with import duty so a glass of wine or few definitely helps!). Anyhow, it arrived today. So, with a slight sense of revenge, I cut the head of the air tube and inserted the Hirame head and gave it a try.

All I can honestly say is 'Wow. Just wow'. Gently place head over valve, close lever, pump away to one's heart's content, open lever, remove head. No drama, no fuss, no tugging, no expletives, just a quiet feeling of a necessary job done tranquilly and well. Thank you Track Supermarket.