Bringing the new Made-in-the-USA MotoPump to Market!
As COVID 19 and Trump tariffs have wreaked havoc across the world, they have also changed the much smaller world of MotoPumps.
Since going off-shore to produce the MotoPumps Mini Pro inflator in 2012, I have wanted to bring production back to the US. For anyone who has first hand knowledge of how things work domestically and off-shore, they will not be surprised how many factors make it extremely attractive to do business outside the US. Much of it comes down to price, but in a niche segment, production run size is also key. Most US companies are not set up to do small runs and won’t entertain those requests.
As a small company in a niche market, we can’t do product runs of 50,000 pieces. The magic of many off-shore factories is they are built to work on small runs and offer one-stop shopping. They will design with you, make many molds or hunt down the myriad small parts needed, assemble, test, create packaging, print, pack, QC, manage export logistics and get the product to your warehouse. Here in the US, that one-stop shopping is not a thing, at least when your runs are small.
I recently retired from a long IT career at Cornell University and can finally dedicate the time to manage all the logistics and get production back to the US. I can make this work by not counting my time and using all the management, project implementation and arm twisting skills I learned in the crazy world of IT Security.
Product Requirements:
For the Motorcycle market, an inflator needs to be reliable, small, light, durable and have decent performance. Reliable is first because you probably already have an issue as you reach for your tire inflator — if it doesn’t work now, you are no better off, but probably a bit worse off as far as your mental state. This thing has to work when you have a flat tire.
Small and light is important because if it isn’t, you will leave it at home. No one wants to haul around a heavy tool that they may not use that often. Durable matters because it has to withstand the vibration, knocks and bumps it will experience not only during normal use, but while stored on a motorcycle making its way across the planet. Life in a pannier is not easy!
Performance is important, but the least important of those as an extra minute or three to inflate a tire is not the end of the world, especially considering the alternative of not having a compressor at all, or using up all your CO2 cartridges and realizing the board you ran over had two nails in it, and now you have two holes to plug not one. Performance of our pumps is exemplary for their size and weight, but physics dictates that putting a certain amount of air into a tire at a certain pressure takes time.
All that said, here are a few images of the engineering process as it has progressed so far.
Early image as work started on a clamshell style case
I enjoy the iterative development and engineering process as I explain what I want and the product needs to be and the engineers explain physics, thermal dynamics and reality. All that stuff doesn’t stop a good product from coming to market, dammit!
Designs naturally refine as productive meetings are had. Need this feature, need it to fit the hand here, move the wire here, the vent there. No, much to big. Looks good, now lets remove that wasted space…
Outside of case showing contours
Refining size, function, features and style…
3D Print of final prototype. Ready to create injection molding tooling for the case. Logo will be added when the tool is made.
Air Shot 2.0 in action. We provide a lanyard loop so you can hang the pump while it is running to keep it out of the dirt and dust.
Empty case shell ready to be built
MotoPumps® Air Shot 2.0 kit with Cig/BMW plug, battery ring terminals and battery clips
As of late August 2021 we started taking pre-orders for the new MotoPumps® Air Shot 2.0 kit and shipping in early September. The feedback has been great!