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Silca Unveils Heirloom Quality HIRO Locking Presta Valve for Floor Pumps

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Silca HIRO locking presta valve chuck pump head

Just a few weeks ago, Silca’s Josh Poertner sent over images of his new valve extenders. Now, he’s got something to grab hold of ’em and pump ’em full of air. Here’s the lowdown straight from the source:

SILCA today launches ‘HIRO’ a stainless steel locking chuck for presta valves.  The Hiro chuck (sounds like ‘Hero’) is inspired by the vintage Japanese chucks used by Keirin mechanics to achieve high pressures in a demanding environment where hundreds of tires may have to be inflated to high pressure each and every night.

SILCA began the HIRO project with the goal of creating an heirloom quality tool focused on one handed operation, high pressure capability, disc wheel compatibility and long gasket life.  Hiro features adjustable gasket preload which allows it so compensate for any variety of Presta valve designs as well as gasket wear.  When the time comes, the gasket can be replaced in seconds with a SILCA 253 replacement gasket.

They’re completely made in the USA and come with a 25 year warranty, exclusive of the gasket. Price? Well, let’s just say you should have a good pump worth of it…

Silca HIRO locking presta valve chuck pump head

Retail is $110 each, so you won’t want to put it on a cheap pump. For this, you get a part with a rotating head to eliminate hose twisting and binding, one-handed operation, the capability to handle 300 psi, and looks of insane envy.

Silca HIRO locking presta valve chuck pump head

The threaded end fits into any Schrader chuck, or you can get Silca’s thread-on Schrader adapter that fits onto a bare pump hose to fit it to your own floor pump. Definitely, definitely want one of these in our workshop!

Silca.cc

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Ronin
Ronin
9 years ago

I think I would check my tyre pressure more often if I had one of these, I always have to fiddle with my pump before it reads the correct pressure.

It’s always nice to use well engineered products that do their job well.

alan
alan
9 years ago

So wait, sorry, don’t track me down and murder me, but are there tyres that take 300 p.s.i.?
D*mn…

Troy Junge
Troy Junge
9 years ago

alan, all tyres can take 300p.s.i pressure…once…

Mario
9 years ago

Is it officially licensed from HIRAME??

Jupes
Jupes
9 years ago

I have a 20 year old Silca pump. Only thing I have ever done is to replace the rubber hose due to dry rot (went ahead and replaced the pump seals for the hell of it too, even though I didn’t HAVE to). Has never failed me and has always been accurate. It has a brass fitting on the end that this new fitting would replace nicely. Problem? I only paid around $75 for the pump new (which was already a LOT of money back then) and it sure as hell doesn’t make sense to spend $110, which is more than what the pump cost, now. Too bad. Would have been nice.

Rico
Rico
9 years ago

This is a cool looking head. I have an original Hirame head that is amazing. You won’t regret getting this head if you air up tires often. This one looks like a Hirame copy but I’m sure if it’s Silca, it’s good quality part.

Disapponted
Disapponted
9 years ago

“SILCA began the HIRO project with the goal of creating an heirloom quality tool”

Looks like a blatant rip-off of Kuwahara’s side-cam Hirame to me.
Whats going on at SILCA? Did the Chinese buy them out or something?
This is shameless.

Jason Rico
Jason Rico
9 years ago

This is good news. and I hope it works as well as the Hirame. It is more expensive though. I get my Hirame heads from Japan for around $50.
And yes Alan, tires go that high. For international track events we typically pump tires to 220-240psi

Betty Beige
Betty Beige
9 years ago

You can put yer weeeeed in it…

Collin S
Collin S
9 years ago

in the link that Bob put up, the Hirame is $43. Much more palatable then $110

Dave B
Dave B
9 years ago

I also own a Hirame head that i paid $70 for several years ago and consider it the best money I ever spent on a bike-related item. I agree the Silca is either a blatant rip-off of the design or they bought a license to make it.

Loki
Loki
9 years ago

One difference to the Hirame is the threaded attachement point. The Hirame comes with a male tapered end that you fasten with a band or hose clamp. I don’t know if that’s worth the extra $50 but it would thread straight into the chuck on my Lezyne pump.

Woof Woof
Woof Woof
9 years ago

Another Hirame endorsement. Totally worth the $70 I paid for it years ago.

hollywood
hollywood
9 years ago

So no one who is calling it a rip-off sees the obvious refinement and quality and finish differences?

So this crowd is down with Harbor Freight quality so long as it’s “authentic”?

..The angriest, most negative comment section I continually (for some reason) visit on the interwebs….

ronny hörmann
ronny hörmann
9 years ago

… LEIDER GEIL !!!

KÖNNTE ICH BRAUCHEN.

Alex M
Alex M
9 years ago

Does this fit a disc wheel?

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