Crankbrothers Klic HV Gauge Mini-Pump Review

The Crankbrothers Klic HV Gauge mini-pump is an auxiliary accessory that allows you to repair a flat tire on the road, or adjust the pressure according to the terrain thanks to its integrated gauge. Is it really effective?

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr

The Klic HV Gauge is a small auxiliary pump with a high-end finish and claims, featuring a rubber hose concealed inside for transport, which is itself equipped with a pressure gauge graduated up to 7 bar or 100 psi. Other features include a Presta/Schrader valve adapter, a magnetic head, and a folding and lockable handle. Its weight is 130 g, without the bottle cage mount for carrying the pump on the bike, which is supplied with all Crankbrothers Klic range pumps.

This type of pump is not a substitute for a floor pump. Its use would be far too tedious, even if theoretically it is designed for inflating road or off-road tires. In case of a flat tire on the road, a CO2 cartridge is much more effective, and can be used effortlessly once you master its subtleties. But at a price of 4 or 5 € per unit (non-reusable), it can be considered much less economical than a pump like the Klic HV Gauge, sold at a retail price of 47 €, and which is also much more reliable. However, to hope to inflate to a reasonable pressure, it still requires patience and strong biceps, and not to be afraid of damaging your fingers on the many sharp parts of the bike near the wheel (the spokes when they are aerodynamic and the brake rotor, for example).

Practical aspects

With a length of 26 cm, the pump benefits from an effective, silent, and practical mount that positions itself under one of the two bottle cages. It is held by a plastic notch and a small Velcro strap, which is sufficient to keep it from moving, except on very large bumps where it eventually slides down a bit.

By unfolding the handle, you access the head of the hose housed in the main tube, which you simply slide out to grab it. On the hose, you then notice the gauge and the valve adapter, which you simply unscrew and flip to choose between Presta or Schrader. Screwing this adapter onto the inner tube valve or the Tubeless tire valve is not so simple, because there is a small rubber seal at the entrance that you have to force a little and in the right axis before accessing the thread on the valve. It seems simple when dry and clean, but it’s a little less so with sand, mud, or other dirt and numb fingers.

Once the hose is installed, it connects to the pump with a magnetic head. It must be said that this works very well, without the slightest air leak. Note that this magnetic opening for the hose can be protected while riding by simply turning a kind of protective cap. Overall, this connection system with this hose limits the risk of putting the pump in the spokes and is supposed to facilitate inflation.

An inaccurate gauge

With only 10 psi or 1 bar increments, the gauge proves to be not only imprecise, but also quite inaccurate. After about a hundred pump strokes, we reached 5 bar, but when we checked with a floor pump, we were barely at 4 bar. Ultimately, the famous pinch test on the tire is just as accurate, with a little experience.

Moreover, with only about twelve centimeters of travel, a handle that easily hides in the hand, and a relatively short hose, inflation remains a workout. The length of the hose prevents you from moving too far from the wheel, and you easily come into contact with potentially harmful elements of the bike (the spokes and the rotor!). Pumping with limited travel quickly becomes physical, especially when you don’t have a fixed grip. Finally, don’t expect to seat a Tubeless tire with this type of pump, and even inflating this type of product can be complicated if the sealant is not perfectly distributed in the tire (after a period of disuse, for example).

But the Crankbrothers Klic HV Gauge remains a mini-pump, and therefore only intended for auxiliary inflation or repair. In this area, it performs no worse than other models of the same size, but justifies its price with interesting practical details and a much nicer finish than a simple piece of black plastic. The Klic HV model (without the gauge but with all the other features) sold for 10 € less seems to us more interesting in terms of value for money.

=> SEE ALSO: Crankbrothers Sterling Floor Pump Review
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