CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra Review: An Extremely Compact Electric Pump for Your Jersey Pocket

The CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra

A portable pump should be small, light and reliable while delivering enough pressure for a road tyre after a puncture. The CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra was designed for precisely this purpose. My CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra review showed how well this compact electric mini pump meets those requirements in practice.

The electric mini pump is barely larger than a small charging case and fits easily in a jersey pocket. It still offers a screen, digital pressure readout and adjustable target pressure. Once the target is reached, it stops automatically.

This worked very well in my test. The AS2 Ultra inflates quickly, takes little space and saves laborious roadside pumping with a conventional mini hand pump. Its pressure readout particularly impressed me: readings were fairly close to those from a separate Schwalbe pressure gauge.

Extremely Compact and Ideal for a Jersey Pocket

The CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra's greatest strength is immediately obvious: it is genuinely tiny. That makes it particularly interesting to me as a road bike pump. It fits easily in a jersey pocket with room left for a phone, energy bar, keys or spare tube.

The CYCLPLUS AS2 Ultra measures just 65 × 47.5 × 28 millimetres and weighs 92g without additional accessories. Its integrated battery has a 400mAh capacity, and maximum pressure is stated as 120 PSI.

The AS2 Ultra is therefore one of those pumps you have little reason to leave at home. A conventional mini hand pump may be similarly light, but takes considerably more space and, above all, effort when a road tyre needs higher pressure again.

For long rides, I would pack it with a spare tube, tyre levers and perhaps an additional manual backup. My comparison explains the advantages and disadvantages of conventional tubes versus tubeless: Tubeless or Inner Tubes

Inflation Speed in Real-World Testing

Despite its small dimensions, the AS2 Ultra inflates a road tyre surprisingly quickly. Instead of working for minutes with a small hand pump after a puncture, you place it on the valve, set the desired pressure and start inflation at the press of a button.

In my test, the tyre was quickly ready to ride again. Exact timings always depend on tyre volume, width and target pressure. For me, the key point is therefore less a single time in seconds than the difference from a conventional mini pump: the AS2 Ultra does the work automatically, without physical effort.

This makes it particularly practical when your fingers are already cold, you are standing by the roadside in rain or you want to continue quickly after a mechanical problem.

The pump is clearly audible, however. Its small compressor runs at high speed, making the noise initially surprising for such a small device. Since a road tyre fills relatively quickly, I consider this a brief nuisance on the road rather than a deal-breaker.

Set the target pressure and inflate automatically

The integrated display is a major advantage over very basic electric mini pumps. You can set the desired tyre pressure before inflation, then start the process. The pump switches off automatically when the selected pressure is reached.

Operation is straightforward:

1. Switch on the pump.
2. Set the desired pressure.
3. Connect the pump to the valve.
4. Start inflation.
5. Wait for automatic shut-off.

The plus and minus buttons adjust the target value. You can also switch the display between BAR and PSI. Automatic shut-off at the selected pressure is described in the manual too.

This is particularly practical for road cycling. You do not have to keep stopping and pressing the tyre with your thumb to check whether it is firm enough. It also avoids being overly cautious and underinflating, or accidentally adding too much pressure.

Maximum pressure and pressure display accuracy

On an electric mini pump, a display is useful only if its reading is reasonably reliable. I therefore checked the pressure after inflation with a separate Schwalbe pressure gauge.

The readings agreed quite closely in my test. Small differences can arise when removing the pump or reconnecting a gauge. However, accuracy was entirely sufficient for pressure checks on the road.

For me, this is one of the AS2 Ultra's greatest advantages. After a puncture, you do more than get some air into the tyre: you can continue at a deliberate pressure suited to your tyre and body weight.

I also tested the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra's maximum pressure. The stated 8.2 bar was reached without difficulty and maintained reliably. At this high pressure, however, the case becomes noticeably warm or quite hot, so let the pump cool briefly after use.

Battery capacity: around two to three road tyres

The compact design naturally means a limited battery. In my test, a full charge inflated approximately two to three road tyres.

The exact number depends on factors including:

• Tyre width and volume
• remaining pressure
• desired target pressure
• Ambient temperature
• Battery charge and age

I consider the capacity sufficient for normal road rides. The pump is usually needed for only a single puncture. Even if a second tyre needs inflation, some reserve remains.

The manufacturer's figures broadly match my experience: for a 700C25 tyre, the manual states three inflations from 0 to 80 PSI or two from 0 to 110 PSI. These are explicitly described as experimental reference values.

Nevertheless, get into the habit of checking battery level regularly. The best electric pump is little help after a puncture if it has spent weeks uncharged in your saddle bag.

Pros and Cons

Heat buildup: important for TPU tubes

Heat buildup is the most important point to understand about the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra. The small compressor works under heavy load and becomes noticeably hot during inflation. The pump head and valve area in particular can heat up considerably.

This is usually less critical with conventional butyl tubes and metal valves. TPU tubes with plastic or resin valve stems require caution, however.

Use the included extension hose in this case. It creates distance between the hot pump head and the more sensitive valve. In the manual, CYCPLUS explicitly warns against connecting the pump directly to a TPU tube with a resin valve because overheating may damage or melt the valve.

This is an important operating requirement, not a minor detail:

TPU tube with a plastic valve: always use the extension hose.

Do not touch the hot connector immediately after inflation. Wait briefly, let the pump cool and only then return it to your jersey pocket.

Noise: small, but not quiet

Anyone switching on the AS2 Ultra for the first time may be surprised by the noise. It sounds more like a small, fast-running compressor than an ordinary bicycle pump.

It is definitely not quiet. This is noticeable in a quiet flat or outside your home early in the morning. At the roadside, however, the noise bothers me less because inflation lasts only a relatively short time.

For occasional pressure top-ups at home, I would still use a floor pump. It is quieter, moves more air and does not require regular charging. I mainly see the AS2 Ultra as a puncture aid and portable road cycling pump.

Valves, hose and operation

Road cyclists will mainly be interested in using a Presta, also called Sclaverand, valve. The pump can be configured accordingly and used directly on the valve.

The package includes items such as a silicone cover, short extension hose, valve adapter, spare seals, charging cable and carry bag. For a Schrader or car-type valve, the instructions specify using the hose.

Direct connection saves space and is quick to attach. However, the hose is not merely an accessory for other valve types: it is particularly important with heat-sensitive TPU valves.

For everyday use, I would therefore always carry the small hose as well as the pump. It weighs almost nothing and avoids leaving the right connector at home when you need it most.

Technical specifications

Dimensions, weight, battery specifications and maximum pressure come from the product overview in the manual. Further technical details are available on the official product page for the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra.

The AS2 Ultra particularly suits road cyclists wanting to carry as little equipment as possible without sacrificing a reliable pump after a puncture.

The CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra is a good choice if you:

• want a very small pump for your jersey pocket,
• do not want to use CO₂ cartridges,
• want to continue quickly after a puncture,
• want to set a defined target pressure,
• need to replace TPU or butyl tubes on the road,
• want an electric alternative to a mini hand pump.

It is less suitable if you need a pump for regular inflation at home, very large-volume tyres or long trips without charging facilities. A floor pump, larger battery pump or conventional hand pump is better suited to these uses.

For normal road rides, however, the AS2 Ultra strikes exactly the right compromise in my view: small enough to carry everywhere and powerful enough to help when a puncture strikes.

Buying decision: when is the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra the right pump?

The CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra is the right choice when the most compact possible design is your priority. It takes up little space, inflates quickly and offers much more convenience than a conventional mini pump through pressure selection, a digital display and automatic shut-off.

The combination of size and function particularly impressed me. Such a small pump would normally involve substantial compromises. In my test, however, the AS2 Ultra inflated two to three road tyres per charge and showed quite reliable readings compared with my Schwalbe gauge.

You must accept the noise and heat buildup, however. If you use TPU tubes with plastic valves, remember to pack and use the extension hose.

Under these conditions, the AS2 Ultra is highly recommendable for road cyclists.

Rating

CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra test verdict

In my CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra test, this electric mini pump proved a very practical road cycling companion. Its greatest strength is clearly the combination of extremely compact size and high performance. It fits easily into a jersey pocket, inflates a road tyre quickly and takes much of the work out of dealing with a puncture.

The controls are convincing too: set the target pressure, start the pump and wait for automatic shut-off. Its readings were quite close to my Schwalbe gauge's. Accuracy is therefore entirely useful for pressure checks on the road.

Around two to three inflated road tyres per charge provide enough reserve for typical training rides and day trips. Its weaknesses are noise and substantial heat. The extension hose must always be used with TPU tubes that have plastic valves.

Overall, I highly recommend the CYCPLUS AS2 Ultra as a pump to carry everywhere. It does not replace a good floor pump at home, but is considerably more convenient than a conventional mini hand pump on the road.

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