Lezyne Sport Gravel Floor Drive vs Steel Floor Drive

Just when you thought you already had everything gravel related, such as a gravel bike, gravel drivetrain, gravel tires, gravel shoes, etc, here comes another item.

This time, it is a gravel specific floor pump. The first time I heard of a gravel specific floor pump, I was quite amused, as the normal floor pump for road bikes works for gravel tires in any case.

However, once I started reading more about gravel floor pumps, it seems to make sense. For example, 28 mm road bike tires only need about 80-100 PSI, but the usual floor pumps go up to 220 PSI, which is way beyond what is required.

As such, the pressure gauge has all the numbers squeezed closely to fit in up to 220 PSI of range, but only about 100 PSI is needed. The pictures below will show you what I mean.

Let's do a comparison between my trusty Lezyne Steel Floor Drive, vs the new Lezyne Sport Gravel Floor Drive (gravel floor pump in short).

Lezyne Sport Gravel Floor Drive, with a maximum pressure rating of 100 PSI.

Instead of having a Presta/Schrader reversible pump head, it has a special head where one side threads onto the outside of the valve. More details below.

Side by side comparison, with the new gravel pump shown on the right.

Gravel floor pump is slightly taller, otherwise they look pretty similar.

Both pumps have a wooden handle, which is nice. However, the gravel pump's handle has been dyed black.

Both barrels are steel, but the gravel pump barrel has a slightly larger diameter and has a matte finishing.

The base area looks quite different, although they are both of the tripod design.

The gravel dial is huge! Also, since the gravel dial reads to a maximum of 100 PSI, it is much easier to fine tune the air pressure.

Steel Floor Drive dial: Max of 220 PSI, with lines at every 5 PSI interval

Gravel Floor Drive dial: Max of 100 PSI, with lines at every 1 PSI interval

Ever since I used 28 mm wide Continental GP4000/GP5000 tires, the maximum tire pressure that I needed was 90 PSI, but usually 80 PSI is enough. Therefore, this gravel pump is able to satisfy my tire pressure requirements.

With the indicator intervals of just 1 PSI, I can adjust the tire pressure accurately for gravel tires, where my usual tire pressure range is 25 to 35 PSI. For low pressure tires, a pressure difference of just a few PSI can be felt. Previously on the Steel Floor Drive, tire pressure control was vague, but now I can set it to within 1 PSI accuracy if I want.

Gravel pump uses a fibre reinforced resin base, instead of a steel base.

The resin base is big and strong with reinforcing ribs, but still not as stiff or stable as a steel base.

I wanted a steel base for a floor pump, as it makes the pump more stable due to the heavier base. There is no need to get a floor pump that is lightweight, as a heavier one is actually better for stability. However, it seems that Lezyne is gradually changing their pump base design to use resin material, which I believe is due to lower cost.

Steel floor drive weighs exactly 1600 grams.

Gravel floor drive is a bit lighter at 1521 grams.

There is no meaning to get a lightweight floor pump, unlike a portable pump where a lighter pump adds less weight to the bike. In this case, a heavier floor pump is actually preferred, but not available.

Moving on, let's compare the pump heads.

Red ABS 2 pump head from the steel floor drive, vs the black ABS 1 Pro pump head from the gravel floor drive.

I don't think I ever did a review for the Lezyne Steel Floor Drive, so I shall elaborate a bit more on the pump head. A few years ago, Lezyne came out with this new ABS 2 pump head, where instead of screwing the pump head onto the valve, you slide a sleeve on the outside of the pump head. After sliding the sleeve, you turn it slightly to secure the airtight seal.

Theoretically, this makes attaching and detaching a pump head faster than screwing it on and off. Plus, it has an added benefit of preventing the valve core from being unscrewed from the valve during pump head removal. This can happen if the valve core was not tight enough, while the pump head is attached too tightly.

Practically, this works well if there is plenty of spoke clearance around the valve, as both hands are needed to hold and slide the sleeve onto the valve. Sometimes it can be quite tight, making it difficult to attach or remove the pump head. I always find it difficult to attach this pump head to the valve which is on the wheelset of the Bike Friday Haul-A-Day, due to the high spoke count and small rim diameter.

Also, this ABS 2 pump head depresses the valve core continuously on the Presta valve, meaning that if you press the pressure release button at the side, it will let out ALL the air in the tube, instead of only the air inside the pump hose. On previous pumps with ABS 1 pump head, pressing this button releases only the air in the pump hose, making it easier to unscrew the pump head.

ABS 2 pump head, with an external sleeve that you slide down to tighten the pump head onto the valve.

Converting to Schrader is easy. Just slide down the sleeve first, BEFORE screwing it onto the Schrader head. This is one advantage over traditional screw type pump heads where it needs to be removed and inverted.

ABS 2 Pump Head

Advantages:

1) Quick to attach and release, given sufficient spoke clearance

2) Easy to switch between Presta and Schrader

3) Does not loosen valve cores

Disadvantages:

1) Needs more spoke clearance around valve

2) Can be difficult to attach on some valves

3) Bleed button releases all the air from the inner tube, instead of just the pump hose

4) Sleeve can be slippery, making it difficult to slide on, especially if it is tight

5) Does not work on valves that are too short as there is nowhere for the internal rubber ring to grip

6) Pump head needs to be detached quickly to prevent air leakage during removal

7) Makes a loud popping noise during pump head removal

The ABS 2 pump head has been discontinued, probably due to having too many disadvantages compared to advantages. Lezyne claims that it is discontinued due to having too many internal moving parts to work reliably.

Now, the new Lezyne pumps are equipped with an updated version of the original ABS 1 pump head, which is called ABS 1 Pro. It is the screw on type of pump head, which may have the tendency to loosen valve cores if they are not tightened properly.

ABS 1 Pro pump head on the gravel floor drive.

Pump head is detachable and reversible.

On one end of the pump head, it is the familiar Presta thread, which threads onto the valve core. On the other end, instead of a Schrader head, it has a M6 x 0.8 mm screw thread, which is the thread size on the OUTSIDE of the Presta valve.

On the Presta valve, there are two threads. The smaller one on the valve core, and the larger M6 x 0.8 mm thread at the bottom.

The purpose and idea of having this M6 x 0.8 mm thread is to allow the pump head to be screwed onto the Presta valve, with the valve core removed. This way, there is no valve core restricting the airflow through the valve.

On tubeless wheels, the Presta valve is just a valve attached to the rim hole, with no inner tube. Theoretically, with the valve core removed, and the M6 x 0.8 mm pump head side attached, it is possible to inflate and seat the tubeless tires, without the use of an air compressor or compressed air tank. I have not had a chance to test this out, but if this works, then there is no need to use my Schwalbe Tire Booster to seat tubeless tires any more.

Other pump heads that are included: The needle head for balls, and the yellow plastic head for balloons and other stuff.

Without a Schrader adapter, this also means that the gravel pump is not able to pump up inner tubes with Schrader valves, if you only have the stock pump head. In my case, it is not necessary, as all my bikes are using Presta valves.

However, I do have extra Lezyne pump heads (ABS 1), which is the usual Presta/Schrader reversible pump head. That fits nicely onto this Lezyne gravel pump as well, if I ever need to connect it to a Schrader valve.

Lezyne ABS 1 pump head, with a reversible Presta/Schrader design.

The internal profile depresses the recessed pin in the Schrader valve, which works differently from Presta valves.

Here is a nice summary showing the history of the different pump heads used by Lezyne. Ultimately the ABS 2 pump head used on my Steel Floor Drive has been discontinued, so only the ABS 1 Pro pump head (screw type) are now available.

Favourite Features of the Gravel Floor Drive:

1) Large dial with indicator lines at 1 PSI intervals, makes it easy to fine tune the air pressure for gravel tires.

2) ABS 1 Pro pump head is still preferred over the ABS 2 design, as it is easier to use.

I don't miss the extra pressure range of the old steel floor drive, as I don't need to pump over 100 PSI (except when I was using the narrow Schwalbe One 23-451 tires, where 120 PSI was recommended).

In all, I am happy with the Lezyne Sport Gravel Floor Drive, with the major advantage being the large pressure gauge and more precise tire pressure adjustment.