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SKS USP - Equipment
With the SKS, you're holding a hefty pump in your hand: the USP measures half a metre with the hose screwed on and weighs 367 grams. So it's not a tool for the tour, but a pure shop tool for work in the workshop. The robust metal shock pump is made in Germany and has a large pressure gauge. Unusual: the psi display is on the inside of the scale - on other shock pumps, the display is reversed.
The pressure release wheel, also made of metal, is located below the valve. The steel flex hose is designed to ensure a long service life, while the long valve head with decoupling/pressure loss protection fits most valves. The USP has a folding handle for convenient pumping. An additional scale for comparing bar to psi is printed on the cylinder for a better overview. Unique selling point: the SKS is Made in Germany.
The classic SKS Rennkompressor pump, also manufactured in Germany, is now available in a modernised version. Here you can find all the details about the reissued classic.
Handling
The USP damper pump cannot confirm the high-quality first impression in practice: we would have expected significantly more stroke from the huge piston. In addition, the SKS requires very high manual force when the pressure rises above 150 psi. The somewhat wobbly folding handle is of little help here. Added to this is the short, inflexible steel flex hose, which makes pumping more difficult.
It is also difficult to regulate the pressure on the deflation wheel. Because the air pressure specifications for the shock and fork are usually given in psi, the positioning of the psi scale is not very helpful. A holder for the hose would be desirable for storage.
Measuring accuracy
On the damper pump we tested, the meter readings are slightly off - between 3 and 6 psi. The scale is also somewhat difficult to read. If you forget to decouple the valve head before unscrewing it, the air escapes from the chamber again.
SKS USP - Details and price
- Weight 367 g
- Display analogue / 49 mm diameter
- Pressure range 320 psi max.
- Pump / hose length 345 mm / 105 mm
- Equipment Pressure release valve; 360° rotatable hose; long valve head for easy screwing on/unscrewing with recessed valves; aluminium pump body; plastic handle
- Price 59,95 Euro >> available here
Valuation at a glance
Deviation¹ 80 psi / psi per stroke 74 psi / 1.07 psi
Conclusion: SKS USP
With the SKS, you're holding a real heavyweight - made in Germany - in your hand. The USP is large, heavy and a pure shop tool. Unfortunately, its performance doesn't quite match its looks. Despite its size, its volume is rather small and the manual force is quite high despite the practical handle. The robust steel flex hose is far too short, awkwardly positioned and cannot be rotated. In addition, there is no storage option on the pump, which means it takes up a lot of space. The large pressure gauge is difficult to read and does not measure very precisely, and the drain wheel is difficult to regulate.
In our large comparison, we tested a total of 13 shock pumps. Click here to test the Lezyne Digital Shock Drive.
¹ BIKE measured values; ²BIKE grade: The BIKE rating is based on the school grading system with grades 1 to 5
Stefan Frey
Editor
