Bar Bag compatibility

[John Ponting]

I seem unable to view (and buy) a selection of bar bags at any shop within 20 miles so must fall back on help here and the internet.

I recently bought a Bontrager Bar Bag which uses proprietary adaptors - needed a bag in a hurry and it was in stock @lbs and they fitted the adaptor for me there and then.

btw fitting it myself was not a problem except I was on the bike, it was pouring with rain and my specs were at home.


Are the Ortlieb Ultimate Bar Bags compatible with R&K Klickfix adaptors or are they (annoyingly) proprietary?

Carradice bar bags ?

Any other bags that you guys would recommend ?

 

[PpPete]

IIRC Ortlieb look similar to R&K - but are NOT compatible.
Caradice use R&K fittings on theirs.

 

[P.H]

 My Ortlieb bag fits perfectly on my Klickfix mount.  The bag is seven years old, the mount around two, so it's possible things have changed, but I doubt it.  But they don't work the other way round, Klickfix bag on Ortlieb mount.  I use either an Ortlib bag or a smaller Vaude Klickfix one on the same bracket. 

Carradice also use the Klickfix mount, as do several others.  Recommend a bag -well depends what you want.  If I were buying now the R&K Ultima would be on the shortlist, well it would be if anyone actually sold it

http://www.klickfix....ium/0234sgr.jpg

EDIT - Just been looking at the new design Ortlieb bar bags at SJS where it says

" All Ortlieb handlebar bags are compatible with the KlickFix fitting system by Rixen & Kaul"

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/ortlieb-ultimate-5-plus-barbag-graphite-black-7ltr-prod13396/

 

[John Ponting]

thanks for the comments.

@PH - cheers, I'll speak with sjs tomorrow.

 

[P.H]

thanks for the comments.

@PH - cheers, I'll speak with sjs tomorrow.

They're good for information and service and if I use them for that I'm happy to pay their prices, but if I know what I want I can usually find it cheaper elsewhere.  I used the link as an example rather than a recommendation.

 

[John Ponting]

They're good for information and service and if I use them for that I'm happy to pay their prices, but if I know what I want I can usually find it cheaper elsewhere. I used the link as an example rather than a recommendation.

no probs - I appreciated link to info source. Like you, I'll search to buy later.

Cheers.

 

[Crankarm]

I don't know about Ortlieb bar bags, but I have a Vaude Aqua bar bag which uses the generic R&K clickfix mounting bracket. I use this for when the weather is foul. It is fit and forget as it is totally waterproof and extremely durable, expedition durable. As good as or better than Ortlieb's offerings. For when the weather is set fair or if there is only light rain forecast I prefer to use a Topeak Tourist bar bag which is sold in Halfords for £35. It is simply the best bar bag on the market IMHO, but unfortunately, although water resistant, it is not waterproof. The fabric is pretty hard wearing and durable giving the impression of quality, but one needs to fit a yellow rain cover when the heavens really open which is no problem. But to the plusses of the Topeak bag, it's a perfect size - not too large or too small, easy access individual pockets on all sides and document pocket, money, credit card, pen pocket, what ever, on top. It's well padded and robust. It's very well made like most Topeak products. However I removed the Topeak mounting plate on the bag itself and fitted a generic R&K click fix mounting plate (£5 iirc) so I can use it on my bike without having to change the bar bracket from R&K click fix back to Topeak. So I now have the Vaude and Topeak bar bags both with R&K Clickfix mounting brackets and can use which ever I need without worrying about problems of attaching due to different mounting systems.

AFAIK Altura bar bags use the generic R&K clickfix mounting bracket system as well. The R&K Clickfix bracket really is good, very robust and so simple to mount and use. Tip : use neatly cut pieces of OLD inner tube between the clamping rings and the handle bar to stop the mount on the bars slipping down due to the weight of the bar bag causing your bar bag to drop.

 

[P.H]

I Tip : use neatly cut pieces of OLD inner tube between the clamping rings and the handle bar to stop the mount on the bars slipping down due to the weight of the bar bag causing your bar bag to drop.

??? If it's fitted correctly, the wire stops the mount slipping.  Unless you load that much stuff that you're stretching steel wire!