badmother

I am thinking of buying a KlickFix Rucksack. I am buying from a local supplyer since I then avoid the extra taxes and expensive shipping but I am buying it online so no way of taking a closer look.

The two I am interested in is the Freepack Sport:

Rixen & Kaul, KLICKfix Adaptersysteme Fahrradzubehör, Solingen, Taschen, Körbe, Werkzeug

And the Freepack Meta:

Klick fix Freepack Meta I hátizsák - Zedbike ker??kp??ros web??ruh??z

There are some differences, the two I am trying to decide on is:

1 How helmet is atatched and
2 How bag is atatched to the bike.
3 Mesh sidepockets.

The Sport has got a "flap" that is designed to hold the helmet. Material is cowering much of the helmet so I am thinking it wil not easily get stuck in branches and stuff when the helmet is in the bag. Bad thing is I suspect the helmet would take up some of the capacity of the bag (22 liter).

The Meta has got a elastic mesh hidden away in a pocket tat you can wrap around the helmet and carry it on the outside of the bag. Easyer to get tangeled in, sticking out quite a bit but I think taking up less of the space in the bag.

Outside mesh pockets on each side of the bag are different. The ones on the Sport is bigger (taller) so can hold a drinking bottle without fear of loosing it. The ones on the Meta is lower/less deep.

Atatching to the bike: They use the same adaptors (on the bike) and look much the same until you look closer. The Sport seems to have a stiff back that the gismo you atatch to the adaptor on the bike is riveted to. The Meta has got a C shaped metal "frame" that goes around it and the bag is atatched to the bike trough this frame. The frame can be remowed if you carry the bag on your back (for a longer distance) and that makes the bag lighter.

Sport weighs 1,2 kg, Meta 1,3 kg (but can be made lighter when not on the bike).

Anybody using them or have an opinion?



Not sure if therer are other important issues.

ijsbrand

Got the Freepack Meta Two very cheap last year, since I think that model has been discontinued?

It is amazing, on the one hand, really high quality gear. Huge attention is given to detail.

But, it is also rather big/high. So using it up front, with my lowered handlebars, is a bit annoying. Also, it wiggles continuously during a ride in that position, which tends to irritate me. So, I have used it far less than I ever thought I'd do.

Mtroup

Have you considered using the Kanga rack up front? You could use whatever backpack you'd like, or strap whatever you want up there. I really like the versatility.

2_i 

I wonder about the contrast with the Brompton T-Bag that, at 30l capacity, is nearly 50% bulkier, yet sits rather firmly on the bike when fully loaded. What is the weakness in Freepack Meta that makes it unsteady? Could it be fixed?

berlinonaut

It is possibly not the bag itself. The Brompton-carrier-block is bolted directly to the frame whereas the Klickfix on ijsbrand's photo it fitted to the Tern luggage truss. The truss creates a lever and thus vibrations etc. have a bigger effect. I noticed the same thing when having load on the kanga-rack fitted to the luggage truss on my MK X. I used the kanga-rack on a Brompton as well (via a Klick-Fix-to-Brompton-adapter) and did not notice this effect. Therefore it seems to be indeed the luggage truss that causes vibraton. It is probably made for light load (and possibly for small bags, that do not virbrate within your field of view).

Mtroup

The Kanga's stated load capacity is 14.3 kg, or 31.5 lbs. I agree that this is well overstated. I only ever put about 12-15 lbs up there at most. It performs pretty well with this weight.

berlinonaut

If I look at Tern's pages for the Kanga rack and the luggage truss the rack is rated at 14,3lb/6,5 kg and the truss at 15,4lb/7 kg. Seems about valid to me.

Mtroup

That sounds much more reasonable.

badmother

This is the kind of info I am looking for. It is my impression too that the Meta is discontinued. I wonder if the two different ways of atatching for the Meta and the sport is the reason for the problems you have. I`ve been thinking that maybe the Sport with its stiff back (instead of that C shaped thingy) is sturdyer.

There is a smaller one too- the City but at the moment I am not atracted to it. My handlebars are fairly high so may not have that problem.


About the Kanga Rack and luggage truss that was suggested by others: I am not atracted to the luggage truss and the canga rack. I own a truss and do not like the way it is sticking out. The canga rack is just one more thing to lok after. I may use the extender thingy on one or two bikes when/if I use the bag on the seatpost but it`ll be most of the time in the front and atatched with a Caddy. If I need to fill the bag up with heavy stuff I`ll use a small front rack to support the underside of the bag like I already do on two bikes. sholder straps over the bars is another way to take care of a heavy bag.

If others use- or are thinking of using a KlickFix adaptor on the seatpost I found this clever hack while doing my research: Quick Release Pin | BikeXcessories.com
Searching the Internet for info and comments about the bags I found some peopel complained that there is no quick release option on the seatpost adaptor. This is a hack that can give you just that. I wonder if I can use two pins like that and make the Caddy quick release too?

Reason for wanting quick release on the seatpost is to be able to carry the bag lower down on the post (less strain on the post/frame) without compromising the fold. Especially important on a Brompton. A bag like this atatched low on the seatpost can rest some of the weight on a rear rack (like on a B or a Dahon Curve) a bit like the Pathless Pedaled backpack system I think- unless you have large feet and hit the bag when pedaling.

fietsbob

Klick fix uses the handlebar bag mount, portion adding to their rear mount..

the pack as I see it* has a loop that folds out to engage the hang from the top Of the bar mount then swing down to the catch and lock, ..
that loop folds down to not jab you in the back so much .. *mechanic's sense.

some of their other bags surround the bag with a wire ring that , Like in a front basket I have, seems secure..

US K F sales is weak, as the importer does not seem to sell to anyone but Amazon.

badmother

We own two of these bags already: Rixen & Kaul, KLICKfix Adaptersysteme Fahrradzubehör, Solingen, Taschen, Körbe, Werkzeug

so I am familiar with the system, They have the C wire thingy. Have also DIY`ed two other bags to fit on the Caddy.

The bags I am investegating now is different becouse a lot of the bag (and therefor the weight when loaded) is above the C thingy.

fietsbob

yea but still out here in a rural county, on the western edge , hard to find K..F in the USA..

As I see it KF vario rack has 2 levels that it can be mounted then strap a backpack on it.. And 'Bob's your uncle'

badmother

Ok, but I am not trying to buy it from the US of A. In the rest of the world (read most of the world) it is not difficult.

And plse stop going on about the vario rack.

tdonline

I can see why the backpack would be preferable to the vario rack. You can detach the pack and wear it and the bike has a smaller footprint. The rack may be more versatile, but it's still there when you carry your bag. If I'm concerned about weight and/or footprint of the fold, the rack wouldn't be that attractive.

badmother

Exactry !

berlinonaut

In practice the rack does weight almost nothing (looks heavy but isn't) and you can leave it on the luggage instead of on the bike - after all it is a Klick-Fix-mounted thing. Unklicking the whole rack is in many cases quicker than to unstrap the load. Just sayin - I've done this when using backpacks on it, letting the backpack-straps facing away from the rack. But clearly a dedicated Klickfix-backpack looks better and may be more practical, depending on your usage scenario.

Winfried

Alternatively, you could install Klickfix's Caddy Adaptor (0211CA) onto either the seatpost or stem, and get a Klickfix-fitted backpack:


https://www.bike24.com/p216600.html

berlinonaut

Ahem - that's what the thread is about - that's exactly what the OP wants to do.

Winfried

Sorry about that. I got sidetracked with the discussion about the truss + Vario rack.

--
Edit: I know it won't answer the OP's question since it'll take the place of a Brompton bag in the front, but for information, Vincita (Thailand) makes a product that lets Brompton users hook up a Klickfix adapter to the brazed lug:


https://www.vincita.co.th/collection...pton-head-tube

ijsbrand

Yes, is sticks out, and it looks ugly, especially when the bike is not carrying a load there.

However, I tend to roll my folders a lot too -- when going into buildings, or stations, or trains -- with just the frame folded in half, and the saddle post and handlebars still up. And then that same truss suddenly is not so stupid anymore, because I do not have to remove any luggage attached to it either then. And there seems to be no other way to do this.

berlinonaut

Which is a great idea but unfortunately it is a either/or solution versus the Brompton carrier-block and furthermore the Klick-Fix is a bit low with this solution which limits the choice of possible bags drastically. I am using an adaptor for the Brompton block which carries a click fix, making it sit about 10 cm higher. Much better in my opinion: More choice of bags plus I can use Brompton bags as well (what I am doing 90% of the time).

Winfried

Out of curiosity, who made that Klickfix for Brompton adapter?

FYI, in addition to bags sold by Rixen & Kaul, other brands I know of:

• https://www.reisenthel.com
• https://www.carradice.co.uk
• Bicycle panniers, bike bags, messenger bags, fanny packs, bike racks,dog packs, police gear and more.
• Vaude https://www.vaude.com/
• Altura (Zyro) ZyroFisher
• Cordo (AGU) AGU biedt u een compleet assortiment aan fietstassen, zadeltassen, tassensets, stuurtassen

berlinonaut

A guy in German Brompton forum used to build them for a while in very small batches years ago. Mine is from one of the last batches he made. Very well made, out of carbon The construction is not difficult - the original drawing for the idea is here: https://www.bromptonauten.de/klickfix.pdf It was invented by the creator of bromptonauten.de ages ago (probably in the early 2000s). Another user had access to the machines and materials and built a couple of them and enhanced them a bit over time. Today you could probably also use the bottle-carrier-baseplate that is offered from some asian guys on ebay from time to time. Or you build one yourself.

Winfried

Thought so.

The good thing about the Vincita solution, is that it's commercially available.

badmother

Thank you, but I have started buying the ClickFix stuff so I`ll keep buying that. Two systems (CF and Brompton) is enough