edthesped

Okay so I have a Dynamo Hub and USB charger and liked the idea of the Pro E handlebar bag but was always put off by the $250 price. REI now has the bag on clearance for ~$150 adding my dividend I was able to bring the price down to the $100'ish neighborhood, after impulsively pulling the trigger I'm having remorse about the purchase as the bag is freaking butt ugly and looks like a cinder block hanging off the handlebars

Are those of you that have the bag happy with it, would you buy it again?

I posted this for two reasons, one to pass on the deal, if one can call it that, to anyone that may want one but feel the $250 price is too much and to see what people who use the Ortlieb handlebar bags feel about them.

https://www.rei.com/product/870536/o...-handlebar-bag

BigAura

Back-in-the-day when I used paper-maps, a handlebar bag was a map-holder with storage underneath. Nowadays I find them kludgy in their attachment with a very poor weight-to-storage-size-ratio, and yes they are fugly too, IMO. I tried an Ultimate5 a few years ago and quickly re-sold it after a single weekend trip.

Rob_E

I haven't tried it, but I faced similar qualms when I bought my first set of Ortleib panniers. I couldn't imagine they were worth the money, but they did seem very nice, and everyone talks them up. Found them at a great deal, but still over $100 for panniers when I already had a set of (much cheaper) panniers. Once I got them, I immediately found them to be everything everyone had said, and I never regretted the purchase. Hopefully you'll find it the same with the handlebar bag. I am definitely seeing some potential uses for a 20% coupon and dividend this spring.

Tourist in MSN

My handlebar bag is not an Ortlieb, but I really like having a handlebar bag. I usually have my cache battery outside of the bag when I am charging things, but if it is raining I can put it in the bag. And I have a separate rain cover since my handlebar bag is not waterproof.

I have not seen what I consider to be the perfect handlebar bag yet. The one I use I spent maybe 2 or 3 hours modifying it to better meet my needs, which is one reason that I am not citing the brand of mine. And mine is no longer sold anyway.

I use Ortlieb frontroller and backroller panniers, no separate pockets on them. So they are not convenient to access during the day. My handlebar bag usually has all the stuff in it that I might need during the day, other than water in my water bottles and the rain gear I usually strap to the top of my front rollers. And I find it quite convenient to have one bag like that with all my valuables that I can take with me when I go into stores and restaurants.

I think a lot of people that dislike handlebar bags would be happier with them if they used a second stem to lower the bag, the center of gravity is a bit better that way and it just plain looks better when it is not so high.

The same bag is in the first two attached photos, but the bike is different as the photos are from two different trips. Third photo is yet a different bike but in this photo you can see how useful a second stem is. Fourth photo is more of a warning on what can go wrong if you use brifters, the bag might get in the way as mine would if I did not lower it with a second stem.

jefnvk

I repurposed my saddle bag for this on my first tour after my first day, because it is incredibly convenient to have something you can pop off and carry with you in areas you are getting off the bike. Trying some more suitable solutions now, including a handlebar bag.

ploeg

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a regular Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Classic Handlebar Bag from Sierra Trading Post for $56.25 after 25% off coupon. They seem to be out of them right now, but they might have more if they get any returns. The bag comes with a mounting bracket that supports 3 kg. My understanding is that the bag works with the Rixen and Kaul KLICKfix system, and you can get a KLICKfix bracket that supports 7 kg.

I've had it for only a couple of test runs but it seems to work OK. My main issue is that you don't have clearance over the top of the bag for a handlebar-mounted light, though you can use a Minoura SpaceGrip accessory mount to get around that. I can definitely see where having a bunch of weight on your handlebars can make for awkward steering, but you can manage that.

edthesped

I started out looking at the Sierra Trading Post bag, then let the coupon slip by so passed on it. The Sierra Trading Post deal actually planted the seed that led to this impulse buy. One of the main reasons I need/want something on the handlebar or top tube is that I run a dynamo hub with a USB charger and I want somewhere to keep the charging equipment and electronics that's protected from the elements. In this sense I'm kind of happy I let the Sierra Trading Post deal slip by as the REI one has electrical contacts built into the mount so I can cable my charger without exposing it to the elements. The bag really is fugly and looks like it would be a PITA and had almost immediate remorse after purchasing. The only reason I'm letting the order stick is that REI has an outstanding return policy, though I feel guilty using it to try something out even though I'm not convinced I really like it.

I have a couple of sets of Ortlieb Panniers and have slowly been moving away from them for light to medium loads as I can back lighter with dry bags and velcro though I'll still use them for family rides where I'm often heavily loaded.

Timequake

No handlebar bag is worth $150. It's a goddamn glorified lunchbox.

Chuck Naill

According to you.


I got the Arkel small HB bag and now I wouldn't even think of doing without. $150 sounds like a lot on the front end, but considering you can have it for decades the price is inconsequential to the totality of the cycling experience and practical applications.

andrewclaus

That's the deal-breaker for me. It's nearly two pounds.

(And the retail price is more than my entire bike is worth right now!)

saddlesores

if you don't need that 2-pound bag, should be other options.
how large/heavy is your charger? and the electronics?
shouldn't be tooo difficult to make an access port in just
about any....smaller/lighter/cheaper.....bag.

small enough to fit inside a water bottle?
okay, maybe not.
how about a tupperware container inside
a snazzy little frame bag?

Doug64

I like to think of a bar bag as secure waterproof storage for my wallet, passport, sunglasses, phone, maps, etc.; that can be taken off the bike easily and kept with me at all times on a tour.

fietsbob

Ortlieb Pro E has electrical contacts in the bar bag mount, and the bag, that means your electronic toys are kept on trickle charge , from your hub dynamo..

and there are no plugs outside the bag to unhook when you take the bag off the bike.. the act of taking the bag off does that ..

and the lid lets you fondle them thru the top.. while closed.


Is this feature worth it to you? I don't know.

Timequake

Cute photo. But it's still simply a lunchbox with a mounting bracket and a decupled price tag. Don't get me wrong, I think they're very convenient and beneficial. I own one myself. But $150? Some people have more money than sense.

Timequake

Let's play the game "Handlebar bag or lunch box!"

fietsbob

I Had the real Important stuff in A money Belt.. the handle bar bag a cheap thing with a compass on it.

I did not need an iPhone to tour, Now no One can break away from them.




...

Chuck Naill

Let's don't but say we did. You can think and ride as you wish. It matters nothing to me.

Marcus_Ti

LOL, sure you can. Ride the Sandhills of Nebraska where there's zero cellphone service, and your smartphone is a 180gram brick

jaacco

Ortlieb handlebar bag has been very convenient on having my valuables always with me, but I'm considering bringing a laptop to my next tour which obviously doesn't fit the bag. How are you guys dealing with the laptop security thing?

edthesped

Bah, money,There was a time one could get anything they needed by trading furs, shells or a little labor, now everyone feels the need to carry money and those blasted credit cards!!!