djb

hi there,
thought perhaps some of you have first hand knowledge here on the 5 vs 6 mount differences.

I recently bought a used 6 bag but the mount had gone missing when the owners bike was stolen last year.
I own a 5 bag and happen to have two mounts, but one of them has a slightly sqwershed cable (if you have this bag then you'll know the situation of being too overexhurburant in tightening the bolt on the cable).

I've looked into a new cable only, its about 15 bucks, which would be a good idea to get in any case, but a new mount is about 25.

I have mounted the new 6 bag (the one with magnets) onto my 5 mounts and it seems the same, but any points I should consider and perhaps just buy a new 6 mount?

I think the store I looked at has 6 mounts, I know there was a 5 one in the cardboard box of ortlieb doo-dads, but it was a few weeks ago so I dont recall exactly, and its quite a hike to get there, so figured I'd ask any of you who have 6 bags and/or have both 5 and 6 and if there are any real issues using one or the other.

thanks in advance

I should add that after overtightening the cable bolt on my first mount about 5 or 6 years ago, I did learn to just take it easy and there is no real need to overtighten it, so on my second mount, a reasonable amount of tightening was fine and during my two month latin american trip this winter, the mount never sagged or slipped at all.

in other words, I've learned my lesson and probably wont damage another cable (I hope).

36Oly_Rider

I thought Ortleib made the 6 so you can use Rixen and Kaul mounts as well? Or are they the same?

Tourist in MSN

My bag is not an Ortlieb, different brand but it also uses a cable. When I need to change cables, I just use the cut off cable that I cut off of a too-long brake cable. Once I did not have any left over from a brake cable change, but I had some cut off shifter cables, I used two shifter cables instead of one, it worked fine too.

I wrap electrical tape around the cable where it rubs on the stem to protect the paint.

I readily admit that I tighten the cables too much, I can't re-use one of those plastic coated cables after removal which is why I have resorted to using substitutes.

djb

yes, the R+K mounts work also, but Ive never found a bike store that carries them here in Mtl, and the prices seem to be the same as the Ortlieb ones, so in the end, I'd rather just buy an Ortlieb one that I can get at a store, and know how it works.
Don't forget that being Canadian, if I purchase something online or on ebay or whatever, the shipping costs to Canada are always more than for you folks in the States, and also one sometimes has to deal with cross border fees and all that, which really does increase the cost of X doo-dad, especially if its in the 20-30 range, which can end up having another 20 added on easily.

djb

looking again online at the newer 6 series mounts, the diff seems to be the locking mechanism. When you turn the key, the key assembly itself turns and the metal "tongue" part of the assembly turns and goes into a slot built into the frame of the bag-stopping someone from taking the bag.

to be frank, I've always found their locking feature to be kinda gimmicky, as it doesnt stop someone from simply opening the bag and stealing the contents.
I always prefered to have the bag with me in any case, and on top of that, I dont like the idea of having a key that could be misplaced while on a bike trip.

I think what I will do is just ride out to the store in question with my barbag and the newer magnet 6 one, and see what mounts they have and how both bags fit on them.

part of my concern was to be sure that both bags and or mounts work well with each other, just to make things simpler if mounts and bags gets switched around over time. Just easier if all can play with each other nicely.

36Oly_Rider

That makes sense. Seems crazy it would cost more to toss something over the border than it would to order something from Germany or wherever. I bought a set of Shimano XT touring cranks from a German retailer and it was maybe $5 more than buying a XT mountain crankset here. But I wanted the 48-36-26 XT so I did it any way.

elcruxio

It does actually. Or rather, then someone has to cut/rip the bag apart to get to the contents. You put the bag opening loop under the locking lip and that prevents the bag from being opened without violence.
Not a perfect locking mechanism, but prevents snatch and grabs in bigger cities when waiting for stoplights or whatever. When leaving the bike even for a short while the front bag is taken with you of course.
This of course with the 6 mount.
The 5 mount only locks the bag onto the mount but does not have the bag lid locking functionality

djb

its often hit and miss and seems to depend on the shipping company. One of my kids a bunch of years ago ordered a t-shirt online from the states to give as a present, shirt somewhre around 20 bucks, shipping/basic border fee/taxes ended up with the 20 dollar present costing about 40....

other times I have ordered stuff of around 100 dollars and not had any fees or anything.
It seems to me that it really is the delivery company choice , and or just luck.

djb

thanks for the clarification, last night I saw a video by an Argentinian guy doing a review of his 6 bag, and at around 4'30" he shows how when locked, the lid cannot be opened, but he did show how the corners can be easily lifted enough to put a hand in.


In any case, like I said, I just dont like the idea of having key operated stuff on a trip in case the key gets lost, so its not a priority to me or something I would really use, but thats ok, they at least tried to make an improvement, and I still like them as bags, especially for the weight and total waterproofness.
In mine, I did purchase the internal divider, which is handy.
and I still find the Ortlieb paper map holder to be extremely handy, and totally waterproof.

Tourist in MSN

My handlebar bag goes with me into stores and restaurants. I would never have a reason to lock it.

My bike locks are all combination locks.

I have some skewers that are not quick release, use an allen wrench. But I do not want to risk losing a special tool so I use the ones that any 5mm allen wrench will work in.

fietsbob

I got an Ortlieb 3 mount, I can use that bag with a Klick Fix Bar Bag Mount.


the 6 Pro Plus , with their top of the line bag has electrical contacts to run to the Hub Dynamo.

then your ride and charge goes to anything in the bag you plug into the bag's cable.

QR and the bag comes with you with out unplugging wires.

3 uses a lever motion release, the mount is wrapping cable around the bars 4 times per side,

now 5&6 use a figure 8 crossing around the stem .. the 6 uses a straight down button release. bags slide straight down.

Klick fix uses a hang from top hooks, and pivot down to engage a push button catch. you use a hang and pivot, with Ortlieb bags, on KF bar mounts.


I have confirmed, my wire KF bag support does work with the Ortlieb #6 , it did not with the #3.. [I've skipped over #4&5 ]






...

Doug64

+1

My Ortlieb HB mount was damaged during shipment home from a tour. The locking mechanism was marginally holding the cracked latch together. I remove the locking mechanism and replaced it with a wooden dowel held in place with JB Weld epoxy. The repair is strong, and looks OK.

I agree that the lock is not useful.

djb

Thanks, I shall squirrel that away into a recess of my memory somewhere and hopefully will remember it if the occasion comes up.
JB Weld epoxy....(wrote it to remember the name).

fietsbob

JB adds powdered aluminum to the resin . you can get 2 part epoxy in small tubes , w/o the filler,

or larger containers.

pdlamb

I'm with you on that most of the time. Then I remember when the 5 bag was new, every time it started to rain it took me forever to get the dang bag open to swap sunglasses for regular glasses.* It would have been easier for a thief to snatch and run than to get the bag open to steal whatever was inside!**

*Nowadays I virtually never snap both snaps closed, and between the aging bag and lots of practice I can usually open it when I need to.


**Ditto on carrying the bag inside stores, restaurants, etc.

djb

There certainly is a knack to undoing the snaps, we will see how the magnet one compares in day to day use, so far so good.

Philly Tandem

Add me to the list of people who think the Ortlieb handlebar mount with lock is silly. Adds weight and complexity for little functionality. Sometimes the Germans over-engineer (I work for a German company :-)

fietsbob

the 6 mount, as a lock can be ignored.. its just a metal button to press down.