Ease of removing mount for handlebar bags
 

I've not had a chance to see how a handlebar bag mounts to a bike, and if it's easy to remove the mount when not using the bag, and I was wondering if you could respond. I have drop bars with Ultegra 10 (cables are under tape).

I'm planning on some credit card touring and may get a handlebar bag. I looked at the Ortlieb 5 (classic/compact) and in the PDF instructions it looks like you 'tie' down the mount to your handlebar...is this correct? What if I want to remove the mount, is it possible to re-attach another day? Is the answer the same for most bags?

As you can tell, I would like a bag where the mount system can be removed and used again and again. I don't have a touring bike and I don't want the mount left there when I'm not using it.

Thanks!

The Ortlieb is not an easy bag to mount and unmount. What I have done is to fix a second stem with a piece of tubing. I mount the bag to the tubing. Now to move bags, I simply move stem and all.

I was offered a clue, and tried it,
the Klick-fix handle bar mount, can also hold
Ortlieb bags.. [but the reverse is no go]

the KF mount, on/off is reasonable.
A cable section over the stem takes most of the strain,
2 setscrews hold the ends of the section of cable, ..
4 screws hold 2 clamp bands around the bars.

Both Klickfix and Ortleib style mounting plates are pretty easy to attach and remove from the handlebars BUT the screws for the clamps are self-tapping style and bed into the plastic. If you keep removing them, the screws may become loose and not fasten tightly. You can get replacement clamping bands.
The mount is held in place by the warparound cable so the clamping bands dont need to be very tight.

I would suggest that you minimise the removal of your mounting plate.
Other styles of mount often have more massive clamping arrangements and no supporting cable. The metal ones are probably better suited to regular removal but in my opinion, no mount system is as quick and secure in quick-release use as the Rixen and Kaul/Ortleib.

Obviously you have never mounted an Ortlieb bag. They use a cable and not screws. Very stable but very hard to mount.

Well, there's a whole bunch of different ways of mounting them. As others have mentioned, there's the KlickFix. I would consider the mount to be semi-permanent, personally, as I found it a pain to get on.

If you want a smallish bag that doesn't require a rack or mount, I've been quite pleased with: http://www.rivbike.com/products/show...bar-bag/20-198

The support straps don't get in the way of any hand positions, other than thickening the tops of the hoods slightly.

For a larger bag and more traditional mount, my wife has been very pleased with her Carradice Super C with KlickFix.

The Arkel mount is easy to remove and you can do so over and over. You have to align things a bit when putting it back because each bracket is independant.

The Ortlieb mount is fine. If you're a tinkerer it's not a big deal to mount. Much easier than a fender IMO. If you haven't experienced the joy, uh "joy" of mounting accessoies on your bicycle then this might get you thinking about why things seem like such a patch and kludge job when it comes to bicycles.

The last time I mounted a Klickfix it was more of a pain then the Ortlieb. I had heckuva time trying to get the wire to thread through the clamps correctly.

These couldnt be simpler.. if you have a Quill stem, ala Cinelli 1A/ Nitto.


http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...bag-mount.html

Interesting... Is it locked down somehow? I wouldn't want my bags to go flying if I hit a big bump. ;)

I also assume you can bend it, if you've got a threaded stem with a lot of rise.

the ortlieb mount is fine. i leave the mount for mine on my flat mountain bike handlebar... even when i got offroad, and of course i use it during tours. adds a wee bit of weight, but then again, what's the heaviest part of a bicycle?... i'd bet it's the engine...

don't sweat it, just get one that's secure and leave it there. you'd never know the sheer convenience of clipping on the handlebar bag for an overnighter or something close to that...

I have two Ortlieb Ultimate handelbar bags, and matching mounts that I leave on four of my bikes. I've found that once you get used to the convenience of a handlebar bag, you rarely want to ride without one (off-road MTB is probably the exception).

@spinnaker, not sure what you are thinking of when you say "Obviously you have never mounted an Ortlieb bag. They use a cable and not screws."

I have two different types of Ortlieb mounts, and both use screws as well as the cable.

For the OP, if you want a handlebar bag *mount* that is truly easy to take on and off, find an old-style Cannondale bar bag (or a knock-off version). These had a steel frame that simply looped over the handlebars and stem, and then the bag was kept from bouncing around by two straps that connected to the fork dropouts. Worked fine for all the years I used one, just not as sexy as the click-on/off style.

Lemme also add that the Ortlieb quick release can be locked so people can't just release it and take it off your handlebars.