Squeezebox

Trying to post some photos.

Squeezebox

I don't understand why I'm still having so much trouble with posting photos. GEEZ!!!
But here are some photos of the Trek fork rack system. 1st notice the bar that mounts to the fork. Mounting holes are 6 1/2 inches apart. I had to shim out the mounting bar on the left side for fender and disc reasons.
Then the thing I will call the "carrier". It slides onto the mounting bar and clicks in place. Then the 7 L dry bag is attached with velcro straps. To take off, push a tab and pull off. About as much as taking off a handlebar bag. It's a dry bag with a plastic loop, easily used for hanging as a food bag if you're in one of those parts of the world. Wt. is a bit less than 1 1/2 lb. half the wt of a tubus rack and small panniers, yes 14 L vs whatever. But Trek's retail price is $200, sounds pricey. But a Tubus rack and small ortliebs will set you back almost twice that. The fabric is much thinner than what ortlieb uses, but it's a 7 lb limit for each bag. Plenty enough for clothes or rain gear.
Maplewood Bicycles here in St. Louis has a few more to sell at less than 1/2 price.
They bought several Trek 720s as rental bicycles, so they have the bags for sale.
I have no attachments to Maplewood bicycles.

fietsbob

I've only seen one 720.. a special order.. in the marketplace, Note Salsa has a anything bottle mount HD , and a bag but its black

as I see using g'gl.

OK, you figured out a workaround to use the 720 bags on a different bike's fork, the 920.. thanks for Sharing..,

Squeezebox

What's the standard distance from fender bolt to center fork bolt?? I wonder if it will work on non-Trek forks
I'm not saying it's the best thing since sliced bread, just worth looking at.

indyfabz

How easy are they to get into if you need something on the road?

fietsbob

How easy is it to get into any roll closed dry bag, ? Its like that..

saddlesores

is this a valid comparison?

half the weight and half the storage space and half the
carrying capacity and half the material durability and half
the quality.......for half the price?

how do the bags+racks compare to salsa's version?
salsa cages come in two styles.....resin/plastic
web style, and a metal bottle cage style.

any stability issues? do the bags flop around
when fully loaded or half loaded?

trek bags are quick release, right? are the
mounts usable for anything else? salsa cages
appear to hold the bags in the rack using straps.
without the bags, cages can hold other stuff,
like large water bottles, non-salsa brand
dry bags.....or whatever.

salsas also seem to be much cheaper .....about
30 bucks each for the bags (if you need them),
and 30 bucks each for either style of rack....
which can be used without the brand-specific dry bags.
$120 for a full set vs. $200 for the trek version.

have you actually taken zombie-killer out for a
ride with these bags attached? tried them half
laden, fully laden? one side half, other side full?
how do they faire on rough, byumpyful surfaces?

blackburn is in, too, with the outpost water
bottle cage. 3rd photo shows mounted on
fork. 25 bucks or less.

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...ost-cargo-cage

Happy Feet

I'm kinda glad you posted those pics because they illustrate a point I made when you discussed these before. Looking at the way the plastic holder is mounted away from the fork by two 5mm bolts (especially in pic 3), how long until the side to side torsion of loaded bags pivoting on those points breaks out the plastic around the bolts. My guess, not long. Then you are left with two very expensive dry bags.

Jaywalk3r

I couldn't find them on Trek's Web site. That, combined with the clearance prices you found, indicate they've been discontinued. I wouldn't expect the design to be able to withstand the rigors of touring for very long.

indyfabz

Which is why I would never use such a bag.

BigAura

Ortlieb front panniers: 25 liters, 47 ounces, $96.24

BigAura

+1 Probably discontinued or being redesigned. I'd be looking at the bag's plastic mounting as a possible weak point. It looks kinda flimsy. Especially if off-road and packed with heavier items.

martinez77

nice bag,what this bag shiped???bump

fietsbob

salsas anything cage, 1 is metal , the HD isa plastic composite..

yea it's not like a pannier, but superlight touring eschews volume , too..

Squeezebox

I think the Trek bags and the salsa everything mount is designed well for the intended use. Credit card touring or such. Surely not for an expedition. Probably not for single track where you'll beat them into trees and such. But okay for the Katy, or for a ride out to a friends house where you need a set of street clothes when you get there.
A place for everything, and everything in it's time!!
And the price from Maplewood bicycles is about the same the Salsa "rack" even without the dry bags.

fietsbob

Well Yea they're Take Offs . they really did not cost them anything , they came one pair per 720..

seems a really fancy Bike for a rental fleet ** but squeezebox obviously does not live in Ferguson MO

Or the Ozark Mountains.

** here we have single speed Cruiser bikes for the LBS rentals ..

saddlesores

but $200 retail (if still available, not discontinued) seems
pricey, even if you're into the oompah-loompah clown look.

$50-75 or so will get you a seatpost clamp rear platform
and an insulated box/chest, maybe even expandable,
with a shoulder carry strap.

maybe a third the price and your bike won't look like it's got
a terminal case of mumps.

*if you google "bontrager 720 dry bag" you'll find
bags available online for $40 each.

*maplewood in st. louis also has the dry bags at
$40 each, and sells the mounting brackets for the
720 bags separately for $60 each, and they also
have the salsa HD for $35.

Squeezebox

I got mine for much less than your quote. Much closer to the price of a pr of Salsa hangers by themselves w/o bags.

Timequake

The plastic attachment system seems pretty weak. No support for the sides of the bag and nothing holding them away from the bike. I imagine the bag would flop around - sort of rotate around your fork a bit and end up in the spokes.

Squeezebox

I humbly disagree.
I think the Salsa and the Blackburn attachments look much weaker than the Trek, and they do weigh significantly less. But any of the 3 make an interesting alternative to a front rack and panniers.

Timequake

Well I'm only going off the photos. I've never used any of them. My early 80's Blackburn Lowrider rack still has years of life left in it, so it looks like I'll be sticking with the old technology for the foreseeable future.

saddlesores

i'm not understanding what's going on here.
why are you pushing trek® merchandise so hard?
is it just validation for your own purchases?

you started i don't know how many scores of
threads, a veritable cornucopia, on the 920.
then you bought one, and you never rode it.

now you're on a fork bag binge, recommending
them though you've never used them. offering
them as an alternative to the front rack and
panniers you've also never used.

why not fill up those grooooovy fork bags and
take zombie-killer™ out for a spin. let us know
how the bike handles with various amounts
of stuff loaded on various surfaces.

or as an alternative, you could head down to
maplewood cycles and buy some more trek®
gear on sale, take it home and throw it on a
pile in the basement, and start a dozen new
posts.

Squeezebox

Not recommending them, just pointing out they exist, and where you can get a set cheap. If you so choose.