Handlebar Bag
 

My LBS has a Topeak handlebar bag with mounting hardware and a map case at a good price. I've never used a handlebar bag, but have sometimes thought it would be a handy addition to my touring kit. What are your experiences with these bags? What features should one look for? Any specific brand recommendations? Any brands to look out for? Do they affect handling? What do you carry in yours? Any bad experiences with them? Anything you care to share on the subject would be appreciated.

:)

What is the mounting hardware like ?
In Europe the standard for removable bar bags is by Rixen and Kaul's Klickfix

http://klickfix.com/klickfixe.htm

My Carradice bar bag has it and it works pretty well. A built in map holder is really useful.
Ive never noticed any real change in handling, but they do make the front wheel misbehave when parking the bike.

the topeak bag is a good sturdy bag for touring it comes with mounting hardware that is a quick release to take the bag along when you go inside a store etc.

There are 3 sizes that i know of s m L . I had the larger size on a tour last year. the bag held up well but it is a bit heavier than the cannondale bag of the same size if that matters to you.

I Had a bit of a problem with the mounting hardware and had to make an emergancy fix with duct tape when i finially reached Topeak they replaced the hardware. All in all it is a good bag for a long tour.

as to what i kept in the bag..... map, wallet, sun screen, bandana, camra, some stuff to munch on while riding. and anything i thought id need quickly during the ride that day.

the bag never semed to effect the bike handling,although
I have read someplace too much weight in the h b bag on a fast decent you may get a frount wheel shimmey never happened tome though.
catfish

I use a REI handlebar bag that sounds very similar to the Topeak bag, whereas it can be instantly disconnected from the mounting bracket, and carried with you...very convenient. The map holder is excellent, would literally be lost without it. The only problem I have had is a little wear in the threads around the bag mounting bracket, think this is due to overloading on a tour...had my minidisk player in there with speakers...but REI has a very liberal return policy, so I know they would take it back. Good luck.

Hey I just returned from an offroad cycle trip on the Kettle Valley Railroad here in B.C. and I used Axiom's handle bar bag it was priced right and was fairly easy to remove and put back on. Actually all my touring gear is from Axiom and has held up to some rough trips. I think they must be native to BC because I have not heard anybody mention Axiom in the forums before. Anyways I did have one ***** about the bar bag and that was that it sanded a small part of the paint off during our trip. However the trip was all off road and the ride was not very smooth at the best of times.

I too use a handlebar bag (a Karrimor) with the excellent Klick Fix system. I also have it on my panniers and it works just as well there. Previously I used a bag that just had straps around the handlebar which left the bag hanging on the break cables.

The only thing I don't like about it is the map case; it's just too small. There are some bags (like this one) that has a much bigger (and removable) map case and I will probably go for one like that next time.

For me, it doesn't affect handling but I have done a lot of fully loaded touring and have had a handlebar bag on the bike for every ride longer than 15k during the last six years. But I can't remember any problems when I first started using one.

/Csson

I've got Axiom stuff, too. I took the handlebar bag off because I started using aerobars, and there wasn't room for both, but it worked well when I used it. It had the quick release mount also. I used it to keep personal stuff handy. It doesn't seem to affect bike handling, but I don't think you should let it get too heavy.

Thanks for your input, all!

Today I went ahead and bought the Topeak bag. Did I mention that it was at a good price? I installed it easily enough. Tomorrow I will take a shake down ride with it and see how it travels.