Aushiker

I am wondering if anyone has any hands-on experience with the Ortlieb Fork-Pack. I did look at the Tailfin Fork Packs, but there are a few negative reviews on Amazon indicating failures plus paying $AU400 + is well getting into Lala land, so I am back to considering the Ortliebs. Just hard to find any user experience.


As they stand they seem the most cost effective option for me if they are durable.

str

Sea to Summit River bags, they come in 5 and 8L. attached to a titanium KING cage, nothing lighter and cheaper.

gauvins

I have them. Very pleased. I also carry 2 x 5L dry bags attached to the rear rack. Fork packs can be attached/detached much faster. They also provide easier access to content. No sign of wear after months and thousand of kms. Completely waterproof.

Aushiker

That is great and I am pleased it works for you, but it was not what I asked about so not sure why you posted here.

Aushiker

Excellent. That is the information I need. I was a bit concerned, given the mount is plastic, but it is interesting that the Tailfin Fork Packs mounts, which are aluminium, have been failing for several people. This is the way to go, as it involves the least hassle and provides a robust, cost-effective solution to my situation.

john m flores 

I've got the smaller 4.1 liter ones and I like them so far. Like gauvins mentioned, they are super easy to take on and off, which is nice. And the plastic mounting system looks pretty sturdy, with plenty of reinforcing bits. I don't have a ton of miles on them, but they've survived miles of gravel, some rocky singletrack, and a crash so far.

str

""""plus paying $AU400 + is well getting into Lala land""""

oh, sorry, very sorry that I posted here. Iam, very sorry again! really sorry, please forgive me.

Atlas Shrugged

Work great. Thousands of miles, works as promised. Reliable, durable and easy to mount and remove. One feature people forget is the ease to carry when off the bike. Would purchase again 100%.

veganbikes

I have them and so far I love them. Granted I haven't put a ton of time with them and haven't done any tours but did go grocery shopping yesterday and they saved me as my pannier was full and wouldn't close so I shoved a bunch of stuff in them and worked like a charm. They haven't moved and are pretty easy to install and waterproof for sure but they are Ortlieb so if they weren't waterproof I would be scared. I have little doubt these things will last forever.

If you want to see tiny pictures (because something happened in transferal from my phone or uploading to PedalRoom) of them mounted:
https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/charl...5oh-yeah-50606

I think the anything type cages are cool but I think I like this more in terms of ease of use and no straps to worry about but the anything type cages tend to look better without bags.

Aushiker

Selective quoting, really

Let me help you out. Emphasis (bold) added to aid comprehension.

Subject line: Ortlieb Fork-Pack

What I said in all its glory:

"I am wondering if anyone has any hands-on experience with the Ortlieb Fork-Pack. I did look at the Tailfin Fork Packs, but there are a few negative reviews on Amazon indicating failures plus, paying $AU400 + is well getting into Lala land, so I am back to considering the Ortliebs. Just (sic) hard to find any user experience."

See, that little quote you took of my words was about the Tailfin Fork Packs. I thought that was pretty obvious, but maybe not. Anyway, I hope this post helps you understand what was being asked. Of course, if you need clarification at any time, please ask. I really don't bite.

Aushiker

Thanks, John. It is great to hear that they working well for you, and I do like the neat way they mount and look on the bike. Given my lack of mounting options this seems the best option so I am pretty sure I will go this way.

Aushiker

Thanks. This is reassuring. Ortlieb here I come

Aushiker

[QUOTE=veganbikes;23200696]I have them and so far I love them. Granted I haven't put a ton of time with them and haven't done any tours but did go grocery shopping yesterday and they saved me as my pannier was full and wouldn't close so I shoved a bunch of stuff in them and worked like a charm. They haven't moved and are pretty easy to install and waterproof for sure but they are Ortlieb so if they weren't waterproof I would be scared. I have little doubt these things will last forever.

Thanks for the feedback.

I have them on my Salsa Fat bike and I am very happy with them. That bike has the advantage of having the mounting points on the fork so no need to sort that out as I will have to do with the new bike. The Ortliebs appear to get around the problem of no mounts at a reasonable cost and with an effective mounting method for suspension forks.

veganbikes

[QUOTE=Aushiker;23201208]No worries happy to help. Mine is mounted on a 3 hole set up so I haven't had a chance to try them on suspension forks but I might see if I can get mounts and try it.

gauvins

As always, incredible picture. (albeit totally inappropriate

You have an opinion on the aesthetics of fork packs vs dry bags? And more generally, on packing systems? Not that I care much about aesthetics (see below), yet...

[Taken somewhere between Calais and Dover. 1. the pack on top of the rack is loaded with food. (I was, after all, entering the UK from France... precautions were in order); 2. very unappealing theft target 3. and notice the red pack on the left, vs black on the right. On purpose so I can tell where are my socks, at a glance. ]

(keep the pics coming -- summer is still weeks ahead)

Aushiker

[quote=veganbikes;23201213]You can see the suspension fork mounting system at ~ 6:06 mark in the video below:


I particularly like the use of the band with a tensioning screw over the use of cable ties.

str

Thanks.
I don't like it when these little fork pack stand out a lot, and thats the case with the ortlieb bags. Of course it works, for sure.

veganbikes

[QUOTE=Aushiker;23201303]It works well, ABUS uses that for their folding locks and it is fantastic. My lock on my Supercharger hasn't moved at all I bet there is a clear mark where it has sat unmoved for 3000+ miles. Cable ties and zip ties are fine but honestly this is a much better system overall and I have fewer worries about UV damage or breaking one (even though they make specific high strength UV resistant ties.

indyfabz

Heh. I climbed Tiscar from Quesada to Pozo back in the day. Great view of the Sierra Nevada poking through the clouds.

Poor scan of a slide.

str

Great, you had beautiful views!

indyfabz

The manager of the campground outside of Pozo gave me a bottle of wine after I told her I had come from Cazorla over Tiscar.

str

Did you explore the off roads there? very beautiful. And the old town of Cazorla is very nice.

indyfabz

No. It was only my second tour and my first solo one. I was leery of dirt. I spent the night in Cazorla. It was cold, and snow was still visible on the surrounding hills, but I had a great lunch of conejo.

roadfix

So far, on my rigid fork, I like the Salsa Anything cradle, for the main reason that I can strap any cylindrical dry bag or oversized water bottles. I use a pair of Sea to Summit 4liter dry bags with rounded bottoms. I like this configuration.