Klickfix handlebar harness

[lune ranger]

I saw this PDW Gear Belly bar harness a few days ago and it got me thinking:

https://www.condorcycles.com/products/p ... eid=196673

I like the look of the Rixen Kaul bracket. They are strong and stand off the bars well.
I like soft bags but hate all the strapping on and off involved.
The PDW is using an off the shelf Rixen Kaul basket holder. A bit of Googling shows you can buy the bracket separately.
My favourite harness is a Specialized one that attaches in a broadly similar fashion. I like how sturdy and neat it is and how it interferes very little with cabling etc. It’s a faff to take off though so it stays attached to one bike or another until I decide to switch it over.
My Google session showed that you can get a basket plate like PDW use that’ll go on a Klickfix bracket - rated for 7kg. That would make the system quick release - no harness when not bikepacking and an easy switch from bike to bike. Also easier packing when on a trip.
I just bought the bracket and basket plate and await delivery.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rixen-Kaul-K ... 890.l49286

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rixen-Kaul-S ... 890.l49286

I’m now just trying to decide whether to convert the Specialized harness or a Restrap one I also own.
In all likelihood I’ll go with the Spesh as I’ve mod’d that a little already. The Restrap will have better resale value as it’s in almost new condition.
I’ll link some photos when I’m done. I’m the meantime, is this something anyone else has tried?

[Bearlegged]

I've done similar with a Carradice saddlebag.
Like you say, solid, easy to attach, stands off bars nicely.
Downsides, the big ugly bracket on the bike when not in use, and it maybe pushes the weight forward a little more than one might want?

[lune ranger]

I was thinking of angling diagonally down as I already do with the Spesh - one advantage of an XL frame.
Ugly bracket I can live with - I’ve got an empty harness there right now.

[faustus]

Done similarly by Blackburn:
https://www.blackburndesign.com/p/outpo ... l-dry-bag/

[javatime]

I had thought of doing something similar but fixing the plate directly to the stuff sac, with a suitable stiffener inside or perhaps the tarp poles would prevent the stuff sac from sagging.

[thenorthwind]

Can definitely see the advantages, but I would worry about the long-term strength of a rigid plastic bracket on rough terrain. Hopefully that's unfounded and if you keep within the weight limit, which shouldn't be hard, it'll be fine.

[lune ranger]

I’ve used a Klickfix bracket for a trad bar bag on multi month, transcontinental trips in Africa and Asia, they’re plenty strong.

[belugabob]

I've taken the same route for my road bike (have a wildcat lion harness for my MTB) and attached a DrJon strapdeck, so that the dry bag can be attached via voile straps.
Haven't had chance to try it yet, due to Covid/work restrictions.

I'll post some pics, when I can.

(Yes, I did consider GFunk brackets, but they didn't have enough stand-off for my configuration)

[thenorthwind]

I’ve used a Klickfix bracket for a trad bar bag on multi month, transcontinental trips in Africa and Asia, they’re plenty strong.

Fair enough. Your experience trumps my gut feeling.

[lune ranger]

It’s good to be suspicious about the robustness of equipment until you find out otherwise
Rixen Kaul supply their brackets to a bunch of big name manufacturers, now including Ortleib.

[BigdummySteve]

I used one for ages with a large Alpkit double ended drybag, used some coraplast (the stuff that house for sale 'for sale signs' are made of ) as a stiffener, worked a treat.

[lune ranger]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/05DuSJa ... k-1GpJOlXA

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0VQICIO ... r_-_Huxham

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ljEZnJ ... r_-_Huxham

This is what I’ve ended up with as mounted on the Fargo.
I decided to convert the Restrap bag as it gives me the option of using the small accessory bag that comes with it or using my larger Rockgeist accessory bag when the situation calls for it.
As usual the position of my GPS and light needed adjustment. The light needs to sit on the bar loop. I’m not fond of that particular placement, it feels a bit vulnerable to crash damage.
The final position of the bag is great though. The Klickfix bracket is almost vertically down and all of the cables run without constraint.
All I need to do now is add a bracket to the Krampus and I’ll have a sleek interchangeable system.

[belugabob]

Bodgetastic!

I love putting together various bits and pieces, to arrive at a custom solution