Just been reading Stu's review of the Monkii Gorilla cage mounting system - http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co ... eview.html which raises some questions (which may have been answered in a an old thread somewhere)

How do they compare with a bar mounted harness/bag, specifically with regard to bike handling? I don't find the bar mounted systems get in the way that much but I've a 29er and I can still see the front of the bike easily so I'm not riding blind as it were. For me, the main downside of bar mounted harnesses is that mounting a light to the bar isn't ideal.

How does dirt thrown up by the wheel affect the bag itself? Do you need an extra strong bag to cope with any abrasion between it and the straps?

Finally what are the forks with the pre-drilled mounts?

I was close to hitting the button on a pair of clips and cages, decided against it after realising how much extra width it would add to the front of the bike. I didn't like the idea of clipping a bag at speed and it being pushed in to the front wheel. I decided not to bother in the end. I know this doesn't answer your question, but it's just my opinion on fork mounted stuff.

How does dirt thrown up by the wheel affect the bag itself?

It doesn't get that dirty, anything thrown up by the front wheel doesn't get directed towards the bags.

Do you need an extra strong bag to cope with any abrasion between it and the straps?

There's no more abrasion between the straps on a cage and bag and the straps on a front harness and bag ... I just use the standard Alpkit Airloks.

Finally what are the forks with the pre-drilled mounts?

Many offerings from Surly and Salsa have the 3 mounts. Genesis fitted them to the Longitude last year and this year too ... in fact this (next) years model actually comes with a pair of Gorilla cages.

Singular Rooster has the mounts on the forks as well.