Jethro, I was hoping to find a good review of the Topeak DX handlebar bag like yours at RU-vid. Thank you! I'm sold, and this will match my Topeak MTX Trunkbag DXP quite well. And, thanks for addressing Topeak's clever top bar for mounting a front light on top -- I was worried about the bag preventing the use of a front light. Cheers!
Thanks for watching. I've used the bag a lot since I made this video and am still liking it. I actually don't use the front light mount much as the bag does cast a shadow on the ground just in front. It's not too bad but can be a bit annoying if you ride in total dark. I find mounting a little LED light on the front of the bag itself just as good.
It's a great bag. The only downside is the rain cover which can get a bit annoying to take on and off. I've heard some people say they sealed the actual bag with spray on water proofer but I never tried it. Sadly, it doesn't really fit on my new bike so is currently sitting un-loved on a shelf. Where are you heading for your two weeks off?
@@JethroJessop Not really sure which direction it's probably the N of Scotland maybe the western Isles depends on the weather or maybe Ireland and N England and S Scotland make my mind up later this week. I think Portugal/Spain is a bit risky just now but looking forward to just getting out and wandering about with my bike and Big Agnes tent. Great recommendation by the way I love it.
@@donnacampbell6967 that sounds like you are living the absolute dream. Wandering the wilderness in no particular direction. I hope the weather turns out for you wherever you end up. I'd love to visit Scotland again one day, its been a few years since I was up there. (Glad you like the tent)
@@JethroJessop Lots of hidden gems in Scotland where you can disappear leave your bike & gear and just go climbing or chill out. Cannich outside Inverness is brill at the bottom is Glen Afric which is awesome and then further up there is Glenstrathfarrer. Go through the Estate gate pedestrians and cyclists are allowed (cars are banned) then ride up the glen for 20 miles at the Hydro dam at Loch Monar the single track road ends. Around you, you have 3 Munro's in a majestical aphitheater camp anywhere you fancy except during August when the deer shooting is on. Eagles, Mountain Goats. herds of deer wandering about Swans on the lochs (2) no people anywhere Time it right say spring and the mountain tops are snowcapped. Just absolutely incredible like out of a movie UK is just fantastic for bike touring it's just about knowing and getting some nice weather to wander.
@@donnacampbell6967 I couldn't agree more. There is an adventure to be had in most places of you know the right way to look at the world, and you definitely do by the sounds of it. I've passed through Inverness on a couple of rides but never that particular spot, it sounds amazing. I be ridden through the Cairngorms and up on the north coast and it was breathtaking. When the sun comes out and you see that it isn't all just brown but actually away with colour and the gorse is flowing in great yellow heaps by the trail. Ah, that's the life. I want to be out there again. I hope your trip delivers all this and more. Let me know how it goes.
Good review, thx! Probably a dumb question, when you switched the bolt with the cable hole, what was the cable for? Also, is the mounting gear plastic?
Alex Davis The cable loops under the handle bar mount and I think is just extra support to stop the whole thing sagging when it gets bumpy. The mount is mostly plastic yes but it is really sturdy. I'm currently 700 miles into a ride to Sweden (see my other vids) and I'm still really pleased with this bag
Thank for the video. I am considering upgrading from the smaller bag to the larger one. One problem is I find the smaller bag tends to sag, as there is only a back plate for support and the fabric sags under weight. Do you notice any issues with your larger? Thank you again, very informative!
Joe Brod I am just over 1000 miles into a summer cycle tour and I haven't noticed any significant movement in mine at all. It seems really sturdy, and I tend to load it up quite a bit and hit some fairly rough tracks. I'm still really happy with it
@@JethroJessop I too have about 500 miles on mine and it's holding up fine. Other bags I've owned did indeed sag about 500 to 1000 miles into owning them, but this one shows no indication of even beginning to do that. This bag is the sturdiest bag I've owned, which is why it isn't sagging yet, but that sturdiness comes at a price and that price is weight, though the Tourguide DX is not heavy in the terms of holding it in your hand but I did notice it was a bit heavier than my previous bag but the DX is also a bit larger; the weight thing doesn't bother me and I don't care because I know it has sturdy construction and heavy duty fabric so I know it will last a long time.
@@frozerekmeyata4091 glad to hear it is working out for you. I'm putting a load more miles on mine as we speak. I'm currently riding up the West coast of Denmark heading for Norway. Check back here for videos from the road!
@@JethroJessop I went through a 4 hour downpour, and even with the rainfly on I still had stuff get damp inside, so I've now sprayed both the bag and the rainfly with waterproofing spray, but this needs to be reapplied every season. I also keep stuff I don't want to get wet in ziploc bags as added protection. Since I've sprayed the bag and the fly I haven't had any more issues with dampness, but I use the ziploc bags anyways just in case.
@@frozerekmeyata4091 I have actually considered doing a follow up review to this and mentioning the water proof issue because I have experienced the same since I made this. Even in less than a downpour the inside quickly gets wet and the rain cover is, as you say, almost useless. I too keep phone etc in a little inner dry bag now but I like the idea of actually waterproofing it. What product did you use?
Good review but you need to cut back on the espresso you looked hyped up when installing the bag... Anyways, you sold me on the bag due to one reason, a reason not mentioned on Topeaks website! And that is the extra piece you found that you can mount a headlight to and probably a computer or GPS. The mounting of a headlight is a huge stumbling block for me on these handlebar bags, the only solution I could find was mounting the light on a special knob that attaches to the front fork dropout and hub via the skewer, so your review solved that issue for me because I prefer the light up higher, so thanks again.
I don't remember being particularly wired that day but thanks for the feedback :) I'm still using the bag regularly and still totally happy with it. I did mount my light on the bracket BUT I'd point out that it was quite a tall one that already stood up on a little arm and even that casts a pretty big shadow from the bag. I also have used my little Lezyne Zecto light just by clipping it to the loop on the front face of the bag. This is fine if you are riding on roads but waggles around a lot on rough ground. Recently I tried out a couple of bigger MagicShine lights (check my other vids for a review of them) and have found it much better to use a helmet light or mount them on my bar ends. I think the bracket included with the bag is really mostly aimed at mounting bike computers. Cheers for watching
@@JethroJessop I found that with my light on it shook pretty bad, so I used black zip ties and cynched them tightly around the riser and the bracket and that stopped the shaking. Apparently with the riser installed the base of the riser in the rear bounces up and down on the bracket, so zip ties secured it.
Edit: The Tourguide DX is NOT very water resistant, while yes it comes with a rain fly but that too I found didn't prevent heavy rain from getting stuff damp inside the bag, so I bought some waterproofing spray and sprayed several coats on both, the bag and the fly, and no more damp stuff inside; of course with a spray on product it has to be reapplied once a year. Even with that shortcoming it's the best bag I've ever owned, and all the other bags weren't waterproof either! Not sure why they don't make all handlebar bags waterproof, I think that's nuts considering the manufactures know they're being used outdoors and outdoors means there will be rain, I guess I just have too much common sense, sorry.
I doubt it. I can get my 15" Macbook in on end, diagonally but half of it sticks out of the top and is not at all secure. It also isn't completely waterproof. The opening is about 24cm x 13cm (27cm diagonal. The inner space is around 18cm deep. I'd say look at panniers if you need to transport a laptop.
