Bike Mount - nice one Satmap!

philpugh · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:24 am Post subject: Bike Mount - nice one Satmap!

I bought the Active 10 bike mount as part of my Active 10 bundle - this week-end I decided to fix it to my bike as my cycling season is just starting (I know - I'm just a soft warm weather cyclist!)

I would like to put on record what a really good design the mount is .

It's solid and very simple. It can be mounted on a handlebar (as for most other things you put on a bike) but the head of the mount can be turned through 90deg to allow it to be mounted on the riser tube (if you have one) which places it right at the centre of the bar and makes it very easy to read and use whilst cycling. You could even mount it on the cross-bar if you wanted to - but it would be less useable in that position.

You have to fit a different battery cover on your Active10 as it incorporates the locking mount - but it's not a major problem and I think I will leave it on for now.

Well done SatMap!
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Phil

johno99 · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 02, 2008 Posts: 80

Agreed very robust design, I'm buying another clamp to fit to my motor bike.

John

Bosun · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject:

Fits all different diameters of tubes as well.

It even fitted on the main tube of my Brompton.

Ian

cwmboy · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

Yes, I agree as well. Just purchased one a week ago and mounted it on the riser tube of my MTB. Brilliant, rock solid even going full pelt along gravelly forest tracks and over tree roots. It even stayed on when I erm...came off! Fortunately rider, MTB and Satmap still in one piece. Made a nice change from using it for hiking and just as useful.
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rickwiggans · Lifetime Member Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 77

Just as an aside - (apologies if it's been mentioned before -I've done a quick search, and can't see a mention), - I assume everybody is aware that the mount is a poshed up Rixen Kaul klickfix mount. You can get a mini klickfix for about half the price of a Satmap one. Obviously, you need the original Satmap one first off, to get the modified battery cover, but, if like me, you then need another three for various bikes - it's worth thinking about. Agreed the Satmap one can be changed over, but I'd rather be riding my bike! And yes, the Satmap one will go round oversize tubes, but for stem or bar mounting, the R&K ones are fine

Rick

robs1972 · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

Soldado · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 13, 2009 Posts: 15

Golgotha · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 31, 2008 Posts: 9

Hi,

I've done some serious off-road biking using mine too and it is rock solid. However, I have had problems with the construction of mine. The metal barrel and the plastic strap guide have both fallen out of the body of the mount. That said, once put back together and tightened it works just as well. Pricey but well worth having.

Thanks for the Rixen Kaul klickfix tip. Ideal for my 2nd bike....

rickwiggans · Lifetime Member Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 77

This is where I got mine
http://www.hikebikeandride.com/Products/ViewProduct.aspx?Product=1360

Cheers

Rick

johnjackson · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 18, 2008 Posts: 17

The mount is a ABUS TEXKF MINI BRACKET
This has a fabric strap, the Kaul has a metal strap
see http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=10056&categoryID=512 or your local bike shop
RRP is £13.69 not much less than Satmap at £14.99.
I perfer to use the fabric strap to prevent damage to the bike and provide a better grip

rickwiggans · Lifetime Member Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 77

Mine was six quid. However, yer pays yer money and makes yer choice

Rick

MLank · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 3

I have not been so impressed/lucky with the mount. Before putting it on the bike I put the strap through the part that it locks too, then needed to undo it to put on the bike. Turning the cylinder anti-clockwise as suggested in the instructions, this required a lot of force and caused the plastic part through which the strap goes to break, rendering the mount useless.

I guess once fixed it has to be a permanent fixing, which is what Satmap are hinting at on the website when they say 'These bike mounts are rock solid once attached, and can be a bit time consuming to swap between bikes. '

For 'a bit time consuming' read 'liable to break'!

johnjackson · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 18, 2008 Posts: 17

MLank · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 3

wphil · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 06, 2007 Posts: 3

A word of caution there is a downside to the robust bike mount. Personally I don't like the fact that its design sits the Active 10 so up in the air in a prominent position. I have gone over the handlebars twice with my knee trying to take the A10 with it. What happens is the weakest link has to give and this is the attachement of the back cover. The cover bends as you try to lift the A10 from the bottom utill the little 'tag' releases resulting in the cover bending about the secure turn buckle holding the top of the back cover in place untill in my case the LiIon battery ends up dangling by its wires and you have a bent back cover.

I'd prefer a lower profile mount making the A10 less vulnerable in the first place and seconding perhaps a weak link in the mount that would fail first, ideally something releasable under high loads but something that breaks would be preferable to breaking the A10 back or loosing the battery or connection when it might be that the A10 would be useful to help get yourself rescued. On the latter point note the 'story' on the satmap website about the motorcyclist that was able to help get himself aid using his satmap after crashing off road - it says he had to retrieve the batteries first! Supposing he couldn't move or find them!

I've been considering trying to use the standard back and bolt something to it to use a lower profile mount. Anyone got any ideas or already looked into this?

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