Ortlieb Fork-Pack Review: First Look and Install

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Note: We state that the Fork-Pack has 3.2 liters of storage in the video. However, this spec was pulled from the Ortlieb USA website where it was mistyped. According to Ortlieb, the proper claimed volumetric specification is 4.1 liters. To solve this, we performed a water fill measurement test and found that it held about 4.5 liters, so 4.1 liters is a relatively safe estimate, albeit slightly conservative.

[@johalun]

4.5 liters is fully open, right? So in reality at least 1 liter goes away when you close it?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

​@@johalun I filled and folded the roll top three times with 4.5L of water in it.

[@verucakrm]

Neil, what would your confidence level be mounting this to a tumbleweed t rack on the back and doing off road bikepacking? (using the three bolts)

[@Incorruptus1]

What I would like to see Ortlieb make is a bag system with two fork bags, and a frame bag +4L, as well as a stem bag, +14L, and when you want to unpack the bike, the bags should be able to fit together for easier carrying, or like a back pack. So making a system that can be unmounted and take as a full carrier bag when combining them. To make it easy and theft safe on stops when traveling, and easy to gather unpack etc, which they seem to be able to do. I like their bags and quality.

[@s0012823]

Maybe another tip: Cut an an old inner tube to put between the bracket and the fork to prevent scratches.

[@vermonthillsumc]

The install part was more than helpful. So glad you took the time to do step-by-step and not assume we had seen that before.

[@pauloforestal1278]

It would be nice if @ortlieb put an air relase valve on the panniers. They put it one in all new seatpack and handlebar bikepacking line.

[@JeanPaul-Godtier]

Reading the instruction i thought "There must be a video of that" and i coudln't expect a better one !

[@gregh7387]

Another great review. I just discovered these fork bags the other day and plan to purchase now. I've always felt the fork has traditionally been under utilized as a carrying component. I used a band clamp system on my first gravel bike. My new frame now has mounts on the carbon fork. It surprises me to see manufacturers putting out gravel bikes w/o fork mounts?! I have carried water on my fork in the past but I think these bags provide more utility than water bottles. Water belongs in the main triangle and/or on your back imo :-)

[@vassiliosbartzokas922]

Hello, could you please advise the height of the QLS adapter plate? In the spec sheet it says 22cm/8.7in. but I am not sure if this refers to the bag or the adapter plate. Thanks in advance!

[@MFDopey85]

If i pack them lightly, can i used them on my carbon fork? I have a Trek Checkpoint

[@damonbradley8056]

Can the mounting plate be secured by only two fork braze ons as found on the Marin Four Corners?

[@johalun]

Thanks for a great review. I think this sold me on getting a pair for my mountain bike :)

[@fa1coner]

Looks great. Wish I'd seen this before my trip this weekend, seems like a much neater alternative to a cage and dry bag. Will have to get some for my next trip.

[@Bunny-Power]

Exactly what I was waiting for 😃

[@rw7172]

Why wouldn't it work for bladed carbon forks? My 'bcf' has one eyelet so I would have to us a hybrid installation method, no?

[@testalino]

I can't answer that, but some carbon forks might be designed to be light weight and not be designed to have a bag clamped to them. I would never clamp anything to my road bike fork for example. Just a thought...

[@petergilbert72]

Has anyone bought these? If so, would you mind measuring the distance between the top bolt and bottom bolt? On the suspension forks on my 20” wheels I’d need them to be within the range 9cm - 11cm apart. Thanks.

[@jwidm6028]

My experience on long gravelly descents using two bolt bottle cages and 1 liter bottles is having to tightened the bolts every mile. Was thinking loctite next time. Did you have that experience with these bags tightened to less than 1nm and no loctite? (PS, love this channel. You're the best.)

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

I actually use grease in all of the bolts that enter my frame, I should have mentioned that in this video. They not only keep the bolt from seizing, but it also keeps them in place, it might seem counter intuitive but it works. I will make sure we touch on this in the full review, I've only have the bags for a few weeks but they are not loosening up on me.

[@_smsb_]

ha! i went cheap and use 2 home depot small tool buckets. not waterproof, but hold quite a bit.

[@Winduc]

Thank you for this video much more explicit and friendly than a manual ;) Love your cap, do you think there will be stock again ?

[@shred3005]

I like that release from the base plate. Neat to remove so easily. I’ve got Ortlieb handle bar bag and was looking at different fork bags. This might be it.

[@willek1335]

For ultra long distance, a tip seems to be to drop the handlebar bag, panniers, *fork bags* and fork waterbottles. Focus on: ● Full frame bag with waterblader and possibly a tube. ● Aerobars with a water bottle between your bars to reduce turbulence. ● A bag behind your butt that sits snuggly under the seat and points backwards. The tailfinn packed full is a good example. However, the tailfinn is expensive for some. You can get a long way by MYOG, which means affordable. Use a traditional rack, a normal gym bag held down with bungies and a plastic lid to stiffen the bottom. Finish the custom rack bag with a tight rain cover to make it a bit more aero and clean looking. The result is an aerodynamic bike without things sticking out or space that creates turbulence. The bags rear position adds weight in the back. This distribution allow you to move your body forward over the aerobars, without the bodyweight creating safety problem. (Oversteering.) Source Windtunneltests: 'francis cade ultra distance aero' Practical tips: 'Bike and gear of the cross continental winner, GCN.'

[@Fleischerei]

Thanks for the info, it made me think a bit more if I even need fork bags. Sounds impactful

[@Dannnyzhukovets]

Please let me know anyone who has Giant Revolt and how did it go? Really appreciate in advance.

[@jazzguitarmichael9753]

Thanks for making this. It's very helpful, and well done.

[@ruairidhalexander7631]

I think the metal clamp bands will be stainless steel not aluminium as stated.

[@p0d0cyte]

Let’s decide on metric vs imperial system units please. Centimeters, pounds, and grams.......good thing I like math and calculations. Joking aside, love the videos!

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

I was waiting for this comment. Would you like me to stick with one and have the other in text form within the video? Thanks for watching!

[@timdechiller20]

@@BIKEPACKINGcom Yes! Metric, since your audience is international, but imperial in text form

[@PBlaik]

Damn I wish my 2018 Salsa Warbird had fork mounts!!! I love those bags....

[@thibaudepeche]

You don't need fork mounts :) that's what's great about this product

[@umutdikim]

How about mounting them on a carbon fork with only 1 eyelet? (1 bolt mount and the second mount with the metal thing?) I dont understand why Ortlieb says no-no for carbon forks. Is it because they are generally tapered from top to bottom and in that sense the bag would eventually slide down and get loose? Or is it because the carbon mold is not designed to be squeezed in any way?

[@garyives1218]

REI is expecting them in January

[@Lepercurtidoo]

Thanks for this nice video. Although Ortlieb says that these bags shouldn't be mounted on carbon forks I'm glad you showed it's OK. I mounted them on my Salsa Fargo with carbon forks and I was a bit worried...

[@Incorruptus1]

What I would like to see Ortlieb make is a bag system with two fork bags, and a frame bag +4L, as well as a stem bag, +14L, and when you want to unpack the bike, the bags should be able to fit together for easier carrying, or like a back pack. So making a system that can be unmounted and take as a full carrier bag when combining them. To make it easy and theft safe on stops when traveling, and easy to gather unpack etc, which they seem to be able to do. I like their bags and quality.

[@onuno2780]

Hi there. I wondering buying this set, but I still have one doubt that I cant find an answer to. Does the 2 steel straps, made to fix the bracket to a fork without mounting eyelets, is it possible to mount in a carbon road fork without damaging it? Do you know the answer to this? thanks and congrats for the channel

[@alexcasal3207]

Great work here Neil. Very well explained. Looking forward for the long term review!

[@ClaudioLoraiMeli]

Tutto quello che mostri è nella confezione? Grazie

[@murdocktm1]

Any suggestions for how to offset my 2017 cutthroat fork bolt set up (angled too far forward to use these, bc of wheel rub) so that I can get them to be more of a side-mounted.

[@Mike-vd2qt]

Thanks, old school bike tourist trying to figure out something for my gravel bike instead of standard low-riders.

[@LaufradshopRheinau]

I have on my carbon fork 2 threads with 17cm distance. So is it possible to mount the bag? My bike is the trek Checkpoint AL 4. Thanks in advance

[@kan708]

Anyone know where I can find the long term review for this product?

[@jm-btt]

55.80€ for a single bag ! For me, is very expensive. Other options ?

[@terrybuccambuso7917]

On a suspension fork, what height above the axle would you recommend?

[@O2Bgoona]

I've considered this. But there is a warning on the product not to use it on tapered forks. Anyone know the reason for this, or tried it anyway?

[@edmundo8373]

Would this work on older foks (80s bikes) that don't have a straight blade?

[@buzzboykin9982]

Would this work on the two boss setup on the Specialized Diverge carbon? As far as spacing and support?

[@samcox1842]

Similar question, can you attach the plate with just two bosses that are 2.5 inches apart?

[@Colleenann61]

I have mine mounted on my Norco Search with just two bolts. Took it on a bikepacking overnight. They were solid.

[@grahamperkins9542]

At 1.5 lbs for the pair, perfect size, and Ortleib quality, they look enticing.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

Lovely. Just wish the adapter was a bit smaller and more elegant. Carbon instead of plastic.

[@vkdeal]

I have a Norco Search XR with a carbon fork with only two eyelets - would it work with that?

[@Adventuregirl96]

Thank you for that review. I have been looking for something to work on my Timberjack.

[@pwneruknowit]

Can you use the King Cage Universal Support Bolt set up for this install on the forks?

[@prostatusbro]

I took a drink each you said "basically"

[@larstueschjth2658]

The sus.fork.....looks like a klikfix mount🕵️

[@Fishd1]

6.6 lbs? you mean 3kg? ;) Neat looking pack though, would consider this instead of the Salsa cage setup.

[@samuraioodon]

any long term review? wonder how durable it is. thank you.

[@mrpana]

great video - thank you! :)

[@nadimlahlahi7337]

What´s the reason why it won´t work on carbon forks?

[@cemsonmez6322]

Super explanation ! What is the reference of your wrecking tool please ?

[@dougtarter8713]

Nice job! Works great on my Niner RLT.. Sleek/Aero/Works!

[@GeekonaBike]

I'd luv one with twice as much storage.

[@timothybradley2477]

Superb thanks crystal clear 👍

[@flexboss]

Anyone tried these with a Tailfin Aeropack without pannier mounts? Since the Tailfin alu arch has fork mounts as well I’m curious to know if these could work as ”mini” panniers 🤔

[@chrisrebbeck]

Thinking of doing exactly this

[@zekemead]

What is that sweet tool/socket deal?!?

[@Jonathan-wj8tc]

Great review in all details. Got all my questions answered.

[@garyives1218]

Having a serious dangit moment here. I just recently got 2 Oveja Negra Bootleggers which are 2L , 180g. I really like the company and bags.........but I think I'd really appreciate the extra liter per leg of these Ortleib. Actually I'm 100% sure I'd appreciate the extra liter per leg.

[@pfwitucki]

Same: love Oveja Negra and the BL bags as well though. Just think of the liters of stuff we won't be overpacking!

[@nomap2161]

Not to worry, Ortlieb says they won't be available until January 2021.

[@shawnomara9176]

Would you suppose the plate could securely mount to a rack that has cage mounting capabilities, such as the tumbleweed racks? I am curious if it's necessary for the plate to have the larger surface area contact that comes with mounting it to the fork. Appreciate all the content! Thanks!

[@jameswinkler2963]

Yes, the spine attaches to cage eyelets.

[@willalm830]

Over priced by a mile

[@downtofun]

Great video! Thanks for that.

[@emiliejade1910]

A neater solution than the cage I have at the moment.

[@skml_8008]

cool

[@myamya8340]

nice🔥

[@BradAnkenman]

What do you recommend for carbon forks without mounts?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

If you are looking to uses these with a carbon fork it must have eyelets built into the fork.

[@longrider42]

I'll stick with my Low Rider front rack. Helps stabilize the front wheel on fast down hills. No Death Wobble.