Great review mate! Those drone shots are so cool and really shows off how rock solid the Tailfin system is! Thanks for showing the thru-axle installation steps, as thru-axles still confuse the heck out of me. I'd emailed Tailfin and received a somewhat helpful answer about the thru-axle compatibility, but as the saying goes, a picture (i.e. your video...) is worth a thousand words! Just one minor comment, which someone else had already mentioned: the bag closures operate like a 'dry bag' where you roll the opening a few times and then clip it down.
Thank you for such a complete review. I have been looking for how the unit connects to the through axle or the quick release. Not even the manufacture shows how it's done. great review!!!
It genuinely looks brilliant. I'm planning on building a bikepacking setup for long (2000+km) rides, and the more I look at the Tailfin, the more I'm thinking about buying it for this purpose. The price is quite steep, might be the only deterrent really.
@@thomasjousse2427 TailFin for the looks and feel. Or something like the Tubus Airy (weighs about the same as the TailFin, isn't carbon but titanium, costs less than half of what TailFin costs). Both are rated to about the same weight (ca. 27kg load). I have both (a 2019 TailFin X ONE, a 2021 TailFin X TWO - and a Tubus Airy rear rack and TailFin, Vaude (and previously also Ortlieb) panniers & trunk bags / TailFin AeroPack). Each has its own advantage (I do prefer TailFin's visuals and the small tolerances of its pannier fastening interface), but on a couple of counts the Airy the better, as well. One thing I recommend against - is the UltraLight panniers: go for the Durable ones instead - or a much more affordable, almost as good (and often somewhat larger capacity) third-party ones with adapters. Reason: the UL pannier material is the most fragile I have used to date: the bike might fall from a stationary (!) position, and the minor friction against the tarmac would literally abrade and puncture the UL pannier. At twice the price of quality Ortlieb or Vaude panniers, but only a fraction of the durability, the UL is a waste of money. With that said, the interface between the pannier and the rack is excellent, delightfully precise. TailFin panniers are also quite narrow for aerodynamics (meaning, they won't hold the same volume of luggage (especially inflexible items) as an Ortlieb / Vaude. While ordering a TailFin rack, do not forget accessories (i.e., more axles of the size and TA thread pitch of your other frames, QR ones for older bikes or thread-on frame mount adapters for bikes with rear rack eyelets), a light adapter, perhaps a longer set of top stays that will soon be sold as well; Cargo Cages, etc.
Yep. I had to do this just the other day to clear a bag and it worked fine upside down. Can't imagine riding without a radar anymore now that I have been. It's a godsend.
Do you think this bag is big enough to hold a quilt, UL Sleeping pad, Inflatable pillow and UL Stove kit? I really want to buy this to get away from seatpost bags and have about 8" of clearance between the bike and the base of the saddle. Thank you for reviewing this.
Receiving my X rack today! Very excited! No more sweaty back from a backpack! I also have the Garmin varia rtl 510. A solution for mounting the rtl may be to purchase the seat post extender. This may give more clearance from the top bag to the seat post. Great review as always!
Looking forward to an overnight ride to Victor Harbor this weekend. I've been looking at The TF system and needed a video like this to decide. What kind of drone do you have
@@TheCrossroads09 Hope I can return this time next year, assuming we have a vaccine for Covid. I have no desire to park my arse in a hotel for two weeks :(
@@GravelCyclist 😁 I must have been too busy typing to read it. Was wondering with you reviewing the tailfin are we going to see a ride that lasts longer than a day?
@@moo4rich Haha, no worries. I often forget to verbalize stuff in the review and post comments over the top. I'll be using the Tailfin on some future adventures as the weather cools down a bit. Those will be at least two days, and will likely appear in my ride experience videos.
Great review JOM. You definitely answered the questions I had about this system and more. It's so solid its rather amazing. Anyone interested in a pair of Classic Ortlieb rolltop panniers in excellent condition? Or maybe not. Need to dig a bit on the adapters. Love this system. ;)
Hi. I like your video channel. I ride a gravel bike. It's colder here and winter is coming. Snow will fall around December and melt only in April. If you have the opportunity to test something for winter skiing, I would be happy to see it. For example, studded winter tires. Best wishes, Dmitry B. Sorry for the computer translation.
I wanted to buy the take off ap20 bag set as well but somehow i am afraid that someone could come and steal my rack. Otherwise.. I giess u never leave your bike where someone could take it off. So this set up makes the most sense to me. I have an xl frame... The recommend the SHORT connector stay for the seat post.. Would u second that? Cheets
If you want to disable the quick release on the axle there is a screw with the kit that you can use that screw the quick release part together on each side of the axle. Also can be a piece of mind if you really want to ensure there is no chance of the quick release coming of during a rough ride (not that I'm saying it might as no experience to indicate it might )
These guys would appear to have a wonderfull product. We live in NZ and went to website to purchase. The prices were in $NZ and we were then charged in $Aus. When we complained no acknowledgement or apology. We cancelled the transaction and were refunded 3.5% less than we paid. Beware the FX rates charged are extortionate.
I so wish I was home visiting right now. Covid Quarantine + fee is untenable. The last time I visited the Gold Coast was as young lad in 1995 at the Indy Car Race! I definitely need to do some riding in QLD.
Panniers aren't my bag so to speak, I much prefer the Trunk bag. I would choose carbon for that application. I have no qualms about the strength of the product, it all depends on your budget as the carbon options adds some $$$ to the overall cost, but does drop the weight.
@@GravelCyclist Thoughts on the alloy with bolt on cage capability vs the carbon that does not? Also, enjoyed your Madras Video as I am in Portland, OR it opens up some options for Central Oregon riding.
Just a suggestion, get yourself a Varia Seat-Post Quarter Turn Mount. Once that is bolted on it won't go anywhere. In addition to the Varia, I also have a Cycliq Fly6 and a Botrager Flare tail light. I purchased from Shapways Fly6 to Garmin and Flare to Garmin Quarter Turn Adapters. Which allow me to change units without having to change the attachment mount.
Alfred, I obtained the Garmin quarter-turn mount since this review appeared. No problems now. There is some nice 3D printed stuff on the Shapeways website.
Thanks for the review. I have had my eye on this system for a while. I did see a video which tested various bike packing setups in a wind tunnel and the trunk bag tail fin setup was far and away the most aerodynamic. I would be interested in a couple of the tee shirts.
Jom.. I solved your rear taillight issue.. 😎 get new lights. That Garmin only produces from 29-65 lumens, while the lezyne KTV 75 only produces 75 lumens. I’ve been running my seesense.cc Icon 2 rear light (300 lumens) all summer on my tailfin setup, w the same rear taillight mount, also using rubber bands like the garmin, no issues, no drama. Plus, at 300 lumens, you’ll be seen 3 kilometers away. Maybe you can do a review of rear bike lights-I don’t understand all these products w low lumen output. Nick at tailfin made one heck of a bit of kit, no doubt! Through review of the TF kit. Cheers.
It's because rear lights are 'be seen' lights only (as you're not riding backwards...). You don't need a lot of lumens for that - 300 lumens for a rear light is frankly overkill... It's also why front lights vary so much in lumens (or have settings to adjust the lumens), since there are 'be seen' front lights as well as 'see' front lights that help you see where you are going in the dark (e.g. if you are riding somewhere at night without street lights).
I just bought the tailfin system without the pannier attachment, I also purchased the varia 515 how would you suggest attaching it securely to the tailfin?
I use these mounts on my bikes. I guess they would work on that tailfin rack. Don't know about the angle though. www.amazon.com/Garmin-Seat-post-Quarter-Mount-010-10644-11/dp/B015CDO9EM/
Nice work JOM. That's system looks like it can be adopted for use over the front wheel too as a pointy triangular bag to reduce drag often brought on by handlebar mounted bags. I must say, the arms attaching to the wheels make it look like the Team GB Olympics track bike.🤔😊 All you need is a set of time trial bars upfront.
Garmin does make a bolt-on seatpost mount for the Varia (part no. 010-10644-11) but it can be kind of a bugger to find for sale. I love the Varia, but the mount it comes with is seriously dodge.
Huh? It's the most aerodynamic, secure fitting rack on the market. Serious riders don't hesitate to pay premium prices for premium products. This setup is very popular with competitive mountain bike riders.
Thank you. The racks can attach directly to your frame, but your frame will need mounts for that. A good option for those bikes using traditional quick releases.
@@stephhowden51 I have a detailed review of the saddle over at the GravelCyclist.com website... check out the search function and it should find what you're looking for.
Great review mate! Those drone shots are so cool and really shows off how rock solid the Tailfin system is! Thanks for showing the thru-axle installation steps, as thru-axles still confuse the heck out of me. I'd emailed Tailfin and received a somewhat helpful answer about the thru-axle compatibility, but as the saying goes, a picture (i.e. your video...) is worth a thousand words! Just one minor comment, which someone else had already mentioned: the bag closures operate like a 'dry bag' where you roll the opening a few times and then clip it down.
Outstanding review, I just ordered this system for my Cervelo Gravel bike. Can’t wait to test it out in a few weeks :)
Thanks David, I think you'll enjoy this system as much as I do.
Superb video. As a complete novice these are immensely helpful
Thank you for such a complete review. I have been looking for how the unit connects to the through axle or the quick release. Not even the manufacture shows how it's done. great review!!!
I have the tailfin aeropack and it is amazing as an overnight travel system by bike I cannot recommend it enough.
It genuinely looks brilliant. I'm planning on building a bikepacking setup for long (2000+km) rides, and the more I look at the Tailfin, the more I'm thinking about buying it for this purpose. The price is quite steep, might be the only deterrent really.
@@thomasjousse2427 TailFin for the looks and feel. Or something like the Tubus Airy (weighs about the same as the TailFin, isn't carbon but titanium, costs less than half of what TailFin costs). Both are rated to about the same weight (ca. 27kg load). I have both (a 2019 TailFin X ONE, a 2021 TailFin X TWO - and a Tubus Airy rear rack and TailFin, Vaude (and previously also Ortlieb) panniers & trunk bags / TailFin AeroPack). Each has its own advantage (I do prefer TailFin's visuals and the small tolerances of its pannier fastening interface), but on a couple of counts the Airy the better, as well.
One thing I recommend against - is the UltraLight panniers: go for the Durable ones instead - or a much more affordable, almost as good (and often somewhat larger capacity) third-party ones with adapters. Reason: the UL pannier material is the most fragile I have used to date: the bike might fall from a stationary (!) position, and the minor friction against the tarmac would literally abrade and puncture the UL pannier. At twice the price of quality Ortlieb or Vaude panniers, but only a fraction of the durability, the UL is a waste of money. With that said, the interface between the pannier and the rack is excellent, delightfully precise. TailFin panniers are also quite narrow for aerodynamics (meaning, they won't hold the same volume of luggage (especially inflexible items) as an Ortlieb / Vaude.
While ordering a TailFin rack, do not forget accessories (i.e., more axles of the size and TA thread pitch of your other frames, QR ones for older bikes or thread-on frame mount adapters for bikes with rear rack eyelets), a light adapter, perhaps a longer set of top stays that will soon be sold as well; Cargo Cages, etc.
The garmin varia tail light mount is angled, so you could put the mount upside down and your light will face upwards
Yep. I had to do this just the other day to clear a bag and it worked fine upside down. Can't imagine riding without a radar anymore now that I have been. It's a godsend.
Do you think this bag is big enough to hold a quilt, UL Sleeping pad, Inflatable pillow and UL Stove kit? I really want to buy this to get away from seatpost bags and have about 8" of clearance between the bike and the base of the saddle. Thank you for reviewing this.
But will they hold a growler filled with your favorite brew?
IMO these look to be the best pannier kit out there.
The trunk bag will fit a growler :)
Great info! I need one of these.
Receiving my X rack today! Very excited! No more sweaty back from a backpack! I also have the Garmin varia rtl 510. A solution for mounting the rtl may be to purchase the seat post extender. This may give more clearance from the top bag to the seat post. Great review as always!
Nice! And, thank you.
The seatpost extender is only for the Aeropack. It won’t work for this one although Tailfin is supposedly working on one.
@@nomap2161 Good to know thanks!
Looking forward to an overnight ride to Victor Harbor this weekend.
I've been looking at The TF system and needed a video like this to decide.
What kind of drone do you have
DJI Mavic 2. I am so missing riding around Victor and the Fleurieu. Absolutely perfect time of year to ride!!!
@@GravelCyclist you know it!
@@TheCrossroads09 Hope I can return this time next year, assuming we have a vaccine for Covid. I have no desire to park my arse in a hotel for two weeks :(
There is a bolt style seat post clamp that is available for the garmin radar. Its a genuine garmin mount.
Hi Rich, I overlaid a comment about that mount in the video, have a few arriving soon. Appreciate you chiming in.
@@GravelCyclist 😁 I must have been too busy typing to read it. Was wondering with you reviewing the tailfin are we going to see a ride that lasts longer than a day?
@@moo4rich Haha, no worries. I often forget to verbalize stuff in the review and post comments over the top. I'll be using the Tailfin on some future adventures as the weather cools down a bit. Those will be at least two days, and will likely appear in my ride experience videos.
If you have a saddle bag with a room for a clip and no room on the seat post (like me, small frame) just get a holster clip ( Amazon
Great review JOM. You definitely answered the questions I had about this system and more. It's so solid its rather amazing. Anyone interested in a pair of Classic Ortlieb rolltop panniers in excellent condition? Or maybe not. Need to dig a bit on the adapters. Love this system. ;)
Is this the short or long top stay piece which connects to the seat post?
Any rattling of the pannier brackets? Hate rattling sounds when riding. Love Voile straps for that.
No rattles in my experience.
Great video!!!
Hi. I like your video channel. I ride a gravel bike. It's colder here and winter is coming. Snow will fall around December and melt only in April. If you have the opportunity to test something for winter skiing, I would be happy to see it. For example, studded winter tires. Best wishes, Dmitry B. Sorry for the computer translation.
I wanted to buy the take off ap20 bag set as well but somehow i am afraid that someone could come and steal my rack. Otherwise.. I giess u never leave your bike where someone could take it off. So this set up makes the most sense to me. I have an xl frame... The recommend the SHORT connector stay for the seat post.. Would u second that? Cheets
If you want to disable the quick release on the axle there is a screw with the kit that you can use that screw the quick release part together on each side of the axle. Also can be a piece of mind if you really want to ensure there is no chance of the quick release coming of during a rough ride (not that I'm saying it might as no experience to indicate it might )
@@andrew87C already have the rack and know about the screw now. Thanks anyway! I am more the pleased with this rack. Just awesome!
Great review 👍😎cheers
I wish they would create a second bag that works with a standard zipper. Much faster to access ...
These guys would appear to have a wonderfull product. We live in NZ and went to website to purchase. The prices were in $NZ and we were then charged in $Aus. When we complained no acknowledgement or apology. We cancelled the transaction and were refunded 3.5% less than we paid. Beware the FX rates charged are extortionate.
Great review Jom. Do you think the rack could hold a carton of Coopers? Looks like a well thought out design.
Good question, a slab is a lot of weight. BTW, I would LOVE a Pale Ale right now... the best Pale Ale on the planet!!!
@@GravelCyclist , come to the Gold Coast and I'll buy you one. 😉
I so wish I was home visiting right now. Covid Quarantine + fee is untenable. The last time I visited the Gold Coast was as young lad in 1995 at the Indy Car Race! I definitely need to do some riding in QLD.
@@GravelCyclist , shoot me a message if you come to the GC and we can punch out a ride, coffee and 1 or 3 beers.
So expensive though! Do you know of any other rear rack that uses a thru axle mounting system like tailfin?
Afraid not, I'm not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to available rack systems.
@@GravelCyclist Thanks for the reply!
Old Man Mountain makes a through axle model. Much cheaper but the Tailfin is so much nicer.
Would you opt for Alloy or Carbon rack w Panniers were you purchasing?
Panniers aren't my bag so to speak, I much prefer the Trunk bag. I would choose carbon for that application. I have no qualms about the strength of the product, it all depends on your budget as the carbon options adds some $$$ to the overall cost, but does drop the weight.
@@GravelCyclist Thoughts on the alloy with bolt on cage capability vs the carbon that does not? Also, enjoyed your Madras Video as I am in Portland, OR it opens up some options for Central Oregon riding.
Jason, I have no need to bolt on additional gear, but, the alloy variant could at least future proof your setup somewhat.
t can be repurposed.
First time using a waterproof bag lol
just googled a 60$ schwin rack weight 454g, ? hahaha funny eh
Any bike that can't carry a day's worth of stuff is useless (non racing of course).
Just a suggestion, get yourself a Varia Seat-Post Quarter Turn Mount. Once that is bolted on it won't go anywhere.
In addition to the Varia, I also have a Cycliq Fly6 and a Botrager Flare tail light. I purchased from Shapways Fly6 to Garmin and Flare to Garmin Quarter Turn Adapters. Which allow me to change units without having to change the attachment mount.
Alfred, I obtained the Garmin quarter-turn mount since this review appeared. No problems now. There is some nice 3D printed stuff on the Shapeways website.
Thanks for the review. I have had my eye on this system for a while. I did see a video which tested various bike packing setups in a wind tunnel and the trunk bag tail fin setup was far and away the most aerodynamic. I would be interested in a couple of the tee shirts.
Jom.. I solved your rear taillight issue.. 😎 get new lights. That Garmin only produces from 29-65 lumens, while the lezyne KTV 75 only produces 75 lumens.
I’ve been running my seesense.cc Icon 2 rear light (300 lumens) all summer on my tailfin setup, w the same rear taillight mount, also using rubber bands like the garmin, no issues, no drama. Plus, at 300 lumens, you’ll be seen 3 kilometers away. Maybe you can do a review of rear bike lights-I don’t understand all these products w low lumen output.
Nick at tailfin made one heck of a bit of kit, no doubt! Through review of the TF kit. Cheers.
It's because rear lights are 'be seen' lights only (as you're not riding backwards...). You don't need a lot of lumens for that - 300 lumens for a rear light is frankly overkill...
It's also why front lights vary so much in lumens (or have settings to adjust the lumens), since there are 'be seen' front lights as well as 'see' front lights that help you see where you are going in the dark (e.g. if you are riding somewhere at night without street lights).
that t-lab bike is stunning
Oh yes it is. It is an incredible ride, I can't stay off mine.
I just bought the tailfin system without the pannier attachment, I also purchased the varia 515 how would you suggest attaching it securely to the tailfin?
L'éclairage c'est pas ça 😲🤔🚲
awesome
I use these mounts on my bikes. I guess they would work on that tailfin rack. Don't know about the angle though. www.amazon.com/Garmin-Seat-post-Quarter-Mount-010-10644-11/dp/B015CDO9EM/
EUROPE - ALUMINIUM, USA - ALUMINUM, AUSTRALIA - ALIUMINIUM... This must mean Americans hate "I's" and Australians love them!
Haha, indeed. It's the English language, and these are my videos. Anyone who doesn't like that, is always welcome to produce their own reviews.
Nice work JOM. That's system looks like it can be adopted for use over the front wheel too as a pointy triangular bag to reduce drag often brought on by handlebar mounted bags. I must say, the arms attaching to the wheels make it look like the Team GB Olympics track bike.🤔😊 All you need is a set of time trial bars upfront.
Great review. I love the idea of this rear rack. Much less chance of my fat thighs rubbing on the bag than when one is mounted underneath the seat.
Question: Do you think if it possible to fit the well known Ortlieb panniers on this rack?
Not a clue, sorry.
If you buy the rack with pannier mounts, Tailfin do sell adapters for other brands' panniers. No idea if they fit Ortlieb, but check it out.
Yes, Tailfin has adapters that will work with Ortliebs.
Garmin does make a bolt-on seatpost mount for the Varia (part no. 010-10644-11) but it can be kind of a bugger to find for sale. I love the Varia, but the mount it comes with is seriously dodge.
I picked up a few of those new mounts recently.
This rack is sold for €391.00.......
I really don't see the point.
It's simply not for serious cyclists.
Huh? It's the most aerodynamic, secure fitting rack on the market. Serious riders don't hesitate to pay premium prices for premium products. This setup is very popular with competitive mountain bike riders.
Great review very thorough and interesting. The Tailfin is an awesome product very stylish. Do they only work with through axles though?
Thank you. The racks can attach directly to your frame, but your frame will need mounts for that. A good option for those bikes using traditional quick releases.
They work with quick release axles, frame mounts and frame mount quick release. Tailfin has lots of videos on their website explaining it.
Will this work for a Domane with a proprietary seat post?
Yes
Anyone know what saddle that is?
Ergon SR Men's Pro
@@GravelCyclist Thanks so much
@@stephhowden51 I have a detailed review of the saddle over at the GravelCyclist.com website... check out the search function and it should find what you're looking for.
Is it possible to adapt panniers and/or trunk bags from other companies to a Tailfin rack?
Yes, I mentioned that in the video (overlaid as text). Check the Tailfin.cc website for those details.
wot about ebikes