Product page with Quick Track: www.extrafudge.com/ref/B000ZKES0S With Velcro strap (No Quick Track): www.extrafudge.com/ref/B004WSLT2O This is a review for the Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP Bicycle Trunk Bag with Rigid Molded Panels I also made a review for the EX bag without the expandable sides: czcams.com/video/g8PyhN1-FZA/video.html
Had the same bag for 6 years now, confused how the one negative thing you said at the start was how they’re easy to take off in 2 seconds with regards to theft - that to me is why I like it so much, each time I park my bike I take it in seconds off and carry with me where it’s got my valuables in which I’m pretty sure was the entire idea for making the MTX system....🤷♂️ easily the best bag I’ve ever owned
I suggest you drill a hole through the bag removal clip (on the top). You can then put a small padlock through the hole, which will prevent people snatching it :D I hope you understood what I was trying to say hahaha
It would be really easy to drill a hole in the yellow release lever so you could insert a small padlock. Then, until the lock was removed, the release wouldn't press far enough to allow removal.
Just ordered one for my old school Schwinn World Sport a week ago. Got the Velcro option since I didn't feel like getting a proprietary rack. Seems nice for everyday trips and light cargo.
I have had the same rig for 5 years and mine is finally getting raggedy. I have the rack for it on two different bikes. I will replace the bag with same. For me, it is the best commuter bag set-up. I love for winter rec riding to bring along all the extra winter swag you need.
I am so excited to find this review! I just bought one, really not knowing what I was getting and wow....it's amazing. Thank you. Now to look for rain cover. LOL
I have an older model of this bag. Same but no water bottle holder. The zipper which you pointed to did fail on mine. I used it nearly five days a week for many years. I plan to fix it by sewing velcro in its place. These are excellent bags.
Hi good video, to secure the bag from thieves, you could put a cheap bike lock through the shoulder loop and around and through the saddle rails.👍🏴
Suggestion for locking the bag t the bike. With the bag in place on the bike, drill a small hole (3/16 or so) through the bottom of the bag and the rack. You can now run a small bolt through this hole. Thread the bolt into a nut below the rack, and you have a simple, concealed lock. If you want to get fancy, use a captive nut on the bottom of the rack.
Great review, exactly what I was hoping for thanks. The Topeak quick release system looks brilliant but I must admit I had never thought about the potential ease of theft. But I'm not going to leave it on there when the bike is unattended, and I don't really think that anyone would be so audacious as to nick it from behind me while I'm on the bike...
I love my bag,you can put in a 12 pack of pepsi but I hope they make the side bags a little tougher.If you buy a can of Kiwi camp dry and spray on bag ,makes it water-resistant.
Reflection is required in some countries to be included on cycling accessories - I remember it was an EU / EEC requirement. Plus the Industry standard was something like 5 or 10 %
Thanks for the review. Your rear red light mounted on the seat tube is hidden by your bag : you may want to setup a red light on the mount which is available on the back of the rack itself.
It would be helpful if you were to include the liter size of the bag as you order online there is limited description. This would make product research much easier
I personally think that people in general have an admiration to people on bikes with gear bags,probably less chance of somebody stealing it, but there are scumbags out there!
Topeak recommends a special rack for the bags with side panniers. The rack has extra side bars to stop the bag hitting the wheel. Has this ever caused you any problems with your rack?
they recommend the flatest rack they offer ( on the sides) so the panels drop flat. you'll put a tiny bend on them on any other rack. so expect a slightly smaller life for durability of the side pouches? I cant tell if its actually done any permanent harm to mine.
Hi what do you do for waterproofing, is there a cover, and do you put your gear inside dry bags for safety, one thing you could add your self even, a small elastic strap on the top of the bag , so when you open it up put the elastic strap around the nose of your saddle.
with Velcro straps? just as easy to steal With Clip straps? a solid yank will snap them. This has the benefit that if the thief doesnt recognize it they wont actually know how to "Quick release" it. But thats only if youre getting stolen from mid ride. you arent leaving this on the bike when you park it (hopefully? like please dont leave loose things on your bike)
what’s the scary looking thing on the back of the tack. I have the same rack and pack but have not had a chance yet to use it yet as the bag just arrived. hopping the bags don’t rock into the spokes though.
I am curious, how do you attach the bottom of the panniers to the Topeak rack? When I tighten up the cord on the bottom of the pannier to the rack system, the cord slides loose.
on top you can probably put a lot, sides... I would say a few lbs. I took 2 1 gallon water on the sides... But i wouldn't to it all the time it will eventually fail.
If you're installing on another brand rack, is it set up to work with other racks and easy to install and take off throughout the day? I commute and would want to use my existing rack.
The one i reviews is the version that has a track that only fits topeak specific racks. The one with the straps, that i linked in the pinned comment and description will fit any rack. It's Velcro so shouldn't take long to strap on and off. Obviously the one with the track is way faster.
I see you have a Spring system on your Rack. Just getting into the market myself and I see racks say w/ spring or w/o spring, but nothing ever says what the difference is or what they are intended for. Can you explain its purpose?
I was just pointing out the feel. Obviously you can take it with you. But most likely if you don't have anything valuable in it you will just take the risk and it will be in the back of your mind when you leave it on the bike. I'm not making this stuff up.
DON'T take the risk of it being stolen from you. ALWAYS take the pack with you whenever you leave your bike. This is really a great bag/panniers combo and it's not cheap, so take care. I watched your video and was convinced of its utility before buying mine. Thanks for the help!
Yeah. Wish they had a locking mecanism that used a key in the clip that holds it to the rack so not just anyone can walk up & steal the thing. You'd think for the money they cost these things would have some kind of locking mechanism on the clip of the bag. That would make it so much more worth the price they cost. Got one of these bags a few years back when they used to make them bigger but rarely actually use it because I don't want it stolen & find it inconvenient to have to keep bringing it with me everywhere especially when I need to use the foldable panniers.
2.5 years later, how is it holding up? I went into the store to have a feel. The side bags zip and material felt a bit cheap to me and worried that the zip will break/fail quite quickly.
@@ureviews Thanks for the quick reply! I have found your videos on the 2 topeak bag and rack very helpful. Considering buying either this bag or the ortlieb along with the topeak rack to go with either. Have you tried using the ortlieb and if yes, what are your thoughts?
@@jiminy2731 I have Ortliebs panniers, and they are not in the same category; The topeak is mostly for small items in top co partment and then very occasional use when you need more space, you open the sides. The Orts are for lots of space.
How is it with the clip hooked to the spring rather than the bar at the front of the rack? Someone was saying that the end of the bag hangs over the rail a little bit when the the clip is hooked to the spring.
@@ureviews @6:25 in the video, I can see that the clip is secured to the spring clasp and not the frame of the rack. The frame of the rack is about 1.5" away from the spring www.screencast.com/t/rGtfGEHlZ
@@ureviews Not overly worried. I'd just like the bag to clip to the frame of the rack rather than the spring for a more solid fit. Was first alerted to the issue in an Amazon review. www.amazon.ca/gp/customer-reviews/R1S9CP8B43W3Y7/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000FI6YJS
I think it's too small for a 3 night touring trip. I have other bags for touring. So this for example has a total of 1380 Cubic inches. I have another one with 2165 c/i which I think is much more suitable. 2 days which is one night could be perfect actually. Let me know if you need recommendation for a tent. I'm very happy with a eureka tent that I got specifically for bike touring.
Which Eureka tent did you buy for bike touring? And, what sort of panniers or bag do you have that accommodates 2165 c/i? I'm planning a multi-day ride from San Francisco to San Diego. So, aside from the Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP, I also have a Topeak Fuel Tank top tube bag, and I'm thinking about adding either an Ortlieb handlebar pack AND/OR Ortlieb frame bag. I don't want to hang panniers on a front rack on my bike. Thanks for your feedback/thoughts.
For a tent I recommend the Eureka Midori 2 www.extrafudge.com/ref/amzn.to/2tREK6N (Even though it's for supposedly 2 people) I've used it many times on my bike, it's it's freakin excellent. (also i live next to the factory store and the offer as far as i know lifetime warranty, never had to use it) As far as the bags, I haven't done any long term testing on the ones that i have besides the topeak, but when i get home i'll reply back with some recommendations based on what i have.
probably there's a way to devise something, like perhaps drilling a hole in the latch so you could hook a lock. But from the manufacturer there isn't. I think they should have a model with built in lock...
On the yellow part that you push down to unhook from rack, if you drilled a hole large enough for a paddle lock, I would make sure your hole is low enough that you do not allow enough room to get the bag off with the lock on. Another thing you could do is drill a hole at the bottom inside the bag and through the rack plate to push a clevis & cotter pin or bolt & wing nut through to lock it down and locking the zipper with a luggage paddle lock. As long as the zipper is locked you can't go in the bag easily to undo the bolt or clevis...
So many suggestions about securing the bag to the rack but this totally negates the quick part of this product. Lighten up everyone, not everyone is out to get you!
in a big metropolitan area, yes they are, and the quick release is exactly what appeals for this reason meaning you as the rider can quickly and conveniently take it of and put it on when parking up your bike popping into the shop or pub rather than having to faff around with multiple velcros and straps, which you'd have to do anyway in a big city
Product page with Quick Track: www.extrafudge.com/ref/B000ZKES0S
With Velcro strap (No Quick Track): www.extrafudge.com/ref/B004WSLT2O
This is a review for the Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP Bicycle Trunk Bag with Rigid Molded Panels
I also made a review for the EX bag without the expandable sides: czcams.com/video/g8PyhN1-FZA/video.html
ureviews thank you so very much. Wow, fast reply!
Had the same bag for 6 years now, confused how the one negative thing you said at the start was how they’re easy to take off in 2 seconds with regards to theft - that to me is why I like it so much, each time I park my bike I take it in seconds off and carry with me where it’s got my valuables in which I’m pretty sure was the entire idea for making the MTX system....🤷♂️ easily the best bag I’ve ever owned
I use a lockable reinforced cable tie to secure mine. Takes seconds to put on and makes it way harder for someone to nick it.
@@davidhaslam1056that cable sounds useful! What’s the name of the one you use?
@@RicardoAFdezA hiplock z lock
I suggest you drill a hole through the bag removal clip (on the top). You can then put a small padlock through the hole, which will prevent people snatching it :D
I hope you understood what I was trying to say hahaha
I read the comments and realized this was suggested, sorry.
Agree. So, they can have the Topeak while your bike is being stolen!😃
@@predpalina 😁😂👍
It would be really easy to drill a hole in the yellow release lever so you could insert a small padlock. Then, until the lock was removed, the release wouldn't press far enough to allow removal.
Just ordered one for my old school Schwinn World Sport a week ago. Got the Velcro option since I didn't feel like getting a proprietary rack. Seems nice for everyday trips and light cargo.
I have had the same rig for 5 years and mine is finally getting raggedy. I have the rack for it on two different bikes. I will replace the bag with same. For me, it is the best commuter bag set-up. I love for winter rec riding to bring along all the extra winter swag you need.
I am so excited to find this review! I just bought one, really not knowing what I was getting and wow....it's amazing. Thank you. Now to look for rain cover. LOL
Great point you made in the beginning about having the bag with the straps because i have that bag and I don’t want someone to steal it. Thank you
Read some of the comments people suggested a small lock
I have an older model of this bag. Same but no water bottle holder. The zipper which you pointed to did fail on mine. I used it nearly five days a week for many years. I plan to fix it by sewing velcro in its place. These are excellent bags.
Hi good video, to secure the bag from thieves, you could put a cheap bike lock through the shoulder loop and around and through the saddle rails.👍🏴
I am searching a bag with quick release. It helped for me very much. Thanks for the good review on this bag.
Suggestion for locking the bag t the bike. With the bag in place on the bike, drill a small hole (3/16 or so) through the bottom of the bag and the rack. You can now run a small bolt through this hole. Thread the bolt into a nut below the rack, and you have a simple, concealed lock. If you want to get fancy, use a captive nut on the bottom of the rack.
That's a very good idea! Thank you :-)
Great review, exactly what I was hoping for thanks. The Topeak quick release system looks brilliant but I must admit I had never thought about the potential ease of theft. But I'm not going to leave it on there when the bike is unattended, and I don't really think that anyone would be so audacious as to nick it from behind me while I'm on the bike...
I was so impressed with your review that I bought one for my bike. 😀
Enjoy!
I get the panniers and the rack as well on Monday along with my Trex FX 3...Happy Days!!!!
I love my bag,you can put in a 12 pack of pepsi but I hope they make the side bags a little tougher.If you buy a can of Kiwi camp dry and spray on bag ,makes it water-resistant.
Thanks for the detailed review, I am currently considering this bike rack/bag combo.
Reflection is required in some countries to be included on cycling accessories - I remember it was an EU / EEC requirement. Plus the Industry standard was something like 5 or 10 %
you sold me on this product. I order one of the exact type with the rack with disk brake.
Thanks for the review. Your rear red light mounted on the seat tube is hidden by your bag : you may want to setup a red light on the mount which is available on the back of the rack itself.
I have a another blinking light right below... the one with the silver ring... Good rear light is a MUST!
Great video
It would be helpful if you were to include the liter size of the bag as you order online there is limited description. This would make product research much easier
Excellent video, very helpful thanks
it's a great bike .. gives you your money worth . goin on some years with the one i own
I personally think that people in general have an admiration to people on bikes with gear bags,probably less chance of somebody stealing it, but there are scumbags out there!
Very helpful ! Way to cover everything
Somebody got my bag last week while riding OhioPyle trail. Yes would be nice to lock bag.
Aww :-( sorry to hear. Great bag otherwise. I hope there's a special place in hell for thieves.
I hope it have feature where I can attach lock between rack -bag also on zip
Thank you
Very informative
Topeak recommends a special rack for the bags with side panniers. The rack has extra side bars to stop the bag hitting the wheel. Has this ever caused you any problems with your rack?
they recommend the flatest rack they offer ( on the sides) so the panels drop flat. you'll put a tiny bend on them on any other rack. so expect a slightly smaller life for durability of the side pouches? I cant tell if its actually done any permanent harm to mine.
almost every rear rack gives the bars for not hitting the wheels.
Hi what do you do for waterproofing, is there a cover, and do you put your gear inside dry bags for safety, one thing you could add your self even, a small elastic strap on the top of the bag , so when you open it up put the elastic strap around the nose of your saddle.
with Velcro straps? just as easy to steal
With Clip straps? a solid yank will snap them.
This has the benefit that if the thief doesnt recognize it they wont actually know how to "Quick release" it.
But thats only if youre getting stolen from mid ride. you arent leaving this on the bike when you park it (hopefully? like please dont leave loose things on your bike)
I used it in a bus for special trips
I have a TOPEAK BEAM RACK MTX E TYPE. That one doesn't have those side sticks/poles. Is this case then recommended?
what’s the scary looking thing on the back of the tack. I have the same rack and pack but have not had a chance yet to use it yet as the bag just arrived. hopping the bags don’t rock into the spokes though.
Which bag is the one with the larger side pockets, but not the full drop down sides ?
What works best to fix the quick tack rattle?
It sounds like you're filming near a turkey farm.
Great video. This is on my shortlist of bags. Looks like it's got heaps of cool features
use an old bicycle lock - loop it around the handles and rack then lock it.
Can't decide between this and Arkel's Trailrider
Arkel are nice. But usually more expensive. And honestly this bag is nice. Very practical.
@@ureviews I ended up getting the Arkel Tailrider in yellow color 💛. Thank you for your reply and your amazing review!
Great video thank you. What rear light are you using? It looks nice.
This: czcams.com/video/8DC573Jic98/video.html
Link in the description.
Do you ever use the bag to keep things cool. Like the large middle compartment with separate ice packs?
+Peggy Lee I don't, I would recommend using a food bag to help with insulation.
What do you use for a taillight? With the topeak bag your seat post and and seat rails are almost completely blocked.
I use this czcams.com/video/8DC573Jic98/video.html
But i don't think they sell it anymore. Excellent product.
I am curious, how do you attach the bottom of the panniers to the Topeak rack? When I tighten up the cord on the bottom of the pannier to the rack system, the cord slides loose.
There's an elastic string that you stretch over
Good review but so much stuff comes right off a bike anymore...seats, wheels, lights, pumps, etc
What is the maximum weight you'd put in this?
on top you can probably put a lot, sides... I would say a few lbs. I took 2 1 gallon water on the sides... But i wouldn't to it all the time it will eventually fail.
@@ureviews about what I thought. Hey thanks!
Simple, drill a hole in the yellow clip, then use a lock
If you're installing on another brand rack, is it set up to work with other racks and easy to install and take off throughout the day? I commute and would want to use my existing rack.
The one i reviews is the version that has a track that only fits topeak specific racks. The one with the straps, that i linked in the pinned comment and description will fit any rack. It's Velcro so shouldn't take long to strap on and off. Obviously the one with the track is way faster.
is it water prooof
Can you please tell me how it handles itself in rain? Did you have the chance to test in moderate or heavy rain? Thanks
It's not water proof. You need an extra cover. Look at the description.
I see you have a Spring system on your Rack. Just getting into the market myself and I see racks say w/ spring or w/o spring, but nothing ever says what the difference is or what they are intended for. Can you explain its purpose?
The one with spring let's you hold stuff to the rack. it just goes up and down on a pivot. So you can hold a bottle shoes etc...
Also I made a review for the rack
.. check it out
So you have to buy the rack and the bag seperately?
That's correct. if you want the quick track, otherwise the one with the Velcro will fit a regular rack. Check out links in the description.
Could you fit pair of size 12 shoes in the main compartment?
Yeah.
ureviews thanks!
Unfortunately they removed 3 zippers: The double ones on the inside of the side bags and one on the inside of the top lid. Shame
Is volume of it 23 l?
It is designed to be taken off easily so it won't get stolen. If you leave it on with valuables, that's a lick on you.
I was just pointing out the feel. Obviously you can take it with you. But most likely if you don't have anything valuable in it you will just take the risk and it will be in the back of your mind when you leave it on the bike. I'm not making this stuff up.
DON'T take the risk of it being stolen from you. ALWAYS take the pack with you whenever you leave your bike. This is really a great bag/panniers combo and it's not cheap, so take care. I watched your video and was convinced of its utility before buying mine. Thanks for the help!
Yeah. Wish they had a locking mecanism that used a key in the clip that holds it to the rack so not just anyone can walk up & steal the thing. You'd think for the money they cost these things would have some kind of locking mechanism on the clip of the bag. That would make it so much more worth the price they cost. Got one of these bags a few years back when they used to make them bigger but rarely actually use it because I don't want it stolen & find it inconvenient to have to keep bringing it with me everywhere especially when I need to use the foldable panniers.
This bag I guess is not waterproof. Does it come with a rain cover?
I does not come with the bag it's an optional item: here's an amazon link: extrafudge/com/ref/amzn.to/2Gop7LK
2.5 years later, how is it holding up? I went into the store to have a feel. The side bags zip and material felt a bit cheap to me and worried that the zip will break/fail quite quickly.
Still good! And I'm pretty sure I have it way longer than 2.5 years (4 perhaps)
@@ureviews Thanks for the quick reply! I have found your videos on the 2 topeak bag and rack very helpful. Considering buying either this bag or the ortlieb along with the topeak rack to go with either. Have you tried using the ortlieb and if yes, what are your thoughts?
@@jiminy2731 I have Ortliebs panniers, and they are not in the same category; The topeak is mostly for small items in top co partment and then very occasional use when you need more space, you open the sides. The Orts are for lots of space.
@@ureviews thank you. I made the purchase today and hope it last just as long as yours :)
Is this waterproof or only water resistant?
It's neither. You need a cover. I think I have it in the description.
How is it with the clip hooked to the spring rather than the bar at the front of the rack? Someone was saying that the end of the bag hangs over the rail a little bit when the the clip is hooked to the spring.
it never hooks to the spring part. But you have to make sure it clicks to the rail otherwise it's not locked and it could slide off.
@@ureviews @6:25 in the video, I can see that the clip is secured to the spring clasp and not the frame of the rack. The frame of the rack is about 1.5" away from the spring www.screencast.com/t/rGtfGEHlZ
Yeah you're right i checked again. It does clasp to the spring metal part.
I guess I'll ask what exactly are you worried about?
@@ureviews Not overly worried. I'd just like the bag to clip to the frame of the rack rather than the spring for a more solid fit. Was first alerted to the issue in an Amazon review. www.amazon.ca/gp/customer-reviews/R1S9CP8B43W3Y7/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000FI6YJS
@@ureviews btw, I think your review was great. Very informative and helped me make a decision to buy the bag and a rack!
Can i make this bike to a motorized bike
I would say probably 100% no.
Would you recommend this bag for 2-3 days touring with tent and sleep bag? I mean is not it small?
I think it's too small for a 3 night touring trip. I have other bags for touring. So this for example has a total of 1380 Cubic inches. I have another one with 2165 c/i which I think is much more suitable. 2 days which is one night could be perfect actually.
Let me know if you need recommendation for a tent. I'm very happy with a eureka tent that I got specifically for bike touring.
Which Eureka tent did you buy for bike touring? And, what sort of panniers or bag do you have that accommodates 2165 c/i? I'm planning a multi-day ride from San Francisco to San Diego. So, aside from the Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP, I also have a Topeak Fuel Tank top tube bag, and I'm thinking about adding either an Ortlieb handlebar pack AND/OR Ortlieb frame bag. I don't want to hang panniers on a front rack on my bike. Thanks for your feedback/thoughts.
For a tent I recommend the Eureka Midori 2 www.extrafudge.com/ref/amzn.to/2tREK6N (Even though it's for supposedly 2 people) I've used it many times on my bike, it's it's freakin excellent. (also i live next to the factory store and the offer as far as i know lifetime warranty, never had to use it)
As far as the bags, I haven't done any long term testing on the ones that i have besides the topeak, but when i get home i'll reply back with some recommendations based on what i have.
It would be nice if you removed all your junk so we could see how deep the top portion of the bag is.
Is it noisy? Does it rattle at all? Thanks!
+Patriot One no, good stuff.
Is this waterproof? Thank you!
Sadly not, which is the only reason I haven't bought one, there is a rather ugly bulbous cover you can but as an extra.
Someone can tell if it’s waterproof?
It's not. They sell a cover for it.
hello i want to fit a large battery in this bag. could you measure the internal width/length for me? many thanks! :)
+mark ward I can only do it next week. I'm out of town.
Does it fit a 15inch laptop?
I don't think this bag is suitable for a laptop. unless you put it in a laptop bag, which then I'm sure a 15" laptop will not fit
@@ureviews thank you I've purchased the Ortlieb Commuter which is superb!
They are Panniers.
there's got to be a way to install a luggage lock.
probably there's a way to devise something, like perhaps drilling a hole in the latch so you could hook a lock. But from the manufacturer there isn't. I think they should have a model with built in lock...
On the yellow part that you push down to unhook from rack, if you drilled a hole large enough for a paddle lock, I would make sure your hole is low enough that you do not allow enough room to get the bag off with the lock on. Another thing you could do is drill a hole at the bottom inside the bag and through the rack plate to push a clevis & cotter pin or bolt & wing nut through to lock it down and locking the zipper with a luggage paddle lock. As long as the zipper is locked you can't go in the bag easily to undo the bolt or clevis...
Not good to keep a good bike lying around in any neighborhood, always keep an eye on it when getting a drink or a slice.
The bag is very good but zippers on it are poor quality. After only two years of using the zipper broke and the bag is useless now.
Its good but expensive,then they want to charge for a waterproof cover.
Cable tie it
So many suggestions about securing the bag to the rack but this totally negates the quick part of this product. Lighten up everyone, not everyone is out to get you!
in a big metropolitan area, yes they are, and the quick release is exactly what appeals for this reason meaning you as the rider can quickly and conveniently take it of and put it on when parking up your bike popping into the shop or pub rather than having to faff around with multiple velcros and straps, which you'd have to do anyway in a big city
19:15 minute add before actual youtube review starts, WTF Google
Dude that's ridiculous. I'll turn off that option.
I ziptie it to the rack. Problem solved.