Tailfin Bar Cage

Whether it’s road, gravel or mountain biking, the Tailfin Bar Cage has you covered for handlebar-mounted cargo carry capabilities. It’s a beautifully made and high-quality item which provides a sturdy and secure place to attach bikepacking paraphernalia. It’s certainly not a cheap option, especially if you include the Tailfin-specific Bar Bag and other accessories, however, the performance and quality are second to none. Whilst it is not without it’s fault, the lightweight and steady offering is a step above the usual bar bag offerings.

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Tailfin Bar Cage – Technical Details

The Tailfin Bar Cage is aimed at riders who want to carry cargo on their handlebars, whether it be road, gravel or mountain bike applications. Made from aluminium, the cage plate uses 7075-T6, and the clamps utilise 6061-T6, both with a hard anodised finish. This adds up to a claimed weight of 277g whilst the system is rated to carry up to 3kg off-road and 6kg on-road.

There is plenty of adjustment in the design to get the Bar Cage sitting exactly where you need it. First off, the bar clamps can be fixed rotationally to set the height of the bar cage in relation to the handlebars. These clamps need a round section of bar to bolt to, so for aero bars, you may need to mount them right up to the stem; for round-sectioned bars, there is more choice on mounting widths. The cage-plate allows for a range of widths between the clamps with a minimum width of 34mm and a maximum of 99mm. The clamps are a hinged affair using a single T25 bolt to secure them. Shims are built into these clamps, so they’ll suit the standard bar diameters of 31.8mm and 35mm.

• Buy the Tailfin Bar Cage from Tailfin for £110

At the joint between the handlebar clamps and the cage plate, a rounded interface allows the angle of the cage plate to be set. This interface features interlocking ribs, which keep the plate locked down and secure.

When it comes to mounting items to the cage, you’ll need your own straps as these aren’t included with the Bar Cage. Tailfin does warn about using standard dry bags, which will wear against the cage plate during use. The brand offers a Bar Bag, which is designed with durability and ease of use in mind. A thick wear pad stops any chance of the bag wearing through, and a built-in mounting hook keeps the bag hanging in place whilst faffing with the straps to secure it.

Tailfin also offers other accessories for the Bar Cage, such as a round light mount and a cycling computer mount, both of which are specific to the Bar Cage.

Tailfin Bar Cage – Performance

Fitting the Bar Cage is a fairly simple affair, especially thanks to the handy instructions provided. A couple of points to note, however, the T25 clamp bolts have an annoyingly shallow head, so they’re a little difficult to use. I can see these heads getting damaged if you’re not super careful. This problem was exacerbated by these bolts having way too much Loctite.

It pays to get the clamps in place and the cage plate fitted up loosely before you try to set the position and tighten it all up. It’s worth noting that the bolts between the cage and the clamps didn’t have any pre-applied Loctite, and on the first ride, these rattled loose.

Strapping down an item, such as a dry bag, is simple with the Bar Cage thanks to some handy slots which retain the straps securely in place. If you purchase the Tailfin Bar Bag, this process is even easier thanks to the built-in hook, which allows the bag to hang on the cage whilst you faff with the straps – a really nice touch.

The Bar Cage has proven to be a sturdy offering with zero noticeable flex in the system. It can comfortably hold a range of different-sized dry bags thanks to its open design. As previously said, the only hiccup on the first ride was the cage plate coming loose – an easy fix mid-ride and after applying Loctite to these bolts, I’ve not seen any more issues.

Coming in at 232g, it’s certainly a lightweight option for a reliable and stable bar-mounted cargo system.

Tailfin Bar Cage – Verdict

At £110 for the Bar Cage, it’s not a cheap option, and if you add the Tailfin Bar Bag to the system, you’re looking at another £50-£70. However, this will be the last handlebar-mounted system you’ll need to buy, and the top-shelf quality does command a higher price tag.

Bar bags tend to move around with use; the Evoc Handlebar Pack BOA 2.5L does a great job of staying firmly fixed. It’s super waterproof and secure, but a little pricey at £10,0 and the 2.5L capacity will be restrictive for some. Another option worth looking into is the Aeroe Spider Handlebar Cradle. Coming in at £70, it’s cheaper than the Tailfin and looks up to the job, but I can’t comment on its performance.

The Tailfin Bar Cage is a beautifully made and well-thought-out solution for mounting cargo to your handlebars. It provides a sturdy and secure mounting point for dry bags and other suitable items with provision for straps. The option accessories are a nice touch, and the Tailfin Bar Bag is a nice addition for improved usability. The clamp screws are a little fiddly, and it’s by no means a cheap offering, however, the performance and quality on offer are second to none.

• www.tailfin.cc

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