While other Bar Fly fixtures are specifically designed for Garmins or smartphones to clip into, the Universal Mount simply adds 50mm of extra 'bar space' in front of (or above/below/behind) your bike's handlebar. It's an alternative to one of Minoura's older, bigger, and similarly-priced Space Grips.
It's sturdily made from what looks like one piece of moulded plastic – or possibly two pieces exceptionally well bonded together. There's a broad (10mm) clamp to attach it to a 31.8mm handlebar, and it'll fit to a carbon bar without crimping it.
The Universal Mount's bar sits about 3cm from the handlebar, edge to edge. It's 31.8mm in diameter too, so any accessories you'd fit to your handlebar – computer, GPS, smartphone, lights – should go on without the need for bits of old innertube to pack them out. The mounting bar has slots running through it to make it more convenient to attach accessories with zip ties. As the mounting bar has a lip on one end and the attachment arm at the other, nothing can slide off sideways.
And that's it. It's simple and it feels nice and solid; you could attach heavy lights to this without worry. The only negative is that, at £20, it's a lot of money for a little bit of extra bar space, made out of plastic. I made a mount about this big – to fit a Garmin between my tri-bars – out of an old reflector bracket, a wine cork, some washers, a screw, and some electrical tape. That cost nothing. It's obviously not nearly as well made as this, but it did cost nothing, and I've used it for four years and counting. Just saying.
Verdict
Sturdy, if expensive, way to add 50mm of extra handlebar space for accessories.
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road.cc test report
Make and model: The Bar Fly Universal Mount
Size tested: Black
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
They say:
* Universal mounting for iPhone/smart phone, cycling computers, GPS navigation units, GoPro, lighting systems, and other handlebar mounted accessories using a stock mounting bracket.
* Provides 50mm of additional out front mounting space.
* Oversized 12mm clamp and I-beam construction for extra carrying capacity.�
* Accommodates multiple devices at once, i.e. light and GPS.
* Quick Slots – enhance stability of zip-ties – lock device into a secure position.
* Carbon bar friendly.
I say: 50mm of extra bar space.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
It's 31.8mm in diameter.
A lot of money for a lump of plastic, irrespective of how well it's been made.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Does exactly what you'd expect.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Sturdy.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Cost.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes – if I needed the extra bar space (I don't).
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
About the tester
Age: 42 Height: 1.78m Weight: 65kg
I usually ride: Ridgeback Solo World fixed wheel My best bike is: Planet X Pro Carbon Track (with front brake)
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,





7 thoughts on “The Bar Fly Universal Mount”
Well, you wouldn’t put it
Well, you wouldn’t put it there, as shown in photo, would you? That’s where your Garmin Up Front sits. So it would have to go on the left, in which case, do you have room to twist your Garmin as you remove it from the holder? If that’s ok, you could mount a light on it.
I think putting this image
I think putting this image into the review would be a good idea – picture > Thousand words etc: http://static.squarespace.com/static/50a6caa2e4b050340ad1cb59/517c0dc7e4b08478234950bc/51f01b50e4b08d0b403cd8cf/1374690143033/universal%20shoot%202_2854.jpg?format=1000w
Now I see this, I’m buying one for my wife’s new bike right now – as she wanted crosstop levers, there’s no room at the inn for lights, computer, etc.
£20 isn’t bad for this IMHO.
I don’t run a Garmin &
I don’t run a Garmin & currently my light gets a lot of back wash of the white gear/brake cables I have which I don’t want to change as they are part of the bike color scheme so in fact something like this is exactly what I need – useful & a high purchase possibility for me but ouch £20!
OH: £13.99 on Probike at the mo!
And most of the images show this mounted on the underside of the bars away from the Garmin rather than the above in this article so twist collision issue avoided
I guess it makes sense but I
I guess it makes sense but I have always managed to fit everything I need on my bars as they are. I would just consider de-cluttering
I got me one of
I got me one of these:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1872074967/beam-ultra-light-weight-handlebar-extender?ref=search
I want one £20 it would be
I want one £20 it would be worth it.
Or get one of
Or get one of these:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/m-wave-handlebar-organizer-prod32354/
For the sum total of £6…
£20 is a bonkers price!
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