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Accessories - misc
Minoura Swing Grip BracketMinoura Swing Grip Bracket

Minoura Swing Grip Bracket

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 22, 2009

0
£14.67

VERDICT:

7
10
A great reclaimer of bar space but let down a bit by the annoying bracket
Weight: 
97g
Contact: 
www.zyro.co.uk
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Even wide bars can feel cramped and untidy when they're festooned with computers, lights, heart rate monitors and other creature comforts. Thankfully Minoura’s swing grip handlebar tidy is here to help, adding valuable real estate to your cockpit and freeing up the bars for your hands.

Available in two sizes and in a choice of anodised silver or black, it mounts to the bars or stem courtesy of a sprung, stainless steel band. This is ultimately very secure but it's very fiddly to set up. Set aside twenty minutes when you won’t be interrupted, as the bracket must be dismantled before it can be installed. I found the supplied rubber shim a hindrance and substituted it for electrical tape to prevent the clip scratching the handlebar sleeve.

Once the base section has been attached and the band cut to correct length, it takes about five minutes to install the other components, adjusting the angle to suit with the supplied 3mm Allen key. In practice it looks more aesthetically pleasing atop the stem and mades little difference to my wireless computer performance, although you may need to adjust the sensor and magnet.

Our bracket needed tightening after the first twenty-five miles but seems relatively unaffected by vibration and is more than up to the job of carrying high output lamps. However, the mount isn’t wide enough to prevent interference between heart rate monitors and wireless computers, which might deter some club/sportive riders.

Verdict

A great reclaimer of bar space but let down a bit by the irksome bracket.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Minoura Swing Grip Bracket

Size tested: Long

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?

Intended for commuters, tourists and winter warriors, the Swing Grip is a clever two-way handlebar tidy designed for mounting computers, lights and other gizmos.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Weighing 97g, the swing grip is constructed of stainless steel, resin and anodised aluminium, keeping weight and corrosion to a minimum and thoughtfully comes supplied with a 3mm allen wrench for easy installation.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Thin stainless steel band is both very fiddly and effective in equal measure.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Reclaims a surprising amount of handlebar space without detracting from a bike's clean lines.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Surprisingly sturdy and unaffected by vibration.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

Only the most weight conscious would baulk at 97g

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Swing Grip works very well either positioned atop the bars, or stem and will comfortably hold a heavy commuter lamp and computer/LEDs without problems but resist the urge to mount heart rate monitors and wireless computers in close proximity.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Keeps things neat and tidy, nice build quality in the main.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Fiddly base bracket.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Swing Grip
Minoura
Bracket
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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