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91 of 91 found the following review helpful:
Does it allFeb 16, 2007
By Edward V. Hawk
I've got the MTX DXP bag, and Explorer rack combo, and was quite pleased with both. The rack was reasonably easy to install, came with decent instructions, and is quite solid. Also has a nice spot to place your tail light on the rear of it, which actually makes it more visible than when it's mounted to your seat post. I should mention, when installing to an aluminum frame, be careful. The screws are steel, and if your frame is aluminum like mine, it can be quite easy to crossthread the bolt holes if your not careful. A good way to prevent this is to lube the threads of the screw before installing. It will then prevent dragging when hand tightening, and keep you from having to use a hex wrench until it's time to put some torque on it. If it's not going in smooth, you'll want to make sure your not starting a cross thread before tightening, or else you'll find yourself at the bike shop trying to get aluminum rethreaded. Not an easy task for even the best cycling mechanic to do, I can tell you.
The bag though! I was a bit worried site unseen that it was going to look on my bike like I was hauling a black nylon refrigerator around. It's not that big, and looks quite nice on my bike. The rack system and integrated quick lock are great. Not only is it easy to get on and off the rack, but the REAL reason it's such a good system is that most bags, unless stuffed full, will list or flop to one side or the other. Can be a real pain in the arse. This one is rigid, and stays put, empty or full. It's been mentioned that the bag is heavy; well, if your putting this on your 16lbs. race bike, your a tard. It's not heavy at all for what it is, although it gives the illusion of being heavy, as it puts your bikes center of gravity off from what you may be used to (read, tail heavy). I can fit a 2 liter of soda in one of the panniers, a newspaper without folding it, a 10 lbs. bag of ice (it's a stretch, but you can fit it, just not able to zip it up), or similar large, heavy items of that sort. The main compartment isn't exactly big, but it will hold clothes, breakfast, lunch, dinner, minor camping supplies, and you can mount a sleeping bag to the top of it. Perfect size bag for 2-3 day excursion.
I use mine primarily for commuting, and that quick run to the store. You can load it with a surprising amount of stuff, and it is VERY stable. It takes a bit more than you might be used to in order to get your bike up to speed, but once your going, you don't even notice the weight. I've had no problem with my feet clearing the panniers, either standing, or sitting, and I have a fairly small bicycle frame, w/ 175mm cranks. So if anyone would of had a problem with this design, I would have, and I have tons of clearance. Can't say much about the rain proofness (word?) of this bag, as I've yet to ride it for a long period of time in heavy rain, but I have read that 1 hour in heavy rain, stuff inside is still dry. More than that, and I'd get a rain cover.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a decent bag for commuting or light touring (the bag is quite tough, just not super huge, the only reason I say 'light touring'). It's large without being huge, it is probably the most stable bag system out there, and is quite well made. I don't have any complaints about the bag, really, save one: I would have liked to see more external pockets on this bag, for things like keys, carbogel, tubes, tools, etc... but it does have a smaller top compartment for just such things, which works just as well. The panniers are the best integrated design I have ever seen. Just simply awesome, they fold out super easy, and are a breeze to zip back up (no origami, they just flip up, zip up, and their gone). They seem quite stout to boot, and as I mentioned, they are completely out of the way.
Hope this helps, if you were thinking about getting this, but weren't sure, just be aware of what your getting. Yes, it will ad weight to your bike (duh). No, you can't put $150 work of groceries in it. But yes, it's stable, strong, and you can certainly put $50 worth of groceries in it, no sweat. Once you're used to it, you won't imagine how you used that stupid backpack for so long.
26 of 27 found the following review helpful:
 Topeak Trunk Bag (MTX DXP)Mar 10, 2007
By Ron Kokish
"Ron Kokish"
I've had one of these for years - it's practically indestructible. The quick on/off feature is nice but you have to buy a matching Topeak rack for each bike you use it on or take time to switch the rack along with the bag every time you change bikes. I move mine between several bikes that have standard Mt. racks ,so I removed the "quick-bean" section. I just secure the bag to each Mr. rack using its Velcro straps. That takes around 30 seconds, the bag never comes off, I avoid carrying around maybe an extra 1/2 lb of unnecessary hardware and I get a (very) little bit of extra space in the main compartment. If you plan to use this bag on only one bike, don't already have a rack on that bike and don;t mind a few extra grams, the matching quick on/off rack may work well enough. However, I recommend against the kind that attaches quickly to only the seat post. I have a friend who uses one of those and it never seems to quite remain in position when the trunk bag is loaded.
This bag (MTX-DXP) is sturdy and HUGE. It even has an extra drink bottle holder and a place to clip in a rear light. Keep the stuff you want to get to during your ride in the top section (or better yet, in a handlebar bag), open the expander section and panniers, and there's plenty of room for grocery shopping or even a trip several days in length, especially if you aren't camping.
All this room does come at a price. The bag weights a couple of lbs, so you may not want to keep it on your bag all the time. A smaller, lighter bag might serve better for everyday use. Also, make sure you have enough heel clearance for the generous panniers and a rack big enough for the trunk when all the expander pockets are filled.
24 of 25 found the following review helpful:
Tons of Room - Good ConstructionJul 14, 2007
By R. D Johnson
I bought this in conjunction with the Topeak rack system Topeak Explorer Bicycle Rack with Disc Brake Mounts for my 2007 Specialized Rockhopper. It slides easily on and off the rack and the amount of cargo capacity is amazing. There's room for two spare mountain bike tubes in the rear pocket, a strap for a clip-on rear light, a top map pocket, and a cavernous main trunk. Unzipping the side pockets yield two large panniers, but I've never had occasion to use them yet because so far everything I've needed to carry for my recreational rides has fit in the main trunk. After 6 months and 1000 miles of riding the bag is still in great shape.
15 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Great bag for commuting and touringMar 13, 2007
By Jeffrey A. Walker
"-jeff"
I purchased both the MTX DXP and the Explorist frame from Amazon. Upon receiving the product, I was impressed by the quality and thoughtful planning that went into the bag. I spent a lot of time evaluating bicycle bags and the Topeak meets all of my expectations.
I commute with my bicycle to and from work daily and need to carry my work clothes along with me. I find the quick release mechanism foolproof and solid.
The separate map case section at the top is a wonderful organizing feature. The side pannier pockets are designed in such a way that you actually have even more organization in the sides than you thought possible.
By my estimation, everything was very well thought out on this bag, and it is easy to use and work with.
It is a heavy bag, and not really for competitive bicyclists trying to shave off ounces. It's solid construction makes it great for daily commutes and for riding on rails-to-trails and touring.
The Explorist rack has a very solid feel and goes together quite well. One tip I would give would be to buy and place small rubber washers at the contact points to the frame, and apply threadlocker to the rack attach screws. The result is a very nice rugged and silent fit.
I am very pleased with the product and would highly recommend it to others.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Turned my bike into something moreFeb 20, 2008
By Some Guy
I bike commute and have found that this trunk bag actually adds a new dimension to what I can do. It provides such a high degree of on-the-fly flexibility that I almost never need to resort to a car in my commute. For instance, on the way home I swung by a grocery store to pick up some things and got carried away. After checking out, I looked down in the shopping cart and saw the bag (it is great that it easily detaches) sitting next to 18 cans, 3 lb of carrots, a box of crackers and wondered if I would get the bag to swallow it. I deployed the panniers, raised the expansion on the top and still had plenty of room left over. I stuffed my jacket in as well and still had room available for more. After maximizing all the available features, I bet I could have even added a gallon of milk. I didn't leave home that day with this trip planned; the pack just gave me the freedom to do it. I also like that it quickly reduces down to a smaller, more conservative size. It is very well designed and made from good materials. Sure, it does add weight to the bike, but considering the volume it provides, it is relatively light weight. Although it will work with non-Topeak racks, I would be concerned about how stably it would attach and how easily it could be removed. This bag has so much carrying capability, that I would not recommend the weight-limited beam racks. Get the Explorer or similar rack (if you get a Topeak rack with the spring clip, remove the spring clip; otherwise this bag will hang too far off the back and eventually will break down and sag). Highly recommended.
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