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Topeak Versamount

7
£7.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Neat and generally reliable means of attaching bottle cages to frames and other tubing
Weight: 
26g

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The Topeak Versamount is a simple, reliable way of adding bottle cages to smaller frames or those without bottle bosses. Topeak suggests they're also suitable for mounting other lightweight accessories but doesn't list examples.

  • Pros: Reliable, discreet and easy to fit
  • Cons: Measure twice, cut once; less portable between bikes than some designs

Each kit contains two bands made from composites, designed to accommodate tubing diameters between 20 and 60mm. This covers most bases, from pencil thin road frames through to oversized seatposts and suspension forks.

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Rubber shims are included, offering secure, scratch-free tenure to most surfaces. Chances are you'll need to trim these to size, or substitute for DIY options made from old inner tubes. The bands then tighten via composite screws with 3mm Allen heads, and your bottle cage attaches with 3mm stainless steel fasteners.

topeak_versamount.jpg

For the most part, fitting is a two-minute job but remember to add a quick lick of grease/wet lube to the fasteners. Double check alignment before lopping excess bands, too; leave some surplus and snip later if you're in any doubt.

The maximum payload is an impressive 1.2kg, relative to weight and dimensions. That's enough for hauling expedition type flasks, and a practical option for those still running high-power lights feeding from hefty old-school bottle batteries.

In the frame...

I toyed with having bottle bosses added to my beloved 1950s road path frame, when its fractured bottom bracket shell was replaced, back in 2012. However, though the build is anything but 'period', I wanted to preserve the frame's originality.

Before committing to its skinny tubes I had a quick dry run elsewhere, starting with my tubby tourer's fork legs and some other large diameter tubing just to check the Versamount would genuinely fit tubing between 20 and 60mm. For most applications, this will be academic, but at the largest diameters we're in 'just about' territory.

Fitting the bands to my favourite fixed's down tube required a bit of shuffling to optimise position, especially given that the SKS Adapter and Elite Ciussi cage already on the frame sit quite a long way proud of the seat tube. Swapping the Ciussi for a 'winged' model helped, but riders of smaller frames might want to bear this in mind when choosing cages.

topeak_versamount_-_compared_with_sks.jpg

The Topeak logos are useful, helping to ensure the two bands are positioned correctly.

I started with a bog standard 600ml bottle for the first few rides, before steadily increasing the size and weight. During our first 20-mile blast I discovered the lower band slackening slightly and refusing to tighten satisfactorily. Given the modest payload, I squirrelled the threaded plastic retaining screw into a zippered pocket and rode the remaining seven miles, keeping a close eye on the band. It rotated slightly, but nothing to write home about.

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Back in the garage, adding a lick of threadlock to the delinquent resin fastener, then snugging it tight proved the solution – confirmed by several subsequent test runs at TT pace and with gun-slinger-quick bottle snatches.

I've had it hosting a Bontrager tool bottle, fully laden, and it was rock steady throughout. Upping the ante, and keen to call Topeak's bluff, I resurrected its Modula XL cage and loaded that with a full 1.5 litre soft drinks bottle. To its credit and my surprise, the Versamount passed this test, too, although by the third outing I needed to nip both sets of hardware snug.

Conclusion

Having used band-on designs with varying success over the past decade, I'd say the Versamount proved very effective. One big plus is that it allows you to finely hone the optimal places for braze-on bosses if you were looking to modify an older steel frame prior to respraying or were having a frame built using similar geometry but with 'civilian' touches.

The SKS Adapter mentioned above is cheaper, and an alloy bracket mounting to the saddle rails might be a more secure albeit less convenient arrangement, but for mounting standard bottles and cages there's a lot in the Versamount's favour.

Verdict

Neat and generally reliable means of attaching bottle cages to frames and other tubing

road.cc test report

Make and model: Topeak Versamount

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for

Topeak says, "Versatile mount for additional water bottle cage or other accessories. Band style clamp provides easy installation and flexible mounting options."

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

From Topeak:

Fits tube sizes ø20 - ø60 mm

MATERIAL Engineering grade plastic

MAX LOAD 1.5 kg / 3.31 lb

WEIGHT 26 g / 0.92 oz (2 pcs)

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Decent quality engineering grade plastic.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Great for mounting standard bottle cages and has managed the weight of large soft drinks bottles quite well.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Average for a product of this kind but considerably cheaper and less invasive than the cost of having mounts added to a frame.

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

Overall, the Versamount is a great way of mounting additional/bottle cages on framesets without bosses. They also come in very handy for working out exactly where you'd like to have another set, before a frame is altered. The generous weight limit permits bigger cages and bottles.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Neat, simple and very reliable.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing per se, although not as portable as the SKS Adaptor, or designs that mount behind the saddle.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Quite possibly.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a simple, neat and scratch-free means of adding bottles to frames without bosses.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 1m 81cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mountain bike 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, mountain biking

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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2 comments

Avatar
TypeVertigo | 6 years ago
0 likes

Looks like an excellent method of adding a gravel-bike-style third bottle cage underneath the down tube. How you'd plan to keep that bottle "potable," though, is outside its design parameters I guess.

Avatar
randomeur replied to TypeVertigo | 6 years ago
0 likes
TypeVertigo wrote:

Looks like an excellent method of adding a gravel-bike-style third bottle cage underneath the down tube. How you'd plan to keep that bottle "potable," though, is outside its design parameters I guess.

or you can attach them onto the fork blades.

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