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rkreuser
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XLAB Flatwing review

  • Price Paid:$100.00
  • User rating:
    (2.7)
  • Would buy again from this company: Yes
  • Used product for: 1 years 3 months
  • # of logged workouts:

"XLAB is a good company. The Flatwing as a product is very attractive...it SHOULD do everything well. However, in practice, it does very little well.

Consider an under-seat wedge for CO2/inflators/tubes, and consider an alternative hydration (profile aerodrink, neverreach, etc) for hydration. "rkreuser

(4)

Ease of installation

Installs using two two-part clamps that attach to seat rails, connected using a thru bolt with a hex head. Does not attach to seat post, which makes this product applicable for all bikes, even those with aero seatposts.

You must supply your own cages.

(2)

Ease of use

In use

(2)

Quality of Construction

The aluminum mast is well built, as are the clamps to the seat cages.

The drill-out for the x-nut that holds CO2 and an inflator does not fit the x-nut itself; it was loose from day 1.

The x-straps to hold spare tubes frayed after 3 months of normal riding; one broke during a race.

(3)

Durability

The aluminum parts wore well. The fabric straps (x-straps) wore quickly and needed replacing after 3 months.

(2)

Value

The value in this product is that it should do everything well (bottles behind the seat, hold CO2 and tubes). However, it doesn't do any of these functions well.

(5)

Appearance

The xlab setup behind the seat looks great.

(1)

Performance

In use, the xlab has several key performance flaws:

- CO2 cartridges and inflators can jiggle loose and fall off their threaded mounts. I lost 2 CO2's in 3 months of use.

- x-straps wore out very quickly, pulling free from their mounts to the aluminum mast and fraying.

- Bottles jiggle loose from the cages when going over bumps. Others with this product refer to it as a 'behind the seat bottle launcher'.

- Tire levers sit 'open' in the interior of the aluminum mast. Care must be taken to wedge them in, otherwise they may fall out.

- Bottles stick up behind the seat, making it risky or impossible to bring your leg over the seat on a rolling OR stationary stop. I ended up stepping over the top tube, taking extra time.

Strengths

- Looks Cool
- Should do everything well - water, CO2, tubes

Weakness

- X-nut fit was loose. (Never fell out, but...)
- CO2/inflator can jiggle loose from X-nut
- Tire levers can fall out of the aluminum mast
- X-straps wear out quickly
- Bottles pop out of cages when going over bumps
- Impossible to swing foot over bottles - dangerous

Read 3 more reviews  
Buyers clubFlatwing
  • 1 people use
  • 0 workouts logged
  • 24.12 miles / 2.02 hours logged