If your bike has a short seatpost then it can be difficult to fit both bike taillights or radars while still fitting a saddlebag. KOM Cycling has solved this issue by creating their new saddle bags which integrate a rear Garmin mount. This gives you enough space to carry gear and still place a Garmin Varia or other radar in an optimal position. KOM Cycling offers the bag in two versions, a $34.99 small and a $39.99 regular size option. Both bags utilize a secure ATOP dial setup to mount the bag to saddle rails. The other unique feature of the bags are the built in Garmin / Wahoo rear mount integrated into the rear opening and can be used to mount taillights or radar units.
The KOM Cycling Saddle Bag integrates a Garmin mount into the rear along with a simple to use Atop dial mounting system.
| Retail Price | $34.99 – $39.99 |
| Rating | 9.2 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 68 (small size), 86 (regular size) |
| Likes | + Integrated Garmin mount + Atop dial makes mounting fast and easy + Large capacity for storing gear and tools |
| Dislikes | – No rear strap causes side-to-side sway – Black interior makes it hard to find things inside the bag |
| Where to Buy (US) | KOM Cycling |
UNBOXING
The KOM Cycling Saddle Bag comes attached to a cardboard booking using the same saddle rail strap. Graphics and illustrations of the bag are printed on the cardboard backing.
MOUNTING
One of the unique features of these bags is the ATOP dial attachment system. Instead of Velcro or buckles, KOM Cycling has integrated a single strap that goes around the saddle rails. It’s very similar to a BOA dial, but lacks the micro tightening feature or the ability to pull on the dial. Instead you rotate it clockwise to tighten the internal ratcheting mechanism or counter-clockwise to release the tension. It’s a minor detail but it is a lot less fussy than Velcro straps and lets you quickly attach or remove the bag from the saddle. On the other side of the bag is a hook which pushes against a plastic protrusion to hold everything in place. Surprisingly, there is no additional rear strap to attach the bag to the seat post and prevent the bag from swaying side-to-side. That means you need to tighten down the dial to ensure the bag stays stable and avoid putting in heavier items.
FIT & FINISH
The KOM Cycling saddle uses a classic angled saddle bag design that tucks underneath saddles. It’s an all black saddle bag that’s available in a small size or a 1.5L regular size that fits more gear. Regardless of the size you choose, the bags feature water resistant fabric construction with a coated rear zipper for easy access. Branding on the bag is limited to KOM Cycling printed on the rear for a clean look. The bags have an attractive textured black exterior with reinforced material along the mounting strap location and on the rear where the bag pushes against the seatpost.
One of the key features of this bag is the integrated Garmin mount on the rear that’s designed to work with Garmin taillights and radars. This is a great feature for those with smaller bikes or short seat posts as it lets you place your taillight or radar in an optimal position. The mount itself is just a plastic Garmin mount that is held in place with two screws into the fabric of the rear door. Additional reinforcement material is placed inside the door to give it more rigidity to handle the weight of radars. You can easily rotate the mount by repositioning the two screws to accommodate other radars or taillights like the iGPSPORT SR30 or other Garmin / Wahoo compatible devices.
To access the contents of the bag there is a single rear zipper that goes around the top of the bag. This allows the door to open downward and easily access all the contents of the bag. Because the bag itself is angled upward nothing falls out when you have the door open. Unlike some Topeak and Thousand bags which have high visibility colors, the interior of the saddlebags are both all black which makes it difficult to see what is inside. There are also no mesh pockets or hooks inside so you can’t separate or organize any of the bag’s contents. With the larger 1.5L version there is plenty of space for larger tools as the bag has a long and nearly square cross section.
ON THE BIKE
The KOM Cycling Saddle Bag is a well timed product as more and more companies release radars. Many of Garmin’s competitors like Magene / Magicshine and iGPSPORT SR30 use similar mount designs but use a rotated mount compared to the Varia. That’s why we swapped our well used EVOC Seat Bag for the KOM Cycling to test out the new bicycle radars. Even though KOM Cycling markets the 1.5L bag as the regular size, it’s quite large and has similar capacity to bags like the SILCA Mattone Grande. We were able to easily fit multiple tubes, CO2 canisters and tools in the bag. However, the all-black interior and lack of dividers means we had to stuff everything in the bag without much organization.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the KOM Cycling Saddle Bag to be a clever variation of the traditional saddle bag. KOM Cycling has utilized an easy to use aTop dial system to quickly mount and remove the bag from saddle rails. It’s a nice upgrade from basic Velcro straps that is easy to clean and intuitive to use. The addition of the Garmin rear mount is also a clever feature that allows Garmin Varia or other radars to be mounted directly to the bag. It is a nice combination design that provides a clean look and great visibility. Our main negatives for the bag is that the interior is all black and that the lack of a rear strap causes some side-to-side sway. That said, the KOM Cycling Sadde Bag is a clever and versatile bike saddle bag.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by KOM Cycling. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.