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Accessories - misc
The Bar Fly 2.0 Garmin mountBar Fly Mount_edit

The Bar Fly 2.0 Garmin mount

9
by Mat Brett
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Oct 15, 2013

9
£21.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Excellent out-front mount for a Garmin Edge computer.
Weight: 
20g
Contact: 
www.2pure.co.uk
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The Bar Fly 2.0 is a spot-on design for fitting a Garmin Edge computer out front of your handlebar and stem. You can also attach a Shimano Di2 or Campagnolo EPS electronic shift module underneath the mount on this updated version.

The Bar Fly 2.0, which has a lower profile than the previous model, will take any of the current Garmin Edge computers: the 200, 500, 510, 800 and 810, as well as the new Edge Touring and Edge Touring Plus.

Mounting the Bar Fly to your bike takes seconds. The plastic at the clamp end is flexible enough to open wide so you can get it over your handlebar without trouble (you don't need to remove a lever and slide it onto your bar) and the nut is fixed firmly in place so there's no danger of losing it on the garage floor. Tighten it up with a 3mm Allen key and you're good to go. You can get your Garmin to sit flush with the height of your stem and, as long as your stem doesn't have an unusually broad faceplate, right in the centre.

There are two mounting points, one for a smaller unit like the Edge 510, one for a larger one like the 810 – or you can position a smaller unit in the further out position, if you prefer.

Fitting the computer is as simple as normal – you put it in place and give it a quarter turn. It clicks in and is perfectly secure. Being fully plastic, the Bar Fly 2.0 won't damage the back or the tabs of your Garmin when you put it in place.

The other feature of the Bar Fly 2.0 that's worth mentioning is that you can mount the handlebar junction box of a Shimano Di2 or Campagnolo EPS electronic shift system to the underside with zipties and/or double-sided tape. Do it right and it's quite a neat solution.

The Bar Fly 2.0 is available in black, blue, white and hi-vis yellow, and it is designed for use with 31.8mm diameter handlebars. If your bar is narrower than this, you could easily add a little rubber shim to take up the slack. It comes with a lifetime warranty and a crash replacement guarantee... which is nice. £22 seems a decent price to me if you're never going to need to buy another.

By the way, you'll see this product listed on some websites as Tate Labs Bar Fly 2.0, and other times the Tate Labs bit is missed off. Either way, it's the same thing.

Verdict

Excellent out-front mount for a Garmin Edge computer.

road.cc test report

Make and model: The Bar Fly 2.0 Garmin mount

Size tested: n/a

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?

Here's what Tate Labs say:

The Bar Fly 2.0 is designed with an aerodynamic low profile that places the Garmin Computer screen inline, out front, and level with the handlebar/stem. Whether you are using the Garmin 200/500 or larger 510/800/810, our clever Dual Mounting Position design is optimized with no screws to lose and no bolts to adjust.

Taking aesthetic and function one step further, we've engineered a platform for Shimano Di2 and Campagnolo EPS electronic shifting modules on the underside of the 2.0. This platform will also integrate with a safety light to be released summer 2013.

Our single bolt, Full Wrap Clamp is easy to install without removing the handlebar tape and is added protection that your Garmin will never "fall off" even without the bolt over the roughest terrain.

Tested at the highest level. The Bar Fly is the preferred choice of Pro Tour road cyclist, Ironman triathletes, and World Champion mountain bike racers.

Plastic on Plastic design.

Garmin computers are made of Plastic and so is the Bar Fly. We chose Delrin, the highest quality plastic, because it is the most appropriate material for this key interface. Hard materials such as aluminum have been found to "eat away," and "shave off," material that can permanently damage your Garmin computer.

With Bar Fly products there is always Zero Risk of over-tightening

Carbon handlebar safe.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

It's not quite as light as a basic Garmin stem/handlebar mount with a couple of O-rings, but it's 20g - not worth worrying about.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

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

It does a relatively simple job very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The ease of fitting and the central positioning.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, it's the best I've used.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

The Bar Fly 2.0 Garmin mount
out-front mount
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
heavenfire | 11 years ago
0 likes

Doesn't rain gather in those notches in the stem?

Avatar
willdeath | 11 years ago
0 likes

Hi thanks for the feedback on my question on the difference between this and the Garmin product. I guess I am lucky as did buy mine separately, my Edge 800 is central and flush/close to the stem. I do like the look of this one and sure it will produce good results for those with different stems, set-up and Garmin devices. More options are always welcome.

Avatar
notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

I bought the k-edge, although the RRP is a daft £40, my LBS did it for £25 which was nice. It's great, really sturdy, easier to read than when on the stem, and raises the unit slightly compared to this.

Avatar
seanieh66 | 11 years ago
0 likes

I had a Barfly 1.0, but didn't like it. The new 2. 0 is a lot better and I've found you can pull the 800 in snug against the stem and lock it into position. Nice.

Avatar
willdeath | 11 years ago
0 likes

Am I missing something, apart from the two settings what is the difference between this and the Garmin mount that does the same (front of stem?)

Avatar
russyparkin replied to willdeath | 11 years ago
0 likes

it sits lower down which i much prefer, has the fitting for di2 control box if you run such things

the multi postion is great as you can mess around with the display to be closer or further away

has a lifetime guarantee which the garmin definately dont! looked the best value overall. i had the racewear before which initilly was nice but the 3d printing method shows all the dirt as it gets into the micro crevises

willdeath wrote:

Am I missing something, apart from the two settings what is the difference between this and the Garmin mount that does the same (front of stem?)

Avatar
Mat Brett replied to willdeath | 11 years ago
0 likes
willdeath wrote:

Am I missing something, apart from the two settings what is the difference between this and the Garmin mount that does the same (front of stem?)

Hi willdeath, you might already know this but some Garmin packages come with an outfront mount included and some don't - so not everyone with a Garmin Edge has an outfront mount.

Not sure if that's what you were getting at or not.

I should have included that info in the review.

Mat

Avatar
DrJDog replied to willdeath | 11 years ago
0 likes

People's main objection with the Garmin mount is that it is not straight. My Edge is slightly wonky attached with it, which is nearly enough to make me spend £20 on something that does almost exactly the same thing.

Avatar
russyparkin | 11 years ago
0 likes

great out front and with the warranty even better.

also like the fact that i run a 500 and can mount it closer or further depending on my preferences

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