How does an $80 bag turn into a $1000 bag? Read on.
Summary: The Axiom Transition pannier is an attractive, functional bag for urban commuters that unfortunately suffers from terrible design flaws. We cannot recommend this until they are rectified.
Axiom Transition Pannier
The Axiom Transition bag is a large-size computer bag pannier, designed to carry laptops up to 17″ in size. In fact, this is just about the only pannier-style bag I have found that was big enough to carry my (admittedly HUGE) HP Pavilion dv7 laptop.
A thin, svelte MacBook Pro my computer ain’t. At about 1.5 inches thick by probably 15 inches across, it is one big laptop. Since this one fits, I would guess that the Axiom bag can carry just about any 17″ laptop around – unless you’ve been lugging around the same portable since 1988.
The Axiom bag holds large laptops, but not THIS large.
When I found that the Axiom bag would fit my laptop computer, I was one happy cyclist! On my Azor Secret Service, the only solution I had found was to use an REI-brand big fat computer sleeve and throw that inside my Basil Memphis panniers. Not ideal, not lightweight, and not pretty either, as my laptop was so tall it regularly stuck 2-3 inches out of the top of the bag, making it so I could never close the panniers.
The Axiom system seemed like a much more elegant way to bring my computer to work at first glance. The bag is attractive, aerodynamic and fairly stylish. Both sides have triangular-shaped Axiom logos that double as reflectors for extra visibility. There is an inner removable liner to help hold smaller laptops in place, probably down to 14″ or so I would estimate. A front pocket protected by an oversized flap has enough room for your power adapter and a few small essential accessories. Also included is an arm strap that hooks to the side of the pannier, reinforcing the fact that this bag is meant to be easily removable from your rack and used as an arm bag of sorts.
The attachment system is where things go wrong on the Axiom Transition pannier. The bag is designed to attach at three points: two small hooks which fit over your rack, and then one long “springy” cord with a hook at the end, which is meant to fit over the bottom edge of your rack. Sounds good in practice.
In reality though, this system just doesn’t work to hold the rack on the bicycle, and my laptop paid the price for it.
On my very first commute with the bag loaded (I tested it over the weekend with lighter loads beforehand), disaster struck. Heading north on south Congress, it’s easy to pick up speed even if you’re a fat slow cyclist like me because there’s over a mile downhill section. I was easily going over 20 miles an hour when I hit a pothole near the State House apartments, and BOOM…
A heavy object flying off of your bicycle at high speed makes an interesting sound. For a moment, I wondered if a helicopter was flying overhead, actually. There was a huge, wooshing sound of rotating air and then a WHACK! as something very hard hit the ground behind me. I slammed on my brakes, almost losing control of the bike, and as my brain slowly put the event together, it dawned on me: this was going to be bad.
A nice bystander ran into the street and grabbed my bag, handing it to me. I thanked him, but I’m sure I was frowning. I didn’t even bother opening the bag until I got to my office.
When I lifted back the lid and surveyed the damage, I immediately wondered, “how the hell am I going to be able to afford this?” A spiderweb of thin, splintery cracks covered the top portion of the once-beautiful screen.
My computer has since been sent off to Hewlett-Packard repair, where they have given me an estimate far higher than what I paid for the computer originally. I’m still hoping to get it repaired locally, if I can get a better quote.
The Axiom Transition computer pannier is an attractive, feature-filled system that holds a lot of promise for urban commuters. Unfortunately, until they fix their fatally flawed mounting system, we at Austin On Two Wheels cannot recommend the product in good conscience. We encourage our readers to look for other, more secure alternatives.
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Wow, what a bummer! I use the Axiom Typhoon roll-top dry bags and have NEVER had a problem with them disengaging, even when loaded down way more than they recommend. Do the two hooks that go over the rack have rubber parts that rotate to lock them in place? They do on mine and they keep the thing attached tight.
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Nope, that’s the biggest problem here, I think. The hooks are far too short, and have no clip system. This could be easily solved in so many ways, but now I’m out $1,000 because of their stupidity. I think I’m gonna be typing up blog posts on my netbook for a long time, cause I can’t really afford to get that sucker fixed.
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thanks for taking one for the team, too bad it’s at $1K price tag!
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Ouch – thanks for writing this up, one more option to scratch off my list.
It makes that $170 Arkel Commuter bag that I’m trying to convince myself to buy look like a good investment rather than an luxurious extravagance.
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
That is terrible story and something that I am really hoping to avoid. I just completed my “must find a pannier for my giant laptop” mission myself. My search lasted about a month. I bought a cheap but great rack from YellowBike this past Friday night for $10. I installed it on site.
I have a 17in laptop that weighs a ton. It’s 15in across as well. My month long search for the pannier part ended Sunday after volunteering with the Chris Riley campaign.
I took my laptop with me to REI and found the Novara Transfer Panniers. I paid $109 for the two of them. http://www.rei.com/product/780451
Today was my first commute to work which involves a few bus transfers. I can take them on and of of my bike quickly and because I added a shoulder strap from my old laptop back, loading my bike is pretty easy. Also, they come with an awesomly ugly yellow mini poncho for each.
So far so good. No more sore, stiff back. I can’t wait for the ride home!
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Spencer,
I used to have the Novara bag set on my old Trek. They’re very good, I agree. I think you’ll be very happy with them.
I only got rid of them once I had a couple of bikes where the rack metal was too big in diameter for the clip-on part of the bags to work anymore.
on Mar 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
I use Ortlieb bags for touring and commuting. I LOVE their mounting system and have been down some pretty rough roads fully loaded and they have never come off. Many other manufactures use a similar system with a cam lock on the rack. If you set them up correctly they’ll never come off. Can’t say the same for other bags that I’ve used that had the “hook and spring” attachment system.
Sorry your laptop had to take one for the team. Stay way from those pesky hooks and springs!
on Mar 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
One thing I do when I’m carrying a heavy load in my pannier is to strap a bungie around it horizontally and secure the ends to the rack. It tends to keep the bouncing to a minimum. I know it’s not the most elegant of solutions, but it does the job and gives you a little added protection in case a clip fails.
on Mar 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I’m really sorry to hear that you’ve had such a bad experience with one of our bags. I know how precious a laptop is and certainly how important they are to getting our jobs done. Many of us commute year-round and can understand how important having the right gear is, and your frustration with the bag if it didn’t meet your expectations.
The thing is, we have tested our bags extensively to avoid the type of mishap you experienced and I’m curious to know if you had and used the proper/supplied hardware and mounted the bag correctly? If you used everything correctly then let us know so we can fix any problems the bag may have. If you’re unsure the next paragraph may help.
Between the two hooks on this rear bag there should be a small piece of plastic, with three holes, that rotates, this is the Posi-Lock. When you put the bag on the rack and twist the Posi-Lock to the vertical position it will lock the bag into place making it almost impossible for the bag to eject off the rack, even through rough road conditions like train tracks or hitting a pothole. The Posi-Lock can be adjusted to three different positions so it will fit most conventional racks. The bungee with a hook is the quick latch and also is designed to keep the bottom of the bag from swinging out. When used properly the system has four points of connection: the Posi Lock, the two hooks and the bungee, creating a very secure system.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention; consumer feedback helps us make a better product for everybody. On the next run of bags we are looking at including a sticker or tag attached to the Posi-Lock to better explain the use of this system and to ensure that people know how to properly secure their bags.
Cheers,
Cadeyrn
Axiom Support Team
http://www.axiomgear.com