As you may have read, during our review of the Axiom Transition Computer bag/pannier, we had a complete failure of the bag to stay on our standard bike rack, which caused extensive damage to my Hewlett-Packard laptop.
Now, I have uploaded a gallery of photos of the damage caused when the bag flew off the rack and landed on the road, damaging the computer. In addition, below is the response from the initial story’s comments from Axiom support, indicating that the bag was used incorrectly and stating they should “provide better instructions in the future.” You can see the photos above in the slide show, or on Flickr here.
Below is an excerpt from their support comment (you can read it in full at the original story):
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.
Interesting response. Here’s what they say keeps the bag on:
Back side of the Axiom Transition bag
What the Axiom support person is referring to is the horizontal piece of plastic in the top center area of the bag. Would this work to keep the pannier in place? Maybe, but how would you know to use it?
Here are the printed materials that come with the bag:
Hm it's a "lifetime guarantee" (for the bag, not your computer) and a very basic marketing foldout.
That’s right, there are no instructions. So what’s telling you to use this piece of rotating plastic to save your computer from certain destruction? Nothing.
“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” – Thanks a lot, Axiom.
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on Mar 5th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
[...] On Two Wheels – Axiom Transition Computer Pannier – Laptop Damage Photos – OUCH! You do not want to have your product fail in this way during a product [...]
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Sorry, but by your original post it is obvious you didn’t really look carefully. I bought an axiom pannier second hand and figured it out right away without any instructions. Unfortunately I think it really is a bit grey area, does nowhere in the booklet even reference the turning knob? When you saw it what did you think it was for? and if you had a pannier before wasn’t there something similar?
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I don’t believe it’s a gray area at all. Congratulations to you for figuring it out so fast. My previous/current panniers used on my Azor Secret Service are Basil Memphis bags (click for our review), which attach completely differently – simple straps.
Before that, I used REI’s Novara Transfer panniers – clip mounting system, nothing like the Axiom bag at all.
Edited: I actually forgot our third set of panniers, the REI ‘Round Town bags that we generally just use to get groceries with. Same thing: hook, spring, that’s it.
Including some simple instructions could have saved me hundreds of dollars. This is stupid. Don’t blame me for Axiom’s disregard for providing their customers with essential product information, thank you.
on Mar 6th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Yeah, that rotating plastic piece was what I was referencing in my previous comment here: http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/03/02/review-axiom-transition-computer-bag-panniers/#comment-2213
I don’t recall ever reading the instructions when I got my bags so don’t remember if they told me to use the little plastic clip or not, but it seemed logical when I saw the mechanism. Damn, that sucks about your laptop. I’ve actually had good experiences with my axiom bags, even to the point of crashing and sliding on them over wet pavement without them dislodging. The bag got scuffed to hell but there was no damage to the laptop within.
According to the last post about their bags, it looks like they’re going to be adding instructional stickers to their bags. At least they’re doing something about it.