Segway PT Handlebar Bag for Gen2

[Neelix]

I thought it was funny that there was a category for "works as described" in the review form. I suppose that if the description for the handlebar bag is, "holds stuff," then, indeed, it does work as described.

The trouble is is that some poor design choices along the way make actually using the bag a frustrating experience. The zipper pulls are, to put it nicely, inadequate, and to put it harshly, infuriating. They are hard to grasp and hold on to, and once you do get a grip, the zipper doesn't slide smoothly. I understand the theory behind the design; create a waterproof zipper configuration, but sometimes theory doesn't translate into a workable solution.

Once you've wrestled the zippers into submission, the bag opens wide, like a snake unhinging its jaw. This is pretty great! ... Most of the time. While it is excellent to be able to open it really wide to put big stuffs in there, I've seen on more than one occasion someone open a bag full of stuff and have it all spill out onto the ground because it opens so huge. This issue obviously clears itself up once people have done it once (at least, one should hope they learn from previous experience) so it's not a terribly huge deal.

Getting the bag on and off the machine, is, in theory, really simple and easy. Here we are back at theory, though, and of course reality has its own ideas. I deal with dozens of bags at work, and while some work splendidly, the great majority are a PAIN to slide onto the machine. There just seems to be no guarantee that they actually slide smoothly onto the mounting bracket.

Because of these design issues, it's hard for me to recommend the Segway PT Handlebar Bag. Get yourself a nice backpack or messenger bag, and use that as your PT cargo solution.

[quade]

It's probably not too wise to ride around for extended periods of time without a few essentials; air pump, pressure gauge, lock, printed copy of local regulations, pen, paper, sun screen and maybe a sweater for when the ride turns a bit cold.

http://www.segway.com/img/content/accessories/handlebar-bag.jpg

I don't think I can recommend the Segway Handlebar Bag (http://www.segway.com/individual/models/accessories.php#haulit) as a replacement for a briefcase, but for holding stuff you probably want to have access to every time you ride, it's not all that bad.

[pam]

I've found the handlebar bag to be great. I was surprised at the amount it could actually hold. I also like the way it looks. I went for a period of time without a handlebar bag (and was spoiled by my Gen1 bags), and carrying all my "stuff" was a nuisance, since I don't do back packs, but do carry a purse, at least, daily.

The zippers are a bit fiddly, I admit, but I've never had any problems closing them - maybe it's the size of my hands.

Pam

[bentbiker]

I wouldn't know how to make it any better. Wouldn't be without it.

Edit: Rubber bumper would make it better (stolen from Pete's post).

[PeteInLongBeach]

It seems almost perfect to me. I have no problems with the zippers, in fact I find them less fiddly than the the conventional zippers on the gen1 bag. If I had to come up with improvements, there might be 2 things:

-Bumper made of rubber, not plastic
-Bag could be a little larger

[SEGsby]

The bag is quite useful. Fits a nice bottle of Merlot, your Lock Kit, spare tools or batteries for your Headlamp, etc...

A clean, modern design that many people somehow mistakenly believe powers your Segway... The front solid plastic makes people assume it's hardware, related to the battery or motors? *shrugs*

It also works great as a HandleBar Bumper (never publicly released) when your Official Segway Parking Stand fails. *thunk*

SEGsby

[pspearing]

I use my i2 to go to and from work every (nice) day, and I use the bag daily with no problems. I agree that the zipper pulls could be improved, but not to the point of being a real problem. My lunch box and a couple of cans of diet Coke fit in it with room left over for other stuff; when i need more space i use a backpack.

[nora k]

sadly, you can see from the different editions of the handlebar bag that it's meant to be that handlebar bumper that never got released. let me poke around for pictures of the bag sans plastic bumper. i have one somewhere...

The bag is quite useful. Fits a nice bottle of Merlot, your Lock Kit, spare tools or batteries for your Headlamp, etc...

A clean, modern design that many people somehow mistakenly believe powers your Segway... The front solid plastic makes people assume it's hardware, related to the battery or motors? *shrugs*

It also works great as a HandleBar Bumper (never publicly released) when your Official Segway Parking Stand fails. *thunk*

SEGsby

[cadavev]

I personally love the bag has a lot of room in it for stuff rode my seg to taco bell last nite bought some tacos put it in the bag and rode home it was great lots of room in the bag!

[segsurfer]

Let me start off by saying that the bag is quite nice. You can fit a vast amount of stuff in a relatively small space, not to mention it serves as a decent bumper as well as IMO finishes off the look of the seg. However, the zippers are difficult to use with gloves or wet hands, the price is a wee bit high, not to mention how easy it is to over open the bag and spill stuff. But you can fit a vast amount of stuff in there, I carry a cell phone, lock, segway literature, pens, business cards, air pump, tools, hat, a copy of local laws, and still have room left over. Not to mention carrying a 40oz canteen clipped to one of the D-rings

[toymaker]

Ah, the Segway designed bag, hard to install quickly due to the tight fit of the wire loop to the sewen pocket was the first problem. I fixed that by putting the bracket into a vise and "sqeezing" it together to about 1-3/4" wide (2" wide is standard), so now it slips right on. But most of the time I just hang the bag onto the bracket by the handle. Much faster and performs the same. Next the zippers. I coated the zipper run with bees wax to allow the travler to pull smoother. OK but it needed me to drill a small hole in the plastic travler and insert a key ring. I added a plastic key fob and this almost made the bag easy to use. Space in bag was OK but I started to carry some different stuff. I started with a extension cord from an old computer power cable so that I could plug-in where ever I was. Camera for recording good events. Tire guage but no pump. Roll-Up nylon jacket to ware or use as a machine cover and a local city map. No regs and other materials that would ever be used to support an arguement with the local police. I did start carring some business cards from the local Segway dealer to give to people who wanted answers to lots of questions. My overall rating of the Segway Bag C+.

[segsurfer]

Ah, the Segway designed bag, hard to install quickly due to the tight fit of the wire loop to the sewen pocket was the first problem. I fixed that by putting the bracket into a vise and "sqeezing" it together to about 1-3/4" wide (2" wide is standard), so now it slips right on. But most of the time I just hang the bag onto the bracket by the handle. Much faster and performs the same. Next the zippers. I coated the zipper run with bees wax to allow the travler to pull smoother. OK but it needed me to drill a small hole in the plastic travler and insert a key ring. I added a plastic key fob and this almost made the bag easy to use. Space in bag was OK but I started to carry some different stuff. I started with a extension cord from an old computer power cable so that I could plug-in where ever I was. Camera for recording good events. Tire guage but no pump. Roll-Up nylon jacket to ware or use as a machine cover and a local city map. No regs and other materials that would ever be used to support an arguement with the local police. I did start carring some business cards from the local Segway dealer to give to people who wanted answers to lots of questions. My overall rating of the Segway Bag C+.

Toymaker, you might look into the cyclair pump, it's a combination air pump and air gauge. It's very compact and works quite well.
-segsurfer

[C3RS]

very strong bag, i use regulary to ride with 3,5kg of technical object (Electrician)...and all necessary to light at night with a kway for rain. :p

[OregonForester]

The local dealer threw in the bags with both of my Seg's, so I've never been without one, but I cannot imagine not having a bag to carry my essentials.
Paper, pen, local and state laws, sun oil, small camera, flashlight, spare batteries, charging cable, bottle of water...etc...
My wife and I have VOX operated GMRS radios that fit perfectly into one of the side pockets, leaving the radio close enough so that the VOX headset easily reaches, and the cable "unplugs" effortlessly, should one of us have to dismount "unexpectedly".