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Topeak UTF Multi-mount - 4 Bolt

8
£42.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Well-made and practical direct mount that is simple to fit and good value
Saves space on the bar
Easy to install
Holds devices securely
Good value
Weight: 
54g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Topeak UTF Multi-mount - 4 Bolt is a great solution for saving handlebar real estate, allowing you to keep your bar tidy while keeping devices attached securely and safely.

Being a cyclist in London means that even on my best bike I need a bell. I also tend to run daytime lights to help make sure I'm seen, and once both of those are added to my bar alongside my computer mount, there isn't a huge amount of space left for my hands.

This Topeak mount fixes that by using your stem faceplate bolts to hold it in place, thereby leaving room on your bar for gadgets.

2022 Topeak UTF Multi Mount Fixer 4-Bolt Stems 4.jpg

It comes with a number of different adaptors for various computers, lights and cameras, and for Topeak's Ridecase, er, cases. I tested it with the GoPro and Garmin fittings. The adaptors are easily attached using the decent quality hex bolts that come with the kit.

Attaching the mount to the faceplate is simple: first replace the existing bolts in your faceplate with those supplied, which are themselves threaded through the middle so you can screw a bolt into them. It is then simply a case of using the supplied bolts to attach the mount to those new faceplate bolts.

You can attach the mount using the top two or bottom two bolts of the faceplate, depending on whether you want the mount and your devices higher or lower. I went for the top two bolts, just because my Garmin Edge 830 isn't as big as some, so having it closer to me makes more sense.

2022 Topeak UTF Multi Mount Fixer 4-Bolt Stems 3.jpg

Once on, the tilt of the arm can be adjusted with a single bolt; it's simple to both adjust and then tighten again.

Although my Garmin is pretty light, I paired it with an old Cycliq Fly12, attached using the GoPro adaptor, which put the Topeak through its paces in terms of weight. But after I had tightened it up everything stayed in place.

2022 Topeak UTF Multi-Mount - 4 bolt in use 2.jpeg

We haven't looked at a huge number of direct mount systems to compare it with, but looking at those we have suggests you're getting good value for money here.

Back in 2018 Mat tested the F3 Cycling FormMount, which is now £49.99, so £7 more, and you'll have to spend another tenner on an adaptor if you want to carry a light or camera alongside your Garmin or Wahoo computer (the two inserts it comes with).

> Read more road.cc reviews of computer mounts here

More recently Anna tested the HideMyBell raceday dm, which costs around £50 and has the same direct mount fitting, but again to allow for additional devices to be added to it you'll need to spend an extra €19.95 (around £16.85) for an adaptor.

Overall I was impressed by this mount. It holds everything securely, it's simple to attach to the bike, and it saves a load of space on your handlebar. It's also pretty good value.

Verdict

Well-made and practical direct mount that is simple to fit and good value

road.cc test report

Make and model: Topeak UTF Multi-mount - 4 Bolt

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?

Topeak says: "Up-To-Front Multi-Mount with its low-profile, compact design fits most stem faceplates and aligns everything to be mounted front and center for viewing convenience."

UK distributor Extra says: "Low-profile, compact mounts fits most stem faceplates and aligns devices centrally for viewing convenience."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Topeak lists:

MATERIAL Forged aluminum / Engineering grade polymer

MODULAR MULTI-MOUNT Adapters included for GoPro® / Shimano® Sport Cameras, Garmin® Edge / Wahoo® / Sigma®

DEVICE GPS cycle computers, Topeak CubiCubi front lights, WhiteLite® 800 BT, and WhiteLite® HP 500

BRACKET Fits 4-bolt stems / installation range 10 - 35mm

MAX LOAD 480 g / 16.93 oz

ADDED FEATURES Angle adjustment (Sport Camera)

Rotates for landscape or portrait viewing (RideCase)

WEIGHT 54 g / 1.90 oz

SIZE 9 x 4.5 x 3.7 cm / 3.5' x 1.8' x 1.4'

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

It is well made with a solid aluminium construction combined with solid Allen head bolts.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Does what's needed and holds up even heavy devices and components.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Solid construction makes it feel like it will last.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
6/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

Very well – easy to attach, simple to use, and held what was needed securely.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Its ability to hold even heavy devices.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing major.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It compares well: the F3 Cycling FormMount that Mat looked at in 2018 costs £7 more than the Topeak – £17 more if you want to carry more than just a computer. More recently we've tested the HideMyBell raceday dm which has the same direct mount, but again only allows for additional devices to be added if you buy an adaptor, which also costs £16.85 – and it's around £50 on its own.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's great! It's simple to fit, holds everything in place, and doesn't cost the earth. The innovative use of bolts within bolts is also a nice touch.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 33  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: CAAD13  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

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

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

Add new comment

19 comments

Avatar
The _Kaner | 2 years ago
0 likes

At that price, too much...and it's ugly as sin...

I'll stick with Form Mount's (F3 Cycling) offering.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to The _Kaner | 2 years ago
0 likes
The _Kaner wrote:

At that price, too much...and it's ugly as sin...

I'll stick with Form Mount's (F3 Cycling) offering.

I bought one of those, but I just couldn't get it to carry the Fly12 in the right position after trying different lengths, flipping my stem and trying lower/upper bolts.

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Secret_squirrel replied to The _Kaner | 2 years ago
0 likes

Thats almost identical to the Lezyne X-Mount.  I wonder if they come out of the same factory?

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Welsh boy | 2 years ago
0 likes

Less than £18 off that well known auction site.  So far very pleased with mine, rock solid, no drilled and tapped stem bolts either.

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Secret_squirrel replied to Welsh boy | 2 years ago
0 likes
Welsh boy wrote:

Less than £18 off that well known auction site.  So far very pleased with mine, rock solid, no drilled and tapped stem bolts either.

Be careful with those.  I have two fatigue on the curvey bit on the stem mount - bottom right on the pic.   Thats with a Fly 12 attached, plus a lightweight GPS.

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Welsh boy replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for the heads up, at the moment I have got a Garmin 25 (sometimes a 200) and a cheap daytime flashing light but come the winter I was going to put a good light under there, I will keep a close eye on it 

Avatar
Sriracha | 2 years ago
0 likes

These sorts of mounts always make me worry - a few hundred grams mass bouncing around exerting leverage on the mounting bolts and their moorings. The bolts doubtless are steel, but the part they screw into is aluminium, with its limited fatigue life, and not much material there, and no design analysis around this use. Would you notice cracks developing around the bolt holes?

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
4 likes
Sriracha wrote:

These sorts of mounts always make me worry - a few hundred grams mass bouncing around exerting leverage on the mounting bolts and their moorings. The bolts doubtless are steel, but the part they screw into is aluminium, with its limited fatigue life, and not much material there, and no design analysis around this use. Would you notice cracks developing around the bolt holes?

I trust my stem more than I trust my Ultegra cranks if that's any help?

Avatar
Sriracha replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
0 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:
Sriracha wrote:

These sorts of mounts always make me worry - a few hundred grams mass bouncing around exerting leverage on the mounting bolts and their moorings. The bolts doubtless are steel, but the part they screw into is aluminium, with its limited fatigue life, and not much material there, and no design analysis around this use. Would you notice cracks developing around the bolt holes?

I trust my stem more than I trust my Ultegra cranks if that's any help?

and you'd need to! A busted crank must be bad enough, and shows exactly what aluminium does under repetitive strain when the calculations don't match up to the use.

Avatar
pockstone replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
0 likes

You've just panicked me into taking off the light and computer that I just fitted this afternoon and weighing them. I don't think I've much to worry about at around 160g for the lot, including the thumbscrew.

I fitted the Lezyne one that came with my computer, with the two arms that extend forward and a choice of mounts. Looks nice with my new Triban 80mm flat top stem. Two problems arose fitting it, access for the torque wrench bit and, as the arms are cranked where they fit the stem, they have a tendency to rotate out of level and spacing as the bolts are nipped up. Much fiddling. I also realised that I could fit the Lezyne lamp holder to my Aldi lamp. Bonus, and a nice tidy handlebar with no lamp bracket taking up space.

As Secret squirrel says though, Lezyne mount only so probably incompatible with any other computer.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to pockstone | 2 years ago
1 like

It's not the static weight, it's the repetitive force generated by the mass vibrating up and down over every bump in the road. That will be acting on the faceplate boltholes, and there's not a lot of meat there. Being aluminium it will fail eventually. How long will be in the design calculations, which never took account of a weight wanging up and down on the end of a long lever stuck through the hole. But hey, it's only the steering that will fail.

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pockstone replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
2 likes

No need to worry, I live in W. Yorks and the roads are as smooth as a length of Lister's velvet.

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jayinbarwell replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
1 like

I had a similar worry so went with the version of this that clamps to your handlebars either side of stem. Working well so far. The only thing I am slightly disappointed with is different topeak lights have different mounting systems so you need to swap in and out adapters to use them. Added time and cost unfortunately.

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Global Nomad replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
1 like

been using similar out front mounts with a garmin/wahoo and light for a few years now....the cheaper ones from online sites - some are much better than others...however no troubles at all. Fit well and tight with no more movement than any other component. 

I think you may be also forgetting the much bigger forces exerted by body weight on the handlebars - being shaken up and down, and twisting forces from pulling and pushing alternately - if stem /bolts/faceplate can cope with that, it'll cope with a few grams on a mount....

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ktache | 2 years ago
0 likes

Genuine Spurcycle bell?

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hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
1 like

I like the tilt adjustment and I particularly like the old style FLY12 showing that there's enough room (same model as mine). My current XON mount is a bit tight on space and doesn't work well if you tilt your stem downwards.

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Global Nomad replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
0 likes

having room to fit your light of choice at the right angle was key for me, computer in line with stem and light pointing to the road, the back of my cateye just clears the faceplate ( i also use the lower bolts rather than the top as shwon in the article.)

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ktache replied to Global Nomad | 2 years ago
0 likes

Hope used to so a faceplate lighting system a while back. From what I can find it was an HID set up, so that dates it.

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Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

Oooo this is good timing. I have the Lezyne direct mount (xlock I think) works brilliantly for my GPS and Fly12.   But looking for a replacement as am about to upgrade my Lezyne GPS to a Hammerhead. 

Might try this. 

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