Thank you for following up on my order. No apology necessary. I will look forward to seeing the X-Lab Torpedo in the mailbox shortly.

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HoneyMaxx Ambassador
HoneyMaxx.com

I too got my 100 kit today and installed it right away. Couple of points I noticed. The plastic cage "arms" that comes with this kit interferes with the dolphin straw holder. The cage arms (unlike the carbon cage) comes up way higher on the bottle and sits right where the straw would tuck under the dolphin. Because of this interference, I really had to push hard the straw under the dolphin... which I don't like. As a temp solution, I am using a carbon cage that I have laying around and it seems to work. Also, I tried using a spacer/washer under the dolphin and that could be a solution too. But the cage arm is still in the way. You can look at the pics on the xlab website and you can see that the system 100 straw is pinched by the cage arm. Also while I was looking to see if any of my extra cages laying around would would with this bottle... you have to realize that there are notches on the bottom of the bottle and if the resting base on your cage is too wide, the notch (on the bottle) will not work with that cage. Also, if this same base is too small... the bottle can rotate in the cage (not a deal breaker, a lil bit of elec tape will fix it). Also, the bike computer that comes with this kit is very narrow. It actually is narrower than the round garmin mount. So my garmin mount doesn't sit securely using the rubber bands (maybe zip ties?). When I rotate my garmin to remove, the mount twists on the holder. I figure one of these days, when I am in a hurry, the mount will pop off and I'll be looking to parts...For me, I went back to where and how I had the garmin mounted. Overall, I like the bottle design. As for me, I frankensteined my BTA set up... (I am using parts from several vendors). I am also suggesting to my friends to order the 400 kit and get the better carbon cage...

BTW, I have the Shiv and I will be sticking my other straw under the dolphin... This is one of the main reason I like this bottle...

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Wife says "Too Many Bikes"
I disagree :-))

This setup was something that I eagerly anticipated. I ordered it as soon as I could. I received my 100 last week and immediately installed it and did two rides with it (3.5 hours and 2 hours). Unfortunately, after those two rides I was very disappointed with the 100. My chief complaints with it are:

1. The straw/dolphin tail is effectively useless on the 100. It simply takes too much effort to get the straw tucked under there that I eventually gave up and left the straw standing up. The defeats one of the main reasons I got the 100 - too get the straw out of the wind.

2. I lost count on the number of times I had to readjust the bottle because it slipped forward out of the cage. Never so bad that I had to worry about it ejecting because the computer mount (I'll get to that next) would stop it's forward progress. The bottle would also try to rotate a bit as well occasionally. Mind you, I was riding some fairly ordinary roads. Nothing too extreme from a chip seal or poor pavement perspective.

3. When the bottle slipped forward, it would bump against the computer mount, which would in turn rotate my Garmin forward and down and out of view.

4. Finally, and most importantly, the computer mount is not stable enough to eliminate or at least dramatically dampen vibrations. Trying to read my Garmin was like watching chicks asses during some rap videos - lots of shaking going on. When mounted directly to my aero extension, my Garmin is crystal clear without any vibrations.

In the end, I took it off and asked the retailer if I could send it back for a refund. I wasn't sure if they would but it never hurts to ask. To my relief they said yes and I shipped it back today.

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"Unless you have a ... GF who might put out that night and that night only ... skip it and race." - AndyPants 3-15-2007

Got my 400 system last week in time for a long ride over the weekend. Everything worked great except for the silicon plug popped out somewhere in the 1st 30 miles of an 80 mile ride. Neither plug fit very tight to begin with, and to have it pop out caused a lot of problems on the remainder of the ride. So on my next ride I guess I'll have figure out a way to secure the plug either with tape or glue. But other than the plug problem I love the way the system worked.

We really appreciate your thorough review and we apologize for letting you down on your eager anticipation.

In regards to your bottle slipping forward, I am wondering if the bottle was all the way back? It takes some force to get the bottle out once the screws latch into the groove on the bottle.

For the computer vibrating this can be dampened by shifting the mounting straps forwards towards the front of the mount. Sorry if this was not clear or was not stated. I will add this to our helpful tips section on the webpage.

Over the past few days we have been busy coming up with a solution on one of the chief complaints that you have mentioned, the straw. We will be getting thinner straws in that will make tucking the straw under the dolphin tail much easier. Note it will still have some rigidity in order to stay vertical for those who don't want to tuck the straw all of the time, but it will be easier to tuck.

Slowtwitchers: If you bought a Torpedo 100 and want this thinner straw please contact us at info@xlab-usa.com. Please include your receipt showing proof of purchase.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Glad you like the Torpedo System 400! BTW are you Van by chance?

Wanted to let you know we are looking at the straw plug issue internally. Will update everyone when I have more information from our engineers.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

i had to buy a torpedo 100 from the US on ebay from an authorized xlab dealer. Its on its way. Am i shit out of luck if the straw thing is an issue? im in aus.

Absolutely not. I have spoken with a few people who have 100s and have not found it to be an issue or don't mind it. Our distributors should have extra parts but we can always help you here in the US!

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

excellent thank you :)

It was definitely as far back as it would go in the cage. I wonder if it makes a difference between the 100 and 400 cage. Just a thought. Does the 400 cage have more tension?

That was one of the adjustments I made between my first and second rides. It didn't really help. In the end, I rode with a finger resting on the mount to dampen the vibrations. If I was going to keep the setup one idea I had was to "frankenhack" it by looping a couple of zip ties directly between the computer mount and the aerobars.


This should help tremendously.

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"Unless you have a ... GF who might put out that night and that night only ... skip it and race." - AndyPants 3-15-2007

"Slowtwitchers: If you bought a Torpedo 100 and want this thinner straw please contact us at info@xlab-usa.com. Please include your receipt showing proof of purchase"

Thanks Candice, I just emailed info@xlab-usa.com and requested a smaller straw. Will let ST'ers know when I get a response.

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HoneyMaxx Ambassador
HoneyMaxx.com

The 100 cage is more thick at the base than the 400 cage and this looks more like the issue. As you say the computer in front stopped it from moving forward but we of course want to make sure this doesn't happen.


Hmm ok I will double check this. Which computer were you riding?

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Just received a return E-mail from Damon Vinje at X-Lab regarding requesting a thinner straw. Thank you X-Lab.

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HoneyMaxx Ambassador
HoneyMaxx.com

Yep Damon will be heading this effort and sending out the replacement ones...I have Interbike to plan :) We will get them out to you as soon as we can and we appreciate everyone's patience and understanding on this!

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Can I get a confirmation that the bottle on the 100 system is the exact same bottle as the one on the 400 system?

Also, I have an Xlab Gorilla cage already mounted securely to my aero bars. Is this bottle expected to fit in the Xlab Gorilla cage fine?

Hey Michael,

Yes the bottle is identical on the 100 and 400 systems. There are 2 bottles though for graphic purposes, one with a target icon and the other with a hibiscus icon. The main differences between the systems are the cage, mount material, color aero spacers and color bite valve.

All XLAB cages will work with the bottle and its accessories including the Gorilla cage.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Garmin 500 using the Garmin mount zip tied to the xlab mount.

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"Unless you have a ... GF who might put out that night and that night only ... skip it and race." - AndyPants 3-15-2007

ok same one we have here in house. Will do some internal testing and see if we can duplicate it. Thanks for your help!

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Seriously. Did you forget to do some field test on this before launching the product?

. I noticed that before my first ride. So I used tape.

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Wife says "Too Many Bikes"
I disagree :-))

Hmmm. was this in the instructions? I must've missed this point... but these protruding screws would prevent me from using a regular bottle in the cage, right? I prefer regular insulated bottles on training rides...

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Wife says "Too Many Bikes"
I disagree :-))

I've wrapped the plug in Teflon tape and it seems to fit better, but it does not snap into place. If it ever stops raining down here in Florida I'll get test and see how well the tape holds.

No we did not forget to field test these products. The Torpedo 400, apart from the straw plug has no other issues reported and has in fact won 3 races in the pro field already. The Torpedo 100 had been thoroughly tested as was the Torpedo 400 and all of our products, however with a larger base using the systems, preferences & abilities are different than our limited testing base. We will be expanding our testing base for this very reason.

In addition, we jumped to finding solutions right away and have an immediate fix for the straw thickness after only 3-4 days of hearing about it.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike

Good review as my experience is the same....

1. It was hard as hell to get that straw down when I was riding especially at high speed. Straw Length - I think (who the hell knows with the shitty pics) you are supposed to push the straw in and all the way to the back? When I do this the straw is about 2-3 inches too short to my liking, obviously can solve this by pulling it towards the center, just means you cant use all the liquid in the tank.

2. Without the Computer mount the bottle could easily slip forward (See number 3)

3. There was no avaialble adjustment with the computer mount and my Garmin 810 really didnt fit well. It was jammed on and it had to be tilted forward and resting on the bottle. readable in Aero, but hard when upright. But kept the bottle in :)

4. I didnt not have any vibrations, that part seemed to work well for me.

5. Directions and photos - I was able to easily get this product together because I am not an idiot, but the 1 sheeter sucks.

Not sure I would send it back, but not really excited about it....

Yes getting the bottle out is Step 1, #1. Inserting the bottle is on Step 2 #1.

No it won't prevent you from using a regular bottle. The screws don't protrude very far...just enough to latch onto the Torpedo bottle. We tested a few bottles and here are the results

With Aqua-Shot revealed a minor catch at the bottom of the bottle, but inserting & removing the bottle was still feasible.
Hydrapak Insulated - very minor catch, even less than the Aqua-Shot bottle.
Camelbak Podium bottles there was no catch due to the upturn found at the bottom.
Polar 24 oz - this can only be used if you don't have a computer at the front and you remove one of the spacers out of the screw. Our 20oz Polar bottle tester seems to have walked so I am going to get one and report back my findings on that bottle.

Hopefully I covered your bottle on one of the above :) but if not let me know and I can get it to test.

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Candice Turner
CEO
XLAB - Aerodynamic Triathlon Accessories
Dawn to Dusk - Off-road Specific Storage Accessories
http://www.XLAB-USA.com http://www.dawntodusk.bike