I realize this topic has been brought up several times recently. But now that there are likely more people using the Hydrotail I’d like to get a read on what people think of it.
So, what’s the word?
Do a search you’ll find more than you care to read.
Nutshell: Difficult to install. Just take your time and it works out. If you’ve got giant hands may be more time consuming. Get the BC straps and install on the rear of the tail in order to hold spare bag or tubular and components. Straps provide a super secure mounting system. I have arundel cages on mine. Never launched a bottle and I’ve creamed some nice pot holes and ttracks. I’ve also used PD’s system and like it too. But with a aero seat post the tail is super sweet. Best rear mount system out there IMO.
Best position of water bottles of any rear mount I have seen. Very light. Looks very cool – big bling factor.
TOTAL B*TCH TO INSTALL!!! And that includes installing the cages. Do a search to find the little tricks regarding installation.
While, overall, I love the thing, I have to say, IMHO: worst mounting system ever! The plastic u-brackets are a joke, strip very easily, and do not hold the thing securely. Basically, you need to go out, get longer bolts, drill through the u-brackets, insert the bolts all the way through the u-brackets and put nuts on the back side. Then the SOB won’t move.
That being said, once you have it mounted, it is very cool and very accessible.
Here’s my review:
It’s a $100+ holder for the holders of water bottles.
I can’t seem to get past that part.
It’s only really hard to install the first time. Once you learn that you can be tough with it, it’s pretty easy.
It took me about 10 minutes the first time I put it on. Since then I’ve taken it off for sprints and goes back on in 1-2 min.
Yes, it’s expensinve. Yes, it’s much better than the rest. Yes, it worth it.
Anyone tried this one from Bontrager?
Looks like a good one.
“Looks very cool – big bling factor.”
side note
Does anyone know the answer to the following question:
At what point in our history did a flat piece of plastic qualify as “bling”?
I’m thinking, around 1988 maybe?
Crazy world.
**
Great point and very funny! But, it does look damn sexy with the following: all-black Guru Crono, carbon seat post, carbon cages.
And, yes, it is $100 for a rear-mount hydration system, but, doesn’t that just make it more lust-worthy? Seriously, I don’t know how you “justify” the price for many of the items we buy. All I know is that this works better than any other system I have tried and it looks really cool.
That Bontrager system looks like it mounts your bottles too high. Unless you can alter the attachement location.
I’m sure I’ll get a good view when you blow past me at High Cliff saying “nice bike” this year (presuming I start 2-3 waves ahead of you 
_____________________________________________________________ All I know is that this works better than any other system I have tried and it looks really cool.
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The HydroTail is definitely harder to install than either of the X-Lab systems because you need to use the lock nuts for the cage bolts. But if you use a box wrench it’s really not too complicated. I do like the whole set-up better though, and am glad I switched. As far as the plastic hardware, the two I’ve installed had the older metal clamps. Those worked well, but needed to be bent a little to fit better.
Big fan…i like the way it looks, easy to grab the bottle for me. I would recommend it.
I like mine, being low it’s easy to mount/dismount, doesn’t launch bottles, I had someone else put it on :).
ive got one, but recently have started to launch both bottles. i have moved my seat forward and tilted the seat forward so that the bottles are facing straight up and down and dont know if that has anything to do with the launching. im running the profile design cages on the tail. any help would be appreciated. other than that…
Remount it using the other holes (bottle pointing straight up is the most likely position for launching) or put cages you can bend on there (either cheap ones or the King Ti ones if you want to spend lots of $$$$s)
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I’ve used about 10 different water bottle holders over the past 17 years. This is by far the best one I’ve used. Mounts easy, I had the metal U holders on mine. The bottles are straight up and do not launch. Be sure you use cheap metal gages so they can be bent to hold the bottle a tad tighter. Carbon and plastic ones are no good for any seat mount system.
It sits low enough for me to easily dismount with the leg over the seat thingy and is easy to get bottles in and out of.
The U-brackets on my hydrotail stripped as well. I emailed Beaker Concepts and they sent me new U-brackets with copper lining. No more stripped screw holes. I was very pleased with the customer service and now am very pleased with my hydrotail. The bottles are easy to reach and it makes the flying dismount less acrobatic compared to other rear-hydro systems due to the low sitting nature of the Hydrotail. I highly recommend the product.
so if you are prepared to swing your leg 10cm higher and arent worried about 0.000001% change in your drag coefficient then an old X Lab would work just as well?
-brackets metal
-frame metal
-hard to break
-tested in '000’s of races
hmmmm…hydrotail…seen plenty on the ground at races already…
$100 USD pancake?
ill keep swinging my leg up till Im at least 65 :-)…with the help of Viagra anyway
The U-brackets on my hydrotail stripped as well. I emailed Beaker Concepts and they sent me new U-brackets with copper lining. No more stripped screw holes. I was very pleased with the customer service and now am very pleased with my hydrotail. The bottles are easy to reach and it makes the flying dismount less acrobatic compared to other rear-hydro systems due to the low sitting nature of the Hydrotail. I highly recommend the product.
Glad to hear it, they do have fantastic customer service. Actually, I meant to post this, and I feel bad for forgetting to do so. The day I posted my comments, Andrew, from Beaker Concepts, PM’ed me regarding the new U-brackets with the copper lining and offered to send me a set. I declined his offer b/c my modifications corrected the problem. However, I am truly impressed with the immediate response and offer.
I still think the thing is a nightmare to mount, but, it is worth the effort. I love the way it sits behind the seat and the location of the bottles. It is a fantastic product and now I can add my opinion that it is made by a fantastic, customer-oriented company.
type “hydrotail” into the slowtwitch search utility right next to your original post starting this thread.
I just bought and installed the Bontrager Race X Lite rear mount bottle cage holder. It was very easy to install. The brackets and hardware are beefy but not too heavy. The unit adjusts up/down according to your preference. I really like it and it seems like a good alternative to the Hydrotail or Carbon Wing.