K-EDGE was born from the need for a chain catcher for Kristin Armstrong’s bike in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Time Trial. Since then, K-EDGE has become a household name for champions at the Tour de France, Ironman, and the Olympics. Today, K-EDGE continues to meet every-day consumer needs with innovative designs.
Producing some of the first third-party mounts for Garmin computers, K-EDGE has been manufacturing elegant solutions for cyclists who prefer their computer mounted above the stem. We recently had the opportunity to spend time using the new K-EDGE Garmin MTB/Stem Mount, which is crafted especially for fitting the larger Garmin 510, 800, and 810 sized computers above a variety of stem configurations.
Mounted off the steerer tube, the mount comes in two versions—a fixed and an adjustable model—and replaces a standard 5 mm spacer. It’s locked securely in place by the top compression cap. Designed with mountain biking in mind, the placement over the top of the stem protects the computer from getting damaged and abused while still providing an optimal viewpoint. We tested the adjustable mount model, which is perfect for keeping your computer away from your hydration system on the aerobars.
K-EDGE’s newest design features a significant refinement on the original, which included an aluminum connection interface. While tough and secure, harder materials can wear out the tabs on your Garmin. The new K-EDGE mount is still crafted with a durable 6061-T6 CNC machined aluminum platform but uses a plastic interface, which should not have such a negative wear-and-tear effect on your Garmin’s tabs.
Not only was the mount easy to install, but we found the adjustability provided the perfect line of site to the computer. One thing worth noting was the tightness of the fit when inserting the Garmin into the mount. Give the Garmin a good twist and let’s just say that the computer isn’t going anywhere—ever. While it may have been a bit of a snug fit, it was worth it to have the peace of mind that our computer was securely locked into place when we hit a few solid bumps in the road. The plastic interface worked perfectly, as well. We never noticed any wear with the tabs on our Garmin’s backing.
At $39.99, the K-EDGE mount is definitely a littler pricier than other mounts on the market ($29.99 for the fixed version), we feel that the added stability, quality, and adjustability is well worth the investment.