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Review: F3 Cycling’s stealthy FormMount cycling computer perch

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes
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F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

Launched last fall, F3 Cycling unveiled the FormMount and crushed their Kickstarter campaign. It also drew a lot of comments and interest, so we had a closer look. The design is unique in that it attaches with your stem cap bolts and uses two round arms to reach the computer mount. The length is adjustable, with shorter arms available separately, giving you a wide variety of fitment options. Run it high, low, or even reversed so it sits on top of the bar. With all of that versatility virtually hidden once it’s installed, not to mention a complete lack of visible mounts on the bar itself, this might be the minimalists’ dream mount…

INSTALLATION & WEIGHTS

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

The standard FormMount package runs $59.95 and comes with the long arms, a black insert, flush-mount lower shell, and long and short bolts with spacers. Available separately are the shorter arms for computers under 3″ in length ($9.95), colored inserts ($4.95 each), and the GoPro-style mount to replace the bottom section ($14.95).

Installation is straightforward, but it does take a little work to get it lined up correctly. I tested it on three different stems (3T, Easton and FSA). On all three, I chose to place it on the bottom bolts so the top of the computer was flush with the top of the stem. Here’s how it went.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

Unbolt the top and bottom sections (three bolts total) and place the arms as far in or out as you want. Even with the largish Wahoo Element, I was able to run it a few notches in on some setups.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

On the Easton, mounted to a Niner RLT9 gravel bike, and the 3T, mounted to a Felt FR2 road bike (shown directly above), installation was straight forward. Just remove the bolts, select the right slots for your computer and stem’s faceplate thickness, and reinstall with the spacers placed between the arms and the stem.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

Between the two arm lengths and the wide range of slots inside that lock them into place, you can snug your computer right up to the faceplate, or push it out all the way. I opted to keep it closer in on some installs, and all the way out on the Felt.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

To ensure the best connection, they provide two bolt lengths and suggest you use the one that ends up having about the same amount of thread showing as matches the length of the stock bolt. Between the two bolts and three stems I tried it on, all installs were within the recommended +/- 1mm range. It’s worth noting that all of the stems I used had the threaded holes opening out of the back of the stem’s head, so I could run the longest bolts on all three…which I’d personally recommend because why not.

Weight for the shortest combination of arms and bolts without the GoPro mount is 40g. The longest combination with GoPro mount is only 4g heavier.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

The tricky part of any install is getting the two arms to mirror each other. Once you start torquing them down, they want to rotate along with the bolt, which ends up lifting one side and dropping the other. The simplest solution I found was to loosen the top bolts a couple turns, then get the lower bolts as snug as you can without rotating them, then snug the top bolts to recommended torque specs. Assuming the gap between faceplate and stem body is about the same top and bottom, you should be good to go. Just double check by bouncing your weight on the bars to make sure they don’t rotate, and triple check it with a torque wrench. (This is my method, and it worked on all three installs, but use your judgement and take responsibility for your own actions.)

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

For the FSA stem, the bend at the back of the arms seemed to interfere with the pronounced shape of the face plate. To avoid putting undue stress on any part of the system, I simply flipped it, which set the computer a little lower…and its body juuuuust cleared the bolts with the long arms set all the way out. So long as your stem’s bolts point straight forward, chances are pretty good you’ll find a way to use this mount. Check our original coverage for more ways you can do it.

TEST RESULTS

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

Compared to most out-front mounts, the two cylinders look, well, lesser. F3 Cycling’s Michael Scalise provided the following materials and testing information to put my mind at ease:

  • ARMS: 40% Carbon Filled Nylon with 316 SS bolt support sleeves
  • CRADLE BOTTOMS: 40% Carbon Filled Nylon
  • TCMI: 20% Glass Filled Delrin
  • WAHOO/GARMIN INSERTS: Nylon 6/6
  • BOLT HARDWARE: 316/A4 Stainless Steel
  • TESTING: Rigorous FEA, G Force, Vibration and FMEA testing performed in partnership with Lezyne.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

On the road bike I was least concerned about it breaking, but that’s where I was most able to notice slight vibration. Not anything I’m worked about, but I’d probably stick to using that GoPro mount for lights rather than a camera if I were concerned about shaky footage. The interface between computer and mount isn’t the tightest I’ve felt, but it’s plenty secure, and probably not likely to wear down your computer’s tabs at all.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

I wanted to test the FormMount off the pavement, too. I moved it from the Felt FR2 over to the Niner RLT9 and hit the dirt roads and paths, looking for any and all ribbles, roots, rocks and rough sections I could find. Even with that Fox AX fork set to the firmest setting, the computer didn’t budge.

F3 Cycling FormMount stealth gps cycling computer mount review for road gravel and mountain bikes

Then I put it on the Pivot Mach 4 SL and hit the trails. Same deal, computer remained intact just fine. And look at that cockpit…so clean. The cable and brake hoses did like to kip off the GoPro mount, so minor line adjustments might be necessary on your setup to avoid rubbing.

The verdict? Once it’s mounted, it’s easily the cleanest looking solution you’re going to find. And if your handlebars flare into an ergo/aero shape just outside of the stem, this might be the only option that’ll fit. No longer concerned over its strength, the only other question I had before trying it was whether it would securely hold the handlebar in place. So far, everything’s stayed tight. And they seem to have done their homework. Even on the road bike I was trying to weight the hoods and hit potholes just to see if anything slipped. Fortunately, nothing did, and I’ve still got all my skin and teeth. So, whether your stem’s warranty likes it or not, the FormMount worked for me and looked darn good doing it.

F3cycling.com

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17 Comments
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Andrew
Andrew
7 years ago

I’ve been running one for about a month and love it as well. I also had a hard time getting the two arms to mirror each other…I eventually got it level, but I’ll have to try your method if I ever need to tweak it again!

Steve
Steve
7 years ago

I received my mount about two weeks ago, and can tell you that while I love some of the
K-Edge mounts I’ve used in the past, I much prefer the looks and functionality of of this mount. I own a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and purchased the mount with the GoPro adapter to mount my NiteRider Lumina 750. Brilliant design. Getting the arm perfectly straight and level is a bit of a pain.

Stu
Stu
7 years ago

Nice.

The Enve one is expensive and stem specific.

jake
jake
7 years ago

tested in partnership with Lezyne… a Lezyne gps mount would be a great addition

dl
dl
7 years ago

Perhaps I’ve overlooked how it’s done, but can one adjust the tilt angle? The clamp may not be as clean, but it does make getting it angled for visibility pretty easy.

typevertigo
typevertigo
7 years ago
Reply to  dl

Great question. It’s not clear to me either.

You could maybe bodge this by using a wedge shim at the mounting plate?

Ed Ng
Ed Ng
7 years ago
Reply to  dl

Angle is not adjustable, unfortunately, and the arms have a slight downward tilt to them to compensate for the fact that stems tend to be pointed upwards to some degree. I would’ve much preferred perfectly straight since I run only flipped 17-degree stems on my bikes. That being said, I otherwise love my FormMount as it frees up my stem selection for my bikes (previously had to stick with Fizik or 3T Arx II Pro stems because I was using Bar Fly Direct Stem Mounts, but they need a proprietary slotted face plate that only works with those two stems).

-Ed

toffee
toffee
7 years ago

I like the idea, but messing around with the stem bolts, and face plate is asking for trouble. Im sure no stem manufacturers would recommend this.

Oscar
Oscar
7 years ago
Reply to  toffee

They don’t tell you that this mount works ONLY with M5 screws, so if you have a high end light weight stem, like Extralite or Deda super leggero RS or AX Lightness and so many others, it wont work because the screws on those stems are M4 or M3. So its a false advertisement saying any 4 bolt stem will work.

edge
edge
7 years ago

nice idea

Collin Snyder
Collin Snyder
7 years ago

Looks clean, but at $60 for a mount? You can get plastic garmin out front mounts for under $10 for generic and around $20 for Sram ones.

James Grosser
James Grosser
7 years ago
Reply to  Collin Snyder

Oy. This mount isn’t competing with the mounts you describe. It competes with the very small number of faceplate mounts, like ones from Tate, Fetha, and Recmounts. It is the most versatile option of its kind.

Collin Snyder
Collin Snyder
7 years ago
Reply to  James Grosser

There is the one from fouriers Bike, although at this point its not really compatible with the element, and it sits too high…

James Grosser
James Grosser
7 years ago

I have one one these, and it has been raced multiple times with a Garmin Edge 520 and a Garmin Virb Ultra. My main complaint is that the GoPro mount lacks a recessed hex-shaped hole for the acorn nut, so you need to use an 8mm wrench to get the camera tight.

Scott
Scott
7 years ago

Got three of the Kickstarter… like your install solution. Finicky but worth it once on!

sevencyclist
sevencyclist
5 years ago

How is the vibration on Go Pro, when using the underside mount?

larry
larry
1 year ago

Does the formount accomidate a sigma pure 1 computer

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