Ortlieb Back-Roller Cyber and Velo-Sling Flex Cyber in a brief review

With the Cyber Line, Ortlieb, known for its high-quality bags and waterproof transport solutions, is trying to inject plenty of color into the mix. For a long time, the bike-bag maker from Heilsbronn in Franconia dressed its bags in practical colors — dark, more earthy tones so they wouldn't show dirt easily, or bold yellow, red or orange to increase safety through visibility. With the Cyber Line, they are now taking a different approach and dunk selected products in loud colors like "Cyber Blue" or "Cyber Pink".

The freshly colored collection now comprises seven bags: the Velo-Sling, which can be used either as a shoulder or handlebar bag and is offered in two mounting options; the Duffle-Lite as a lightweight travel bag with a handy backpack function; the Micro-Bag as a small, waterproof saddlebag; the Velocity as a courier backpack; the Commuter-Daypack as a slightly larger backpack; the Vario 26L as a hybrid between backpack and bike bag; and the classic Back-Roller as a pannier for the rear rack, with clear strengths between urban use and bike touring.

Behind the Back‑Roller Cyber hides a true classic from Ortlieb. In the Cyber variant it is made from PU‑coated nylon (the Urban, Free, High‑vis, Nylon and Classic lines are each made from different materials and therefore differ in price) and is dustproof and protected against splashing water from all directions according to the IP64 standard. 42 cm in height, 32 cm in width and 17 cm in depth yield a stated capacity of 20 l. You can load up to 9 kg. The listed weight is 810 g; our BB measurement had the scale stop at 761 g.

What stands out is the high-quality, neat workmanship of the bag: every seam is in place, every tab is where you would expect it to be. German thoroughness in Cyber Pink (at least in our case), so to speak. What I've come to appreciate about backpacks over the years are roll-top closures. They allow you to slightly adjust the volume while at the same time providing a secure closure and protection against rain and dust. Nice to find this familiar favorite again on the Back-Roller, although in hindsight this fact shouldn’t have surprised me after reading the product name more closely. Back-Roller... pretty self-explanatory...
The bag impresses with functional details such as the integrated organizer or the detachable shoulder strap, which turns the Back-Roller into a practical shoulder bag. Also perfect as a shopping companion in the supermarket. And, especially from a sustainability perspective, top: if something ever breaks, the bag can be sent to Heilsbronn for a "cure."

Behind the abbreviation QL2.1 is not R2‑D2’s new life partner, but one of several mounting variants from the Ortlieb universe. On the Back‑Roller Cyber it is this very QL2.1 (short for Quick‑Lock2.1 suspension system) that provides a secure connection to the luggage rack. What’s special about the system: it is adjustable and can be adapted by the user to the requirements of their own rack. It starts by adjusting the system to the rack and its stays. For this, the clamps can be moved along their guide rail to change their position. All of this is done tool‑free using a clip. The hooks for the rack itself have a standard diameter of 16 mm and can be reduced to 12, 10 or 8 mm diameter using the supplied reduction pieces. Not included, but optionally available, are variants for 18 and 20 mm tube diameters as well as the lockable QL2‑Lock. To ensure the bag is securely connected not only at the top of the rack but also at a third point on the stays, there is a rotatable and slidable locking hook at the bottom of the bag. All hooks are also fitted with an anti‑scratch coating to avoid leaving unwanted marks on the rack. Simple, flexible and quickly mounted and dismounted — here the decades of experience of the industry leader are evident.

The Back‑Roller Cyber is available for €89.99 at www.ortlieb.com or from well‑stocked specialist retailers.

The editorial team also received the Velo-Sling Flex Cyber in a striking Cyber Pink. A cumbersome name for a practical shoulder bag with — in our case — 2.5 L capacity and an optional handlebar mounting option. 16 cm high, 28 cm wide and 8 cm deep, the bag is designed to carry up to 5 kg. PU-coated nylon also makes the Velo-Sling Flex Cyber water- and dustproof to IP64. Without the supplied shoulder strap and without the optional handlebar mount, the bag weighs 257 g on our scale.

The wide shoulder strap is comfortable to wear and can also be removed completely. Thanks to robust materials and the eye-catching design (very pleasing to me, though it will probably divide opinions), the bag, for me, not only works well on trips (quickly removable for valuables and anything that otherwise should always stay on your person), but also cuts a fine figure on short rides with hipster‑gravel flair or in everyday use. If you want to increase the "storage" space, Daisy Chains are available to attach additional items to the bag. The practical rolltop is closed with a one‑hand operable magnetic fastener, which makes access easier both when worn and when mounted on the handlebars. Valuables or other small items can be stored safely and kept easy to find in a small zip pocket inside the bag.

If you want to attach the bag to the handlebars, a separately available handlebar mount (Handlebar Mounting-Set) is required. There are several options for this: the standard adapter (which can also be seen in our pictures here) is easy to mount; anyone who wants to secure their bag additionally can choose the version with a lock. For e‑MTBs or other bikes with a display in the center of the handlebars, Ortlieb offers a special e‑bike mount. If the bag is to be used on multiple bikes, the Mounting-Set QR is perhaps the most practical solution, as it can be mounted quickly and without tools. In our case the bag can be mounted without problems with the standard mounting set despite the handlebar holder for the smartphone. In this special case, however, it’s probably worth visiting a specialist dealer to clear up any individual compatibility issues directly.

The Handlebar Mounting-Sets are priced between €19.99 and €33.99 depending on the variant. The Ortlieb Velo-Sling Flex Cyber changed hands for €79.99.