SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING

Specification

The rack itself is made from hollow heat-treated T6 6061 aluminium alloy rod. Welds are neat and uniform and the satin black powder-coated finish is generally hardy. Two-tier design assists weight distribution, while making combining big panniers and rack top bags faff free. 

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There’s a drilling for lights and a composite clip mount designed to host their Redlite. I’ve discovered a surprising number of rear lights will cling convincingly to the rack’s 10mm rod. Welcome, since not all lights-especially those employing radar technology, can cadge a lift on luggage or clothing.

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The Quick Track Top Plate is designed with the brand's RX and MX range, but also provides sufficient support for bigger third-party rack bags, provided they use horizontal straps. Models that attach vertically are nonstarters. The top plate also doubles as a reasonably effective splash guard-at least with tyres up to 42mm wide.

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Elsewhere, adjustable legs allow the rack to be raised or lowered to accommodate different wheel sizes and are secured with 4mm Allen screws. The inner sections are left raw, rather than painted for unhindered movement, but corrosion hasn’t been an issue to date (Force of habit saw me treat one side to a squirt of waxy corrosion inhibitor).  

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Marketed as disc-specific, the Super Tourist DX Disc Rear Rack readily accommodates other configurations, courtesy of the comprehensive fitting kit and tunability. Wishbone rear triangles, shorter chainstays and tighter clearances are readily catered for.  You’ll still need to buy some P-clips for frames without eyelets, mind.  

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The springy arms are easy to align with the top plate, just so long as you’ve fitted everything loosely. The 10mm nuts have grippy internal sleeves, so medium strength thread lock isn’t necessary, although I took that route where Allen screws entered seat stay bosses and eyelets.  Should a screw creep loose, you’ll get ample notice before it hurls itself into the undergrowth, or beneath a passing bus.

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Test Bike & Contexts

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Ursula requires little introduction. While a very versatile frameset with comprehensive braze-ons, the old girl has a few quirks. Not least sporty 42cm chainstays, which can be a recipe for heel strike with bigger panniers. She’d undergone light repair, modernised with a rear disc mount and refinished back in 2024. Ridden year-round, on and off-road, any limitations would be very obvious.

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I’ve paired ours with assorted 20 litre panniers, including the Oxford Aqua Evo V20 Oxford Aqua V20 Single Pannier | cycling-not-racing  20 litre, Lomo Zephyr Lomo Zephyr Waterproof Panniers | cycling-not-racing and sometimes rack top bags, most notably their MTX Topeak MTX Trunk Dry Bag | cycling-not-racing and RX Topeak RX Trunk Bag DXP and RX Beam Rack | cycling-not-racing. There’s been plenty of thrills and the occasional, undignified spill during our 8000 mixed terrain mile test.

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Performance  4/5

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Performance across the board has been excellent. Even creeping north of 20 kilos, lateral stiffness is impressive. Nominal impact on the bike’s handling, which is particularly welcome when I've been flagging and just wanting to reach base. Or when trickling through stop-start town traffic with half a week’s shopping en tow. Admittedly, wider bars also help keep things well-mannered and under control.

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Same story off road, when weaving through winding singletrack, although the rack’s wider profile also places panniers further outward. Aside from some additional air resistance, a consideration when navigating narrower paths. Panniers have caressed hedges and walls but remained firmly in place-especially those employing Rixen Kaul fittings. Regardless of system, I’ve always ensured the pannier’s foot has sat tight around the rack’s widest point.

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I've long been a fan of Topeak's Quick Track system that makes for smooth and secure mounting of trunk bags and baskets. Some years back, I managed to buckle the raised guide, but ours hasn’t succumbed. Wet, gritty and generally wintry stuff has accumulated within the channels, making removal and refitting of dedicated bags trickier. Easily prevented with a sudsy brush when washing the bike. Silicone spray applied sparingly to the bag’s composite channel and locking clamp has also kept the action snappy without attracting troublesome dirt.

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The rack’s profile has many plusses but accessing Ursula’s TRP Spyre calliper (most notably when I’ve needed to realign it) proved awkward. Longer ball-end Allen keys, the singular L-types or slender multi tools such as this Oxford Torque R10 Mini Ratchet Set Oxford Torque RT10 Mini Ratchet Set | cycling-not-racing seem the best fits.  

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​I’ve also discovered the foot's design can impede removal and tightening of nutted axles, specifically on some hub geared and single speed builds. Worth doing a dummy run with your go-to 15mm spanner before heading out to the wide blue yonder. Checking fasteners weekly is good practice. More frequently, if you’re regularly hauling the proverbial kitchen sink, although to date, I’ve only needed to nip ours tight on three, maybe four times.

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Durability/Care 3.75/5

Wherever possible, I’ve avoided laying the bike down on its luggage, thus avoiding unnecessary stress upon the rack, but by the same token, ours certainly earned its keep. 8,000 miles later, the powder-coated finish still looks fresh. Some very localised wear, but no flaking or peeling. The raw aluminium alloy hasn’t turned furry, either. However, the electroplated fasteners have succumbed to orange taint. An oily rag once-over keeps this in check, but given the price point, stainless isn't much of an ask.

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Value 3.5/5  

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There’s no doubting the Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX is a solid performer and will repay its investment handsomely. Nonetheless, there are some with similar specification, costing quite a bit less. Slightly dearer at £72.97 is Axiom Streamliner Disc DLX rack. Reckoned to have a 50-kilo maximum payload, it’s made from double hand-welded aluminium alloy and boasts enviable adjustability, although won’t fit bikes with 24-inch wheels.  

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Tortec Transalp Rear Disc Rack (£45) is another two-tier design with a 25-kilo maximum payload and a 5-year warrantee and is nigh on £20 cheaper than the Topeak. However, it will only entertain bikes with 26 and 700c wheels. M Part Summit Rear Pannier Rack M Part Summit Rear Rack | cycling-not-racing is another hardy contender that comes with an adaptor kit for flat and post mount disc brakes. 

 

Cheaper than the Topeak, it comes complete with a 5-year, no quibble warrantee. It’s a good all-rounder, but the mounting kit lacks the Topeak’s adaptability.  On a tighter budget? Oxford HD Aloy Luggage Rack Oxford HD Alloy Luggage Rack | cycling-not-racing could be right up your street. £35 buys a disc brake compatible design with a maximum payload of 27 kilos.  Steve was generally impressed with its lugging prowess and general performance, but noted its only compatible with 26–29-inch wheels and the single rail design limits its touring potential.

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Summary

The MTB undertones might not be to everyone’s taste, and some designs may prove better value if you only wanted one for 26, or 700c wheels. Nonetheless, the Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX has proven a charming and very practical all-rounder. One equally at home hauling a supermarket shop or tackling a big domestic tour. Designed primarily for frames with disc brakes, a comprehensive fitting kit means it's super adaptable. Another plus, if you were looking to switch it between bikes, or a disc mount is likely to coincide with a respray.

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Michael Stenning

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Verdict: 3.75/5 Rugged, versatile rack with a very comprehensive fitting kit, but stainless steel fasteners would be welcomed. 

​Extra UK

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