The F3 FormMount Tidies Up Your Cockpit Like No Other

Perhaps no accessory better signals your arrival as a full-blown bicycle connoisseur than the aftermarket computer mount. Arguably, there are marginal benefits to be had from upgrading the mount that came with your GPS, like a more aero alignment of your computer, or shaving some weight. But it’s hard not to say that the biggest motivator for buying a new mount is to make your bike look cooler—and F3 Cycling accomplishes that and then some with the FormMount.

What We Love: Highly adjustable; super sleek

Things to Know: High customizability = more involved setup process; accessory mount costs extra; no angle adjustment

While many computer mounts attach via the handlebars, the $60 FormMount is a modular mount that attaches via the face-plate bolts of a standard stem, placing your computer in the center of the handlebars, in-line with the stem. Now, F3 isn’t the first brand to mount a computer via the stem. But what really sets the FormMount apart is that both of the arms attaching it to the stem can rotate independently, allowing it to fit nearly any four-bolt stem regardless of how far apart the bolts are placed.

What’s more, that rotation of the arms allows for five different mounting options. You can place the computer out front of the stem in a low or high configuration on either the top or bottom set of stem bolts, or reverse the mount system and place it over the stem itself. The latter option is particularly nice if you like to use a handlebar bag. Additionally, the arms can extend or retract into the mount as needed to fit any size computer, even the ones that could be mistaken for a phone. Really, the only thing missing in terms of adjustability is being able to tilt the angle of the mount.

This is a system that any minimalist cyclist would love. For how adjustable it is, it looks incredibly simple and understated on the bike. And an additional benefit of that design is low weight. The mount and spacers, coupled with the difference in weight between the standard bolts on this particular stem and the longer ones used by the FormMount, come out to just to 34.8 grams.

One slight annoyance among the overall positive experience is that, because each arm has independent movement, installing the FormMount requires using the included BridgeTool, essentially a brace that holds both arms level so that you can tighten the stem bolts down properly. Without it, the arms move out of place when you fasten the bolts down to the proper torque. But it’s ultimately only a minor additional step during installation.

The FormMount comes with Garmin and Wahoo inserts, a BridgeTool, two sets of stainless steel M5 bolts and custom black anodized aluminum spacers. If you want to get into the minutia of your bike’s looks—which, again, is likely why you’re looking into this mount in the first place—the center panel that holds the mount arms in place can be upgraded from the standard gray to one of seven other colors for $6. Additional accessories for weight-weenies include titanium bolts for $20 or shorter arms for $16. But the accessory that most will want to consider is the $15 camera/light mount, which replaces the bottom panel of the mount, allowing for an additional accessory to be sleekly installed underneath your computer.

If your bike has a standard four-bolt stem and you want a super-clean, minimal cockpit setup, the FormMount is more than fit for the job.

More info: f3cycling.com