Does fitting a bar bag stop you riding on the tops. And does a bar bag have any effect on steering?

I might want to fit a small bag 6-9 litres and for some reason I prefer the idea of bar mount as opposed to a saddle bag. Plus you get the map holder option with a bar bag.

no.
on a klick fit system it holds the bag out about 4 inches.
it can effect fitting lights on your bars tho.

Pants I forgot about lights. They don’t like them on the bags do they?

no.
what you want is a tubus fly rear rack, lightest you can get.
and a small rack top pack.
then on the bars a topeak T thing for light and on the other side a little map board.

They dont stop you riding on the tops but I find a large one when full affects the handling badly especially when riding up really steep hills.I found this out on the Dartmoor Devil audax!

Yes, it does affect handling. Especially if you load it up. It’s even more noticable when you’re pushing the bike around, the weight at the front gives it a mind of it’s own.

They are great but not for carrying much weight IMO, not rigid enough and do then affect handling.

Are a good place to stash the camera and Haribo & assorted nuts though. And make for a rather fetching manbag off the bike.

Okay I’ll have to look at saddle packs,that aren’t rack mounted.