cantilever vs leverage system?

I guess in the pure sense of the word, you are correct, but a bag on bar set-up most closley resembles a "type-3" lever.

...But then again a diving board is considered leveraged and that is quite simillar to a bag on bar set-up too.

I think that because the center pivot (the bag) is compliant and adjustable it is throwing off our difinitive answer.

right.max. and i know what ur saying matt..but the pivot point i think can in a sense be part true cantilever assuming its position and relation on either axis..and industrial design can be related to design in automotive suspensions..there are numerous similarities through different mediums.