Different handling after fitting panniers

[jamin100]

Just a quick question but ive recently swithched from a rucksack to pannier system on my boardman hybrid.

I know the weight is now distributed differently but the bike feels a little more twitchy in regards to steering. Nothing major and not enough for me to really worry about it but is it normal for the bike to be like that with panniers?

 

[Edwards80]

I found the opposite, when I put a lot of weight on the back my bike becomes less twitchy, I guess it depends on the bike. Loading one side more than the other doesn't seem to make much difference though.

 

[MattHB]

mines the same as before, but in a headwind its like having a spinnaker sail on the back

 

[ianrauk]

Doesn't make that much difference I found. But you will soon get used to it anyway.

 

[GrasB]

As an ex-owner of a B'man hybrid I know what you mean (ex-owner because van driver decided to run over my bike, nothing to do with rack or panniers). The hybrid doesn't have the most rigid seat tube stays. For this reason if you have heavyish panniers on the back the weight moves around a bit when you turn. The result is the bike feels a little more twitchy as the rack 'flops' to one side as you turn. It's not a problem just a design feature of the bike.

 

[Beebo]

I find it only affects handling if I have a heavy pannier, around 10 KG.

I do seem to be much slower away from the lights, but overall I wouldnt go back to a backpack.

 

[jamin100]

thanks all, put my mind at ease at least

 

[PaulSecteur]

When riding I never could really tell any difference with panniers on or not, however, when wheeling the bike around it feels a lot different.