Front panniers

[headcoat]

Hi

Couple of questions, I have a front suspension MB which I used last year for a tour of IoM using just rear panniers. I am now considering getting front panniers as well to help spread the load.

1. Can I use any panniers to fit on the rack or are there specific ones for the front?

2. A decent but not expensive rack (this will only be occasional use), I understand I have to take account of the suspension.

Thanks in advance

 

[MontyVeda]

you need something like this...

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Merch...re_Code=O&Product_Code=1401A26&Category_Code=

...not cheap but they do the job.

 

[willem]

Old Man Mountain are indeed the specialists, and my OMM favourite would be the Ultimate lowrider. Personally, however, I am apprehensive about any front rack on suspension bikes. Suspension forks are just not as strong and stiff as rigid forks. Instead, I think I would recommend that you use the 150 pounds or so that you save by not having a front rack and front panniers to reduce the weight of your luggage. Your bike will handle much better, even with only 2 kg less. And don't forget: a front rack and panniers weigh 2-2.5 kg, even empty.
Willem

 

[growingvegetables]

I've got these - cheap; they do the job - but I don't have suspension so I don't know if they'd fit yours?

I got smaller panniers for the front - wouldn't fancy trying to steer with the amount of stuff I can cram into the big back ones

 

[Ticktockmy]

you need something like this...

http://www.oldmanmou...&Category_Code=

...not cheap but they do the job.

Carradice are the UK dealer for Old man mountain racks. I use there sherpa on the front as I like to use Bridleways and farm track as well as tarmac roads and have had no trouble with it, whereas the LowRider hangs the panniers a tad low, meaning they hit rocks and heather and dip into the water when fording streams, it fits easly to my front suspension using a custom QR skewer supplied, and P clips. On the rear I use a cold spring rear. However, in the main I only use the rear carrier, just putting the front rack when I need to carry my full camping gear during the late autumn or early spring time.
Here is there link
http://www.carradice...e&product_id=77

Bob G.

 

[Crankarm]

I have a Kona MTB with a Tubus Ergo low loader on. I have made some mounts to attach the front rack to the suspension fork. It works a treat. I was thinking of selling these mounting kits, but as soon as there are a few about some one would copy them them and rip my idea off. Patents cost ££££££ and some are worthless anyway as it costs a fortune to enforce your intellectual property rights against sheisters.

Those cheap Halfords racks do look .......... cheap

 

[mickle]

Suspension forks aren't designed to carry the weight of panniers. On top of the higher loads imposed through the bushes and fork bridge, hanging several kilos of dirty laundry off them screws the handling and has such a negative effect on the unsprung weight that you might as well not have suspension forks. Fit some (suspension adjusted) normal rigid steel forks like as Kona P2s - even if you only use them when you have panniers aboard, your travels will be much happier.

 

[vernon]

Those cheap Halfords racks do look .......... cheap

They might look cheap but they do the job and represent great value for money.

 

[psmiffy]

Suspension forks aren't designed to carry the weight of panniers. On top of the higher loads imposed through the bushes and fork bridge, hanging several kilos of dirty laundry off them screws the handling and has such a negative effect on the unsprung weight that you might as well not have suspension forks. Fit some (suspension adjusted) normal rigid steel forks like as Kona P2s - even if you only use them when you have panniers aboard, your travels will be much happier.

True they are not designed for use with panniers - but - The size of panniers that you are likely to be able hang off them will be small and therefore the weight of them (unless of course you take barbells touring with you) will be in comparisom to the riders weight and the dynamic forces that they are designed to take (unlikely to be doing much riding that max's the fork with panniers attached) will be relatively small - something like the OMM is a good choice for occasional use - I have met people on the road doing quite long tours with this set up.

Personally as Ticktockmy says I like a front rack that keeps the panniers well away from the ground - I used low riders initially but found they were too much bother if I went for "little excursions" and limited me to panniers only big enought to keep hankerchiefs in - used high rack for last 15years or so and found that if anything I liked the handling better

When I had only one bike - MTB - hardtail - It was a bit of a faff changing the forks reasonably in advance of going on tour

 

[Ticktockmy]

Suspension forks aren't designed to carry the weight of panniers. On top of the higher loads imposed through the bushes and fork bridge, hanging several kilos of dirty laundry off them screws the handling and has such a negative effect on the unsprung weight that you might as well not have suspension forks. Fit some (suspension adjusted) normal rigid steel forks like as Kona P2s - even if you only use them when you have panniers aboard, your travels will be much happier.

Whilst Suspension forks are not designed for having racks and panniers fitted, most units are over engineered anyway, so they are able to cope for most normal touring requirements. With the Old man mountain front rack I have not found that problem, as the racks fit to the main body of the suspension, thus they do not effect the movement of the Suspension, the forks are free to operate the same as they do without the racks being fitted. onroad i have the suspension locked out anyway, off road then i just adjust the forks to suit the load and Ground Conditions. and after quite a few years touring now with suspension forks i have not had any problems.
Bob G.

 

[Crankarm]

Suspension forks aren't designed to carry the weight of panniers. On top of the higher loads imposed through the bushes and fork bridge, hanging several kilos of dirty laundry off them screws the handling and has such a negative effect on the unsprung weight that you might as well not have suspension forks. Fit some (suspension adjusted) normal rigid steel forks like as Kona P2s - even if you only use them when you have panniers aboard, your travels will be much happier.

Thanks for your concerns and criticisms.

First my bike's front rack is so mounted that it does not affect movement of the suspension or create any additional load for the suspension parts that move. The clue is in the type of front rack - low loader. So sorry to blow your criticism out the water. I can still choose whether to lock out or not lock out the fork. Agreed the low loader rack could cause clearance issues with the panniers on rough terrain but then surely this would be the same with a solid fork yes? In fact my front panniers are a couple on inches, maybe only an inch higher (26" wheel) than on my commute bike with solid fork 700C.

Second I have looked at the Kona P2 fork and was not impressed. I would not like to ride with that fork on my bike over hundreds or thousands of miles over rough roads or tracks as it doesn't seem robust enough to me - sorry. My suspension fork is soooo over engineered in comparison - Kona Kula, sorry can't remember make of fork or spec. It is far far stronger than any P2. The bridge is way above the panniers and rack. Why would one mount a front rack to the fork bridge? This would IMHO make steering and controlling the bike much harder and more tiring as the CoG is so much higher having any weight mounted much higher up.

Thirdly I don't carry several kilogrammes of dirty laundry in my front panniers. I carry it in the rear right .

I would like to post a pic of my set up but will prefer not to just now as I am thinking of making up kits and seeing how I go. I do not want my rather simple idea being ripped off. I thought about it for quite some time and then it came to me. Way better than the expensive kits Wiggle sell which aren't half as good imho.

 

[mickle]

Thanks for your concerns and criticisms.

First my bike's front rack is so mounted that it does not affect movement of the suspension or create any additional load for the suspension parts that move. The clue is in the type of front rack - low loader. So sorry to blow your criticism out the water. I can still choose whether to lock out or not lock out the fork. Agreed the low loader rack could cause clearance issues with the panniers on rough terrain but then surely this would be the same with a solid fork yes? In fact my front panniers are a couple on inches, maybe only an inch higher (26" wheel) than on my commute bike with solid fork 700C.

Second I have looked at the Kona P2 fork and was not impressed. I would not like to ride with that fork on my bike over hundreds or thousands of miles over rough roads or tracks as it doesn't seem robust enough to me - sorry. My suspension fork is soooo over engineered in comparison - Kona Kula, sorry can't remember make of fork or spec. It is far far stronger than any P2. The bridge is way above the panniers and rack. Why would one mount a front rack to the fork bridge? This would IMHO make steering and controlling the bike much harder and more tiring as the CoG is so much higher having any weight mounted much higher up.

Thirdly I don't carry several kilogrammes of dirty laundry in my front panniers. I carry it in the rear right .

I would like to post a pic of my set up but will prefer not to just now as I am thinking of making up kits and seeing how I go. I do not want my rather simple idea being ripped off. I thought about it for quite some time and then it came to me. Way better than the expensive kits Wiggle sell which aren't half as good imho.

Does your rack attach to the stanchions or to the sliders?

 

[Zoiders]

The limpit design that clamps to the slider legs has been used by many who claim to have no real problems with them despite dire warnings to the contrary.

If I really wanted to up the carrying capacity for a bike that's sprung I would ditch the panniers and go for a trailer.

 

[Crankarm]

I used to be keen on a trailer but lost interest as I read so many tales where the hitch mount or welding of it to the trailer had sheared. Plus I think if you can carry all your stuff on your bike in panniers it is far easier to manouevre your bike, detach panniers and carry them up say stairs or onto a train if you absolutely have to, than having to worry about an additional trailer as well. I can see that trailers have their attractions and benefits but I am not convinced these would actually be useful to me unless you can persuade me .......

What dire warnings?

 

[Zoiders]

Have you read the thread?