In this article, we use so-called affiliate links. With every purchase through these links, we receive a commission from the merchant. All relevant referral links are marked with . Learn more.
More and more customised luggage racks
More and more bike manufacturers are equipping their models with customised luggage racks: This primarily serves to improve visual integration and thus increases the recognisability and brand definition of a bike. In addition, existing mounting solutions can be purchased individually from suppliers and small details such as a removable spring flap with clip or cable routing to the rear light running in the strut can be integrated into the respective luggage system.
However, these pannier racks are usually designed and mounted on the bike in a fundamentally different way to conventional standard racks. Their corresponding frame threads are also in a different position. It is therefore impossible to retrofit a more stable standard rack, for example. In the event of a defect or failure, you must also contact the bike manufacturer directly or via the specialist dealer. If the original pannier racks come from European brand manufacturers, it should still be possible to obtain spare parts years later.
"We keep our brand-specific racks with RTA and IMM fastening in stock as spare parts for years," says Jacob von Hacht from Stevens. Their design achieves significantly higher lateral rigidity thanks to 3D rail mounting (IMM) concealed by the mudguard and form-fit strut feet (RTA). However, the supplier Racktime supplies corresponding adapters for retrofitting to these mounting systems. This means that even standard racks can be adapted to Stevens frames. With other bike brands, it is often not so easy to change to a different carrier model, as the carrier struts are bolted to the inside of the frame, for example.
Durable luggage carrier an advantage
If you ride a lot with panniers in everyday life or on tours, you need a torsion-free, durable pannier rack. We primarily recommend a tubular steel model. The material combines high flexural rigidity and strength as well as an insensitive, hard surface. The second best option in terms of material quality would be a rack made of welded aluminium tubes. This goes hand in hand with a somewhat more sensitive surface, which is more susceptible to permanent friction and abrasion. Finally, carriers made of solid aluminium wire also lose a lot of their bending stiffness, which is noticeable in their greater tendency to roll and their spongy handling when carrying heavy loads.
Wide range of accessories and spare parts
After just a few kilometres on a brand new bike, the areas on the pannier rack and frame where the bag hooks are located are often worn. In extreme cases, this can go so far as to damage a pannier rack or, in the case of integrated and welded constructions such as on Cube or Radon bikes, even the frame itself. The bike manufacturers therefore supply tough plastic films as abrasion protection.
Self-adhesive protective films are also available as accessories in the bike shop. The struts of your carrier can be protected with hook inserts of the correct diameter, plastic sleeves attached to the carrier struts and plastic profiles that can be clipped onto the back of the pannier. The range of accessories and spare parts from Tubus, Racktime and Ortlieb is very broad. This speaks in favour of sustainable thinking and also in favour of paying attention to a brand carrier on the new bike when buying it.
Luggage carrier - Adjust bag hooks
This allows you to attach the panniers perfectly to the carrier.
Unwanted rattling, wobbling and rubbing can only be reliably avoided if the bag and carrier are connected as firmly and positively as possible. For stability reasons, bag hooks are made of hard, often fibreglass-reinforced plastic. This material even destroys metal if it rubs and chafes against it long enough.
For round struts, bag manufacturers such as Ortlieb and Vaude therefore offer reducing adapters made of tough plastic that can be inserted into the bag hooks. This allows all hooks to be adapted precisely to struts with diameters between 8 and 12 millimetres.
The diameter and shape of modern luggage rack struts vary greatly. Even square profile shapes are occasionally used. However, most strut diameters are 10 or 12 millimetres.
Ortlieb offers replacement hooks in different widths of 16 to 20 millimetres for the three different types of bags, so that you can adjust your own bags to suit your needs. Hook systems QL1, QL2 and QL2.1. The replacement hooks are simply inserted into the retaining rail on the back of the bag, adjusted to the widest possible width and fixed in place with a folding bracket. They come with a safety clip and handle.
U-shaped plastic inserts then adjust the hook width to the specific strut diameter. The inserts are easy to replace if the bag is combined with another carrier. Vaude offers similar parts as accessories for the Vaude hook system.
Replacing custom carriers
Conventional pannier racks often cannot be fitted to modern bikes. But this is changing: clever adapters are opening up new possibilities for carrier tuning on Stevens bikes.
The IMM rail sits under the mudguard and is securely bolted to the luggage carrier and bike frame. The three-dimensionally moulded rail also allows the tuning of too soft connecting elements made of flat sheet steel, as used by many manufacturers. The RTA adapters fit into the grooved recesses on Stevens rear triangles. Their upper threads allow the mounting of a conventional standard carrier with bolts orientated at right angles to the direction of travel. This allows a Stevens bike to be retrofitted with a tube carrier, for example.
Abrasion protection
Friction does its destructive work wherever panniers and bike come into contact. First the paintwork suffers, then the substance: in the case of welded aluminium pannier rack constructions, abrasion even damages the frame.
Therefore:
- Wipe dirt off the carrier, bag and hooks regularly on tour and in everyday life.
- Bags must sit motionless on the carrier.
- Attach paint protection film, hook adapters and suitable scuff protection elements.
