Large Front Panniers?

[jeepguy32]

I've just built up a Surly Long Haul Trucker, complete with their Nice Rack racks. My Arkel GT-54 panniers (the largest non-tandem pannier Arkel makes, I think) which I use on my rear rack also happen to fit on the front rack in the low-rider position, and still leave room for my big touring basket on top for miscellaneous handy light stuff.

I am thinking about finally getting panniers for the front, and am considering buying another pair of the large panniers I already own. My question(s) is this: Since I am able to mount large panniers up front, why not? I would have capacity for high-volume low-weight items for sure. Does anyone have ACTUAL EXPERIENCE using large and/or heavy panniers in a low-rider position up front?

Thanks!

[watermelon]

I think you have to consider the braking effect of all that size (not very aerodynamic) and a slower steering (heavy). I really like my small front panniers but I keep trying to get lighter.

[alfeng]

There may be an advantage to having a heavier front end, but I don't know what it is.

As I've stated in the past, I think you want the least amount of weight on the front of the bike as possible.

So, if you use rear panniers on the front, pack them with the light, bulky stuff ... and, be sure the left-and-right are as balanced as possible -- your "3 lbs." sleeping bag on one side, and about the same amount of weight on the other.

[biketowork]

I second not recommending heavy stuff up front. I have done a bunch of fully loaded trips, up to a month long, and have always used small front bags, and even then were always careful with keeping it light, as I did not like the feel of heavy steering, not to mention handling characteristics on fast downhills and around corners on downhills. Have toured most of teh Pyrenees mtns, have gone down the west coast of the US and purely from a safety angle, keep it light is my experienced opinion.

not to mention just plain old less work for you, being very minimalist for me came from doing my first big trip fully loaded (Gaspe penninsula, Quebec Canada) where I had too much stuff, and it wasnt fun on the killer climbs that I encountered--I learned the hard way.

its the old axom, like a gas that will fit a given space whether big or small, if you have large front bags, you're going to put crap in em. Again, from a handling pt of view, you wouldnt want big bags with little stuff in them being "shifty" or "floppy", nor as someone stated, why put a even bigger "sail" in front for headwinds.

only you will know after attempting a trip what weight is ok for you, or if having a big wad of stuff up front is a prob for you or not, maybe you take it easy on downhills, or whatever, but my opinion is to keep it lean.

Oh, Same goes for a handlebar bag--this really impacts your steering if it is "heavy".

last opinion--try to realistically pack your big as for a trip and actually ride the thing long BEFORE your trip, this may be an incentive to trim your stuff down. And IMO, no, you dont need a chain whip, or a big honking adjsutable wrench, or cone wrenches etc, (depending on where you are going that is I realize) One cooking pot, light plastic cup instead of your fav stainless one etc etc

All kinds of stuff adds up to weight, and riding BEFOREHAND with your god-awfully-heavy bike will show you what it really feels like. Hell, go up a good steep hill with it like this, and down too.

[rcrampton]

I usually run GT-54's on the back and GT-18's on the front. I've had a couple of occasions where I put the GT-54's on the front, and it was fine. They weren't heavily loaded and I didn't ride big miles. maybe 50 or so. The only thing I was worried about what steering in things like sand. I wondered if a lot of weight on the front would cause the tire to bite into sand/loose dirt and cause problems. Buy I never tried it out.

I've consistently ready the same as everyone else - keep weight low and don't put too much on the front. I've toured with various amounts of weight on the back and front and while I can tell the difference I've never felt like any configuration was unsafe, hard to handle, etc. I just strap crap on wherever it fits and ride.

If I had a crapload of weight I wouldn't hesitate to put half of it on the front. I'd be curious what you learn if you try it.