Login
Pannier Mounting Hardware Test
A while back I made up moulds to produce fiberglass panniers for adventure bikes. Normally, I mount my panniers to pannier racks by welding six 8mm threaded sleeves into the pannier racks, and then bolt the panniers directly to the pannier frames. While this gives a nice tidy look, and it results in a very solid mounting, this method is horrendously time consuming.
Original pannier mounting system, 8mm threaded sleeves welded in the pannier frame.
To make the process quicker and easier I looked at a few other pannier mounting options, and decided to try top hat spacers.
The new approach. I machined up some top hat spacers with milled recesses.
They secure the box to the frames with solid 8mm SS button head bolts with large SS penny washers on the inside of the panniers.
Mounting the pannier to the pannier rack.
Top hat mounting hardware in place. The milled recess sit hard up against the pannier frames so the top hats don't turn when you are tightening or loosening the bolts.
Panniers fitted.
The verdict after thousands of kilometres of adventure riding using this top hat mounting system, is that it works well. It held up to full loads of gear, and some serious use and abuse, while adventure riding all around the South Island of New Zealand.