ali pannier systems-how wide is yours? - Horizons Unlimited

**bryan** · #1 4 Feb 2003

Hi,
loking at the various ali pannier systems,
how wide ,..box-box are the various systems?

bryan

**RichLees** · #2 4 Feb 2003

kind of depends on the bike, mate, as that goes between the boxes ;-) In germany, 1 metre is max allowable. I reckon 90cm is a good max, but wish I could get them down to 80cm

**Mombassa** · #3 5 Feb 2003

Mine are 3 feet wide.

http://tinyurl.com/5cl3

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Kevin

http://www.nohorizons.net

**Grant Johnson** · #4 5 Feb 2003

for the imperially deprived

3 feet = 91.5cm.

Mine are 32.5 inches = 82.5 cm at the widest point. BUT they're custom made. Haven't seen any narrower.

The narrower the better, without a doubt. Some say that as long as they're narrower than the bars it's ok, but the wider they are the worse the handling too. And bars can turn to get through a narrow spot, panniers can't. Also, removable easily is useful for really difficult spots, both to reduce weight and, for instance, to go through a doorway into a hotel room.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**harvey** · #5 7 Feb 2003

Bryan,

We've been in touch over our panniers. We had frames custom made by Ernie at Overland Solutions and we asked him to make it all as narrow as possible. He did a great job and the left-hand pannier was no wider than the bars, but the right-hand pannier was about 3cm wider then the bars due to the drive shaft.

Harvey

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no pipe, no slippers
www.chasingthesun.org

**Timo** · #6 15 Feb 2003

I made my own panniers and supporting rack. I was shooting for the 32 inches or so that the handlebars measure, but ended up 1 inch wider. This is fairly tucked in with an aftermarket exhaust that allows for a bit more clearence on the left side - I was able to get the same width both sides. Mine are square, so a bit of loss in volume over Grant's, which conform to the space allowed more efficiently. 40 litres per side, wouldn't want them much smaller, but this is fine for solo. A solid rack is really critical (and sub frame!), more so then saving a few inches in width I'd say.

OK small correction: after making the above statements, I thought I'd better make sure! the handlebar width is actually 33 inches, or 34-35 if you factor in that the brake and clutch levers stick out a bit extra - to that is your 'minimum' clearence distance, although practically you can get through narrower spaces like doors (important) by twisting the bars. my panniers mounted come out to about 34 1/2 inches, or 88 cm.

[This message has been edited by Timo (edited 16 February 2003).]