spinnaker

Got my new Ortlieb Bike Packer Classic panniers today. So far I really like what I see.

I got them all mounted up and it looks like I am going to have enough heel clearance (mounted on a road bike). I still need to test drive them to be sure.

I had to mount the rear hook at the very end of the rack. There is a support bar forward the end bar of the rack so either the rear hook has no play because it is snug between the bars or the rack is a bit wider at that point. A visual inspection does not show any daylight between the hook and the rack so maybe the rack is a bit wider there. Either way, it seems to work OK. The bags go on and off pretty easily.

The front hooks have some play but do not come off the rack. I would rather not install the spacers. What is the downside of no spacers? Is it just some rattling or will I have some other problem?


If I do install the spacers, can they be fairly easily removed?

NeezyDeezy

Imo put in the spacers, yes they can be taken out (I have a few times) but be careful. They're not made to switched out a lot.

duppie

Why don't you want to install the spacers? They are an integral part of the hook design

Simply push the spacers over the rack. Do they have a tighter (but not overly tight) fit than the hooks without spacers? Then install them. Otherwise don't
You can uninstall them with no effort, simply shove a screw driver between the spacer and the hook

Duppie

DukeArcher 

Totally unimportant in my opinion, and they always eventually fall out anyway.

spinnaker

I thought I might need a new rack so I did not want to insert them and not be able to get them back out but I test drove them tonight and the current rack works just fine. Plus I still have not decieded if I want to buy a new bike. I am considering the LHT before the prices go up.

JohnyW

Now I use double faced adhesive tape to hold the spacer. Now I loose only one per tour (6 was the maximum).

Put the spacer on - if not it's more likely to loose the bag.

Thomas

tcmers

Where can I buy extra spacers?

JohnyW

Hi

here in Germany in every Ortlieb Shop (may be they have to order them)

Thomas

vik 

I use Shoe Goo to keep the spacers in place. I've just had to re-goo the first one to come loose - not bad as it lasted 5 years+. The others are going strong.

If you really don't want to use the spacers just wrap enough black electrical tape around the spots on your rack where the pannier attaches so that it fits on snugly, but is easy to remove.

Losligato

We did not use the spacers as our front and rear racks are not the same size. I was hesitant to be forever committed to using the front packs only on the front. Had I put the spacers in they would not fit on the rear.

vik 

The spacers are easily removable in 5 seconds so your commitment to swap pannier front to back might be 60 seconds. Even the ones I've Shoe Goo'd in come out readily when necessary.