What is the geometry of the new bike? Some are better suited to front loads than others. I prefer to keep most of my stuff behind me with just a few items in a basket on the front, but most of my bikes handle better with the loads in the rear. My tour bike does a bit better with the heavier load on the front, but down low. FWIW I use huge rear panniers with a small front basket on my city bike, I also have an old Raleigh Sports with baskets front and rear.

Aaron