Yes! I highly recommend trying your bike with the large panniers up front. The bike steers and handles like a dream. It's just more responsive and road vibrations are damped.

The rack I use is a Tubus Nova. Great rack that I've put thousands of miles on. Can't say enough about the stainless tubus racks. I've got a Tubus Cosmo in the rear. Compared to the other models Tubus sells (titanium bits excepted) they don't have paint chipping, abrasing, or rust issues. Trust me, a black or silver painted rack will look thrashed in a few years time. My stainless ones are going on 4 years strong and look brand new! I never regret spending the extra money on those racks, since they are rock solid, look great, and have a 30 year warranty.

In any case, good luck with your bike metamorphasis!