Locking panniers
 

I bought some panniers and they clip onto my rear rack. everytime I leave the bike I need to take them off, Has anyone figured out a way to secure panniers to your bike? I would like to leave them on all the time. But not have to worry about them being stolen.

I'm having the same problem, but I think I found a solution:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...V58394440_.jpg

Or something like it... should be able to weave through some part of the pannier, trunk bag, possibly saddle and secure it to bike.

What kind of panniers are they?

You can lock Arkel panniers with a small padlock through the slot in the swiveling hook.

For Ortleib panniers with the QL2 attachment system you can buy a lock as an add-on.

Use the small luggage locks on/through the straps. Have mom (or GF/wife) sew some reinforced button holes in the straps so they cannot be undone. It would be a bear for someone to rip those off.

Even if the panniers and bike are secured a razor would open it right up.

I'm sure the OP meant to leave the panniers empty on the bike, just so that he knew the pannier itself wouldn't be stolen.

True! But I often leave some items (nothing valuable) in my trunk bag that I lock with a luggage lock. I know someone could cut it right open but the lock does thwart the casual thief.

The general thinking in the touring forum is either a small pad lock through the rack clip or just don't worry about it. Most people, even casual thiefs, won't take the pannier; they'll open it up or cut it instead.

Even if it's empty, they don't know that, and might cut it open to find out.

Have you read this thread? People are talking about locking panniers to the rack so it doesn't get stolen, not locking the pannier shut. The pannier is OPEN, just locked to the rack so some one doesn't walk off with it. All this paranoia about people cutting panniers. :rolleyes:

thanks for all the locking ideas, I'm still not sure what my solution is. wish they nade rigid cases like on my motorcycle, but for bikes.

This is close.
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...ge/tourbox.jpg

thats cool. Too bad I'm poor to afford such a nice hardcase. I saw a couple doing a bike tour in mexico. Instead of tradtional panniers they were using the square kitty litter buckets. They somehow attached them to the rack, I guess it would work well, tough, waterproof, and if they break you can get a replacement in any grocery store.

Most locking panniers have a special techniques for removal. I dont think a thief could snatch my Rixen and Kaul pannier fittings. I have run a cable lock though the shoulder strap D rings just for extra security when I leave them unattended.

Heck, I bet even a Man could do it! :rolleyes:

Sorry, I'm not some PC freak, just found it amusing.... My GF sews for me, too, I could if I had to, but the difference would be quite noticeable....

I bought some really cheap panniers today - around $20 US. Put them on the bike, and discovered that the carry handles touched the rack. So, I dug out some really tiny padlocks I bought (on of those "No idea what I want this for, but they're so COOL" purchases abour 2 years ago), and was able to lock the panniers to the bike. It wouldn't deter someone that really wanted them, but who's going to bother breaking a lock or cutting a handle to get $20 panniers off my rusty beater? No one.

Thats probably the best idea, using really cheap bags. But then what do I do with my snazzy nice bags? Get a snazzy nice bike to go with them, and go and long winding tours through southern Arizona and Mexico. I'll explain to my wife it's because of panniers I'm going away for 2 months. yeah thats the ticket!

That is something to keep in mind. When I owned a rag top I never locked my car. Didn't want to have to replace my top.

Think about where you park the bike
 

I agree that a reasonably determined thief will have his way with most unattended panniers. Still even a very basic locking system is better than none. People attacking luggage with bolt cutters or razors tend to stand out in a crowd discouraging all but hard core and pro thieves. I've made the mistake of locking and 'hiding' my bike out of public view thus providing the thief with a perfect cover to do his/her dirty deed. If you are going to leave your bike unattended, best choose a spot frequented by honest bystanders, police even! In Asia at least, cafe owners, guest house operators, people in the service/tourist industry are only too happy to keep an eye on your gear in return for your custom; a tiny tip works well too. I've wheeled my bike into bedrooms, restaurants, tents you name it, and if anyone objects, it's up to them to offer a secure alternative - or take your custom elsewhere. Care and common sense will usually do the trick.

Newbie
 

Wow. I'm a newbie. In China a nui bi (pronounced newbie) is a cow's vagina.
Bob

Could have been these Oyster bucket panniers

Today I had to do a quick run to the local grocery store. I have this pannier set:

http://www.banjobrothers.com/imgs/products/01090a.jpg

http://www.banjobrothers.com/products/01090.php

The panniers on either side of the bike are connected and held together with a 5.5" piece of fabric so it's one solid unit. I looped my cable lock through the rails of my Brooks saddle then down and through the middle section of the panniers, looped, then locked my bike with a Kryptonite Evolution Mini u-lock.

Even if someone got the not-so-bright idea to take a razor to the middle section, because I looped it underneath, they couldn't get it off. They'd have to completely cut the panniers off each side leaving the middle section behind and the panniers can't connect to any rack without the middle section so doing so would render the panniers useless. Haha! ;)

I left the panniers empty, of course, and shopped for about 10 minutes. About 5 minutes in, I did look out the grocery store window to make sure everything was okay, which it was. No one messed with my bike or the panniers. :thumb:

Mind you, I would not normally do this. I normally take the panniers with me inside but since there was a security guard standing nearby, lots of pedestrian traffic, I could see my bike and panniers from inside the store AND it was a very, very short time that it was locked up, I felt ok.

If you are going to leave your panniers for any longer than a few minutes or cannot frequently check up on them then you might want to save some money and buy panniers that are made for locking up.

Otherwise you can do what I did, or as others have suggested, or simply take your panniers with you to be completely safe.

Zip ties will prevent someone from just randomly removing the panniers.

OP, What kind of panniers are they and what are you using them for?

I know this is an old thread now but I was toying with the idea of a locking mecanism that locks the clips of a clip on panner in place so some passer by won't be able to lift them off the bike without the key.

These clip on panners are WAY too much money for what they are. Sure they are innovative & handy but way too much for something thats easy to steal. You'd think at the prices of the Lbera or Axiom bags they would at least have a locking mechanism that would secure it to a bike. Right now I got two $20 Everest backpacks hooked up to both sides of my front rack & they can hold a decent amount of stuff.

Since they are zip tied on there pretty good using thick strong zip ties as well as a few hose clamps nobody has bothered to steal them off my bike when I lock up somewhere so far. I would like clip on panners someday but at those prices they seem more like a gimmic to me.

It would be nice if clip on panniers had straps that allowed them to be carried easily like a backpack or shoulder bag when removed from the bike at least. But for now I like my setup. I got two backpacks on both sides of my rack as well as my backpack I wear which when combined can carry a fair amount of cargo like groceries & stuff.

One simple way to make good panniers less attractive is to use them a lot. My Ortleibs, after 10 years of 3-4 commutes/week plus shopping year 'round don't get much attention from anybody. (Of course, you want to start with panniers that will still be usable after that time.)

Edit: my first Ortleibs were 10 years old when this thread started. They have been replaced as primaries but still get used anytime I want front and rear or I need panniers with fewer theft worries. Being Ortleibs, they are as waterproof as they were new and the hardware is easy to get.

Ben

I use a kittier, it's easy. You're right, it works very well, it's super tough and waterproof. The only part that wears is the hinged lid, which after a few years starts to crack. But keep an eye out at the recycling and you'll find replacements faster than you can use them up. Or find a neighbor or friend with a cat and ask for their empties.

It's not locked to the bike at all, but who would steal it? Especially mine is covered in reflective tape and very identifiable.

Another option, since you say you're poor, ditch the panniers and 'permanently' attach a milk crate to your rack, like with bolts, nuts and washers, or hose clamps.

There are many versions of the "backpack" pannier. This arkel is one of them.

Arkel Switchback 2.0 Pannier - Black/Lime - Modern Bike

Clip on attachment mechanisms are complicated, they have to be. Losing a pannier due to the bike bouncing is unacceptable, yet the bag has to be able to be removed quickly. I've used both ortlieb's mechanism and thule's commuter panniers mechanism. The Thule mechanism is more secure (up top), but is more finicky. The ortlieb mechanism feels flimsier.. (thin plastics) but it works EXTREMELY easily. I'd have confidence that either would be fine on a tour. The magnet used for the lower attachment for the thule bags is... slightly annoying if you lay your bike over while loaded. The pannier will swing out because the magnet isn't strong enough to resist the force of gravity in a perpendicular direction. In all honesty I never lay my bike down, so that's not an issue. The thule panniers are also meant for commuting, not touring. The ortlieb has a simple plastic hook that catches one of the downtubes of the rack. Simple yet effective, but slightly more difficult to get on than the magnet.

Again, both are great and work perfectly well, I'm just noting differences. The thule ones come with replacement "hooks" for the attachment mechanism, but I've never needed to replace them, despite dropping the loaded bag on the hooks quite often (accidently.) I expected them to break a long time ago and cringe every time I drop it, but they seem to be holding strong. The mechanism on the thule bag also folds away to carry the pannier with the included strap over your shoulder and not worry about the hooks catching your pants.

Modify Bike Buckets The Bike Bucket - Bike Buckets to not only be screwed on to the rack
with P clips rather than Hooks. but also have a way to lock your lid closed.

DIY, get Kitty litter Bins..




./.

As RubeRab mentioned: hose clamps. They are a minor pain in the ass, but that's the point.