macteacher

Hi Folks, im looking for the following pannier.. the KAVAN II NATURAL. Anybody know where I could purchase them? I live in Toronto, Canada.




More detailed photo's can be found below:

https://www.ecovelo.info/2008/05/19/b...ural-panniers/

Arcanum

I hope you've braced for sticker shock.
https://newhorizonsbikes.com/product/...e-bag-2332.htm

You ought to be able to get them shipped to Canada.

macteacher

OH BOY..... I saw them online...but I didn't even think of the price nor of it being that high....<sigh>...why, WHY do things have to be so expensive sometimes...

jmichaeldesign

I recommend these as a much more affordable alternative.

https://www.ebikestop.com/axiom_dutch...ust-BG6679.php

Arcanum

That price is very reasonable. Inexpensive, even.

tsl

Dang! And that rust color would match my bike.

bmwstbill

Unless you are blind there is no comparing the two sets.
bill

lambo_vt

They're both panniers. One is 300% more expensive than the other, though it appears to use leather instead of synthetics. Some may prefer buckles while some would prefer belt-style fastening. The cheaper one is from a company with a significant presence in the US market, so you actually may be able to purchase it and potentially receive warranty service. As far as "holding stuff" goes, both are likely to be successful. A durability difference may be argued, but should be weighed with the significant price difference. Both may likely be transported by bicycle.

I just compared the two and I have the full capability of sight.

bmwstbill

Dearest lamb,
Mea culpa,
I only tried to say...
Some see and some have the eye.
b

lambo_vt

Some of us aren't so foppish that we can sometimes justify not having artisanal panniers for carrying our underwear to work, that's all.

Booger1

Those are nice! Pro-rated over a lifetime,they don't cost too much.

prxmid

Right, If you use them once a year get the less expensive ones. But if you use them regularly, that $150 difference will mean little over time, but you'll feel better about the quality every time you put something in or get compliments on them

Arcanum

Actual quality difference is dubious, particularly with inclement weather. Leather and especially canvas can rot, metal corrodes. Just because it's "natural" and expensive doesn't mean it's better quality. I don't think they're poor quality, mind, just that you're probably paying mostly for style and trendiness.

HardyWeinberg

Heck it doesn't look that pricy next to the Berthoud or Brooks or other 'couture' types of panniers...

bmwstbill

Foppish?
oh really
Here I thought they were Dutch.

"The Lady doth protest to much, methinks."

Bill

lambo_vt

You're right; she does.

trigger

I think they have those at Curbside on Bloor at between Bathurst and Spadina. They used to, anyway.

Abneycat

I will comment on the Axiom panniers, after having retailed and dealt with them for a while and in comparing them to other options, the big downside to the Axiom panniers to me is that their mounting hardware is inferior in my experience to many other designs, everything from the simple plastic hooks of the MEC panniers to the deluxe Rixen Kaul hardware has outperformed the Axiom design in both staying in one piece, and keeping the bag on the bike.

Now, not that it doesn't work. They're not the best, but the Axiom mounting hardware is not outright broken, simply not my favourite. At $42 for the bags, it wouldn't kill you to buy $10-20 extra in replacement hardware if it doesn't work out for you in that regard. The bags themselves are pretty acceptable for the price, and would match up a classic bike better than a lot of modern synthetic panniers would.

I do agree with some of the other sentiments though. In regards to looks, the Basil bags leave the Axiom ones in the dust. The Axiom bags aren't all that attractive to me, they mimic a classic design but the nylon and plastic just give them away dead flat. If it were a matter of looks, i'd personally either all the way and get Basil / Berthoud / Brooks.

ken_sturrock

I have the Kavan II panniers. I like them a lot. They are expensive but they look great and are solidly built. However, there are some things you should realize.

1.) They are heavy compared to other panniers – this is the flip side of the “solid feel” advantage.

2.) They tend to stain more easily than synthetic materials.

3.) The Basil panniers are designed to fit on a slightly wider rack than most bicycles in the U.S> seem to have – this leads to a bit of “droopy pannier syndrome”.

4.) The mounting straps are a pain in the butt. Once they are attached they won’t come loose, but they are not easy to attach or remove. Also, the straps can dangle into the rear wheel if you’re not careful.

5.) The bag is “semi rigid”. It has plastic reinforcements in the walls to give the bag some shape. However, the bag may still loose its form a little bit. For example, since I carry some tools in my pannier, the weight of the tools pulls the bag down and the leather straps that go over the top hold some of the weight – this weight on the straps tends to cause the “top flap covers” of the bag to deform slightly so that the ends of the top covers bow up on the ends of the bag which can cause a gap.

I’m happy with mine but unless you’re really into the qualitative aspects of the bag, you might consider other options.

-Ken

bmwstbill

Check this link out:
https://www.ecovelo.info/2008/05/19/b...ural-panniers/

They strike me as city shopper panniers.

I notice thy fold up when not in use.

For myself I use Ortleib back roller panniers but usually don't need them

or/and a Minnihaha seat bag for commuting to and from.
Here it is on sale:
https://www.restorationhardware.com/r...ump&navCount=1

and these would be nice(note on sale):
https://www.restorationhardware.com/r...id=prod1648001



As for retro this picture sticks in my mind:



bill

spthealien

I have the Axiom Dutch Shoppers which, when I saw the photo of the Kavan's, I was immediately reminded of.

The Axioms are nice, being fairly resistant to splashes and having the ability to hold my messenger bag and laptop, as well as fold flat to the side of the bike when I need it to.

Plus, after shipping, it's pretty tough to beat $50.

K6-III

No need to mail order. Curbside Cycles in Toronto carries the full line of Basil bags/baskets.

macteacher

I saw the bags at curbside. After checking them out I realized they are not big enough to hold a 17"MBP...so im back to square one with regards to finding a vintage looking bag that can hold a laptop. Im really thinking of just buying some canvas and building my own. We'll see.

Bill Laine

Curbside Cycle, in Toronto, carries them:
https://store.curbside.on.ca/index.ph...roducts_id=456