azza_333

I am out to by my first set of 4 panniers

40L Pannier
Ortlieb Back-Roller City (Lightest) $87
Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic $131
Ortlieb Back-Roller Plus $152

25L Panniers
Ortlieb Front-Roller City (Lightest) $76
Ortlieb Front-Roller Classic $109
Ortlieb Front-Roller Plus $114

I have been recommended not to go with the Roller City panniers, as I have been told that the durability isn't as good. Yet from what I have read online the panniers are the same as the Roller Classics, minus the QL2, inner pocket, and the shoulder strap. can anyone comment on the Roller City panniers durability

At almost twice the cost of the Roller City panniers, I can get Roller Plus panniers, are they really worth it, how does the durability of them compare with the Roller City and Roller Classics?

mm718

I sold my Back Roller Classics so that I could get Back Roller Plus panniers. My motivation in making this change was to save almost 8 ounces with the lighter Plus model. I also removed the inner pockets to save another 5 ounces and haven't missed them. Beyond cost there are two downsides to the Plus model 1) they fade much more quickly and 2) because the fabric isn't as stiff they don't stand and stay open like the Classics do when packing. The latter isn't a big deal but worth noting. Overall I am glad I made the change though and can live with the trade-offs.

fietsbob

Plus is a thickly polyurethane coated Cordura, the classic is using a regular PVC truck tarp for its front and Back, The colors..

City has the Snap socket molded in the sides .. The roller both 'genders' of the side release Buckle are on the top edge
and comes with a shoulder strap which you can Leave on and secure under the cleat, on the lower outside Face.

Hooks on top of QL1 is adjusted with an allen wrench, The 2 its tool less .. the 2 uses the 2 track lower hook mount , the 1 has only 1, now.

I say Now because My Black and Orange Classics have a type 1 Upper rail and the type 2 lower

(to use on my Bruce Gordon racks I'd add another hook on the Bottom , in its own track )

I also have an old Plus fabric Sport packer front,(old QL1 hooks ), it has a pair of straps around it and over it, and a drawstring top with a lid over it.
since, they changed the design removed the D rings on the Lid and the 4 straps around each bag (to cinch up smaller loads to not Move in the Bag)
( I have them on the front of my Bike Friday, a racktop stretch net engaging the D rings is perfect for Boxed Pizza Pickups)

they offer that bag just set up for their Horse saddle bag, Now.

Yan 

I have the Classics. My friend has what I assume must be an older version of the Pluses that has an identical fabric as my Classics, but with the newer tool-less double track lower assembly. My comments based on the above:

1. I didn't have any trouble adapting the single track hook on the Classics to my rack. I can't say for sure whether the new double tracks are worth anything in all cases, only that they are not in my case.
2. I use the shoulder straps on my panniers whenever they are off the bike, such as between my bike and my hotel room. They also allow me to carry the panniers while they are open, such as when I am shopping for groceries. If I were to switch to the Cities, I would find the lack of shoulder straps to be extremely annoying and for this reason would never use them under any circumstances.
3. When I am commuting, I use the inside pocket of my pannier to hold my emergency tools. On tour, when I have a much larger number of tools, I use a plastic bag. I have on occasion also used the pocket to segregate my dirty socks from the rest of my used clothing, which I sometimes throw on the bottom of the panniers instead of in their own plastic bag, as with all my other belongings. I don't consider the inclusion of the inside pocket to be decisive in choosing between panniers.

seeker333

Most USA tourists buy the Classics. The Plus saves a little weight but the fabric fades significantly. Citys seem to be a economy version of the Classics with about 95% of the content, for significantly less cost. As near as I could tell at the time, City's were basically Classics without a (somewhat unnecessary) shoulder strap, made of the same materials. I ended up getting Classics because I wanted them in Yellow, thinking this might be more high-visibility than the red, white or black colors that City was offered in.

I expect the Citys are as durable as the Pluses, if not more so.

Here's some old threads discussing City, as Classic and Plus are well known in the USA:

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/79...-panniers.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/88...ifference.html

Tourist in MSN

I suggested to you earlier that classic is more forgivable for volume and can be packed less than full. At that time I think you planned for one pair, not two. With two pair, I see no problem with city for one pair, classic for the other.

A friend of mine has the city. The buckle on the city is designed without much adjustment for volume, the classics can be rolled over more and still clamp tightly.

If you strap anything on top in back, the extra straps on the classics could come in handy in back. I use them to attach the Ortlieb 31 liter duffel.

I have no opinion on durability.

fietsbob

Throw a bit more $ into it and there is a Hi Viz Model , the whole Bag is reflective More or less And the side panels are a Bright color.

Doug64

I have the Roller Classics and my wife has the Packer Plus front and rear panniers. She really likes hers and I really like mine.

They are both durable, and each has their pros and cons.

The Roller Classic is truly waterproof, and can be dunked with little fear of leakage. The Packer Plus is waterproof under normal conditions.

I believe the Roller Classic has more load control than the PP. The RC can be rolled down tightly, compressing the load. The "shoulder strap helps to really cinch down the load. I believe that acting as a shoulder strap is just a bonus.

I believe the RC fabric is a little more durable than the PP, and does not fade.

The PP plus has a nice side pocket that is handy small items like lock, sunscreen, etc.

The PP is a little easier to open and close.

The inner pockets come in handy to store extra maps, and other flat items.

A high speed encounter with a tall curb, front CR. It is still waterproof.


I'm not sure how well the PP would do in this situation. Cleaning the mud off my loaded front pannier.


My wife's PP front panniers are about 8 years old. The red faded to pink on top, but she uses them daily on her around town bike. Her rear PP's are yellow, and seem to be more fade resistant. Note that rack packs are also good for hauling tomato plants.


My wife with her PP rear panniers. The yellow are definitely more visible than the red. She is taking a picture of me taking a picture of her.

azza_333

How do you overload the Classics?Do you connect the side male and female buckles together, or do you use the buckle that goes over the center on the top, or is it with the shoulder strap some how?

Tourist in MSN

Not sure what your question is.

djb

There's a good chance you've seen this review but if not, a good overview of them.
Ortlieb Front Roller City Panniers (Pair) review | road.cc

Imo the lack of top middle strap is not an issue for front panniers, so they would save some money there,but for rears being able to close an overstuffed pannier with either mid strap or two side ones into each other is something I've done enough times with tall or bulky items, so worth it for me to have the regular ones at back.

Tourist in MSN

I like to put my rain gear on top of a frontroller, held on with that strap. Also, sometimes I put damp laundry there in a mesh bag. But I think I am unusual in this regard, most people do not use those straps. Photo shows my red rain gear on one and damp laundry in a black mesh bag on the other.



But if I was going to get one pair of the city, I would get front city version and rear classic.

robert schlatte

I have the classics and they are extremely durable. I use one of the backrollers daily on my commute to work. (I alternate them every so often). The bags themselves show virtually no signs of wear. The only issue I have is with the plactic attachment hardware. Three times I have had to replace the front center buckle because of broken prongs over the course of 5 years. Ortlieb has replaced the buckle for free each time.

djb

I have had broken buckles on my old pair, but they were broken each time by being shut in car doors or being stepped on while on the floor or whatever. I just bought some replacement buckles for 50cents at an outdoor store and put them on myself.

djb

I've used my panniers for commuting and such for years, and tall items or whatever can fit in sticking out the top a bit and as you say, you can connect the two side male and female buckles together, just to keep the top from falling open more, and at the same time stopping whatever it is sticking out from falling outwards away from the bike.

robert schlatte

I tried that but the male part did not fit the female part which was permanently attached. I had to have the specific male part.

djb

forgot to mention, I just bought both parts and changed out both of them. When I went to do it, I realized that I would have to unstitch the strap, so instead I went a different approach--I filed a slight slot thru the buckles and fed the strap through the slot and then turned the buckle the right way--not explaining it well but once I figured it out it was easy to do and so I changed out both buckles on each of my panniers, making them easier to use again and giving them yet some more life, dating from I believe 93 or 94.

added in these photos, the red line is where I made a diagonal cut thru the plastic behind the strap with a hacksaw, then slid the strap thru the cut and straightened it out. The diagonal cut means the plastic is still strong, so if there is any movement of the cut parts, they force up against each other-- and the brunt of the force from the strap is spread out all over, and the strap is in there rather tightly so it doesnt make the plastic bit move apart at all--the plastic part was also pretty sturdy to begin with, so it worked out fine.

*the other photo is to show how ortliebs back then used a traditional hook system, and a rubber stretchy thingee that Ive been waiting to break for years. It slips at the top where it loops thru the plastic thing because the ridges are worn smooth, but it hasnt broken---promptly will now.....and I'll have to improvise something to hold the hook in place, maybe a bungee or something....

robert schlatte

[QUOTE=djb;17542031]forgot to mention, I just bought both parts and changed out both of them. When I went to do it, I realized that I would have to unstitch the strap, so instead I went a different approach--I filed a slight slot thru the buckles and fed the strap through the slot and then turned the buckle the right way--not explaining it well but once I figured it out it was easy to do and so I changed out both buckles on each of my panniers, making them easier to use again and giving them yet some more life, dating from I believe 93 or 94.

added in these photos, the red line is where I made a diagonal cut thru the plastic behind the strap with a hacksaw, then slid the strap thru the cut and straightened it out. The diagonal cut means the plastic is still strong, so if there is any movement of the cut parts, they force up against each other-- and the brunt of the force from the strap is spread out all over, and the strap is in there rather tightly so it doesnt make the plastic bit move apart at all--the plastic part was also pretty sturdy to begin with, so it worked out fine.

Great idea. Next time I break one, I'll try this approach rather than contact Ortlieb.

azza_333

I still cant make up my mind, I'm leaning towards the Roller Cities though.

djb

at the outdoor store I went to (MEC) they had a few bins of spare clips and buckles, for repairing backpacks and such-- there are diff widths so just be sure of what ones you need.
They only cost 50c or so, and in my case I bought some, stuck them in a drawer and then when I finally got around to doing the repair, couldnt find them, bought some more, then found the first ones--so presto-I have spares already.

or you could stop shutting them in car doors or whatever you are doing ;-)

djb

no matter which ones you get, they are very well made, being waterproof is great for not worrying about riding in all day rain, and if you use common sense in taking care of them, will last for years and years.

Heck, if you find you don't like touring, it will be easy to sell them afterwards.

azza_333

I decided to go with the Front & Rear-Roller Cities, I also ordered a Tubus Logo.

I'm now looking into if its better to get a Tubus Ergo for a front rack to go with the Front-Roller City, or get a Tubus Tara (and Purchase 16mm lower hook, but I cant find them on the net anywhere for a reasonable price). Any one have any thoughts?

Arkadee

I have the Back Roller City model and have used one for my commute for about a year and both for a week-long tour last summer. I can't make a comparison as I have never used the classic or plus but these are pretty bomb proof and mine actually included the shoulder strap as well. I actually find the shoulder strap quite handy as it allows me to keep both hands free if I remove the pannier to haul my gear up the stairs to my office.

RKD

azza_333

I went with the Roller City (red) set of four because, they are lighter, cheaper, and I like the clean/uncluttered look of them.

Doug64

I'm not sure why you need a 16 mm lower hook for the Tara. I have a Tara and the standard front hook on the Front Roller Classic fit just fine. The horizontal bar, where the panniers clip on, is only 10 mm. The brace is about 14 mm. The lower Ortlieb mount has some flexibility, and looks a lot like the one on the City Rollers.