I was in the thrift store today and found a set of Robert Beckman front panniers... for $3 each, and they've never been used before, new old stock.

They're fantastic.

However, I do have a question- I was hoping some people here could help me figure out exactly which front rack they're designed to mount to.

I gave Mr. Beckman a call, and he said it would most likely be a Bruce Gordon lowrider front rack, but we only discussed it briefly, and without photographic aid, so I thought I'd just be sure to cross-reference here before I went out and bought a Bruce Gordon front rack...

Pictures!

Wow, $3!!! Crazy deal. They look nearly identical to the set of Beckman front panniers that I have, which were designed for Bruce Gordon racks. So, I think you'd be pretty safe going with that.

I've always meant to also try them on my Tubus lowriders to see if they will fit, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Does look like The Bruce Gordon Low rider rack version ..
I expect the donor took full retail value for their tax deductible donation..

Congratulations on your find. Mine are an earlier mode from 1985 set up for Bruce Gordon racks front or rear. They have three hooks along the top rather than two on yours and two hooks parallel to where the horizontal strap is located on yours. I have no horizontal lower strap. I use the high front Mountain Bruce Gordon rack not the low rider version.

The panniers reflect Bob Beckman's lengthy touring experience. I marvel at the little things he built into these bags. Wonderful on and off pavement.

I got a set of front and rear Beckman panniers when I bought my tandem in '89. The person who built my tandem also built the racks for the panniers. My only complaint about the front panniers is that they are a bit wide at the bottom, so I have to watch how sharply I turn to avoid hitting the ground with them. The rack finally broke and is being replaced by the same frame builder and I can't remember if I told him to raise the profile or not.

You are one lucky person. If they are rack specific bags and you wanted to be able to use them on other racks, could you use a Jannd Stainless steel hook on the diagonal strap to make them more universal?

This might also be an insult to such beautiful bags but how about retrofitting them with the Arkel attachments?

Nice find, and very coincidental. I was planning to give Robert a call today. Just before X-Mas, someone stole my LHT with my Beckman racks attached. I need a new set so I can keep using the companion panniers. By the time I got my gear from him in '99, he was only making panniers that work with his racks. Plus, his racks are da' bomb. I have not been able to find another rear rack with such a large platform. I had no trouble carrying my SD Velox 3 tent lengthwise on it. And his front rack platform is great for a small tent or sleeping bag. And the locking mechanism means the panniers will never fly off accidentally.

I got mine when Bob and Bruce were working together, in Eugene ..
now they compete . .. both taking up each other's part as well .

So, may be for Bob's own front racks, rather than Bruce's ..

I think that you need to be honest here. It looks like the tag says you paid $3.93 . Just kidding, I'm just jealous.

Tom

Great price. By all reports they are super well made and extremely durable. Their drawback is that they are heavy as heck if the reports I have read are true.

Now there's an idea! I would prefer a front rack with a top platform anyway, as opposed to the Bruce Gordon Lowrider. That is an excellent idea.

Would it be completely sacreligious to do this? Can anyone vouch for the arkel attachment system? I dig the idea.

$3? Brand new? Wow! You my friend have probably won the all time best thrift store score in the bicycle category...

I will have to weigh mine some time. They don't feel heavy, but I don't think I have ever held any other brand, at lest not empty, so I don't have a frame of reference.

If they are heavier than average, it's likely due to the thick sitffners and extensive use of zippers, some of which are chunky. Each rear has two external zippers for the two major compartments. One rear has an internal zipper that can be used to create two separate compartments out of the main one. Each front has one external zipper for the main compartment and one of them has an internal zipper. Each front's outer mesh pocket also zippers shut.

I can't vouch for the Arkel system but having researched panniers lately, people like Arkel a lot. It seems like a solid design since the hooks are aluminum and they adapt to different tube thicknesses with no inserts. I just sold some bags that I liked except for the attachment system and wished I would have seen these first. It would have been a nice retrofit.

BTW, I bet the first picture of the panniers is hiding a huge smile.

The weight is undoubtedly due to the fact that they are heavy duty and feature rich. One man's well built last forever panniers is another man's sentence to carry way too much weight forever. It all depends on what you want. Me, I am inclined to be happy with good enough and if it saves a few pounds I don't really care if my great grand kids will be trying to wear them out. I also tend to prefer one big compartment so they wouldn't be my choice any way.

I would be curious what yours weigh. If you get a chance to weigh them, please post the weight. My comment was based on hear say, so take it as such, but given the features and reputation for reliability I'd be very surprised if they weren't pretty heavy. I'd really like to know what the actual weight is.

My front pair weigh 4 pounds. My tandem rear pair is 5 pounds.

I am not dismayed by the weight. What do you consider light or heavy?

Also, I talked to Mr. Beckman on the phone, and he said his newest project was making ultralight panniers without traditional stiffeners, but rather ultralight metal frames with fabric pulled taut over them. He said he had gotten complete pairs of panniers down to 13oz!

So there ya go, weight weenies.

That isn't as heavy as I thought they might be. Do you happen to know the volume?

My standard for weight is if they are heavier than mine they are heavy and if they are lighter than mine they are light

Actually it might make sense to think of pannier weight in terms of total gear weight including the panniers. I figure that mine are between about 16 and 18% of the total gear weight (assuming 30-35 pounds total gear without food or water, but including panniers). Since 16-18% seems like a lot to me so I really don't want to go heavier.

I don't consider myself a weight weenie, but an additional 2-3 pounds is a big deal to me. I try to get down to 30 pounds and sometimes settle for 35 That said it may be a non issue for others.

Just as a frame of reference... My cheap Nashbar waterproofs are as follows:
Front 1056 cubic inches and 2 pounds 6 ounce (for the pair in both cases)
Rear 2310 cubic inches and 4 pounds (again for the pair in both cases)

Interesting. I actually think I would be happy without any stiffeners at all other than enough to act as a mounting point for the hooks. In my current panniers given their shape and the gear I carry I think they would hold their shape fine without.

The front panniers have 2400 cu. inches and the rear tandem panniers 3200 cubic inches.
[I should note that I only use both front and rear panniers on the tandem.]

I use front panniers only on my BG RNR with a dry bag stuffer lengthwise on the rear rack.
My equipment load on the Divide Ride was around 20 pounds including the panniers and stuffer.

I have a pair of Beckman fronts, like yours, and the rear set too. They have held up well both on road, off-road and during commuting. I also have the rain covers and they work very well. The BG racks are bomb-proof and I have seen Blackburns cracking around me from off-road use. I only wish I had gotten the high-mount front rack instead of the low-rider, because the front bags will scrape the ground during cornering and limit my off-road maneuverability.