Brooks Autosports Panniers

[jsaul53]

I received the Brooks Autosports Panniers and rack. I will be returning these for a couple of reasons unless someone can talk me off the ledge. I purchased the new to me 2012 S10 and it had the Hepco and Becker Pannier rack and after researching I was not able to find any cases that readily fit this rack other than the Hepco and Becker panniers. I do not want the pelican or caribou or soft luggage. I am looking for aluminum panniers. I took the bait on the Brooks panniers because they include the rack for a reasonable price. They are of decent quality but the rack requires to reuse the OEM hardware which I do not have and to remove the handrails which I prefer not to.

I am working with Brooks on the return process right now. My question has anyone found suitable racks for the Brooks Panniers that allows you to keep the handrails. They are willing to refund a small portion of the cost for the racks but it does not equal the cost of the replacement racks I have researched. Some of the racks that appear they may work are almost the cost of the Brooks Panniers. I am leaning to sending the whole setup back and just choking on the cost of a better-known pannier setup.

I am trying to educate before buying and will try and get installation instructions before purchasing so I find out what is needed to purchase or remove but can any of the experts that have been down this path tell me which brands require you to eliminate/remove the handrails?

 

[corndog]

I looked at the Brooks but went with the Bumot set up. Worth every penny. The Bumot will work with the handrails (I kept and wanted mine also) and can be mounted with or without the OEM Yamaha hardware.

I had the HB racks and Caribous on my 2013 Tenere. Nice set up, but I felt the racks were a tad flimsy. If Caribou had a better (sturdier rack) I would have happily bought a second set for my 2015.

 

[jsaul53]

I sent the Brooks back. The panniers themselves were ok. I just felt like even though they are cheaper than most that they were a waste of money if I was not happy with the overall setup. I saw someone else post where they like the panniers and was going with a touratech rack. I didn't want to go that route. Right now I am leaning towards the Hepco and Becker panniers since i have their rack.