I'm expecting the arrival of a pair of Hepco and Becker Gobi panniers at some point next week, purchased secondhand without the frames (from a GS anyway). I realise that I need a pair of H & B frames, but looking at the pictures on the web, they have a section that joins the two sides at the back of the numberplate.

Unfortunately my bikes previous owner has cut the lower portion off, and mounted the plate directly onto the wider flatter black plastic section higher up. By doing this he's also mounted the indicators further up, just below the exhausts.

This section of linking bar would therefore be 'floating' but would it be safe? Did the removed section of my bike have any functional rigidity when helping to hold the frames together?

Just thought I'd ask... before I end up doing a 'suck it and see'