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'

If its the link bar that goes from the rear of the pannier frames and through the rear wheel space than it should be used. When ever the panniers are not on its not a big problem but when you put them on an load them up and hit the bumps on our lovely paved roads your panniers will bounce about the place putting more pressure on the locks and other stuff.

Mate had an Aprilia Pegaso that had a pannier system with no link bar and just so funny seeing him hit a bump, the bike would go down and then the panniers would wobble and look as if thier coming off.

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Plough on

Thanks for the reply. I have no intention of running any frames without the link bar, it's just that the link bar appears to fix to the back of the number plate on the standard bike, and that bit's missing on mine.

I'll probably order a set of frames next month.

Next question, does anyone have a 'preferred' dealer for Hepco and Becker? Or would I be better off going via the OTR website?

Try Motobins http://www.motobins.co.uk/displaypro...=subs&subs=182

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-- Triumph Explorer 1200 --

BTW my SW Motech frames were connected to the number plate but with the weight and very bumpy roads this caused the rear mudguard to crack. So I changed mine not to attach to mudguard.

I bought a set of frames from H&B and was surprised by their new quick release system. The frames are held together at key points by large spring loaded dome headed allen bolts. The bolt has two small pins at the end which locate into recesses on the frame.

I used my alu panniers for a road trip to France and found i had to keep an eye on the bolts as one had come undone. I wasnt carrying a large enough allen key so i used a cable tie to secure until i found an allen key.

In the picture you can see the link bar at the rear which is bolted to the frames on the inside also a better idea of the bolts. Since taking the photos ive put a piece of plastic coming from under the number plate over the top of the link bar to stop spray from the back wheel soaking my back when riding in the rain.






Hope this helps.

Ian

Thank you very much Ian.

I was assuming that the link bar 'had' to screw to the back of the number plate, but it obviously doesn't have any fixing holes. My number plate is at a similar height to yours, but I think my tail has just been cut off and the plate screwed to whats left

I'll probably ring Motobins at the start of November.