Aluminium Panniers

[PaulinBont]

I have narrowed my choices down to either Ard Cases or Stahlkoffer (CityKoffer or StahlkofferSport) but I can't find any review regarding the Ard Cases.

They both seem to be of equally high standard but does anyone have any negative feedback about either that may sway me?

The only thing I can fault both with is the aesthetics of the strapping loops on the lids (to my eyes they look a bit too over the top/high and ugly compared to the equivalent on the top of the Zega Pros)

 

[Ash]

ARD everytime.
the finish is 100 % better,i used mine for 3 yrs and sold them on and 5 yrs later they are still like new.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120426

 

[David Nimrod]

Ard cases are fantastic quality; very simple and hugely durable, (good price too).

I've never had the Stahlkoffers; also, compared to the Ard cases, Zega's are crap.

 

[divelandy]

+1 on ARD cases. I've had mine for 3 years and they are great. The only issue i had was waterproofing them, which i did with thick tape and rubber washers.

I have a set of Holan pannier frames which have rusted where the panniers mount onto the frames. My project this weekend is to clean them up and respray.

 

[jackassdave]

stallkhoffer are just ard cases but much more expensive !!.ard cases every time .rogers a great bloke ,and will fit them if you go there.
save yourself some money and buy ard cases ,as stalkhoffer are the same thing but more costly,and no better .

 

[NeilDD]

stallkhoffer are just ard cases but much more expensive !!.ard cases every time .rogers a great bloke ,and will fit them if you go there.
save yourself some money and buy ard cases ,as stalkhoffer are the same thing but more costly,and no better .

+1

I've got 2 sets.
1 on the GS
1 on my '50s classic bike

Roger also makes a great cup of tea

 

[PaulinBont]

+1

I've got 2 sets.
1 on the GS
1 on my '50s classic bike

Roger also makes a great cup of tea

Thanks for the responses guys keep them coming. So nobody has anything bad to say about Ard cases? Nothing that I should ask to be changed for when ordering? No modifications needed?

 

[David Nimrod]

No modifications needed?

Roger's a top guy, and will make pretty much anything you need...

But the cases are just 'right' as they are IMHO

 

[NeilDD]

Thanks for the responses guys keep them coming. So nobody has anything bad to say about Ard cases? Nothing that I should ask to be changed for when ordering? No modifications needed?

Roger will even get them powder coated to match the bike, if the colour is available.

He's also branching out into little tables that fit on top of the panniers, bottle holders and all things shiny

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

ARD.cases all the way

.....The only thing I can fault both with is the aesthetics of the strapping loops on the lids (to my eyes they look a bit too over the top/high and ugly compared to the equivalent on the top of the Zega Pros)

Beyond customising luggage to your exacting requirements Roger at ARD can do alternative strap-loops for panniers; an example can be seen if you click on the following and look at the strap-loops that secure the fuel bottles to my panniers. When he fabricated the top-box I had the same lower-profile loops fitted to the lid, the pic doesn't show that clearly and if the fuel bottle examples arent clear I can pop up a piccie of the top-box loops to highlight them better.

>>> http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3130970&postcount=432

 

[jackassdave]

got to say the table top was my idea ,i asked him to make the first one for me .....

 

[Blackal]

StallKhoffers seem a bit "clumsy" in comparison with ARDcases.

Can't see past the ARDs, to be honest.

Oh! I invented Windows 7

Al

 

[PaulinBont]

One final question guys, regarding the capacity. (I am going with the Ard cases).
What would you say is the optimum size? I don't want outrageously large ones that stick out a mile but on the other hand I don't want something that looks silly and handbag sized, tis is really a question of asthetics versus practically I guess.
I am thinking of the 29 litre symetric ones (have the original huge silencer)
The arguments are that the bigger they are the more unnecessary kit you are tempted to take against having something too small to be of any practical use. Thanks

 

[divelandy]

I would look at your equipment (tent) and use that as a guideline. I wish mine were 10-20mm longer, so that my poles would fit in straight.

Details, including the size of my panniers in the ARD Case thread

I wanted the pannier width to be <= width of the bars, however, the bar width is 89cm, the mirror width is 91cm and the pannier width is just under 105cm.

 

[PaulinBont]

I would look at your equipment (tent) and use that as a guideline. I wish mine were 10-20mm longer, so that my poles would fit in straight.

Details, including the size of my panniers in the ARD Case thread

I wanted the pannier width to be <= width of the bars, however, the bar width is 89cm, the mirror width is 91cm and the pannier width is just under 105cm.

Thanks for that, I hadn't thought of keeping the overall width equal to or less than the bars; good idea!

 

[divelandy]

Thanks for that, I hadn't thought of keeping the overall width equal to or less than the bars; good idea!

I'm quite pleased that i ended up breaking that rule so that my kit fits in snugly.

For the larger of the 2 cases, the length of the box i determined by the length of my sleeping bag, sleeping mat and stove lined up - the width = the diameter of these items when compacted, which were all about the same and just fit in the final case. The height was an standard case height. Unfortunatly, my current tent poles are 46cm long, so need to be laid diagonally

In the larger pannier, i have just enough room to add tent and tarp - so all of my sleeping kit. This leaves the other case and top box (if i take it) for food and clothes.

Having done >8k miles with them on, the width has not been an issue.