Arkel 2007 GT-18 front/rear pannier

Pictures: Red , Black , Royal blue

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Sizes/colors
Item	Availability	Order
Black	in stock
Red	2 weeks
Royal Blue	2 weeks

Note: this is a single pannier, not a pair of panniers. It is sold that way so you have the option to combine one standard GT-18 with one GT-18BP, the backpack version of this pannier.
Or you can buy 2 GT-18s to make a pair, or 2 GT-18BPs.

Arkel’s GT-18 panniers are designed as front panniers to go with their GT-54 rear panniers. The GT-18 has a capacity of 1100 cubic inches per pannier, and a pair of GT-18s works just fine as rear panniers if the volume you need to carry is small enough. The GT-18/GT-54 combination gives you enough total storage volume and enough pockets to organize the gear for even the most elaborate cross-continent cycling expedition. The GT-18 weighs 2.1 pounds per pannier.

The GT-18 has one main compartment and three pockets, one of which is mesh. The main compartment is roughly 14” tall, 10” wide and 4” deep, and is accessed through a zipper that reaches completely up one side, across the top and down the other side. It is a simple matter to reach objects at the bottom of the main compartment without unloading it first. The main compartment has an integrated drybag inside, which adds a second layer of water resistance to keep your gear dry in the rain. When you don’t need the extra protection, the drybag neatly rolls up out of the way.

Pocket #1, largest of the 3 outside pockets, is on the front of the pannier’s main compartment. It measures about 11” high by 8” wide by 1” deep, and opens through a zipper that wraps around the top and both sides, just like the main compartment. The second of the 3 pockets is on top of the pannier, is somewhat barrel shaped and measures about 9.5” long by 3” wide by 2” tall, and opens through a zipper across it’s top. The last pocket is mostly mesh, opens on the top with an elastic strip to keep objects inside, and measures roughly 9” tall by 8” wide. It is attached to the front of pocket #1.

The GT-18 uses the same frame and attachment system that is consistent across all Arkel’s panniers, and has some new features in 2007. This starts with an HDPE (polyethylene plastic) frame sheet that forms the backbone of the bag. Connected to the main frame sheet is the new Arkel Cam-Lock Attachment System. This consists of an aluminum channel, two beefy aluminum hooks that are adjustable side-to-side to fit almost any bike rack, and a stout bungee cord and s-hook to hold the bottom of the bag firmly against the bike rack. The final element of the system is a pair of spring-loaded cams that work with the two aluminum hooks to securely grab the rack, just like a thumb and fingers. These cams are attached to a webbing handle. Pulling up on the handle opens the cams, so getting the pannier on and off is a snap, but the panniers are still extremely secure and won’t bounce off the rack while riding. Altogether a brilliant design. The Arkel company uses aluminum for all the key elements in this system, because they find aluminum to be strong, rigid, and durable. Arkel guarantees their bags for life, so using materials that won’t break or fail somewhere out on the road is very important to them. Other people seem to agree, because Arkel sells the attachment system by itself and it is one of the most popular methods used for building home-made panniers.

All the materials used to construct Arkel panniers are top quality. The bag itself is constructed from coated Cordura, a fabric that is waterproof, very abrasion and puncture resistant, and almost impossible to tear. All zippers are YKK with die-cast nickel sliders. Arkel guarantees the workmanship and manufacturing of their bags for life. This guarantee covers any problems with fabric, seams, mounts, hardware, and bungees caused by defective materials or construction, but does not cover normal wear and tear.

Specifications
Our part numbers	4469308  Black 2239726  Red 1988556  Royal Blue