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Arkel 2007 GT-54 rear pannniers
$349.00
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The GT-54 is Arkel’s flagship pannier set. The GT-54s have a total capacity of 3300 cubic inches per pair and are the most elaborate panniers we carry. Arkel bags are all about organization, and this pannier set embodies Arkel’s philosophy of “more pockets = better, a pocket for every purpose”. Besides the two large main compartments there are eight spacious outside pockets, some of which are removable to adapt the panniers to your needs or to carry with you when away from the bike. This is a complicated set of bags to describe, but worth the effort because every feature adds up to make what is probably the best pair of panniers you can buy.
The GT-54s are designed to be rear panniers. The front panniers that go with them are the GT-18s, which are available in a backpack and a
standard (non-backpack) version.
Each GT-54 main compartment measures about 14” tall, 5.5” deep and 13” wide at the top, tapering down to 11” wide at the bottom. The main compartment 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 waterproof layer 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.
GT-54 panniers are asymmetrical—the pockets on the left bag are different from the pockets on the right. The right bag has the most visible difference, a tall, thin cylindrical pocket designed to hold tent poles and rolled up sleeping pads. This is the feature you notice first when you see a set of GT-54s in use, and it is really a brilliant idea. Bike tourists without these panniers usually resort to tying their long tent poles and sleeping pad to the top of their luggage rack, which is not always the greatest solution. Objects tied to the top of a rack occasionally fall off, sometimes without being noticed. This pole/pad pocket is attached to the pannier body with a large velcro strip and two nylon straps, so it can be positioned higher or lower as needed for ground clearance, and can be removed entirely if you aren’t using it. For 2007 this pocket gets a waterproof liner on the bottom.
The second pocket on the right side is on top of the pannier body, is barrel shaped and measures about 12” long by 5” wide by 3” tall. It opens with a zipper across its top. The third and fourth pockets on the right side are attached to the front of the main body, on the flap that forms the door of the main compartment. The bottom pocket is 10” by 6” by 2”, and opens through a zipper that wraps across the top and one side. The top pocket is more elaborate. It measures 11” by 5” by 1”, and is removable. It is held onto the pannier body by a long velcro strip and also a large pair of flaps that wrap around the pocket and buckle shut. These flaps are generous enough that you could also store other items under them, perhaps a compact jacket or spare folded tire.
The left pannier body also has four pockets. The first one is on the trailing side of the pannier, in the same position as the pole/pad pocket on the other pannier. This pocket is barrel shaped, measures about 12” by 5” by 3”, and is accessed through a zipper that runs diagonally from top to bottom. Arkel calls this the “fuel bottle pocket”, and while you can put whatever you like in this pocket, it certainly is a good idea to keep your fuel supply separate from your other luggage. The second pocket on the left side is on top of the main body, and mirrors the top pocket on the other side. The third and fourth pockets are on the front of the pannier. The bottom pocket is the same as its twin on the right side. The top pocket is removable like its mate on the right, but when removed turns into a full-fledged fanny pack, great for carrying money and documents when you are travelling away from the bike. This fanny pack pocket has two zippered compartments, and folds up in such a way that it can hold the removable pocket from the right pannier.
The GT-54 uses the same frame and attachment system that is consistent across all Arkel’s panniers, and has some new features for 2007. This starts with an HDPE (polyethylene plastic) frame sheet that forms the backbone of the bag. There is an aluminum rod frame at the top of the main compartment, and an HDPE shelf at the bottom, both of which give the pannier shape and keep it from sagging when in use, while still allowing the pannier body to fold up when in storage. 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 | |
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| Our part numbers | 9186115 Black
2893438 Red 1669253 Royal blue |