2022 Turbo Vado: Panniers that will fit lower rear rail?

[DarrenM]

Hi All

I've just bought a 2022 Turbo Vado (in Northern Ireland), so am a new member of the forum.

I separately bought Altura Grid 20 panniers which look to be very good BUT it turns out that they will not mount in the correct location* on the rear Vado 2022 pannier rack.

*The rear 2022 VADO rack has 2 rails each side - a lower one for the side panniers and an upper which allows MIK HD attachments. With the altura panniers, the upper rail prevents the (large) altura clips from being able to press over and down onto the lower rails - so they can't attach.


So, I have 2 questions that I hope you can help with:

A: Which pannier mounts (/bags) will definitely fit the lower side rails of the 2022 Vado pannier rack? (without the upper rails blocking access)

B: Which of those pannier bags, if any, would mount low enough on the lower rail so that I still have the option of using the upper MIK rack mount for something else (eg a basket / bag etc) at the same time?


Obviously the Specialized Tailwinds (17l each) are an option, but I was looking for something slightly larger (20l) and probably top loading for easier weekend shopping hauls (and ideally less expensive for a pair). Ideally I'm looking something that can double for office commutes e.g. cordura type? but will choose whichever works best overall (the Tailwinds would be fine for the latter purpose, less so the former.)


The Altura Grid 20 had looked to tick all the boxes - professional (dark grey, cordura type, with some reflectivity), 20l top loading, looked easy to get on and off, and were good value (£90 a pair), but unfortunately I now realise that they won't mount to the lower rail of the VADO, so I will need to return them.


Thanks in advance for any recommendations that you have.

Darren

 

[6zfshdb]

Without seeing your panniers, I'm not sure if this trick will work or not. I was able to make adapters that allow my panniers to fit my rack. They provide a lower rail so the panniers don't interfere with the upper rack rail. I made them from short pieces of .5" aluminum tubing and insulated cable clamps.

It isn't necessary but I used plastic plugs to dress up the ends:

I bought the parts at my local home improvement center but they are also available on Amazon. The total cost was around $10 US.
The adapters are quite strong and I've carried 30# in each pannier without a problem.

In any case, welcome to the forum! I hope this is of some help.

 

[Camasonian]

I have an Ortlieb Backroller pannier mounted to the lower crossbar of my new Turbo Vado 5.0 as we speak. It attaches just fine.

I only use one pannier for my work commuting setup. It is a top-load pannier with a big open cargo area where I stuff my work backpack with laptop inside to keep it clean and safe while riding in the rain. I have a Patagonia Refugio daypack that I use as my work bag which has a nice laptop sleeve and is the right size for work. It slips inside the Ortlieb if I don't stuff it too full. I leave the Ortlieb on the bike permanently but then I have indoor secure storage for the bike at work so no worries about theft or meddling with the bike.

The two ideas behind using a backpack inside the pannier for work purposes are (1) the work backpack stays clean and dry here in the rainy Pacific Northwest, and (2) if I need to get groceries on the way home I can pull out the backpack and wear it the rest of the way home while using the now-empty pannier for groceries. I have 3 or 4 grocery stories right on the way home from work so that is convenient.

 

[kahn]

I have an Ortlieb Backroller pannier mounted to the lower crossbar of my new Turbo Vado 5.0 as we speak. It attaches just fine.

I only use one pannier for my work commuting setup. It is a top-load pannier with a big open cargo area where I stuff my work backpack with laptop inside to keep it clean and safe while riding in the rain. I have a Patagonia Refugio daypack that I use as my work bag which has a nice laptop sleeve and is the right size for work. It slips inside the Ortlieb if I don't stuff it too full. I leave the Ortlieb on the bike permanently but then I have indoor secure storage for the bike at work so no worries about theft or meddling with the bike.

The two ideas behind using a backpack inside the pannier for work purposes are (1) the work backpack stays clean and dry here in the rainy Pacific Northwest, and (2) if I need to get groceries on the way home I can pull out the backpack and wear it the rest of the way home while using the now-empty pannier for groceries. I have 3 or 4 grocery stories right on the way home from work so that is convenient.

View attachment 118884

Enjoy. I only get caught in the rainy pacific northWET occasionally. When I commuted, it was during fair weather and not in winter. I commuted 17 miles one way to Renton. Mind my asking how you secure the bike when grocery shopping.

 

[DarrenM]

Without seeing your panniers, I'm not sure if this trick will work or not. I was able to make adapters that allow my panniers to fit my rack. They provide a lower rail so the panniers don't interfere with the upper rack rail. I made them from short pieces of .5" aluminum tubing and insulated cable clamps.

View attachment 118814 View attachment 118815
View attachment 118821 View attachment 118817 View attachment 118819 View attachment 118820

It isn't necessary but I used plastic plugs to dress up the ends:

View attachment 118816

I bought the parts at my local home improvement center but they are also available on Amazon. The total cost was around $10 US.
The adapters are quite strong and I've carried 30# in each pannier without a problem.

In any case, welcome to the forum! I hope this is of some help.

Hi,
Thanks for the detailed reply. My rack already has a lower rail so it's more about getting a pannier system where the mounting clips fit in the existing gap between the existing upper and lower rails (I was surprised that the Altura Grid clips didn't). Interesting to see your build though! Thanks.

 

[DarrenM]

I have an Ortlieb Backroller pannier mounted to the lower crossbar of my new Turbo Vado 5.0 as we speak. It attaches just fine.

I only use one pannier for my work commuting setup. It is a top-load pannier with a big open cargo area where I stuff my work backpack with laptop inside to keep it clean and safe while riding in the rain. I have a Patagonia Refugio daypack that I use as my work bag which has a nice laptop sleeve and is the right size for work. It slips inside the Ortlieb if I don't stuff it too full. I leave the Ortlieb on the bike permanently but then I have indoor secure storage for the bike at work so no worries about theft or meddling with the bike.

The two ideas behind using a backpack inside the pannier for work purposes are (1) the work backpack stays clean and dry here in the rainy Pacific Northwest, and (2) if I need to get groceries on the way home I can pull out the backpack and wear it the rest of the way home while using the now-empty pannier for groceries. I have 3 or 4 grocery stories right on the way home from work so that is convenient.

View attachment 118884

Thanks. That is very helpful. Your usage and safe storage at the office is similar to my own situation, so helpful to know that these ortleibs fit the Vado pannier mount, and that you can use them in that way with a separate work bag. Very helpful. Appreciated.

 

[DarrenM]

Thanks for the various suggestions.

I bought the following from Decathalon as: they fitted onto the lower rail, were a good size (24l) each, waterproof, very good reflectivity at the base of all 3 outward facing sides, sat low on the rail, had a solid base, and I thought looked well on the bike. (They also have a thin unpadded but suspended internal sleeve that apparently will hold a 13" laptop)

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/ipx6-24l-waterproof-touring-pannier-bike-bag/_/R-p-311050?mc=8561752

 

[DarrenM]

For reference, the follow from Altura (thunderstorm) had a different klickfix fitting from that used on the Altura Grid, but still did not fit onto the lower pannier rail.


https://www.altura.co.uk/luggage-c4/styles-c76/panniers-c84/altura-thunderstorm-city-waterproof-cycling-pannier-p121#attribute[4]=31

 

[Camasonian]

Nice! Is that a second headlight you have mounted on your handlebars there?

 

[DarrenM]

Nice! Is that a second headlight you have mounted on your handlebars there?

Hi

The handlebar mount has a small GoPro (the Hero 5 session) below it. That's probably what you can see. There is also a rear facing one under the seat.

I do use the top of the handlebar mount to hold a seesense.cc Beam+ via a Garmin style mount, but it's not actually in the pic. While very bright (1500 lumens) I'm not totally sure if it is necessary on the vado as the stock light seems ok .... but I've moved everything over from my old bike to see what I need on the VADO and what mount configuration might be best.

I also have the clever flashing seesense.cc icon2 front and rear. You can see the front one in the pic, mounted below the stock light, in place of the small stock reflector. I might swap it and the front camera around.

 

[RubioMono]

Hi All

I've just bought a 2022 Turbo Vado (in Northern Ireland), so am a new member of the forum.

I separately bought Altura Grid 20 panniers which look to be very good BUT it turns out that they will not mount in the correct location* on the rear Vado 2022 pannier rack.

*The rear 2022 VADO rack has 2 rails each side - a lower one for the side panniers and an upper which allows MIK HD attachments. With the altura panniers, the upper rail prevents the (large) altura clips from being able to press over and down onto the lower rails - so they can't attach.


So, I have 2 questions that I hope you can help with:

A: Which pannier mounts (/bags) will definitely fit the lower side rails of the 2022 Vado pannier rack? (without the upper rails blocking access)

B: Which of those pannier bags, if any, would mount low enough on the lower rail so that I still have the option of using the upper MIK rack mount for something else (eg a basket / bag etc) at the same time?


Obviously the Specialized Tailwinds (17l each) are an option, but I was looking for something slightly larger (20l) and probably top loading for easier weekend shopping hauls (and ideally less expensive for a pair). Ideally I'm looking something that can double for office commutes e.g. cordura type? but will choose whichever works best overall (the Tailwinds would be fine for the latter purpose, less so the former.)


The Altura Grid 20 had looked to tick all the boxes - professional (dark grey, cordura type, with some reflectivity), 20l top loading, looked easy to get on and off, and were good value (£90 a pair), but unfortunately I now realise that they won't mount to the lower rail of the VADO, so I will need to return them.


Thanks in advance for any recommendations that you have.

Darren

Darren where did you buy your Vado in Northern Ireland they are hard to come buy?

 

[DarrenM]

McConveys, Ormeau Road, Belfast. Seemed to have a steady supply, but maybe only 1 or 2 at a time so you might have to wait for a specific size, colour and/or frame type.

 

[RubioMono]

McConveys, Ormeau Road, Belfast. Seemed to have a steady supply, but maybe only 1 or 2 at a time so you might have to wait for a specific size, colour and/or frame type.

Thank you Darren I will let my father know he is after one. He lives in Dundonald so only up the road.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Hi All

I've just bought a 2022 Turbo Vado (in Northern Ireland), so am a new member of the forum.

I separately bought Altura Grid 20 panniers which look to be very good BUT it turns out that they will not mount in the correct location* on the rear Vado 2022 pannier rack.

*The rear 2022 VADO rack has 2 rails each side - a lower one for the side panniers and an upper which allows MIK HD attachments. With the altura panniers, the upper rail prevents the (large) altura clips from being able to press over and down onto the lower rails - so they can't attach.


So, I have 2 questions that I hope you can help with:

A: Which pannier mounts (/bags) will definitely fit the lower side rails of the 2022 Vado pannier rack? (without the upper rails blocking access)

B: Which of those pannier bags, if any, would mount low enough on the lower rail so that I still have the option of using the upper MIK rack mount for something else (eg a basket / bag etc) at the same time?


Obviously the Specialized Tailwinds (17l each) are an option, but I was looking for something slightly larger (20l) and probably top loading for easier weekend shopping hauls (and ideally less expensive for a pair). Ideally I'm looking something that can double for office commutes e.g. cordura type? but will choose whichever works best overall (the Tailwinds would be fine for the latter purpose, less so the former.)


The Altura Grid 20 had looked to tick all the boxes - professional (dark grey, cordura type, with some reflectivity), 20l top loading, looked easy to get on and off, and were good value (£90 a pair), but unfortunately I now realise that they won't mount to the lower rail of the VADO, so I will need to return them.


Thanks in advance for any recommendations that you have.

Darren

I don't have a lower rail on my Cube but have some Arkel panniers. I recall they have two different size mounting clips (I assume to accommodate different rails) Arkel is out of Quebec, Canada. https://www.arkel-od.com
Where in Northern Ireland are you? I just came back from a trip to Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
I have family in Northern Ireland and the northeast of Scotland.
CN