Anyone using a RBW Nitto Basket Rack on a Clem H?

[David Bivins]

Hey all,

I got this rack for my Clem H and installed it and put one of the large Wald baskets on top. I'm frankly surprised at how wobbly it makes me with not too much weight in it. Last night I overbought at Whole Foods (they have Topo Chico by the case), so I had a pannier on the back with a case of mineral water crushing a couple of six-packs beneath it, and I had a heavy bottle of kombucha, along with some lighter groceries in a sack in the front basket. I felt lucky to make it home. The road is all messed up on the route (dug up and repatched repeatedly over several years), but the front wobbliness was extreme. I can't have possibly had anywhere near 20 lbs in it - I know that's just a potential weight limit and not a wobbly limit.

Maybe I'm just forgetting how much a front basket influences handling. I did get one of those spring guides for my front wheel when I had my last bike, especially because I was often loading it with a kid and didn't want any surprises. 

(For Brooklyn members, this was riding from the Brooklyn WF at 3rd and 3rd, up Third Ave to St Marks Pl.) 

Just wondering if anyone's having a similar experience or if I need to rethink putting my basket back on the back.

Take care,

David B in Brooklyn

[tc]

I have used the Nitto big (rear) rack on my Toyo Atlantis and have hauled 30 lbs of groceries like it wasnt’t there. I don’t know if it’s aesthetics or what, but people seem to want to carry heavy stuff up front. I don’t know why. Carry heavy stuff on rear racks, and most Rivs designed to carry some amount of load will be very happy!

Tom

[Drw]

I’d guess that there’s an element of forgetting what front loads do, but also I’ve found the nitto racks with all the adjustable strut parts to be pretty wiggly. I imagine many will dispute this but the racks with the round strut clamp thing move around too much for me (marks, r-14 etc.). I was very excited for the basket rack but didn’t pull the trigger because Of the lower mounts using struts and those strut to rack connectors.

[David Bivins]

Tom: 

I have used the Nitto big (rear) rack on my Toyo Atlantis and have hauled 30 lbs of groceries like it wasnt’t there.

Makes sense. I've carried more pounds than that in books in my rear panniers on my Civia; but in panniers. 

I don’t know if it’s aesthetics or what, but people seem to want to carry heavy stuff up front. I don’t know why.

Because I got sick of kicking stuff off my rear basket when mounting my bike. Also it's nice to throw stuff in the front basket. My load wasn't all that heavy. 

Carry heavy stuff on rear racks, and most Rivs designed to carry some amount of load will be very happy!

I'm sure you're right. Just trying something new. 

 

DRW: 

I’d guess that there’s an element of forgetting what front loads do,

Yes, I'm getting resigned to that. 

but also I’ve found the nitto racks with all the adjustable strut parts to be pretty wiggly.

This is also true, in that I've had to adjust and tighten them several times, but they're still wiggly, which makes sense given a couple of points of articulation. 

[tc]

David, 

I didn't have a basket on the rear.  I use the Banjo Brothers Market Panniers, which are well-made, light, attach/detach quickly, relatively inexpensive, and ride low.

Tom

[Joe Bernard]

I've already reported my disdain for basket loads on Clems, but the short version is booooo!!! Rivbikes aren't designed for it (in spite of all the ones they build that way) and I think it should be used soley for a light jacket and a couple pieces of fruit from the store. 5 pounds maybe, 10 is too much. The rest goes in back.

PS. Our Leah Bicycle Belle will see this and vehemently disagree with me. You decide!

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Joe: disagree! 🤣

[David Bivins]

Well-documented!

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[Mark Roland]

I've posted this diagram from the original Clem Smith Jr. brochure a few times, but I do find it useful in these conversations. Note "Favor the rear, so there's less steering interference." That said, there are no specific weights for each location, just a general overall, and a reminder to follow any listed rack weight limits.

I will say that my RC (Real Clementine) handled a front load way better than my TCS (Temporary Clementine Simulacrum, aka 1940s Bianchi 650B city bike), where anything over a couple pounds in the basket tended to result in significantly noticeable steering pull. Biggest loads are generally confined to shopping runs where my panniers are already partially occupied with other stuff, or the sheer bounty overwhelms.

[David Bivins]

Hi all,

Next chapter: 

I keep trying to make my Clem do more because I enjoy riding it so much and I want to ride it more. 

I have a Tern Cargo Node (folding cargo bike) that I joke is my "grocery bike" which is my 75%-of-the-time bike. I also use it to pick up my kid from school occasionally. It's what I should be using for big loads (it's also parked outside, unlike my Clem, so it's handy).

I removed the Nitto Basket Rack and basket from the Clem, and I replaced the boscomoose bar with the bullmoose bar. I took it to an event in Queens Saturday night (lit up like a xmas tree to avoid getting crushed by a garbage truck) with this new setup and it was so much fun. Rough roads, rain, about a half-hour each way. The bars were great. They might be too wide as-is for regular city riding, but I hope not. Holy cow, the description on the Riv site "like a monkey manipulating a peanut" could not be more apt. Just the Pletscher rack on the back now. 

Priorities adjusted, more fun had. 

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

David B in Brooklyn

[Joe Bernard]

Well played, David. Clems are spectacular set up that way.

[j.schwartz]

Hello 

Following up on this older post.

I'm interested in putting a basket rack and largest walk basket on my Clem L camper 

I have the basket, but the rack is a bigger investment and wouldn't want to do it if it's unadvised. 

The plan would be for tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, , etc to do in the basket,, so relatively bigger but lighter items. 

Also the bike would be used for grocery getting so , that could pose some problems. 

Given that there's already a large saddlesack in the rear , which would take heavier items, is it just a bad idea to go big basket up front?...especially with a step-thru frame.

According the graphic Riv made and Mark R has posted a few times, It seems that front lowriders would ensure best handling ...but then the issue is the big bulky sleeping bag type items..

Has anyone else run the large walk on the Nitto basket rack up front on a Clem with good results?

thanks

[Keith Swanson]

I have a Pass & Stow for that purpose.  

I’m still waiting for the big basket to be back in stock.

On Apr 12, 2020, at 8:42 AM, j.schwartz <jasonas...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

I think Keith's got the right idea, to put the heavy stuff up front on a step through. That way the more than powerful Clem fork takes the weight alone. Weight the back and there's the issue of frame flex, at least that's the feeling I had on my step through Rosco B. I put 70lbs of groceries in low riders and have a relatively fine ride home, I'd never try carrying that much up high, front or back..
-Kai

[Jim M.]

Late to the party, but here's my 52 Clem H with Nitto basket rack. Handles fine with a load in my opinion, and I've tried it with no hands fine too.

jim m

wc, ca

[aaebikeguy]

Hi, all,

I have the RBW rack on my Clem H with a large Wald basket.  I have put around 10 to 15 lb on the front and the ride has been steady.  The attached photo is from my trip to the grocery store yesterday.   I love the rack - great looking - and gives enough contact points to use 15 to 20 cable ties to secure the basket.  I am happy!

[Jim M.]

On Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 10:56:39 AM UTC-7, Jim M. wrote:

Late to the party, but here's my 52 Clem H with Nitto basket rack. Handles fine with a load in my opinion, and I've tried it with no hands fine too.

In case the photo didn't go through: