Nitto vs Pletscher rear racks internal debate...

[René Sterental]

I'm going to add a rear rack to my Cheviot. I've always had the Nitto rear racks and like them very much, but somehow, decided that I'd go with the Pletscher Clem rear rack on the Cheviot for a number of reasons:

- Rated for more weight than the Nitto (although it's likely due to Nitto being ultra-conservative to avoid liability)

- RBW speaking very highly of it

- The spring loaded mouse trap.

However, when the Cheviot was finished, it seemed so beautiful it deserved the Nitto rack.

I have the Pletscher with all its accessories still unpackaged as RBW shipped it. The Nitto rear rack I have is the original one, the one without the lower pannier rail.

Which one would you go with and why?

René 

[Clayton.sf]

I went with that Nitto longboy (I think that was the name) rack as it was designed for long chainstay bikes.

Between standard Nitto rear and Pletscher I would likely go Pletscher.

Clayton Scott
SF, CA

[Howard Hatten]

Rene,
I have the large nitto rear rack on my Atlantis and it works great for touring with panniers. I have the Pletscher rear rack on my Hillborne which I use for around town errands. I leave Back a Bike bags on it all the time. That Pletscher is really handy with that rat trap spring. I find myself sticking stuff under there all the time. I'm in the process of building up a Cheviot and a Pletscher rack will be on it.

Howard
Livonia Mi

[Kellie]

I had a pletcher on my Cheviot with a saddle sack. So much fit in the saddle sack (also had a front basket) I rarely used the mouse trap. It's heavier and not as beautiful. I'm building up my Atlantis (when it arrives), and it will have a Nitto N14. I do not use panniers.

[René Sterental]

I was't aware of the Nitto Longboy, which is nowhere to be found. The Nitto medium rack I had on the Betty seems to fit well on the 60 Cheviot since it has the higher braze-ons on the seat stays that allows the shorter medium rack to fit well and not be pushed back like the large one. It seems to fit without needing to adjust the struts, which is good.

I may mount the Pletscher to see how it looks and fits, especially as I've found some comments about it not fitting with wider fenders. 

René 

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[WETH]

Rene,
I have the Nitto big back rack on my Cheviot. I also have a Pletscher in inventory and too am contemplating a switch. In my case, my Nitto has a large tombstone, that due to long chainstays, sits under my large Saddlesack and keeps it from sitting flat.
If I do that change tonight, I will share photos with you.
https://flickr.com/photos/86975051@N08/sets/72157665232090983
Erl

[Surlyprof]

If you were missing the Pletsher's mousetrap, I've found that the Dutch Double Top Strap is a very versatile substitute (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/mdutch2.htm).  You have to make sure to mount it correctly but, once on, it is great.  Holds a U-lock (or jackets, lunch, books, etc) solidly.  Mine has transformed my Tubus rack and I'm sure it would do the same for a Nitto.

John

On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 7:21:08 AM UTC-7, René wrote:

[Clementine59]

I had a Pletscher Clem rack on my Clementine 59cm with the SKS P65 fenders and the narrow gap between the tops of the rear rack stays interfered with the rear fender. I could get the either the rack or the fender lined up correctly (well... the way I want them), but not both. I finally gave up, got the fenders lined up correctly and installed a Topeak Explorer rack. Much better all around and much easier installation. Attaching the Clem rack is unnecessarily complicated with multiple points of adjustment that really don't add any useful flexibility in my opinion. The flip-up bar on the forward end of my rack was also quite crooked. Overall poor design and manufacture. I won't buy another Pletscher product. YMMV. 

[Lungimsam]

Can't speak to loads/function but:

If you want bike jewelry, get the Nitto.
I haven't used pletcher stuff extensively, but mine got a grotty look to the metal over time.

So, industrial looking metal? Pletscher.
Or, bike jewelry? Nitto.

Or, you could look for something USA made!

[René Sterental]

Thank you all for your feedback and insights. I feel inclined towards sticking with the Nitto, but I'll have to check about the tombstone potential interference, at least until the new ones are back in stock again. The critical element for me will be compatibility with the 50 mm metal fenders. I've gotten spoiled, I guess, but I don't think I can have a lugged steel bike fenderless ever again. I need to check for clearances, but some initial rough testing leads me to believe I won't be able to run the fenders with the 44mm Compass tires. I'll have to put the 38mm and try the 44 on the Atlantis, where they also make more sense. 

The weak link in the fendering options on the Cheviot are the side pull brakes. In a way, that's the only flaw in its design. Had it been designed with braze-ons for centerpulls or cantilevers, there would be plenty of clearance. As it is, if you want wider than 35/38mm tires you have to forgo the fenders for safety. At least the metal fenders. And you're still dealing with what you accept as minimal safe clearance.

René 

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[Lungimsam]

Exactly my experience, Rene.

38mm tires max on the 53 Bleriot and 52 Sam for what I am comfortable with for fender clearance. The sidepull brake arm hanging down from the brake bolt and over the tire (hanging lower than the brake bridge and fork crown) down into the space between crown and bridge and tires, is the limiting factor on how high you can raise the fender away from the tire at fork crown and brake bridge, even though the crown and bridge offer much more room. The brake arms block passage of the fender any higher towards the crown and bridge.

This is why I am interested in a canti-brake bike for my next bike.

I am surprised that RBW doesn't make all their bikes canti-bikes since they love fat tires and fenders.

Also, I don't understand the hoopla about centerpulls. The Paul centerpulls I had on my 55 Bleriot offered no more vertical clearance than the R559's I put on.

[René Sterental]

I was referring to the brazed-on centerpulls. The Compass centerpulls I have on my custom allow plenty of room for super wide metal fenders, I'm running 58mm Honjo fenders there.

In a distant future, if I ever decided to repaint the Cheviot, I'd put those braze-ons at the time, move the cable guides and run the Compass Centerpulls to get all that clearance.

That being said, I think that for the main purpose I got the bike for, which is a leisure, just ride around town, errands bike, 38mm tires are just perfect. So no rush to do that work.

Right now, if I had to reduce the flock, it would just be the custom and the Cheviot.

René  

On Monday, October 3, 2016, Lungimsam <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Clayton.sf]

Unless the new 60cm chevs have different clearances than previous ones there should be no issue with compass 44mm tires and fenders. I run mine with plenty of breathing room with sks fenders front and rear.

The one thing to make it even more possible is to swap the front side pull brake for a long reach diacompe (model that riv sells) centerpull brake.

This will allow for better fender line and better fender/tire clearance in front of the fork crown. The brakes are great, as long as you switch the pads.

Hope this helps,
Clayton Scott
SF, CA

[Clayton.sf]

50 metal fenders might be a little tight, but not a function of bike design more a fender tire compatibility issues. 55mm fenders would be better or some plastic fenders without the rolled lip.

Clayton Scott, SF, CA

[Jon Dukeman,central Colorado]

I have a Pletcher rack on my Sam & the spring loaded clamp holds my large U -lock securely without rattling around.

I just bought a Nitto rack and will need to purchase some bungees .The Pletcher does the job and holds my  panniers too.

On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 6:55:13 PM UTC-6, Clayton.sf wrote:

[iamkeith]

I posted this somewhere before, but I got the Clem rack to fit on the back of my 59cm Clem, with 60mm Super Moto tires and SKS B65 fenders just fine, with a little modification.  15 minutes with a Dremdel tool. I cut the rivets at the rear stays and relocated them to the outside of the mounting tabs using some of the extra bolts that came with the rack, and I also cut off the mini-pump mounting lug.  Here are are a couple of  pics - one showing the relocated stays, and one showing it with the above-mentioned fenders and tires I ultimately ended up with:

I'm pretty happy with the rack.  The mousetrap is a bit of a mystery.  I'm able to use it often, but I can't figure out what the "ideal" or intended use is.  I read somewhere that it was for a bottle of wine, but having tried both a bordeaux and a bugeundy shape, I can assure you that it does NOT hold them.  Agree with Clementine59 that there's some  unnecessary adjustability to the hardware, but it is stronger than I expected, given all the parts and pieces.

[John Hawrylak]

Keith

WRT to the]mousetrap, you stated "I'm able to use it often, but I can't figure out what the "ideal" or intended use is."

The mousetrap is used by regular folks in the Pa Dutch country to hold a large cardboard box to fill up with groceries.  The trap is fully extended and holds the box against the front part of the rack.  These are normal folks using the bike in a very utilitarian way.  I see 1 or 2 each time we go up there (Lancaster PA area).  I believe they are mostly Mennonites, not Amish.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ 

[Patrick Moore]

I recall using the clamp, at least on the old, cheap Pletschers, to carry a basketball, or perhaps it was a soccer ball. The lever pushed the ball against the back of the saddle, IIRC.

[WETH]

Rene,
I switched from the Nitto to Pletscher on my 60cm Cheviot, and it works much better with my large Saddlesack. The Pletscher sits closer to the seatpost than the Nitto; also, the foldable tombstone is almost in the perfect position.
Photos hopefully help; Nitto rack is on bike in front of brick wall photo.
Best wishes,
Erl

On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 10:21:08 AM UTC-4, René wrote:

[René Sterental]

The large Nitto rack is definitely a no, it sits too far back. The medium one sits much closer, and the new ines don't have a tombstone if I'm not mistaken. I have one on order arriving tomorrow. The regular medium I had on the Betty will go on sale. 

I definitely like the elegance of the Nitto better, but tomorrow I'll decide. 

Thanks for the photos. 

René 

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[WETH]

Rene,
Appreciate the update. I'll look toward to learning what you decide.
Erl