Topeak

Highest quality from Germany

Since it was founded, the Koblenz-based company Topeak has had one main goal: to produce high-quality, practical bike equipment. The Koblenz-based company's philosophy sees cycling as a unique experience, from the perfect descent in the summer sun to the makeshift patching of tyres in pouring rain.

In order to optimally support such an experience, the company relies on precisely manufactured bicycle equipment made from state-of-the-art materials. This focus has enabled Topeak to establish itself as one of the world's leading brands in several areas of bicycle accessories, including:

• Bicycle clothing,
• bottle cage systems,
• baskets and bags,
• bike pumps and kickstands

The pannier rack sector deserves special attention. Here, the company offers some of the most flexible designs in the entire industry.

All Topeak models are made from high-quality aluminium, making them particularly robust and torsion-resistant. Thanks to the modern material, the weight of the pannier rack is usually much lower than you might think at first glance at the solid construction.

Which pannier rack for your MTB?

Mountain bikers, especially those with full-suspension bikes, will not be happy with the traditional rack shape, as the shape of the frame usually precludes installation in the traditional manner. To avoid this problem, Topeak offers so-called Beamrack bike racks. These consist of a luggage rack with an angled carrier bar, which is attached to the rear of the seat tube via a quick-release. This ensures a safe distance between the tyre and carrier at all times.

Attaching loads to a Topeak pannier rack is just as easy as the original assembly. The Koblenz-based company has its own mounting system called MTX (RX for lightweight road bike racks). The bags, bottles and baskets also offered by Topeak are simply attached and clicked into place via the QuickTrack rail integrated into the rack.

Alternatively, however, all Topeak luggage carriers and Beamrack variants can be retrofitted with a corresponding spring flap for the bike. The advantage of this mechanism, in which the load placed on the carrier is held in place by a spring-loaded flap, is its great flexibility without the need for specific MTX luggage. However, the positioning of the luggage needs to be well thought out, as the MTX system is clearly superior for an absolutely secure fit without slipping during the ride.

What do I need to consider when choosing a rack?

If you are interested in a Topeak carrier, you should consider the structural conditions of your bike. In addition to the question of whether a beam rack or a normal rack is preferred, there is also the question of the brakes fitted. If you have a disc brake on the rear wheel, you should make sure that you either use a beam rack or a rack specially marked as a "disc" version. These models are manufactured with particularly wide support struts and therefore leave enough space for standard disc brake models.