Edit:
Front pannier rack for suspension fork
Load on wheel or on frame:
- Front rack mounted on the suspension fork
- Front rack mounted on the frame
I'm not sure if there is a preference between the two.
Anyway, the latest recommendation for loaded touring is to have wide balloon tyres, research shows they give better comfort vs. suspension forks.
Vertical position:
- Mid and high rider
- Low rider
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I have a Cannondale Fifty-Fifty, it has a front suspension fork (Fatty Headschock).
After a lot of investigation, I decided to get an Old Man Mountain Pioneer.
It needed a bit of fiddling at the beginning, but afterwards it mounted well.
Ortlieb Front Roller Plus panniers are hanging on the lower bars of the rack. This was the main reason to get the Pioneer, so the center of gravity can be a bit lower.
The rack is rock solid, works excellent.
I have been on several long tours with it, works well.
The only difficulty I have is that there are three bottle cages+bottles mounted on my frame. The bottle on the downside of the downtube is kicked by the panniers when the wheel flips over.
With a usually "wheel centered" pannier mounting this wouldn't happen, or with a safety latch found on the headtube of Idworx or Tout Terrain bikes.
Suspension Fork specific racks:
In case you don't have mid-fork eyelets, and it is needed:
Tubus says it's not good for suspension forks, because you need to be careful not to overtighten these (you can damage the fork).
Other brands and makes to consider, depending on your forks mounting possibilities:
- Nitto M12
- Nitto M18
- Racktime Top-it
- Sella-Berolinum mini-porteur
- Surly Front Rack
- VO Porteur Front-Rack
- Basil Memories Front Gepäckträger
- Copenhagen Parts Bike Porter
- HEBIE Low Rider
- Tubus Nova
- Tubus Smarti
- Tubus Tara
A video and article about the Freeload Touring Front rack:
Video Article
The Giant Expedition AT has suspension forks, and factory supplied racks:
Tubus Montagesets: