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This post compares the advantages and disadvantages of front racks and baskets.

The Advantages of Front Racks

• Higher Weight Capacity

The standard capacity of a sturdy front rack is at least 30lbs/14kg. That said, there are front racks that can easily support more weight than what’s comfortable to carry on a bicycle.

For example, I have a homemade wooden front rack. (The support struts are made out of steel.) on which I have carried 30kg/65.9lbs+. And I have no doubt that it can support more.

Ultimately, the weight capacity depends on the used materials as well as the attachment method. For example, a front rack that attaches only to the handlebars does not offer a weight capacity much higher than that of a basket. But a unit that attaches to the front fork with thick struts is much stronger.

The strongest front racks are part of the frame and are usually found on dedicated cargo bikes.

Meanwhile, many basic baskets have a 5kg/11lbs weight capacity and tend to rattle and move around when heavily loaded.

That said, some baskets have solid support struts and offer weight capacity close to that of a front rack.

• Compatible with panniers

Front racks allow the use of bicycle panniers (a classic way to transport cargo on a bicycle). There are two types of front racks for pannier transportation.

The first type is known as “low riders”, and is designed solely for panniers and comes without a platform. The advantages of this rack are its light weight and lower center of gravity.

However, if you want to transport maximum cargo, it’s recommended to get a full front rack that can carry top load as well as panniers. Stay away from front racks that have no pannier rails (secondary rails under the platform) as those make the use of panniers more difficult and position the panniers higher. The higher the center of gravity, the more affected the bike’s handling becomes.

• Compatible with baskets

Front racks allow a straightforward addition of a basket, a milk crate, or something similar. The simplest connection method are cable ties. It’s also possible to use flat metal brackets and bolts.

In my case, I placed a folding basket on my front rack by using bolts threaded into a threaded insert installed in the wood. Obviously, you can’t use this method for most racks as they’re made out of metal.

The Disadvantages of Front Racks

• No default cargo storage

By itself, a front rack doesn’t work well unless you’re transporting boxes or something similar. In most cases, you will need a backpack, a basket, a crate…something to store your belongings.

Conversely, a basket can be used right away since it offers a storage compartment.

• Heavier

It depends on the models that are compared, but in most cases, a front rack will weigh more than a basic basket. The weight will go even higher when you install a basket or a crate on it. That said, some baskets on the market are quite heavy too. In some cases, a front rack plus a small crate might weigh less than a basket.

• Not compatible with all bikes by default

Most front racks connect to eyelets found on the fork. Some forks, however, don’t have such eyelets. In that case, the user faces the following options:

a. Connect the struts directly to the axle (you need a bolt-on axle for this to work).

b. Use adapters such as P-clamps. (I relied on pipe clamps.)

c. Buy a front rack that mounts to the head tube. The advantage of those racks is that they don’t affect the handling since they become part of the frame and are fully compatible with suspension forks. The downside is that you can’t transport bulky cargo because the handlebars will hit it during turns.

Meanwhile, you can easily find a basket that mounts solely to the handlebars and is therefore compatible with most bikes including MTBs with suspension forks.

• Serious commitment

Most front racks require a fair amount of time to install them and aren’t designed to be removed frequently. Conversely, there are quick-release baskets that can be dismounted in seconds.

The Advantages of Baskets

• Lighter

The basic baskets that attach to the handlebars tend to be lighter than a front rack. (As mentioned, this isn’t the case for all models.)

• Compatible with most bikes

Most baskets attach either to the stem or the handlebars. This makes them compatible with all sorts of bikes – MTBs, road, hybrids…etc.

• Cargo-ready

Unlike racks, baskets do not require additional items to be used for cargo transportation. Once you have a basket, you can load it right away.

• Cheaper and more readily available

Baskets are more common than front racks. Consequently, they are also cheaper and more readily available, at least locally.

The Downsides of Baskets

• Low capacity (unless you go for heavy-duty models that weigh a lot).

• Lots of rattling due to insufficiently tight connection points

• Non-compatible with panniers

• High center of gravity (affects handling)

• Cannot transport bulky items

When to choose a front rack?

A front rack is a good choice when the rider has the following needs/goals:

• Transporting heavy and odd objects that wouldn’t fit in a basket.
• Transporting a huge volume of cargo requiring a platform and panniers (the usual case for touring cyclists)

When to choose a basket?

A basket is a logical choice when:

• The rider transports fairly small objects (e.g., a small backpack) regularly and rarely if ever carries bulky and odd items on a bike.

• The bike doesn’t support the installation of a standard front rack.

• The rider wants to save weight.

• The rider plans on using a quick-release basket that could be easily removed when there’s no need for it.

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