Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier – 2016 (Discontinued)

Downtown Perspective. Ride in style, and with maximum commuting convenience with the Downtown Commuter bag. The Downtown is the ultimate bag for cruising around town and for biking to work or school.

SKU: ORTDOCO Category: Tag:

This product has been discontinued.



Overview

Ride in style, and with maximum commuting convenience with the Downtown Commuter bag. The Downtown is the ultimate bag for cruising around town and for biking to work or school. It features a large pouch with Velcro closure that is sized to accommodate a laptop up to a 15.4″ width. The Downtown also has other pockets and pouches which helps to organize your pens, notepads, and other necessary small items. A snap hook for your keys is even included so locking up your bike is quick and easy.

Sold as a single pannier, the mounting system has an innovative, rotating fixed rail so that you can easily set your bag to fit snugly on either side of your rack. This bag is also equipped with base feet and edge protectors to keep your bag looking new. Pack as much as you need, as the Downtown has three variable lid closures for overloading with an extra pair of clothes, or large books.

The Downtown Commuter is designed to look sleek on the bike, and to seamlessly transition into a professional looking briefcase style bag when off the bike. A padded, adjustable shoulder strap is also included to quickly transform the Commuter into a messenger bag. Maintain your professional look while still getting in your daily ride with the Downtown Commuter Pannier.

The QL3 Mounting System: This system features a new style of mounting component that removes the mounting hardware from the bag and attaches it to the rack. This component is fully adjustable both for heal clearance and angle of your bag. The bag with the QL3 system now has a more flush back so it’s more comfortable to carry off the bike. The upper mounting clips have an auto lock so the bag stays securely mounted to the rack, simply pull the handle up to unlock the clips.

Features
  • Available colors: black, white, applegreen or aubergine
  • Comes with either the QL2 (2014), QL2.1 or QL3 mounting components
  • Made of completely waterproof PVC fabric
  • Large inner pouch with Velcro closure, suitable for a 15.4″ laptop
  • Large dual zipper inside pocket
  • 3 open organization pouches with pen slots
  • Inner liner with full zipper for easy cleaning
  • 3 variable flap closure loops to accommodate overstuffing
  • Designer metal closure hooks
  • Carrying handle
  • Side stiffener loops on bag with removable padded shoulder strap
  • Hard backing plate for rigidity
  • Includes 8 mm and 10 mm pannier hook inserts
  • Base feet for protection and stability
  • Inner snap hook for keys
Specs
  • Dimensions: 14.2″ x 14.2″ x 5.5″ (H x W x D)
  • Volume: 18L / 1098 cu.in.
  • Weight: 1550g / 54 oz
Warranty

All ORTLIEB products are backed by a 5 year warranty against defects in material and manufacturing.

Customer Reviews
4.8 Based on 16 Reviews
5 ★
75% 
12
4 ★
25% 
4
3 ★
0% 
0
2 ★
0% 
0
1 ★
0% 
0
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Filter Reviews:
JW
08/04/2018
Junda W.
US

Easy attachment and release, stays on

Bulkier than I’d like, but design makes it easy to adjust to avoid heel strike. I tuck the carrying strap through the small handle on top, and it stays put. Have only used 2 weeks; the real test will be how it holds up over time.

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier - 2016 - QL2 Black
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YL
09/25/2017
Yuta L.
US

Happy with first pannier

This was my first pannier ever. It met all the requirements I was looking for (shoulder strap, small, not a pair, etc.).

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier - 2016 - QL3 White/Black Logo
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HK
09/16/2017
Hannah K.
US

I have been using this

I have been using this bag for a couple of weeks now, and love it. It seems very sturdy and securely attached to the bike, but it’s also easy to carry as a shoulder bag, and well-balanced even when I carry it by the handle like a briefcase. The bag has enough structure that it stands up reliably when you set it down, and is well designed for accessing your things. It has great pockets on the inside for pens and small items, plus a padded laptop slot. It’s roomy enough for my laptop and some papers/books, but not a whole lot else (I do carry a lock in the bag as well). I can fit in a light shirt/sweater and a little food if it’s in a slim container. The only thing I dislike about the bag is the way the flap fastens—there are two metal “buckles” that have to slide onto a canvas slot, and I have difficulty sliding the metal in and out, especially if the bag is fairly full or unevenly loaded.

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier - 2016 - QL3 Lime/Black
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CC
05/08/2015
Curtis C.

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier QL3

I have the white version of this bag and the QL3 system. It looks sharp, not like a bike bag. I carry my MacBook inside a Thule case and it fits fine. Because the case is fat, there isn't a ton of room left over, but it's enough for pens and a few papers, wallet and a frozen lunch. The bag, even though white,cleans easily and still looks good after two year of daily use.Some have comments they don't like the closure system. I do. I find it easy to use. PRO TIP: Take the strap off when you ride. It doesn't tuck in anywhere if you leave it on, even if you try. If you leave it on the bag it could get wrapped around your hub, causing you to stop suddenly. In the dark. When it's raining. Don't ask me how I know this, just don't do it.

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier QL3
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PT
11/11/2014
Peter T.

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier QL3

I selected this pannier for it's briefcase-style features. Interior pockets are sensibly organised and genuinely useful. It could benefit from an external pocket for phone or keys, but at that point you're really designing a different bag. I like the buckle system; easy to manipulate, looks smart. I was in two minds about the Teutonic vinyl look initially, but am very happy with that now (I chose the gorgeous aubergine colour). Loving the interior volume, which is sufficient to carry everything for an overnight business trip.

It has a scrape mark on the vinyl, from the bag falling off at high speed after I had failed to secure it properly. I always give it a pull now to make sure it has snapped firmly into the carrier system. But the bag did not spill open when it fell, there was no damage to the contents and the structure of the bag is a very robust design that will take a lot more beating than I intend to give it. I love that this is a fully waterproof design.

The QL3 system is very nice for a couple of reasons. It is a dream to remove, by simply lifting the bag by its handle. I was also very impressed with the range of adjustment in attaching the QL3 system to the existing bike rack. I played around with height and angle to get it how I wanted, with the bag out of the way of my heels.

I have it mounted on a Thule Sports Rack with side rack accessory. The Thule side rack design has a lot of flexibility with rail location and height, but limits the placement flexibility of the QL3 system a little by having wide plastic side-frame components that restrict locations for the mounting connectors. Overall, the QL3 system is nice, but I wish Thule made a bag as good as Ortlieb. That way I could do away with the side rack accessory and QL3 attachment, and just have a lovely sleek and simple Thule solution. I have a Thule Urban Tote on the other side of my carrier. It flexes and shakes a lot less than the complex side rack-QL3-Ortlie-b pannier combination does.

Ortlieb Downtown Commuter Pannier QL3
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