This Staff review courtesy of our masterful mechanic, Mike P.

As a recent transplant from Ames, IA I landed in Portland, OR where commuter bikes reign supreme. My main commuter just wasn’t cutting it anymore so I decided to build a new commuter that was better suited to carry out everyday tasks here in Portland. This meant purchasing a robust steel bicycle frame with all the necessary braze-ons for accessories such as fenders and racks. I wanted a front porteur rack or basket that could handle a moderate load so I could carry groceries or the occasional package to the post office all while maintaining the aesthetic of my vintage bike frame. While paging through our parts catalog I quickly came to the decision that a front basket would be a better option for me as I rarely carry anything large enough that would require a rack without some sort of enclosure.

I came across the Minoura Gamoh King Carrier front basket, which seemed to hit everything on my checklist. Minoura makes two models the King Carrier and the King Carrier Jr. Made of durable steel tubing and maximum load rating of 40lbs both of these baskets are plenty strong and are guaranteed to fit 26” and 700c bicycles. These baskets feature a real maple wood bottom, which is weather treated for longevity, and looks fantastic! With all of my stipulations fulfilled my next decision was size. I measured the dimensions of the most common object I would be carrying, a grocery bag, and made my decision off of that. The King Carrier measures 11.4” x 16.9” x 4.3” and the Jr model at 9.5” x 13.4” x 4.3”. It turned out that the Jr model was the best fit so I ordered it.

Upon receiving the basket the first thing I noticed was the build quality. Smooth welds and brilliant gloss black finish perfectly complimented my bike. Installation was a snap; Minoura provides all the necessary hardware and brackets to install on almost any bike, from 26” to 700c. For installation the only tools required are 5mm allen key and 10mm wrench. Follow the instructions and you should find that it will only take you about 15 minutes to install. Once installed you will be able to safely and securely carry just about anything that fits inside! It’s been two months and I have been absolutely thrilled with the performance of this basket.

I would be hard pressed to find a better functioning basket on the market right now. If you are in the market for a front basket that will stand the test of time, look no further. Come by the shop today to have a look, we are more than happy to order one in for you!