B&W International Bike Box II assessment: compact, strong safety with out breaking the financial institution

You could not have heard of Germany-based firm B&W International, although you’re prone to have come throughout its merchandise in some type. B&W specialises within the manufacture of circumstances throughout quite a few completely different industries, starting from bike bins to toolboxes, medical purposes to battery storage, navy use to digital camera and drone circumstances. Essentially, if it wants cautious storage and transportation, B&W International has in all probability had a crack at it.

So whereas B&W International is probably not excessive on the listing of family names when contemplating among the best bike journey circumstances, it’s a good shout to say that its prone to have loads of product expertise to depend on.

I examined the B&W International Bike Box II on my annual winter-busting pilgrimage to Mallorca, packing up my Fairlight Strael for a short-haul flight from Bristol. I’ve travelled an ideal take care of my bike throughout Europe and sometimes even additional afield over the past decade, normally wrapped up in my trusty Evoc Travel Bike Bag or cardboard bike bins. I’ve been very intrigued to see how a hardshell bike field would possibly examine by way of safety (primary concern) and ease of dealing with (normally the primary trouble).

Design and aesthetics

The B&W International Bike Box II is a two-part composite shell that’s held collectively by a collection of 5 webbing straps and transported on a set of 4 wheels. There are two smaller wheels on the entrance that spin via 360 levels, and two bigger mounted path wheels on the rear. There are 4 padded strap handles, two on the entrance (prime and backside straps) plus two at reverse prime corners on the perimeters of the field.

Rather than hinge within the center just like the Bike Box Alan, the 2 sides of the onerous case come utterly aside, so you might want to lay the field down on its facet to pack and unpack. Unhinge the central ratchet strap and 4 nook straps, secured by hook and loop closures, to separate the 2 halves of the onerous shell.

Internally, three layers of froth are equipped, that are reduce to the trapezoid form of the field. A rear derailleur pouch can also be equipped, made from cordura cloth, plus one other strap, two tubular body protectors, two foam spacer blocks, two cloth wheel luggage, a foam block for the chainring and a set of ‘distance keepers’. Three webbing straps are connected to the within too, which clip to lock the body into place towards one half of the shell. A small mixture padlock can also be equipped.

The onerous exterior shell of the field is constituted of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), a totally recyclable polymer which is famous for its energy and affect resistance. The full system weighs in at 10.6kg.

Performance

Initial setup took about an hour to affix the 4 wheels and correctly learn via the directions and become familiar with the field and the right way to pack it. Part of that hour was spent discovering a socket set with a view to safe a few of the wheel bracket bolts, whereas the opposite screws solely required a crosshead screwdriver. Not an issue if in case you have a well-stocked workshop, however one which took me without warning slightly.

Packing the bike is like making a membership sandwich. You begin by laying the underside a part of the case on the bottom, simply recognized because the half which bears all of the exterior and inner straps. Then you add your first slice of bread – a layer of froth, earlier than including within the bike body, a center layer of froth, then the 2 wheel luggage and closing layer of froth earlier than the highest a part of the case is slotted on prime.

The bike body is secured utilizing two diagonal straps and a prime strap which secures the highest tube. The foam block is an easy however useful addition to guard the chainring from the underside of the field. You do have to disassemble the cockpit with a view to match into the field, which can be extra of a difficulty for riders with built-in cockpits (who could choose a design just like the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0). Foam blocks equipped make attaching the bars to the body simple, whereas the rear derailleur pouch was easy to wrap across the chainstay and securely package deal the indifferent derailleur into.

I didn’t have to take away my seatpost from my dimension 51R body (one of many uncommon benefits of being vertically challenged), however bigger sizes would wish to. The field itself seems small, so I wished to check whether or not bigger bikes would match too. My husband’s 58cm body nearly slot in, however I’d not be so certain about bigger body sizes. Certainly, you’d want bigger wheel luggage for packing a mountain bike, and with the slackening and lengthening of contemporary MTB design, I’d be hesitant to suggest the field in case you have been planning on utilizing it for travelling with mountain bikes in addition to street or gravel bikes.

Once my bike body was secured in place, there was then slightly house so as to add small luggage of equipment and clothes, which meant that I didn’t must pay for maintain baggage for the flight. This is a little bit of shady territory – most airways say that you just shouldn’t pack something however the bike in your bike field or bag – however I’ve by no means been picked up on it. Even with all of that package, my bike field nonetheless weighed in at 27kg, considerably underneath the 32kg easyJet weight restrict.

To safe the field, the 2 halves of the case interlock and are secured by 4 Velcro straps on the corners and the central ratcheting strap. This is the tough bit, when the bike-and-wheels foam sandwich inside is pushing the 2 shell halves aside when you’re making an attempt to interlock the 2 halves along with the switching exterior lip at every strap junction. With a little bit of jostling, just a few alternative phrases and a few persistence, I lastly received the cling of it. I’m certain that this interlocking design makes the case a lot stronger, nevertheless it did imply that after the bag was packed, I used to be very immune to opening it again up so as to add any final minute gadgets.

Heading to the airport, the B&W International Bike Box II’s incredible maneuverability got here to the fore; simply wheeling alongside the bottom both with a hand on the highest of the field or on the entrance padded deal with. No have to raise half the bag off the bottom or battle with a cumbersome, fragile cardboard field. My one remark so as to add could be in regards to the variety of handles – just a few extra could be actually useful, particularly with regards to lifting the field out and in of autos or onto the particular baggage belt on the airport.

The field can also be an excellent dimension for becoming behind a smaller rent automobile. No have to max out on an SUV not like bigger bins such because the Bike Box Alan. In addition, that additionally means much less storage or shed house with regards to storing the field at house.

Lastly, however most significantly, my bike was completely unscathed by each legs of journey, which in fact is the final word aim. I’ve been impressed by the energy of the plastic field, which solely exhibits just a few minor scuffs from airport dealing with. My tender Evoc bike bag, then again, exhibits the battlescars of years of journey, scrapes, materials tears and all. With such an excellent general expertise with the B&W International Bike Box II, I concern it’s time to retire the Evoc.

Value

The B&W International Bike Box II is priced at an identical worth level to different bike journey tender circumstances such because the Evoc Travel Bike Bag, however is among the many least expensive strong bins, providing incredible worth for the extent of safety and maneuverability supplied.

Verdict

The B&W International Bike Box II is a wonderful alternative in case you journey solely with a street or gravel bike, and are looking for nice safety and peace of thoughts. The field is much less prone to be appropriate for the biggest body sizes and mountain bikes, riders which can be much less eager to disassemble built-in cockpits or those that find yourself needing to throw in just a few additional fine details at check-in.

Securing the field is a little bit of a faff and it might do with one or two additional handles to make it tip prime, however in any other case this actually is a incredible strong bike field possibility and an excellent worth, and one I’d be pleased to suggest and use once more.