B&W Touring Bike Box Review - BikeRadar

User review of B&W Touring Bike Box

I have had one of these for about 6 months and used it several times including several flights. The case has certainly protected the bike well and I have no problems whatsoever with catches etc. You do have to be a little careful lining them up when closing it as it is such a large lid. Speaking of size (which is important), it will only fit into my Corolla hatchback with the seats folded down. My only problem with it is the weight; you need to take account of this on flights. With Easyjet for example I have to pay about £20 excess baggage because of total baggage weight on top of the fee for a bike. I dont think the weight is excessive, but you do need to take this into account when flying.

User review of B&W Touring Bike Box

I bought the previous version of this bike box a couple of years ago following a similar glowing review in cycling weekly. I have to confess that seldom have I been so disappointed by a piece of Kit. I also wondered then as I do now whether the reviewer has taken it on a flight

To be fair to this box they seem to have changed my main gripe which was the abysmal catches which held the box closed. They were cheap, fragile and came loose even when locked. Following my first flight with this box 3 out of 4 of the latches had come loose and opened despite them all being locked. Now when I use it I have to wrap each catch and the bike box in duck tape to ensure they do not come loose.

With regard to the padding the phrase thick is not the first one that comes to mind more like just adequate it’s about 1 cm thick I should go out to the garage to measure it but its raining. I tend to supplement this with bubble wrap.

The buckles that hold the internal straps are cheap brittle plastic. I broke one the first time I tried to tighten it. After a couple of journeys another strap came away where it was attached to the box. I now tie the remaining ends together rather than using the buckles.

The wheel bags are not padded as suggested in the review (has the reviewer used the box?) but to be fair are made of very sturdy canvas like material and to be honest are the best part of the whole deal.

If you try and pick the case up by the carrying handle the whole case buckles and it feels like the handle is going to give way, to be fair this has never happened but it does not fill you with confidence. The side handle is on its last legs as the rivet that held it on has given way and it is now held together with a bolt from my toolbox

The wheels that the box runs on are very sturdy and I have had no problems with these. I found it a bit amusing that this is the only part of the box for which spare parts are supplied; they are the one part that will outlast the life of the box.

One of the selling points of this box was meant to be the ability to put it in the boot of your car. I have an A4 estate and it does not fit in the boot of that I am pretty sure it would not have fitted in the boot of my previous Golf I would be curious what cars come under the description of “most saloons and hatchbacks” in which this bike box does fit without putting the rear seat down. Please enlighten me.

The external ABS plastic of the box marks easily and quickly looks worn (does not bother me). I have used this box on 5 European journeys in the last 2 years, 10 flights in all and at present it is starting to look on its last legs wrapped in duck tape.

On the positive side my bike has never been damaged whilst in transit with this box and overall it offers adequate protection. If there has been a marked improvement in the new versions locks then most of my gripes would be dealt with. I would suggest looking at the box first before buying .I got it over the internet from wiggle.