Quick fold compatible luggage options

[Jay Lonner]

My wife and I are planning a credit card tour in Japan next May. I have experience with fully loaded touring/bikepacking, but this will be my wife’s first tour without a support vehicle. We’ll be doing our best to pack minimally, but will still need to carry maybe 20-25 lbs. of gear apiece. Since we’re also planning to take our NWTs onto trains we need to approach luggage and racks with a rinko mindset.

I have not been impressed by the folding rear racks that came with our bikes, and would like to avoid using them. (The issue is that our bikes have disc brakes, and the non-drive-side rack leg requires use of a piece of standoff tubing to clear the brake assembly. It’s fussy and inelegant.) But I see that BF also makes lowrider front racks — are they compatible with  a quick fold?

There’s lots of good bikepacking gear out there, but I’m wondering whether there are designs that are optimized for use with 20” wheels. Custom bags are also an option, but if somebody has already worked through the design issues I’d prefer to buy off the shelf.

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

[Bob Boufford]

Jay,

You might take a look at a beam rack with QR.  Some of the Topeak beam racks have a 20 lb carry limit.

Recall seeing a beam rack with extra stays to support a load and limit flex on the seat mast. 

Bob

On Oct 17, 2025, at 1:15 PM, Jay Lonner <jay.l...@gmail.com> wrote:

My wife and I are planning a credit card tour in Japan next May. I have experience with fully loaded touring/bikepacking, but this will be my wife’s first tour without a support vehicle. We’ll be doing our best to pack minimally, but will still need to carry maybe 20-25 lbs. of gear apiece. Since we’re also planning to take our NWTs onto trains we need to approach luggage and racks with a rinko mindset.

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[Josh Brown]

I'm a big fan of the bf lowrider rack with panniers and a carradice in the back. I've also used a big trunk sack in the rear which offers lots of space.

Weight over the front wheel changes the handling substantially and I find the handling to benefit greatly. 

The rack packs flat and installation takes just a few minutes.

I recently completed an SR 600 on my Friday like this and I was very happy with the way it turned out. With load, the improved handling on descents is very noticable.

Josh NYC 

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Josh

[Jürgen Heise]

For what it's worth: Check out Tailfin's offerings. I've used them only on 700c road and gravel bikes, so they may not work with the 20'. Send them a quick email. Amazing company, amazing products. Used Tailfin for a circumnavigation of Taiwan and last year for a few weeks in Albanian. Just Google them.

While we're at it: Anybody need a BF Q Tandem? Yep, old technology but rarely used. Rock bottom price. My wife died 15 years ago and arthritic right shoulder keeps me from captaining any tandem.

Jürgen

Jürgen Heise

4921 63rd Street

Lubbock, TX 79414

USA

+1 806 437 7613

https://misterjurgen.blogspot.com

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From: Josh Brown
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2025 19:38
To: Jay Lonner
Cc: Bike Friday Yak!
Subject: Re: [yak] Quick fold compatible luggage options

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/bikefriday.com/d/msgid/yak/CAJua_7DLvR0eYCwFR8hjcFTsPae_9uQMBcAeh-jjiUpR66VBdg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mahesh]

I have installed a Tern Cargo rack which is low enough and even adjustable (with struts).

The llama folds well with this rack

[robert clark]

pocket Llama, I have BiFri front flat pack rack , panniers,  smaller size,,, 

& a Xooter cross-rack on the seatpost  which has 1 bag larger size of   1 of 2 rear panniers.

another threadless stem  middle of handle bar mast bar bag mount on short 1" tube ..