Re: [yak] Digest for yak@bikefriday.com - 2 updates in 2 topics

[Peter Stock]

1. In my dozens of flying Bike Friday trips no airline has EVER checked the dimensions ofy suitcase (as long as it is not WAY oversized)

Weight matters far more.

2. I have packed every imaginable size and style of BF in to a Version 2 Samsonite Oyster.

Some (with very large chain rings) need the RH crank removed. But that is usually trivial and quick.

3. The BEST Samsonite (IME) is/was the Version 2 F'lite.

Slightly over size but supremely packable. Capacious.

V3 is problematic due to the handle hold indent.

But a 54cm should fit in any.model.

4. As has been noted V1 and V2s are periodically available 2nd hand. Just keep watching.

We discussed all the various models and dimensions of Samsonites on the FB BF group about.... 9 months ago.

peter stock
toronto canada

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 8:57 p.m. <y...@bikefriday.com> wrote:

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• Digest for y...@bikefriday.com - 13 updates in 1 topic - 1 Update
• Suitcase size options - 1 Update

Digest for y...@bikefriday.com - 13 updates in 1 topic

Gary Keese <gary...@comcast.net>: Dec 17 06:32PM -0800 Hi Roberta,   My BF NWT size large fits into the Samsonite 31 in spinner suitcase, so your bike should fit fairly easily.   But your issue may be weight. .The US airlines I have flown allow up to 50 lbs (about the same in Europe). My bike and case (with a few accessories TSA does not allow as carry ons - U-lock, bike tool with built in knife, etc) push me close to the 50 lb limit.   I'd suggest you weigh your bike and the listed weight of the suitcase to see if that's below 40 lbs. I have carried on heavier (but TSA allowed) parts like pedals and saddle to stay under the 50 lb. limit.   Good luck and enjoy your BF. They are great travel bikes and open up many wonderful adventures.   Gary   Seattle, WA   On 12/17/2025 5:57 PST y...@bikefriday.com wrote:   y...@bikefriday.com Google Groups Logo Google Groups   Topic digest   View all topics   Suitcase size options - 13 Updates   Suitcase size options   R <rcha...@gmail.com>: Dec 16 07:25PM -0800   Hello, fellow Bike Friday owners. I “know” many of you from the RBW and   I-Bob forums. Last year I purchased a used 54 cm ETT pocket rocket. I'll   be doing a write up shortly to introduce myself and my Pocket Rocket.   I plan to do more airline travel, mostly on frontier airlines. They have   they do have special pricing for bicycles at $75 each way. Still if I   could get my bike in a standard size and under 40 pound suitcase, I can   check the bag and it will cost me nothing, as I'm a “member.”   Before I waste too much time searching and buying the wrong size suitcase   (I did do a search on the forum) does anybody think that there's a suitcase   that would be small enough that I can get my bike into so I don't have to   pay the fees? Or would it just be trial and error buy a bag that is less   than 62 inches and put my bike in there and see if I can get it to fit?   I did see some discussions about packing the bike in cardboard, but I'm   really looking to put it into a suitcase.   Thank you so much   Roberta   Philadelphia   Frontier airline restrictions   *Checked bags *must not exceed *62 linear inches* (length + width + depth)   and must weigh *40 lbs or less*.   Oversize or overweight bags may incur additional fees:   • *41–50 lbs*: +$75   • *51–100 lbs*: +$100   • *Over 100 lbs*: Not accepted   • *63–110 linear inches:* +$75   R <rcha...@gmail.com>: Dec 16 07:29PM -0800   Well I hit the send button before I was finished editing   Here's a picture of my pocket rocket with new 1 3/8 inch maxxis tires   (highly recommended better than the skinnier original tires. Thanks John   for the suggestion) and Milano handlebar. I think everything else is more   or less standard.   Roberta   Philadelphia   On Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 10:25:28 PM UTC-5 R wrote:   F6515 <fjk...@gmail.com>: Dec 16 07:53PM -0800   Here's what I got for my New World Tourist   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005SLEEFI?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title   Sent via BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox for Android   From: rcha...@gmail.com   Sent: December 16, 2025 7:25 PM   To: y...@bikefriday.com   Subject: [yak] Suitcase size options   Hello, fellow Bike Friday owners. I “know” many of you from the RBW and I-Bob forums. Last year I purchased a used 54 cm ETT pocket rocket. I'll be doing a write up shortly to introduce myself and my Pocket Rocket.   I plan to do more airline travel, mostly on frontier airlines. They have they do have special pricing for bicycles at $75 each way. Still if I could get my bike in a standard size and under 40 pound suitcase, I can check the bag and it will cost me nothing, as I'm a “member.”   Before I waste too much time searching and buying the wrong size suitcase (I did do a search on the forum) does anybody think that there's a suitcase that would be small enough that I can get my bike into so I don't have to pay the fees? Or would it just be trial and error buy a bag that is less than 62 inches and put my bike in there and see if I can get it to fit?   I did see some discussions about packing the bike in cardboard, but I'm really looking to put it into a suitcase.   Thank you so much   Roberta   Philadelphia   Frontier airline restrictions   Checked bags must not exceed 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) and must weigh 40 lbs or less.   Oversize or overweight bags may incur additional fees:   • 41–50 lbs: +$75   • 51–100 lbs: +$100   • Over 100 lbs: Not accepted   • 63–110 linear inches: +$75   --   another great conversation from the Bike Friday Yak!   ---   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bike Friday Yak!" group.   To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to yak+uns...@bikefriday.com.   To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/bikefriday.com/d/msgid/yak/5bcec670-ba60-47b4-a048-8cc36bdd4f24n%40bikefriday.com.   Ray Chong <xina...@gmail.com>: Dec 16 08:50PM -0800   That's the one that Bike Friday sells (or did, I have not gotten one   recently). F'lite 31 (inches), also known as the Aeris Comfort 82 (cm). I   like it a lot. It is sturdy and relatively easy to roll. One thing you'll   want to make sure to have is a center support to prevent the case from   squishing in when under load (the walls are somewhat flexible). That's the   thing with the metal disk in this pic. BF includes one in their travel case   kit but you should be able to kluge one from parts at your local hardware   store.   -Ray   R <rcha...@gmail.com>: Dec 17 06:24AM -0800   Thanks. I did see that one during my research, but Frontier airlines is   VERY strict and includes the wheels and handles. F'Lite's overall   dimension is 32.67" x 23.48" x 13.77", or 69.92" linear inches, which is   oversized.   I might need to buy the travel kit from BF, but would love a slightly   smaller overall dimensioned case, if possible.   Roberta   Philadelphia   F6515 <fjk...@gmail.com>: Dec 17 07:31AM -0800   I think your model might be smaller than mine. On my last trip last month, Alaska let me slide on the way out but dinged me the 100 dollars on the way home for overweight. It is the suitcase BF recommended. I did get the travel kit. A bit pricey but convenient with labeled felt bags and plastic protectors and the crush protector. Although i had to reinforce the protectors flanges with wraps of gorilla tape   Sent via BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox for Android   From: rcha...@gmail.com   Sent: December 17, 2025 6:24 AM   To: y...@bikefriday.com   Cc: fjk...@gmail.com; rcha...@gmail.com   Subject: Re: [yak] Suitcase size options   Thanks. I did see that one during my research, but Frontier airlines is VERY strict and includes the wheels and handles. F'Lite's overall dimension is 32.67" x 23.48" x 13.77", or 69.92" linear inches, which is oversized.   I might need to buy the travel kit from BF, but would love a slightly smaller overall dimensioned case, if possible.   Roberta   Philadelphia   On Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 10:53:59 PM UTC-5 fjk...@gmail.com wrote:   Here's what I got for my New World Tourist   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005SLEEFI?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title   Sent via BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox for Android   From: rcha...@gmail.com   Sent: December 16, 2025 7:25 PM   To: y...@bikefriday.com   Subject: [yak] Suitcase size options   Hello, fellow Bike Friday owners. I “know” many of you from the RBW and I-Bob forums. Last year I purchased a used 54 cm ETT pocket rocket. I'll be doing a write up shortly to introduce myself and my Pocket Rocket.   I plan to do more airline travel, mostly on frontier airlines. They have they do have special pricing for bicycles at $75 each way. Still if I could get my bike in a standard size and under 40 pound suitcase, I can check the bag and it will cost me nothing, as I'm a “member.”   Before I waste too much time searching and buying the wrong size suitcase (I did do a search on the forum) does anybody think that there's a suitcase that would be small enough that I can get my bike into so I don't have to pay the fees? Or would it just be trial and error buy a bag that is less than 62 inches and put my bike in there and see if I can get it to fit?   I did see some discussions about packing the bike in cardboard, but I'm really looking to put it into a suitcase.   Thank you so much   Roberta   Philadelphia   Frontier airline restrictions   Checked bags must not exceed 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) and must weigh 40 lbs or less.   Oversize or overweight bags may incur additional fees:   • 41–50 lbs: +$75   • 51–100 lbs: +$100   • Over 100 lbs: Not accepted   • 63–110 linear inches: +$75   --   another great conversation from the Bike Friday Yak!   ---   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bike Friday Yak!" group.   To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to yak+uns...@bikefriday.com.   To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/bikefriday.com/d/msgid/yak/5bcec670-ba60-47b4-a048-8cc36bdd4f24n%40bikefriday.com.   Scott McMahon <scot...@gmail.com>: Dec 17 07:54AM -0800   Hi Roberta,   Fear not. There are suitcases for your situation.   My wife and I have pocket Rocket pros. We've flown with them many times,   but not with Frontier. We purchased our bikes with travel cases in the   late 90's or early 00's. At that time BF was providing Carleton brand   suitcases, and I think they would probably comply with Frontier's specs.   They are kind of barebones plastic clamshell affairs that come in a variety   of colors (ours are yellow). I measured mine the other day and it was 29"   High X 23" Wide X 10" Deep, (exterior dimensions, including wheels.)   The suitcase has two wheels and you drag it around the airport in the   upright position while holding the towing handle up off the ground on one   end (and bearing half of the weight) while the wheels, on the other end   follow. A much less pleasant experience, unfortunately, than you would   have with a 4 wheeler that can stand up on it's own, bear all it's own   weight on the wheels and be pushed in any direction, but it's workable.   The bikes fit inside nicely, although we can't just throw them in any old   way, I had to play around a bit until I figured it out, and when I did, I   took photos to get it right thereafter. (I'll attach a couple of my photos   to this post.) We have drop bars and always bring rear racks and   panniers. Looks like you have flat bars and no rack, so packing might be a   little less fussy for you. In any case, I wouldn't worry about getting   your bike in a suticase of this size. The bike was, literally, made for it.   Your bigger problem may be the weight limit. Most airlines allow 50 lb   suitcases, some 44 (20 kg). Frontier is unique in my experience in   limiting you to 40. Our Carletons weight 11.4 lbs empty. You can weigh   your bike and do the math. Your bike should be under 28.6 lbs, but you   won't be able to put much else in the suitcase with your bike, (like bike   shoes or bags or what have you.)   I've been looking for more luxurious travel cases (bigger, 4-wheeled) for   us to use and have found that there is a surprisingly good selection of   used suitcases on Craig's List, so I'd suggest looking there. If I find   what I'm looking for, I'll be sure to put our old cases up for sale, (and   try to remember to avoid flying Frontier after that).   The attached photos show my bike packed in with rear rack (unattached to   bike) and aero bars. Sorry I don't have photos of the cases on their own.   Maybe when I get home, (we're away on a Christmas trip and won't be back   till new year), I'll get a photo of the outside of the case for you.   Scott McMahon   Scott McMahon <scot...@gmail.com>: Dec 17 08:45AM -0800   Hi again Roberta,   FYI, I don't usually bother with a lot of the padding that came with the   bikes and haven't gotten a lot of scratches. I have the crush protectors,   and use them, although not shown in the photos attached to my last post.   If you don't have them you can use a piece of cardboard, about 10" wide (or   whatever matches your suitcase's internal width) and roll it up into a   cylinder about 1.5-2" diameter, then run a layer of tape around it to hold   it together and prop it up through the spokes and frame to keep the sides   of the suitcase from collapsing in the middle (in case a baggage handler   sits on it.) I also usually roll up a similar cardboard cylinder to put   between the frame and the suitcase under my front derailleur (see photos   for what the derailleur looks like when packed.) This keeps the derailleur   from banging up against the side of the suitcase in transit. (In the   photos, I didn't have the cardboard cylinder there, yet.)   Also, I notice that I have removed the cranks and the rear derailleur on my   bike for packing. Something I've been doing for a long time now. I find   those parts are easy to disassemble and reassemble with minimal tools, and   it makes packing much easier and protects those parts from damage, but you   shouldn't have to do that to get your bike into the suitcase. For me, it's   as easy to remove the cranks as to remove the pedals, (and if you take off   the cranks you no longer have to unscrew the pedals,) but without cranks it   packs flatter and the chainrings can't get bent. Note: I have the kind of   cranks that are "self-removing." so a slightly longer than normal 6 mm hex   wrench is all I need to bring for the job. I do use some of the padded   pockets the came with the bike to protect the cranks and derailleur from   the frame and vice versa.   Also FYI, if you're wondering what that electronic board in my spokes is,   it's a set of strobing lights from "Monkeylectric" that forms light   patterns (like flashing hearts) in the wheel, as it spins.   Scott   On Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 7:54:18 AM UTC-8 Scott McMahon wrote:   John Thurston <y...@thurstons.us>: Dec 17 09:18AM -0900   What are the exact Frontier limiting-dimensions?   On 12/17/2025 5:24 AM, R wrote:   --   John Thurston   Juneau, Alaska   John Thurston <y...@thurstons.us>: Dec 17 10:20AM -0900   Before the Carlton case, Bike Friday used a Samsonite 'Oyster' . When I   measure that old case 'box style' (building a virtual box around it, so   the faces of the box touch the extreme edges like the wheels and the top   of the handle), I get 29x23x10 inches. Summing those, I get 62 inches   which meets the limit mentioned at the bottom of your first email. If I   were to measure it using a flexible girth-tape along its actual   surfaces, it would come in less than 62 inches.   As the ancient Samsonite comes in at 62 inches, I'm not even going to   bother pulling the newer/larger Carlton down off the shelf to see what   it measures.   I expect your 54cm bike can be made to fit into the ancient Samsonite. But   1. can you find one?   2. do you want to do the disassembly required to make it fit?   I recently scored an almost-new Samsonite at a local thrift-shop, and   bought it as a backup to my 90's vintage case. My sister recently found   two more, in good condition, at a thrift-shop. So they are out there,   but you must hunt for them.   The 'case spreader' or 'crush protector' is an important piece. It is   made from a bit of electrical conduit and two flanges at either end. It   looks like a light weight dumbbell. It needs to be made to fit your   particular case. You assemble it by dropping one flange loose in the   bottom of the case, putting the folded bike on top, and then inserting   the other bit down through the bike to mate with the flange you dropped   in. The bit of conduit is threaded into the upper

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Suitcase size options

Rob MacLeod <rsma...@gmail.com>: Dec 17 07:19PM -0700 Hi Folks,   I have a case like John’s for my original 1995 PRP but I always found it tippy and clumsy to pull around, especially compared to my 31” contemporary Samsonite case with 4 wheels. I also had the Carleton for a while and have one of the original Samsonites with two wheels at the corners of the long edge. We had two but the other one broke at the retractable handle connection and Delta Airlines was kind enough to replace it! I have never paid to travel with the newest one, which is like the one Ray posted—another advantage of traveling with Delta.   Best, Rob     Rob MacLeod, PhD Salt Lake City, UT 84108 rsma...@gmail.com

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[Peter Stock]

a picture being worth a thousand words....
here are all the models of BF-suitable Samsonite suitcases I've heard of.

peter stock
toronto canada

[Roberta]

Thank you, Peter, and everybody else who commented with great information. 

It’s nice to see all these different iterations. 

I got a lead on a suitcase, one of the Carlton versions, that I think might be just what I’m looking for.  The seller included the dimensions of her suitcase and I’m going to break down my bike to see if I think it will work.  Her suitcase is a bit narrower, so I’ll probably have to take off my pedals to fit.  If not, I’ll just suck it up, buy a standard suitcase, and pay to have my bike with me when I’ll be somewhere for a while.

Roberta