Atlas

Hi I'm new here and I've got an unusual topic to start off with.
In my search for the ideal mountain bike to travel with I've researched many, many options, including folding bikes and the expensive S&S couplers. but have yet to find the the bike that meets my needs:
1. 26" Wheels
2. Reasonable quality
3. Full suspension
4. Will easily disassemble/reassemble to fit into a jumbo sized hard suitcase that is not noticably bigger than the 62" limit so as to avoid the attention of any nitpicky airline policycrats and therefore pass as free checked luggage. This link shows you the kind of case I'm thinking of: https://www.gaerlan.com/bikes/jumbo/jumbo.html

Full sized 26" folders are too wide when folded and are of a precarious design for off-road use anyway. S&S couplers are an awsome idea but just too darned expensive ($500 installed). Which brings me to my latest research, and that is a rumour I heard, that the older Specialized FSR frame will fit into a large suitcase. Supposedly, if you disconnect the rear shock linkage the swingarm will rotate up and around the main frame. Can anyone confirm this? Not knowing anyone with an FSR I couldn't see for myself and pictures of ebay bikes I've browsed havn't been much help.
Or maybe someone knows of another full suspension frame that will allow the swingarm to rotate into the mainframe?
Thanks.

bentrim

Sorry, I try to be as helpful as possible but i don't think I'm quite ready to take apart my FSR for an experiment.

I can tell you that my bike is a medium. The very, very rough estimates are:

- a bit over 2 feet from headtube to seat tube.
- fork sticks out about 4 inches from vertical of headtube.
- the chainstay is approx 18 inches.

Now the big question is whether the chainstay (or swingarm) will fold up and around the front triangle. My estimate (and it's only a guess) is no. I think the swingarm end closest to the bottom bracket will catch where the seattube meets the bottom bracket. So I would add an additional 4 to 6 inches of protrusion at the back end.

AND you'll have to loosen and turn the handlebars (another 13 inches or so of front protrusion), but let's say you're going to remove them instead.

But yes, the Stumpjumper would compact to some extent, but fit in a suitcase? Maybe not unless it's a pretty big suitcase (at least 35 X 35). You're better off looking for those travel cases made especially for bicycles. Nashbar sells the Tricosports Travel Ironcase for about $250.

Atlas

Hey, thanks for the response. You know, I think I may have misunderstood what I heard. I looked at another FSR on ebay and it would seem that the only way that it might work would be for the swingarm to rotate down and up under the belly of the mainframe so to speak, rather than up towards the seat post. Does this make a difference in what you were thinking bentrim?

KleinMp99

Yes. I sold my FSR a month or so ago and to fit it in the box I took the rear shock off.

Atlas

Thanks Klein, that's encouraging info. Do you recall approximately how big the box was?...similar to a large suitcase?

KleinMp99

It was a smaller than normal bike box. It seemed to be the size of one of those hard case bike carriers, definately not smaller.