I have used BF for 5 or 6 round trips. Never had a problem. Fast and cheap. I have an LBS pack the bike so I don't know if it takes off the RD. Can't hurt to. Have a shop reassemble and tune so it's ready to arrive when I ride. Racks are not installed for shipping but do go inside the box (along with my stove and empty fuel bottle), which is CrateWorks plastic box. It's large but still airline/UPS/FedEx legal.