2_i 

The Thai Vincita is now offering two 4-wheeled bags for transporting Bromptons, B132C


and B132H


Recently I traveled with a Brompton in a 2-wheeled Vincita bag B132B, mixing air, train and bus, and having 2 wheels only was a major drag. I had to maneuver several pieces of luggage. The B132B bottom sagged and rubbed the ground forcing me to lift the front of B132B extra high. I felt that a rigid bottom to the bag with 4 rather than 2 wheels would be a major improvement. With this, the new Vincita bags could offer a a way forward. There is some increase in weight but still tolerable, ~1kg. However the wheels in B132C/H are in-line rather than spinner. If bottoms of these bags sag, the advantage of 4 wheels disappears as one needs to lift one side anyway. (The photo already suggests a problem.) Has anybody got an experience with either of these bags, B132C or B132H? I believe they can be used for other bikes too.

The wheels seem to be velcroed to the bags. I.e. one might think of a replacement of the in-line wheels with spinner.

Hisamatsu

I just ordered a two B132H. Did the $80 express shipping, hope it comes in time by end of the month since I am leaving for a trip.

Their promo video at least look cool and usable. We'll see.

2_i 

Wow, I will be looking forward to some report from that experience. I emailed Vincita with few questions about the new bags, and did that even twice because of an update to a question, but failed to get any response, even an acknowledgement saying that someone will get to me.

In the meantime I did tests with my B132B putting its non-wheeled side on a small platform I build with spinner wheels and it is obvious that the handling of the bag could be vastly improved. If Vincita continues to ignore me, I may ignore them too and go ahead with my own modifications rather than buying anything new from them. By now I have been their customer 2 or 3 times so this extra upsets me.

Hisamatsu

You can buy wheels are any hardware store and put on your own velcro.

I've never ordered from Vincita before, doesn't seem assuring that they didn't respond to your inquiries. Can only give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are so busy making stuff to ship out. Hopefully mine does.

tudorowen1

The person who receives the emails probably has poor English language skills.?

2_i 

When you look at details it is more complicated. You need the bottom to be rigid enough and you do not want to overly increase thickness or weight. The wheels need to stick out. When they did for 2 wheels in my bag they were not thinking about 4. You sort of need to roll back what they did and restart.

I was even checking whether there were some holidays now in Thailand but there are none there in the calendar and you obviously managed to order. I will have to wait at least a while no matter what because I have no time for a project anytime soon, even collecting materials. Wish you luck with the order. Hopefully it reaches you in time for your trip. Extra time when you can afford tripping with the equipment that needs to be reliable during the trip also helps.

On the website they encourage inquiries.

badmother

Sounds almost like my Andersen experience...

You need to start here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...heels&_sacat=0

Hisamatsu

How long have Vincita been ignoring you? I purchased my order online via their website, didn't talk to anyone. Maybe try contacting them via their facebook page.

In the past, I've email NYCEwheels and sometimes they respond the same day, other times 3-5 days later. Their phone support is quicker but isn't that great depending on who picks up the phone. They put the phone down randomly to talk to other people while you are talking to them. . I've order 4 times so far and 2 of those orders had missing items and parts installed. Feels like one of their worker was sloppy or lazy.

Since you've been using the B132B, do you have the Garment Bag? Worth getting? I was just going to use my normal luggage organizer pouches to stuff cloths inside the B132H

MultiplexMan

Vincita have been updating their Facebook page. Try sending them a Facebook message.

Perhaps your emails have not made it into their Inbox - hence no reply? Silence does not automatically imply they have been ignoring you...

2_i 

I emailed Vincita on Saturday. My NYCEwheels experiences were pretty good so far, by like in your case these were just several and 4 out of 4 good experiences is not really a lot of statistics. On an occasion I met though the first Brompton dealer in Seattle who said that he was a close friend of the owner of NYCEwheels and he started reminiscing about their beginnings on the two coasts decades ago. The Seattle guy seemed like a very nice guy so by connection I expected the NY guy to be nice too. This was few years ago, though, and there might have been a change in ownership in the meantime on one or the other coast.

P.S. I did Facebook page too.

Hisamatsu

Interesting, i commented on their facebook post with a question and they responded in like 30min. Also, they already shipped my order with tracking#, be here early next week then you can ask me questions instead of Vincita if they haven't responded to you =]

2_i 

OK, they replied to the facebook post earlier today. For the email I still got no response, and yes I checked my junk folder many times looking for their reply. One important point there that can be of interest to everybody is that you can order the bags without bike logos, just need to let them know about it. When I was ordering my B132B there was no such explicit option and I spent a couple of hours removing the hint that there may be a bike inside.

With this the path forward begins to clear. Given that I have no travel in near future for which I want to take the Brompton along, I will still stall though, to hopefully hear from you, Hisamatsu, about your experiences with the bags.

Hisamatsu

Yea, I ordered without the bicycle logo, it was an option to select. How did you remove the logos on your B132B? Heat it up with hair blow dryer and scratch it off?

1nterceptor

Original owner of NYCEWheels passed away a few years ago. Brother took over.
Fired most of the staff. I've heard of some complaints with new crew; not very
knowledgeable about bikes, hard sales(commissioned based?), etc. Been there
a few times; I thought new employees were just as nice as the old crew.

2_i 

From their facebook it follows that they were celebrating their 30th anniversary and sponsoring a meal at an orphanage this passing Monday. Obviously they are excused, free to ignore me for such reasons.

The heater did not help at all and I have a heavy duty one that can melt plastic when needed. I ended up with chemical removal, alcohol/paint thinner - don't remember anymore, but you start with the gentlest possible to spare plastics and stay away from edges where vinyl may be imbedded. I tried first on a bag with logos given to participants at some meeting. The chemical dissolved the logo that then covered the bag with a haze. I had to soak the bag pretty bad to get it off.

Hisamatsu

Seems painful to do, I would have just glued on another logo or something covering it. I did that with several of my camera backpacks/bags.

2_i 

I did that for T-bags but it is not very practical for large logos on large bags - you do not want them to attract attention and invite questions, even casual, when having large masking structures. After the logo removal the bag became a black structureless boring shape completely uninspiring for any questions - right where I wanted it.

Hisamatsu

If the logo is large cover it up and make it look like it is part of the bag. Like sew/hot-glue on something that looks like a side pocket, better yet make it a real pocket, but that might be as much work as your removal technique.

Guess it kinda of explains my recent experience with them. They are nice/patient if they know you are about to order something. But, once the inquiry is about a problem or issue with an existing order they are less enthusiastic and try to get the call over fast. Their computer data system seems like they look up order by paper. Some items listed on their website isn't accurate, you'll order a small but they send you large. Order one item, discover isn't in-stock and substitute it with another.

Hisamatsu

My two Vincita B132H arrived. Weird they sent me TNT tracking # which never moved pass "processing" stage, but it was actually delivered by FedEX. Signature was required which I obviously missed since I didnt know they were coming so I got it the following day.

It weighed in at 10.05 lbs on my luggage scale unopened from packaging. The 4x detachable wheels with carrying case weigha 3.88 lbs. So without wheels it is about 1lb heavier then the previous B132B version that has integrated 2 wheels. Brompton S6R inside it weighs 38.66 lbs, which leaves some room for more stuff since airline restriction usually limit to 50 lbs.

Pushing it on 4 wheels is very easy. However, opening the bottom velcro straps to attach the wheels was a bit difficult. Might be easier as I wear it out by opening/closing more. The wheels are actually just attached with bolt/nuts. They are heavy duty feeling, bet I could easily replace them with some lighter weight ones. Highly serviceable if needed.

The bottom portion of the bag is lined with corrugated plastic boards shaped into a box and velcro to the sides. I might consider reinforcing it more with some aluminum shelving pipes similar to this PVC method.
Bag is snug fit for the brompton. It fits with saddle attached, but it kinda sticks the top corner. I might just detach the saddle with clip.

Construction of the bag is nice, doesn't feel cheap, fabric sturdy and heavy duty. Strap are removable, handle can be zipped away and buckles to secure it further beyond zippers.

So far I like it. I plan to put this bag on the rear rack and backpack carryon luggage on top of it. Ride it to the airport, fly, ride off with it again to my hotel. I'll report back in a couple weeks how it went.

https://imgur.com/a/uBQuW

2_i 

Thanks for the report!

My B132B weighs 3.1kg/6.8lbs.

B132B with 2 wheels only is atrocious in handling. Obviously it is far better to have 2 wheels than none, but with 2 wheels you desperately want 4.

My B132B bag has a couple of straps that you use to secure Brompton to the bottom of the bag which in my view provides a bit of security as keeping the Brompton tied to the thicker part of the bag and prevents it from banging the part of the bag that is weaker. As I understand there are no such straps inside B132H, right?

OK, I think I am taking the plunge too.

Hisamatsu

Interesting the website spec list it at 2.5kg

There are no straps inside the bag compartment. Guess you could take the corrugate plastic bottom box out and put a strap underneath.

Hisamatsu

Some updates on the Vincita bag.
Minor thing, but I notice the Vincita logo was crooked and not aligned straight on one of my bags. https://i.imgur.com/d1CrSH8.jpg

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Building a frame for the Vincita Bag


Finished look. https://imgur.com/a/dPj3l


Originally I was going to fly with my Brompton checked-in with the Ikea Dimpa bag method that AhPek uses, but reinforce it with a frame like this guy's PVC idea. Instead of PVC I opted to use a shoe shelf that is sold on ebay/aliexpress for $18 bucks. Feels stronger and lighter than PVC. However, I abandoned the Ikea bag idea as I discovered it doesn't fit the Brompton perfectly square. After adding the corrugated plastic boards the brompton bulges on the sides. Ikea dimpa bag width is 22cm, but the Brompton is wider at 27cm.

Got my Vincita B132H and started building the frame. It was pretty easy, just cut the metal tubes down to length and connect the joints. Discovered the base of the Vincita is slightly wider than at the top, it is not a perfect rectangle, but rather more like a trapezoid. The whole frame is very light, about 400g, can be taken apart easily and stored inside the collapsed Vincita bag. I build two frames and have enough material for a 3rd.

Frame dimensions if anyone want to build one.
TOP frame 250x620mm
Bottom frame 270x620mm
Height 590mm

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MKS Pedal holder

With the left over tube pieces cut off I used them with some neodymium magnets; they fit perfectly.
https://i.imgur.com/g1pepuO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/dHohoXQ.jpg
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Vincita B132H comes with 4 removable wheels.

When checking the bag in with airlines should I leave the wheels on, or take them off? I would assume leaving it on lets baggage handler roll the bag instead of tossing it reducing risk of damage.

I still have corrugated plastic boards (coroplast sheets) from the Ikea Dimpa bag method. Should I use them with the Vincita or is the soft case sides enough?

jur

Great job!

2_i 

I am not sure that a frame really provides a protection since the bike can move independently of the frame and reach the soft sides of the bag whether the frame is there or not. Myself, I flew by now multiple times with B132B and the only impact that flying had on the bike was in occasionally dislodged rear rack that I shoved back into place. The real protection I felt there was in B132B was in the straps attaching Brompton to the rigid bottom, leaving some space between the bike and bag's soft sides, potentially softening any blows tied to the exterior. My plan for B1232H is to introduce such straps there, but that plan may change once the bag arrives and I confront it with the bike - their relation might not be quite the same as for B1232B, due to different dimensions or different structure of the bottom.

Hisamatsu

My thought on the frame is if stuff is stacked on top or dropped on it will take the pressure and absorb impact. I'm planning on padding the sides more with clothing. Frame could also be used with straps to hold down the brompton