I recently bought two inexpensive ($63.00ea) hard side spinners for the BF's for a
flight to Eugene, Oregon for the 2013 NCAA track and field championships in June
mixed with plenty of cycling in the area. The luggage meets the 62" airline
requirement and packs easily.



After packing the BF it became apparent that this small suitcase would
also fit nicely on my motorcycles for riding to many of the bike paths and roads
in my area. I've been transporting full size bicyles on my motorcycles for years,
but the folder / suitcase combination makes things even easier.

Here's some pics of the homebuilt motorcycle pannier and top racks I made a
while back with the addition of a new luggage carrier I finished today.
I took it out for a ride, but a snow squall cut the ride short.

The luggage rack bolts to the top rack and other secure mounting spots.


The bike and all the accessories shown easily fit into this small ABS suitcase.


All aboard .... I've got several feet of 1/2" closed cell foam for cushioning,
but haven't cut it up yet.


Two layers of 14" Aluminum plate are used to sandwich the ABS plastic
bottom of the suitcase. 4 SS bolts attach the suitcase to the rack.


All dressed up and ready to ride . The 200 horsepower ZX14R can
easily handle this or any other load A side benefit of this setup
is that the motorcycle helmet , boots, and clothing can be stored in the
bike case while riding the bike.


The hard case provides a lower CG, less overhang,better protection,
and greater storage. Having said that, many hundreds of miles on the Sprint have
resulted in no transport problems while allowing the use of any of my bikes, not just
a specific folder. It's all good !

Impressive!

Very nice. What model BF is that, and how long does it take to strip it down and pack it?

Which suitcases? (Where and how much?)
Thanks!

That looks like the 'Travelers Choice' case (Cambridge model) and they're pretty good for the money. The only thing I didn't like about them was that the clamshell halves were held together by just a zipper whereas something like the Samsonite F'lite has interlocking channels along the entire edges of both halves and a rubber gasket to keep the two halves locked and water-tight.

That's a nice setup and solution for hauling a folder on a motorcycle.

Thanks everyone for your comments

It's a Pocket Companion. Normal breakdown / assembly is under a minute, with additional breakdown
required for packing another minute or two. Packing the suitcase takes less than 5 minutes including
accessories.

I build my own folding kayaks, and these take as much as 20 - 30 minutes to assemble so assembly
of the BF seems like nothing in comparison.

Bill Blass 30" Voyager from eBags. I paid $63.00US for one and $67.00 for the second which was ordered
a few weeks later. It appears that the price is currently $80.00. Since we were buying two bags, the low price
was appealing.

As mentioned, it has a zipper closure unlike the Sampsonite 'Lite 30". However, the Sampsonite costs 2 - 3
times as much ($230.00) from Bike Friday, and $170.00 from Samsonite. I've seen the
Samsonite 'Lite GT 31" for as little as $150.00 from Suitcase.com... though this one is greater than 62".

Since I'm drilling holes in one of the cases, I'd prefer to do so to an inexpensive bag like the the Blass,
plus we'll be flying with the bikes infrequently so they should fit the bill as well as the Samsonite.
Reviews are actually pretty positive on the ABS plastic Bill Blass. ABS plastic is pretty tough and the zippers
seem durable.

I normally ride a Specialized TriCross Comp on the roads and a Specialized XC Comp on the trails,
but I must admit that the little Bike Friday is a great road bike. It's nimble, stable, and comfortable
with it's Scwalbe Kojak's at 95psi. After about 500 miles, this bike is truly a pleasant surprise.
For my wife, at 4'11" it's a perfect fit. ... Regards, Tom

This just made my morning! Very impressive