This web page might comprise affiliate hyperlinks — they’re marked with a *. Making a purchase order through my affiliate means I obtain a small share of the sale.
When you’ve learn my evaluation of the Bike Field Alan, you’ll know I’ve been travelling with my bike for some time now. The Bike Field Alan served me nicely through the years and guarded my bike on a number of journeys, however there was one factor I by no means beloved about it: the faff.
It’s large. It’s cumbersome. It takes up a whole lot of area if you’re not utilizing it. And whereas packing isn’t troublesome, it does require a good quantity of dismantling.
So after I noticed one other bike owner utilizing the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 on a visit, I used to be intrigued. The concept of having the ability to journey with my bike whereas solely eradicating the wheels sounded nearly too good to be true.
I used to be impressed sufficient that I offered my Bike Field Alan (BBA) and used the cash in the direction of shopping for a Scicon AeroComfort 3.0.
I not too long ago put it to the take a look at on a biking journey to Mojácar, Spain, travelling solo with my Liv Langma Superior Professional 1 AXS. Right here’s my sincere evaluation.
First Impressions
At first look, the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 feels surprisingly substantial for what is basically a mushy bike bag.
The padded triple-layer tear-resistant cloth feels sturdy, the outside contours assist the bag maintain its form, and the dual caster wheels roll easily throughout airport flooring. There are a number of exterior aspect handles which make lifting the bag simpler than I anticipated, and the built-in stand helps preserve the bag upright whereas packing.
Certainly one of my greatest issues earlier than shopping for was whether or not a mushy bike bag would supply sufficient safety. I’d spent years trusting a tough case, so switching felt like a little bit of a leap of religion.
Nonetheless, Scicon has clearly put a whole lot of thought into the interior safety system. The core of the design is constructed round holding the bike steady whereas requiring minimal disassembly of your bike.
My Bike Setup
For this journey I packed my Liv Langma Superior Professional 1 AXS (2025 mannequin).
The bike has deep-section wheels, tubeless tyres, disc brakes and SRAM AXS digital shifting. In different phrases, it’s not the type of bike I’d be keen to take dangers with.
Trendy bikes aren’t low cost, and travelling with them can really feel nerve-wracking sufficient with out questioning whether or not your bike journey bag is as much as the job. Additionally, tubeless tyres and disc brakes have been a number of the issues the BBA didn’t deal with very nicely.
Packing the Bike
That is the place the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 actually shines. In contrast to many street bike journey bag designs, I solely wanted to take away the wheels.
The handlebars stayed in place. The saddle stayed in place. There was no dismantling half the bike earlier than I might begin packing.
The primary time took me a bit of longer than anticipated, however that’s largely as a result of I hadn’t practised beforehand. I spent a couple of minutes determining a number of the finer particulars, together with shifting gears to maneuver the rear derailleur out of the best way.
As soon as I’d labored that out, the method was simple.
In comparison with packing a Bike Field Alan, this felt so so so soooo a lot simpler.
Step-by-Step Packing Course of
When you’re questioning how the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 works in observe, right here’s the essential course of I adopted:
- Take away each wheels.
- Safe the body contained in the bag utilizing the interior body defender and body mounting factors.
- Match the provided safety items round weak areas of the bike.
- Place the wheels into the devoted wheel pockets.
- Zip every thing closed utilizing the double coil zipper system.
The wheel pockets are nicely positioned and saved the wheels utterly separate from the body throughout journey.
Just a few different issues value noting:
- guarantee you could have your disc brake spacers handy
- take away your batteries and fasten the battery protectors to your bike and the batteries
- carry batteries in hand baggage
- pop your bike into the massive ring on the entrance and small ring on the again
- deflate your tyres a bit of, however not utterly
- don’t neglect to take away straps earlier than verify in
Scicon additionally contains numerous axle adapters, fast launch adapters and devoted adapters designed to enhance compatibility throughout totally different street bikes, gravel bike setups and numerous fast launch methods. The general result’s a motorcycle that feels surprisingly safe contained in the bag.
Travelling Via the Airport
One of many greatest assessments for any bike journey bag isn’t the flight itself. It’s getting by means of the airport. For this journey I travelled alone carrying the bike bag, a big suitcase and a purse. That most likely feels like a recipe for chaos, particularly after I ended up needing to make use of public transport for my return journey, nevertheless it was surprisingly manageable.
The Scicon’s proprietary twin wheel system rolls easily, and since the bag is narrower than a tough case, navigating busy worldwide airports felt a lot simpler. This was the primary bike bag I’ve used the place I didn’t really feel like I used to be transporting a fridge by means of the terminal.
Test-in with easyJet was simple and the outsized baggage course of was easy. No awkward conversations. No repacking. No stress.
Arriving in Mojácar
After touchdown in Spain I booked a six-seater taxi switch, which was most likely a bit of extreme however i didn’t wanna threat my bike and baggage not becoming if a tiny automobile turned up. Clearly I might even have booked a rental automobile, nevertheless, I hadn’t slept a lot, I’d by no means pushed on Spanish roads earlier than, and I needed the best attainable journey to the resort.
So every thing match very comfortably and I used to be capable of take each the bike and bag straight to my room as soon as I arrived and checked in on the resort. One benefit of the AeroComfort in comparison with some onerous instances is that it doesn’t dominate your resort room. Even with the bike assembled, there was nonetheless sufficient area to maneuver round comfortably.
Unpacking The Scicon AeroComfort 3.0
How Effectively Did It Defend My Bike?
Finally, that is the query that issues most. Advertising and marketing claims are one factor however real-world efficiency is one other. The excellent news is that my bike arrived in good situation.
Nothing shifted throughout transport. There was no undesirable motion contained in the bag. The wheel pockets saved every thing the place it ought to be, and all the interior safety remained in place all through the journey. For a typical mushy bike bag, I used to be genuinely impressed.
The mix of the interior body defender, high tube body safety, built-in stand and revolutionary inner shock absorber system seems to do precisely what it’s designed to do. My Liv arrived precisely because it left house. Hallelujah!
The Drawback I Didn’t Anticipate
Sadly, that is the place the story takes a slight flip. After my first flight (and first use) I seen a fault with the bag. What involved me wasn’t simply the fault itself, however the truth that it seemed to be a producing or workmanship challenge slightly than one thing attributable to baggage handlers or harsh impacts throughout journey.
Given the acquisition value, that’s fairly disappointing. If you’re spending near £500 on a premium bike journey bag, you anticipate a sure degree of high quality management. What has since adopted has been an equally disappointing customer support expertise.
Perhaps I’m being unreasonable, nevertheless it took 4 days to get a response after I raised a ticket on their web site. After being requested for “additional particulars” I used to be instructed “In the meanwhile, sadly, we don’t supply a restore service in your nation, so we’re unable to rearrange a direct restore. Nonetheless, we’ll proceed with sending you a defender plate substitute without charge toy you. To have it correctly connected, we advocate looking for the help of an area tailor”.
It was solely after I requested in the event that they anticipated me to cowl the price of the restore that they supplied a £30 partial refund. Effectively, I don’t learn about the place you’re keen on however firstly, I’d need to spend time discovering somebody to repair it and secondly, it price me £30 to get a zipper on a coat repaired.
I pushed again and so they supplied £45. I pushed again once more and after per week of radio silence, they stated “We might be comfortable to give you a substitute with a brand new AEROCOMFORT 3.0 ROAD BIKE TRAVEL BAG. We want to make sure that you obtain a product that meets each your expectations and our high quality requirements.“.
I responded (instantly) after which then they ghosted me for ONE MONTH, lol. I emailed, no response. I emailed once more and so they responded asking for extra footage of the broken bag.
Why I Suggest Utilizing a Credit score Card
In the meantime, I’ve opened a Part 75 declare with my bank card firm (they initially – wrongly – opened a chargeback then closed it and stated an excessive amount of time had handed for the reason that buy) as a again up since its taking Scicon so lengthy to rectify this case.
The expertise up to now has undoubtedly affected my confidence on this model and particular bag as a result of I shouldn’t be questioning whether or not a premium product can survive its first journey. I do suppose I used to be simply “unfortunate” although, which is why I would love a substitute, not a restore (by means of my very own efforts and at price to me). So maintain tight for an replace… I’d truly like to have the ability to journey with my bike slightly than offering a house to a broken bike bag at a value of £500.
I at all times pay for top ticket objects on a bank card so I’ve the choice of a chargeback or part 75 which supplies further safety when issues don’t go in response to plan.
Hopefully it’s a route you’ll by no means want, nevertheless it’s reassuring to comprehend it’s there. When you’re spending a number of hundred kilos on a motorcycle journey bag, wheelset or different costly piece of kit, it’s value contemplating.
Another choice can be to buy through a retailer then you’ll be able to undergo them with any points. I’ve discovered the baggage obtainable for buy on Sigma Sports activities and Decathlon.
Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 vs Bike Field Alan
That is most likely the comparability many cyclists are most inquisitive about. When it comes to outright safety, a tough case just like the BBA nonetheless has a slight benefit on paper. There’s merely hardier materials between your bike and the surface world.
Nonetheless, my private expertise has truly been that the bike feels safer contained in the Scicon than it ever did inside my BBA. I used to be by no means capable of absolutely safe my wheels within the case which did create some trigger for concern every time I travelled.
The mounting system, plus straps, within the AeroComfort does an important job of holding every thing in place, and there was much less motion than I anticipated.
The place the Scicon actually pulls forward is comfort.
Packing is quicker.
Dealing with is less complicated.
Storage is less complicated.
Travelling by means of airports is considerably much less demanding.
If somebody supplied me the selection between the 2 tomorrow, I’d select the Scicon each time. Actually, I already did, proper?! That’s why I offered my Bike Field Alan within the first place.
Is It Price Taking Your Personal Bike?
Each journey I am going on, I think about if it’s value taking my very own bike. And the reply is at all times sure for me, particularly after my expertise renting a motorcycle for LA REINE Gstaad.
One of many predominant causes I needed a motorcycle journey bag within the first place although was as a result of I take pleasure in driving my very own bike after I journey. There’s nothing that can examine for me given my bike is an excellent spec.
Doing the maths although, bike rent in Mojácar was round €35 per day. Over six days, that rapidly provides up – let’s name it £200.
Taking my very own bike price roughly £60 every method, and meant I might trip a motorcycle that was already fitted completely, acquainted and comfy. For me, that’s value each penny and works out cheaper on this state of affairs.
I might nonetheless advocate having appropriate bike insurance coverage no matter which bike journey case you utilize. No journey resolution utterly removes the danger of injury.
The Last Verdict
The Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 is a type of merchandise that’s barely irritating to evaluation. The precise journey expertise exceeded my expectations. Packing was simpler than anticipated. Airport transfers have been simpler than anticipated. The bike arrived safely and securely.
If the evaluation ended there, this might be a simple five-star suggestion.
Sadly, the standard challenge and subsequent customer support expertise complicate issues.
Would I like to recommend the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0?
Sure.
Would I like to recommend shopping for it with a bank card?
Additionally sure.
Would I exploit this precise bag once more in its present situation?
In all probability not.
Would I purchase one other AeroComfort if this one is changed or refunded?
With out hesitation.
As a result of regardless of every thing, it’s nonetheless the best bike journey bag I’ve ever used.
So, would you think about a motorcycle bag over a motorcycle field?!
Elle
No! Which is an enormous benefit. I solely eliminated the wheels from my Liv Langma Superior Professional 1 AXS.
Sure. My bike makes use of disc brakes and packed with none points.
Primarily based on my expertise, sure. My bike arrived in good situation after flying to Spain. I feel there’ll at all times be horror tales, in order that’s why you need to at all times have your bike insured for journey.
For comfort and ease of journey, sure. For max safety, onerous instances nonetheless have a slight edge.