Orucase B2-MTB Bike Case Review
We’ve used and reviewed several different bike cases here on the Journal, and the Orucase Airport Ninja has been at the top of our list for many years. It was the most compact bike case on the market allowing you to avoid hefty airline bike fees, but also required the most disassembly, which could be a barrier for some. However, times have changed and many airlines have thankfully eliminated or significantly reduced their bike fees. As a result, Orucase now offers a redesigned bike case that makes flying with any bike much easier: the B2 Bike Travel Case collection.
For my part, I own several different bike cases, and they each served a purpose. I was an early adopter of the OG Airport Ninja back when they were custom made to be as small as possible to fit your bike. Having such a compact case made it super easy to transport the bike in the trunk of any standard car, you could carry it around like a backpack given how light it was, and I was rarely charged a bike fee. But, having such a compact case also meant I had some anxiety about disassembling the bike, and arranging it just right in the case, not being able to pack much else along with the bike, and also not being able to use it for larger bikes or bikes with integrated seat posts. So, I also owned a Thule Roundtrip Pro to be able to travel with my mountain bike, or when I felt exceedingly lazy and wanted as little disassembly as possible.
More recently with airlines relaxing their bike fees, there is no longer a need to prioritize a case being as small as possible. And with that, bike case manufacturers like Orucase can optimize for a wider range of bike types and sizes, as well as add additional features that make traveling with your bike much less anxiety inducing. Enter the Orucase B2 line. The B2 line is still among the more compact and lightweight end of available bike cases, still has backpack style carrying straps, and also has a pair of smooth wheels so you can roll the case instead. The B2 line is slightly heavier than the Airport Ninja, but is significantly smaller/lighter than the Thule Roundtrip Pro (over 10lbs lighter!) I own, and of course, any hard case. It also packs down quite small for storage.
The B2 line consists of the B2-R and the B2-MTB, which is the larger case.I recently traveled with the B2-MTB on an international trip with a XS trail mountain bike with 29er wheels and was super impressed with the features of this case.
PROS:
Smooth rolling wheels + backpack carrying straps
Roomy enough to fit a MTB w 29” wheels + extra kit & misc items
Well designed frame protection kit with reusable velcro straps ($129 sold separately, but currently included free as a bundle)
Separate wheel bags & lots of storage pockets
Smartly located pull straps
Sturdy materials
Very lightweight for its class (only 17lbs!)
Included “therapy equipment” stealth label
CONS:
At $649 it’s not the cheapest bike case out there, but still much cheaper than other soft sided cases of its size.
ADD 2 CART?
Definitely! The Orucase B2-MTB has established itself as the quiver killer of bike cases in my household. While I could choose a smaller case for packing my road bike, there’s a huge benefit to just having just one super lightweight do-it-all case that can pack any of my bikes, especially for those of us who live in small spaces.
*Reviewer received a complimentary B2-MTB case + frame protection kit for review
I am a New Yorker who rides bikes of all kinds, sometimes runs, loves cats, and nerds out on transit justice issues. I am an advocate at heart and a member of the All Powerful Bicycle Lobby, though opinions here are my own.
Instagram: @luciadlite
Twitter: @luciadlite
E-mail: lucia@tobedetermined.cc
