Review: Dakine Bike Bag

The next time you head out of town on a vacation, take your bike! If you’re traveling somewhere exotic and want to get around, see the sights, and experience the local trails, the best way to do that is on your very own bike. I’ve traveled quite a bit, and I’ve often had to scramble …

The next time you head out of town on a vacation, take your bike! If you’re traveling somewhere exotic and want to get around, see the sights, and experience the local trails, the best way to do that is on your very own bike.

I’ve traveled quite a bit, and I’ve often had to scramble to find a bike box, stuff my bike in it, and hope it arrives home as well as it looked when it left. Dakine has a solution for that issue.

The all-new Dakine Bike Bag is more like an entire packing system rather than a bag. It can fit everything from a downhill rig to a road bike, as well as your gear (such as helmet and shoes). Also, you get everything you need to safely place your bike in the bag, with separately reinforced bags for both wheels, as well as a bag for your rear triangle and front fork.

One neat feature is the added mesh pouch that is attached to the rear triangle bag: it’s big enough to store all the tools needed to build your bike.

Unlike some hard case options, the bag itself can be folded down to one third its size when not in use.

Other key features include 4″ urethane wheels and a stopper that, when packed right, allow the bike bag to hold itself upright when you’re standing in line.

Added padding lessens the chances of damage, and two handles per side make it easier to load and move around.

Fully loaded, the bag takes on a 51x30x12.5in profile.

To properly pack any bike, thoroughly clean your bike before taking it apart. Next, carefully remove your pedals, and your saddle and seatpost post (as a unit). Remove your rear derailleur from the derailleur hanger and wrap it in a rag.

If you have a master link, you can pop the chain off with ease. If not, you can leave the chain on. Remove both wheels. Take the bars off the bike. The easiest method is to remove it as a unit. Just remove the top cap and the one or two bolts that hold the stem on the steerer tube.

Next, carefully bag the rear suspension, fitting the retention strap around the seat tube of the bike. In my case, I remove the front fork and set it in fork bag. Since I remove my DH fork, I carefully place all my headset bearings in a bag for safe keeping.

Place the front wheel in the sleeve provided first, then bag it up. I then carefully place my bars alongside of the frame, while placing that in the bag next.

I place my fork on the opposite side of the bag, and then lay the other wheel on top of that. There is plenty of padding to separate all the equipment and preventing any contact and rub damage.

Once the bike is in the bag I then find spaces to place my pump and other gear.

Plan to spend about 2 hours packing this bag.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a high-quality alternative to cardboard boxes and miles of duct tape, Dakine offers a durable, well-built bag that is designed to protect and transport your valuable bike.

MSRP: $375.

Thanks to Dakine for sending over the Bike Bag for review.