Planet X Bike Box User manual

Planet X Bike Box User Manual.
Thank you for buying a new Planet X Bike Box. Designed and assembled in the U.K. we've built these
boxes to be lightweight, tough and versatile. All parts of the box are user replaceable, all fixings are
threaded, and no pop-rivets are used in its construction.
Disclaimer: Planet X accepts no responsibility for any damage or loss arising from the use of this product. While the Planet
X Bike Box is designed to protect your bicycle from typical baggage handling by absorbing impacts and shock loads it
cannot guarantee to protect your bike in all circumstances.
Box Contents:
One complete Planet X Bike Box includes two fabric faced foam liners, eight Velcro frame and wheel
fixing straps, removable grab handle and a set of keys. You may require additional straps/zip-ties and
padding depending on your bicycle type and size.
The foam inserts for the wheel and frame sides of the box are already cut for the most popular
frame and wheel sizes. If you need to move the straps to better accommodate your own bicycle then
it's a simple job to drill new 5mm holes on any flat surface of the box shell and cut a new slot into
the foam inserts. Test fit your bike before you travel, to give yourself plenty of time to customize
its fit to your box. Don't leave it until the morning of your first flight!
If you require additional padding to protect your bike during transit expanded foam pipe lagging is a
cost-effective and readily available solution. Should you need to extend the length of any of your
straps, or make additional ones this can be done using readily available 'Back To Back Velcro'.

Maximum dimensions:
The maximum bike size that can be placed in the Planet X Bike Box depends on a number of factors.
The following numbers are a given as a guide, they are not absolute. The bike box will accommodate
bicycles up to 72cm from the bottom of the chainset to the top of the seat tube.
The maximum fork length (axle to top of steerer) that can be accommodated without removing the
fork is 700mm. MTB Suspension forks will usually need to be removed from the frame and may need
to be compressed to travel.
The maximum wheelbase that can be accommodated without removing the fork is 110cm, slightly
more if you remove your rear derailleur, turn the forks 180 degrees or are running a single speed.

Full suspension MTB's will easily fit in the box with the forks removed, rear shock deflated, and the
rear triangle compressed and zip-tied in place.
All of the previously displayed measurements are maximums for any single dimension. If your bike
exceeds these dimensions then we'd recommend that you pop into our showroom and see if your
bike fits in an actual box.
Actual internal measurements of the bike box are given on the last page.
Packing Your Bike:
The Planet X bike box will take 700c wheels with tyres without removing the tyres. Deflating the
tyres is sufficient to enable road 700c wheels to fit in the bike box. 700c gravel wheels will similarly
fit with tyres deflated.

Packing Your Bike: Continued
•Remove the wheels.
•Remove seatpost and saddle if required. Loosen and remove handlebars and stem.
•Remove pedals.
•Fit a rear wheel frame spacer, this protects your frame from crush damage and keeps your
rear derailleur out of the way.
•Place frame and fork in the box. Chainset faces towards wheel side of the box.
•Place additional material between handlebars and frame if required.
•If bike's forks have been removed place additional packing material between forks and
frames.
•Fix frame and fork into the box with Velcro straps.
•Ensure everything is snug and nothing is rattling around, Use additional padding if required
to protect your frame.
•Always place some padding material between the underside of your chainset and the
bottom of the bike box. This will protect your chainset.
Depending on the proportions of your bike there are a number of different ways to arrange the
handlebars and frame within the box. You can remove and reposition the Velcro straps anywhere
within the bike box, simply drill a new 5mm hole in the case and cut a slot in the foam liner. You can
arrange your bar down the fork.

You can arrange your bars along the down tube.
Or you can arrange your bars diagonally across the top and down tubes.
The best method will depend on the proportions of your frame and fork and also the routing of your
brake and gear cables. Whichever way you choose, be sure to check that the wheels do not foul the
frame and bars when the box is closed.

MTB Specific Guidance:
The Planet X bike box will take 26" wheels with tyres deflated, 27.5" and 29er wheels will fit with the
tyres removed. Always deflate your tyres if flying with your bike. Fat Bike wheels will not fit due to
the width of the rims and axle lengths.
•Deflate suspension fork and rear shock if fitted and travelling by air.
•To gain extra space with full-suspension bikes you can tie the rear triangle up in the
compressed position using zip-ties after deflating the rear shock.
•Suspension forks should be removed from the frame and secured into the frame side of the
bike box.
•Ensure that exposed fork stanchions are suitably protected. A double layer of rolled
corrugated cardboard cut to length is excellent for this purpose.
•Once deflated suspension forks can also be compressed to reduce volume. Use a strap or zip
tie to hold in place.
TT/Triathlon Bike Specific Guidance:
It is possible that some TT bikes may not fit in the bike box due to the shape of the rear triangle and
position of the seat stays. TT bikes with low and wide seatstays may foul the axle placement of the
rear wheel.
It is usual that the handlebars will need to be removed entirely from the bike and may possibly
require the brake and gear cables to be loosened to allow the bars to be placed in the bike box.
Removing the bars and fork from the frame will give you the greatest number of positioning options
inside the box, as will removing the armrests and risers from the bars. If you're going to be a
frequent traveller with your TT bike consider running a little bit of excess inner cable on both your
front and rear brakes to make packing your bike easier.

Packing Your Wheels:
•Remove QR skewers/thru axles from wheels.
•Always deflate tyres if travelling by air.
•Remove disc brake rotors if required. Otherwise, ensure they cannot contact by facing them
towards the outside of the bike box shell.
•Place wheels in the wheel side of the box. Face cassette towards the inside of the bike box.
•The front wheel sits over the fork side of the frame and should be placed in the box first. The
rear wheel sits over the rear triangle part of the frame and should be fitted after the front
wheel.
•Fix wheels securely in the box with Velcro straps.
•Additional Straps/ Zip-ties can be used to secure the wheels to each other at the points
where the rims cross.
•Wheels spares, QR skewers should be protectively packaged and placed between the wheels
and the foam insert.
•If you want to additionally secure your wheels with a QR skewer through the shell of the box
we strongly recommend using a turbo trainer QR set with steel axles- not your fancy
lightweight QR skewers!
•Two spare washers are included in the box with your keys for mounting between the inside
shell of the box and the ends of your wheel axles when securing your wheels to the shell of
the box with heavy duty QR skewers.
•Aero Disc wheels cannot be fixed directly using the normal wheels straps, or with the anti-
crush tubes fitted. Fix disc wheel to the bike box with a heavy-duty QR skewer then use
bungee cords, stretched between the Velcro straps to secure disc wheels. Ensure the wheel
is securely fixed in place and will not move during transit. -NB removing the anti-crush tubes
to fit a disk wheel will reduce the protection offered by the bike box. We prefer to fly with
a separate wheel bag.
•Place some light packing material between your frame and wheels.
Never pack loose, unprotected items in your bike box with your bicycle. Always ensure that all
items in the bike box are carefully fitted, protected with padding where necessary and securely
tied down.

Bike Box Dimensions: