Test: The B&W bike guard curv wants to combine the advantages of bike cases and panniers with an innovative choice of materials and a minimalist design. After initial skepticism, the concept finally convinced us - if it weren't for the price.
B&W is definitely one of the top dogs in the rather small niche of bicycle cases and bags. The manufacturer from Ibbenbürden in Westphalia has four hard cases in its range for this year alone, plus two bags. The B&W bike guard curv is still a relatively young model and is intended to appeal in particular to those who would rather stow their valuable bike in a suitcase than in a bag, but who don't want to pay the "price" of the additional weight. And indeed: including all accessories, the B&W weighs only 11,26kg. While this is slightly larger than most bags, it is also significantly lighter than other hard cases.
The "secret" lies in the material used by B&W called curv. Visually, it is a bit reminiscent of carbon, but it is a specially developed plastic that is supposed to master the difficult balancing act between robustness, durability and weight. The structure of the B&W bike guard curv also differs a little from what is known from traditional suitcases. Basically, these are two large, non-connected plastic shells that are fixed against each other with the usual robust tension belts. The bike inside is held in place by lots of packing material and more straps.
We were a bit disappointed with the haptics at first: We had expected a noble impression, especially in view of the high price of almost €800, but the two plastic shells don't feel particularly high-quality. The edges and edges are sometimes quite sharp and rough. The accessories for this are very extensive: four bags for components and accessories are included, as well as two wheel bags and four large foam mats, which are intended to provide additional protection for the contents.
B&W bike guard curve: handling
Before using it for the first time, the four castors must first be mounted on the two “case halves”. The well-illustrated instructions help, but the space available for screwing is a little restricted. Nevertheless: After all, you only do this once, so this work step is not too important. After that you can start packing the bike. As usual, the wheels have to come out and the handlebars off. The frame is then placed on the foam mat - frame and chainstay protection can be put on quickly and easily and protect against any scratches. The vehicle is then secured in the shell with the help of four straps.
If you want, you can store accessories (pedals, quick-releases, tools and spare parts if necessary) in the included bags, which – at least with classic frame shapes – also fit well in the box. After another layer of foam, the wheels are placed in the unfortunately unpadded wheel bags. Finally there is the last foam mat and the curv can be closed. The second half of the case is put on and has to be "threaded" into the other half - this takes a little time and nerves, especially the first few times, until everything is properly seated.
In the last step, the straps are attached using the massive metal buckles and the two halves are braced against each other. This is how the B&W bike guard curve gets its final stability and makes a really robust impression. The shells can be pressed in at certain points, but this should only lead to internal damage in extremely unfavorable situations.
The case is very easy to handle: with two fixed wheels at the back and two moveable wheels at the front, it is very easy to manoeuvre. Thanks to the high quality of the castors, they can also cope well with uneven surfaces.
Unfortunately, after our test - which mostly took place on a carpeted floor - we noticed a few small and large scratches on the plastic shells. Visually, the B&W bike guard curv is likely to be affected after a few flights.
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