Bikepacking With A Full-Suspension Bike

That was a great video. For full suspension bikepacking would the Santa Cruz Blur TR be a good bet? thanks Richard

My oooold second hand canyon mr10 in 26' is a great lightweight+- 11.4kg xc bike but also an amazing travel bike. But the greatest feature is that you can 'fold in' the rear triangle, making it very compact to pack for flights.

Hey, great video. I’m setting up for bike packing on my full suspension bike, I ride a Scott Genius 950 trail bike with 5" travel both ends. I was not expecting to bike pack with this bike when I purchased it. This is my first FS bike and I wanted to bridge the hard trail/full suspension gap. When I found the Scott Genius and the twin lock remote activated suspension lockout I got really interested. After purchasing and riding the bike the first time I was amazed at how it climbed like a hard tail with the suspension locked out or set to the reduced travel setting, and then I could immediately switch to full travel for a decent. I have now got a Aeroe Spider rear rack with two cradles and bags, and my initial tests are indicating that this will be a fantastic bike packing rig as it behaves like a hard tail/ XC full suspension bike/ trail bike all in one. It would be great if you could review the Scott Genius for a bike packing rig, I’d like to know what you think.

What about the Scott spark?

Awesome as usual. Yes always bring shock pump. QQ: is one of the downside features to full suspension bike packing the lack of drive that a hard tail provides? Especially on the flats or incline? I use a full suspension bike for bike packing and fortunately it has “lock out feature” which helps a bit but I am not sure as good as a hard tail. Thoughts??

Good for its intended use - I'm trying to cool 1,000 sq ft and it's not working great for that...

Does this bike fare well against snow?

Description says twist shifters, but pictures show and manufacturers website says trigger shifters for the aluminum frame/discs/29s. Which is it

Thanks for the video. I'm "new generation" and started riding Enduro bikes as my first and only choice. I want to approach bike packing and wondering if I can just go with it or I should consider changing bike? To say the full truth, I already passed on e-MTB and wondering if anyone is bikepacking with motors? The European Alps have charging stations everywhere

What about front or back panniers/ racks and carriers? Is it doable?

What about carrying water on a full suspension bike packing trip?

My Giant Anthem Advanced 29ner 2019 has a carbon front triangle but has an aluminum rear triangle with bearing pivot points. When it's fully loaded with bikepacking gear--two Ortlieb Gravel Panniers on an Old Man Mountain Divide rear rack at the back and two Ortlieb Fork Packs and a Salsa EXP handlebar cradle and dry bag up front--I can feel both the rear triangle and even the headset bearings slightly flex and twist when I have to lay the bike against on a wall or at any angle that isn't perfectly perpendicular laterally to the ground. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

Gr8 stuff, Neil! Thanks a million!

Neil’s hair! Love it

A lightweight day backpack, such as the Mystery Ranch line of packs, is a good alternative to loading everything on the bike.

New to bikepacking and own a SC Megatower. Don’t feel like I’m ready to invest in yet another bike already owning a dedicated downhill rig. Anyone has good frame bag options to suggest?

I’m on 2’6 width tyres.. what do you recommend for something like the Highland 550?

Thanks a ton for the info. Been bikepacking on a 12 year old customized hardtail which works amazing but just bought a Santa Cruz Tallboy. Time for some dual suspension and need to learn more on setting it up. Great video and thanks for your insight! 👍🏻

the seat posts protection clamps can be accomplished with an old damaged inner tube and some electrical tape. Cut a short section of tube that will wrap around the post a few times and then wrap it in electrical tape. Cheap(free), easy and discreet.

Do you have videos on shock pressures I am struggling, a lot o videos are complicated. It does not need to be perfect but it would be nice if it was close. Hope you can help.

Can you supply a small list of frame bags (manufacturers, models, etc.) that are suitable for at least some full-suspension mountainbikes. I have a Canyon Lux, that I`d like to equip with a frame bag. Thanks in advance.

Trek now has internal frame storage on AL full sus bikes - could be a game changer in the long run.

🤣 been bike packing since mid 80's and by mid 90's on full sus.

Finally someone who promotes full suspension bikepacking ! I do it all the time and even on flat terrain it could be worth it !

Will the Shark Fin rack work? Thanks.

great stuff, full suspension looks so damn cool too, thanks man

I'm a little ignorant of suspension setup. Have just left it the way I got it, chicken to change it. Do you have how to vids on suspension set up with, and without bags?

Just finished the Divide on a Giant Anthem. Having full suspension for the rough parts and front/rear lockouts for smooth/climbing was a game changer for me. Very efficient, yet comfortable.

So I suspect a 2018 Scott Genius 940 is in the category of a bike that will work against me, eh?

nice video. I have question. would you dare to put thule pack'n'pedal rack on seatstay on that carbon full bike?
I do not like those huge saddle bags so I am looking for some alternatives 🙂

I'm new to bikepacking with a FS, and I am usually on a size small frame. So, with a lot less space on the bike to carry items, I expect to have to carry more in a backpack. I'm wondering if the rear suspension and the added weight of the pack cancel each other out in terms of saddle area discomfort?

Cool video, use my MERIDA One-Twenty FS as my primarily rig for bike packing, good stable and comfortable, surely that's the point of bike packing?

I’m looking to have my first bikepacking experience in September on a Revel Ranger. Any suggestions for a good fitting frame bag? Thanks!!

thanks for the video... how about the actual front bags? which is the lowest weight system that you would recommend for the bags on a fully? are u planning a full review of bags?

Think the YT Izzo Blaze would make a solid bikebacking bike?

Great video, unfortunatelly only one you dont list how to equip this.. I am struggling to find good bags options for my 19' Trek Fuel Ex. Can you please describe what are the bags on your bike please?

Call me crazy, but I just bought a burley coho xc trailer to be used with my 2010 intense Socom bike. I'm planning on going on a few bike camping trips with this set-up, but if I can find a X-country full suspension bike I will switch, but for now my intense downhill bike is all I have.

Hello, what dou you think about bike packing with Scott Spar RC, Trek Fuel 8 or Specilized Epic Evo? Congratz for the amazing channel!

Great video, informative for me planning to go on a bikepacking trip on my new Specialized Epic fs. I like to keep the frame triangle free for two water big bottles.
Looking for a saddle bag and steering rol. I don’t want a swaying tail so looking at the Revelate Spinelock €€€€ model. These come in 10 or 16 liters.
I am in doubt what size to buy. My frame size is XL and I have enough tire clearance for the big bag, but thinking a smaller sized bag will effect handling less.
Not planning loading it with heave stuff but 16 liter seems big. Besides steering rol I am planning to use a light backpack. (Maybe frame tank).
Do you have any tips on saddle bag size? How to distribute load between front and back to optimize handling.
Thanks, great channel and content.

Hyder, AK....I've been there!

Hey :) first of all well done for this video, it is so informative, kindly can you share some details about the frame bag please? I think soon I am going to order Orbea Occam and I would like to find a bag which fits similarly to your setup :) thanks a lot!!

I appreciate this video, thank you! I'm trying to get into bikepacking, but I'd love to use my current full-suspension since I'll only be doing 2-3 nights. Definitely got the confidence to save my money towards new packs and gear rather than a gravel bike. Plus I know my bike very well and know it's rock solid in the middle of nowhere.

Ive got a Kone 153 Process AL, is that a bike you'd ride bikepacking ? tia

Pros: Plush ride, all day comfort. Flatbar.

Cons: less mounting options. Also, flatbar.

hardtail always better for bikepacking for sure. When you are carryng bags you don´t go down fast because of the changed balance.

at last a common sense from to many hype gravel bike type

What would most people consider "too" much travel for full suspension bikepacking? The options are slim these days, but the most likely contender that I've been able to find is the giant trance x adv pro 29 (150mm front 135mm rear).

Totally agree, for some areas like Colorado I couldn’t imagine riding here without a rear suspension. I rock the ovega negra pack with the wolf tooth valais

I took my Ibos Ripmo on the Oregon Timber Trail last year and just came back from another bikepacking trip in the Oregon high desert. I have it rigged with Revelate Designs Vole in the back, Sweet Roll in the front, plus top tube and bottle bags. The bike does great, but I wish it had a bit more space. A possible solution is to add a rack like the Thule pack n pedal.