Traveling with full mount derailleurs

How to pack your derailleur

You booked a dream riding trip and now it’s time to pack your Eagle Transmission or your RED XPLR AXS. Full Mount derailleurs feature a new, simplified setup and travel procedure. Our top travel tip: Bring a torque wrench to make sure the mounting bolt is reinstalled to 35 N·m.

To begin, select from the two different packing procedures below, depending on whether you’re packing your bike in a structured and dedicated bike bag or case, or a cardboard bike box. This article focuses on preparing your Full Mount derailleur for travel—check with your bike bag manufacturer for resources on how to pack up the rest of your bike.

Choose your packing method below, and let's get rolling.

Three riders descending a MTB trail on rocky landscape.

Structured bike bags and cases typically offer support beneath the bottom bracket and rear axle / rear derailleur. We’ll walk you through the process of securing your Full Mount derailleur to your frame, starting with wheel removal, preparing the derailleur, and collapsing the cage. And yes, you can (and should!) leave your chain on.

Remove rear wheel

Step 1: Shift the derailleur to the smallest cog and extend the cage to Open Mode. Remove the thru-axle and wheel, then loosely re-install the thru-axle.

Tech Tip: Add a hub dummy or spacer in place of the rear wheel to add extra support to your rear triangle.

Prepare derailleur

Step 2: With the thru-axle finger-tight, gently push up on the cage to release the cage from the extended position—watch your fingers!
Step 3: Shift the derailleur inboard six or seven gears so the cage is in the middle of the shifting range, then rotate the cage upwards (clockwise) and collapse the cage. Shifting inboard will make sure the cage does not interfere with the derailleur body when collapsed.

Step 4: Remove the AXS battery and install the battery block.
Step 5: Install your bike into your bike bag to check for fitment.
- If the derailleur interferes with the back or the bottom of the bag, you'll want to loosen and reposition the derailleur to keep it and the frame safe. Remove your bike from the bag and proceed to steps 6 & 7 to finish prepping your bike.
- If there are no clearance issues, your derailleur is now ready for travel, and you can finish packing up your bike. There’s no need to remove your chain—in fact, we recommend keeping it on as PowerLocks are single use only.

Position and tighten derailleur–for extra clearance

Step 6: Loosen the derailleur mount bolt one full turn, then slightly rotate the whole derailleur clockwise to tuck it under the frame’s chainstay. Tighten the derailleur mounting bolt to 35 N·m to prevent it from slipping and damaging the frame.

Tech Tip: Wrap your derailleur in packaging foam or a towel for extra protection in the case.

Step 7: Hand-tighten the thru-axle.

Your derailleur is now ready for travel, and you can finish packing up your bike. There’s no need to remove your chain—in fact, we recommend keeping it on as PowerLocks are single use only.

At your destination

For best shifting performance, it’s important to correctly set up your derailleur once you’ve arrived at your destination. Install the wheels before following these steps.

Step 1a: If you did not need to reposition your derailleur in Step 3, rotate the cage counter-clockwise to tighten the cage back on, install the battery (AXS only), then shift the derailleur outboard to the hardest gear. Put the cage into Open Mode, then install the rear wheel and thru-axle, tightening the thru-axle according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once you’ve finished building the rest of your bike, you’re ready to ride!
Step 1b: If you repositioned your derailleur in Step 3, loosen the rear axle and derailleur mounting bolt one full turn. Continue to step 2.
Step 2: Position the derailleur in the Setup Key and Setup Mode for your bicycle as determined in the Prepare the Components section.

AXS USER MANUAL MECHANICAL USER MANUAL

Step 3: Make sure the chain is placed on the Setup Cog for your bicycle and is properly engaged on all cogs in the system.
Step 4: Make sure the PowerLock is closed.

For MTBs: The bicycle suspension is uncompressed, at 0 percent sag, unless otherwise instructed.

Tighten

Step 5: Pull back on the lower cage of the Transmission derailleur to remove slack from the chain and continue to pull back while you rotate the crank forward two rotations to confirm the chain stays on the setup cog.
Step 6: Tighten the mount bolt while continuing to pull back on the lower cage of the derailleur, then release.

If there is still slack in the chain after tightening the mount bolt, loosen the mount bolt, then repeat steps 1 and 2.

Step 7: Verify the knurled ring mark is aligned with the mark on the full mount of the derailleur.

If it is not aligned, loosen the axle mount bolt one turn, rotate the knurled ring so that it is touching the knurled ring stop, then repeat steps 1-3.

Step 8: Tighten the rear axle to torque according to the frame or axle manufacturer's instructions.
Step 9: Release the cage from Setup Mode to Ride Mode by rotating the cage forward and then carefully letting it return to the unlocked position.
Step 10: Check your shifting out on a ride. Not shifting smoothly? Check out Troubleshooting.

You’re ready to ride!

Fully assembled Santacruz bike next to a bike bag

Cardboard bike boxes are economical and can often be reused a few times. When using a cardboard bike box, place a foam block or folded towel beneath the frame’s bottom bracket for support. We'll walk you through the process of removing your derailleur body while leaving the cage and chain attached for easy transport. And yes, you can (and should!) leave your chain on.

Remove rear wheel and axle

Step 1: Shift the derailleur to the smallest cog and extend the cage to Open Mode. Remove the thru-axle and wheel.

Tech tip: Add a dummy hub or spacer in place of the rear wheel to add extra support to your rear triangle.

Remove derailleur

Step 2: Shift the derailleur inboard six or seven gears so the cage is in the middle of the shifting range. This will allow the cage to be removed from the derailleur without impacting the derailleur body.
Step 3: Loosen the derailleur mounting bolt, then remove the derailleur, bushing frame insert, and knurled ring from the frame and install into the derailleur.
Step 4: AXS Derailleurs: Rotate the derailleur body counter-clockwise and separate it from the cage, leaving the cage and chain still intact. Wrap the cage in something soft and attach it to the frame using zip ties or straps.

Step 4: Mechanical derailleurs: Attach the derailleur to the frame using zip ties or straps.

Your derailleur is now ready for travel, and you can finish packing up your bike. There’s no need to remove your chain—we recommend keeping it on as PowerLocks are single use only.