S &S couplers on bikepacking bike

[jackdcuna]

Wondering if anyone has experience with S&S couplers for travel and portage.  I am considering retrofitting my steel steed with a set.  How long does it take to disassemble the couplers and whats the least amount of tool to do so? Are they practical for portaging?

[SandLizrd]

I have an S&S-coupled bike, and it's great!
it takes maybe 15 minutes to assemble - the couplers and cable-joiners are trivial compared to wheels / stem / pedals. Packing is about the same, I suppose you can go crazy with padding and tube-wrapping but again, not a big deal.
S&S provides a nice little wrench for tightening the couplers, with a 15mm pedal wrench on the other end.  I keep a couple of 10mm open-ends in case the cable joiners were to freeze up, but usually I just set them finger-tight and everything is OK.

I guess they weigh 1/2 pound but that's hardly worrisome to me.  The technology is amazing and S&S is very particular about their builders so no worries whatsoever about the frame.

Cost is the only downside.  Couplers are expensive, suitcase is expensive, you'll be needing a lot of travel to break even.  29'ers are never going to make the 64-inch limit so I hope you like smaller wheel size.