Bike Racks, non hitch recommendations.

[Joel Stern]

I used to use a Thule then I went roof rack.  Can’t do that now due to lifting.  I have a sedan and my wife has a Crosstrek, would like a rack for 2 bikes I can use on both.  What are you using and/or recommending?  

Thanks. 

Joel 

[Linda G]

I have a Yakima Halfback on my Honda Civic sedan. I've been looking into buying a Crosstrek and read that it will fit that vehicle as well. I is very solid and it's easy to secure the bike to it. The bike and rack do not move around once everything is secured on the car. It folds up very nicely for storage.The downsides are that the rack is heavy (26 lbs.) and you need good grip strength to twist the large dials to fold and unfold the rack. 

[Joel Stern]

Thanks Linda, that and the fullback are on my list.  

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[Dave S]

Saris Bones is my favorite.  We have the 2 and the 3.  The 2 with the 3 legs is easier to use/install but I was frustrated with the middle leg (bone?) blocking my rear wiper so I go the 3 which has two outboard legs.  Wiper still hits 'em so I just went back to the 2.

Dave

[Joel Stern]

Thanks Dave, that is another on my list.  

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[Edwin W]

Saris bones is the best I have seen for a rack that goes back and forth between cars, if you have space to store it in between uses.

For folidng up and leaving in the trunk, I got one of these for my wife's car in case I meet her somewhere and it is a long way back:

https://allen.bike/products/ultra-compact-bike-rack

Edwin

Nashville

[Roberta]

I see at least one or more a week on Craigslist in the $40 range.  I bought mine there for $40 (I don't know the retail) for when I rent a car and want to bring my bike.  That's what the police for here in Philadelphia uses for their bike patrol bikes.

Dave--I bought the one with the four legs even though I'd only have one or two bikes, thinking it would be more stable.  i've had it 6 months and haven't rented a car recently.

[Nate in Oakland]

I know you said non hitch... but you should really just get a hitch installed if you can. I’ve gotten one installed even on my VW GTI (Golf) that sits pretty low to the ground. If you go to a reputable local hitch installing business, you should end up out the door with hitch for under $300.

I am really awkward with lifting bikes and my bikes tend to be heavy. The hitch racks are so easy to use and some protect your bike better (less scuffs).

Nate

[Joel Stern]

Thanks Edwin, and they really work well? The low price kind of scared me.

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[Joel Stern]

Nate, by the time you buy the bike carrier for the hitch you have at least $600 invested. Being retired I try to watch the dollars a bit more plus it is not something I will use often. To be honest my only use right now will be when I bring my berliot and Atlantis to the shop to get the drivetrain off of the Bleriot. I am thinking of keeping the Bleriot so I am not sure what else I will take off of it. I will end up getting a Sugino if I do keep the bike. I pretty much have all else I will need. So investing the money and putting it on my wife's car because the ones for my car stick out a lot. I can usually get one bike in her car if I put her back seat down and right now I don't think she wants to drive to take a bike on a bike trail. 

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[Roberta]

To be clear, I was speaking about the Saris Bones.  Haven't used it yet.

[Nate in Oakland]

Hi Joel,
That makes sense to me! I use mine a ton so I’ve found value in the relatively high cost. Adding it to your wife’s car is also a major deterrent!

Nate

[Joel Stern]

Nate, that is what she told me..  thanks for the chuckle. 

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[Josh Chambers]

I too use and like the saris bones on my wife’s car. I like it just fine. I’ve never had an issue. I got it used for next to nothing. My only recommendation with any of these types of racks would be to use a few pieces of clear bra, or helicopter tape to protect the car paint.

[Jack K]

Hi all,

Likely not a good choice for Joel, since he's mentioned only needing occasional use, but I thought I'd mention a rack that appears to fill a unique niche in the marketplace and was the only cost effective solution I found for my rack needs ...  The Thule Raceway Platform PRO 2 is a bumper mount rack that uses trays to carry 2 bikes, like many hitch racks do; this thing:

https://www.thule.com/en-us/bike-rack/trunk-bike-racks/thule-raceway-platform-pro-2-_-1685475

I wanted a hitch mount rack, but the cheapest hitch I could find for my vehicle was $800+, then another $300+ for the rack, which doesn't seem like a prudent investment on a 15 year old car. Supporting the weight of a bike on it's wheels makes a lot more sense to me than creating a couple of point loads not far from the center of the bike's top tube, which most trunk mount racks do. In my case the bike I wanted to transport doesn't have a top tube, so trays were preferred, if not required. I'm not aware of another tray style rack that's also bumper mount, so I was pretty excited to find this model Thule. Not cheap, but I found mine for $300 brand new, in the box, so there are deals out there.

I also have a Saris Bones 2 rack that I've had for 15-ish years and still use to transport my tandem occasionally. People seem to love the Bones and it was state of the art 20 years ago, but if you compare the methods and materials it uses to secure the bicycle(s) to the rack and the rack to the car it's apparent that rack technology has continued to advance and racks like my Thule Raceway Pro Platform or other premium models are in a different league. They'll cost more than a Bones, even used, but after having my prized Bridgestone RB-1's top-tube damaged on a older "hang by the top-tube" rack a couple of years ago I'm willing to spend a bit for a rack that better protects my bike, my car and my nerves.

-Jack

On Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 6:34:41 PM UTC-4, Joel Stern wrote:

[André P]

I definitely +1 the Saris bones although I'd say get the 3 bike rack instead of the 2 as it's almost the same size and you can space your bikes out a little more. Completely OT, I do not recommend the crosstrek, it's not the best of an impreza+forester it's the worst of both. Bad handling + small storage space (anyone want to buy a 2013?).

[Dave S]

I bought the 3 bike with that specific idea (spacing out two bikes) but folding the rack up is much more difficult with the 2 upper supports vs the single.  The 2 bike version has three spliney parts with two smooth areas for folding the legs, the 3 bike only has two splines and one smooth section which makes it a bit of a puzzle to collapse and setup.   It sounds minor but I find it infuriating.  I fold mine up often and toss it in the hatch and the added frustration wasn't worth it.