Sure the bike industry is doing well nowadays, but what good is buying a mountain bike if you have no way of transporting it to the further off trailheads?! Take a look at some of the newer bike rack systems that are on display.
The Kuat Piston Pro X - Starting at $1389 this rack can be used as a two or four bike holder.
The Kashima piston adds a fancy gold look and buttery feel.
Equipped with taillights that work when the rack is both open and closed.
Saris Door Country - $1199 - It has a powered raise and lower to make it easier to get ebikes on the rack, and it includes tail/reverse lights.
Wheels on the bottom of the rack assist when getting it into place and tucked away in the garage.
The motorized tower for raising and lowering.
The 1Up Heavy Duty Double - $595 - Tried and true with everything you want and nothing you don't.
Solid levers and beefy components.
Fully adjustable up to 29" wheels.
Inno INH120 - $549 - Simple and effective.
Standard dual bike tray rack.
Adjustable sliding and a large handle for tilting.
Rubicon Expedition Products Corral - $999 - Super sturdy 2,4 and 5 bike carrier.
Strength and robustness is what set the REP rack apart from the others - they're esigned to take a beating.
The adjustable cam can be tightened over time to keep the rack from getting floppy.
Yakima StageTwo - $749 - Sleek and stylish with the additional add-on options.
The ramp can be purchased separately for rolling large ebikes onto the rack.
Another add-on is the taillight and license place holder.
VelociRAX - Starting at $699 - Can carry 3-7 bikes upright.
Durable materials and large wheel cups secure the bikes in place.
@andrewfrauenglass: Did I tell you guys that my gold plated butt plug business is being sued by Apple? Yea, apparently they have a patent on overpriced crap for a*sholes.
@gnarnaimo: nah... Blue collar guy here. I just work hard to buy the things that are important to me. FYI, every bike I have every bought has been used.
@Afterschoolsports: Thieves will have those off in two seconds with a piece of pipe, they slide it over the locking part and pop it off, I have not found a good one yet, I bolted mine, and then a hidden bolt. If they really want it they will get it, I'm not a dentist but I can sure park next to one.
@lake-st: yeah everything can be defeated with the right tools, but a locked pin will prevent some opportunistic thieves. Some of my vehicles I’ve bolted the receiver in, and it’s an uncommon automatic hitch so they can’t just hitch the trailer up to their vehicle and drive off easily. I’m pretty paranoid about it, but one of my friends had his trailer full of tools stolen a couple of years ago when he ran into a hardware store for five minutes.
Yeah, that concerns me. I have a Recon that cost me a donkeyload to get to Canada. When I park at the trail head, I have it chain locked to to my hitch and if possible I backup to a tree or pole so you'd have move the vehicle ahead to get it out of the receiver in one piece.
A little spendy, but it has worked (functioned in the non rusting, always locks and unlocks as it should sense) flawlessly. I move my rack between vehicles a decent amount and was tired of trying to nurse along corroded cheapies that lasted under a year’s time.
I also have a Laclede chain and ABus Granite lock to buy some more time when stopped traveling, though someone always stays with the vehicle and bikes.
It's funny that bike rack "technology" has basically just become a competition of other brands copying either 1Up or NSR racks... usually at higher price tags.
The best part is 1up is still the only one with a full aluminum design for the tray style racks. I off road a lot and have backed into trees, bottomed the rack out, etc. and it's amazing how well it's held up. Have had to bend a couple arms back into place but still haven't had to replace any broken parts.
@Staktup: Yes, the 1up is super adjustable to fit all sizes of wheels. I use mine for both my road bike and 29"x2.5" bike without having to change anything. www.1up-usa.com/compare-racks
@hi-dr-nick: Not only that. You can buy spare parts for the entire rack. Someone hit and run my rack in a parking lot and bent one of the trays. No problem. Bought a new tray and hitch shaft and it's good as new.
@hi-dr-nick: had a some embarrassing moment and backed into a tree with my 1up on, had to replace a piece and found an exploded parts diagram with every individual part available. Customer for life
I was sold on the nsr because no moving parts. No plastic parts. My nsr 6 has a "pivot" which is a bolt and locking pin to fold it down. Super simple design made of steel. The worst part is with larger head tubes you need to pry open the forks.
Came here to say the same thing. Was looking at it thinking, wow they are all finally realizing 1up is the superior design, and are now doing a crappy job copying it and and charging more.
My 1up is going on 6 years old now and still works as good as day one. Why anyone would buy any other rack blows my mind.
I'm on my 3rd (a pair on the roof) of 1UP racks now, only because my current car won't take a hitch without hacking up the bumper, and they really are just the best. The ONLY thing they could maybe improve on, is using stainless bolts instead of whatever zinc coated stuff they use. If your rack stays out in the weather, those eventually start corroding and pitting. I don't really care because its $4 of bolts at Home Depot to get new ones, but that has happened, to all my racks. Outside of that, they're amazing and they have awesome customer service if you ever need. I have no idea why people won't learn and still buy the other gimmicky and plastic-ey crap.
@makripper: the worst part is the inevitable rusting of the rack and the rubbing on the fork collar. The VelociRax doesn't do either of these, at least not the rubbing on the collar.
@mm732: Hold up, are they really trying to charge $600 for a one-bike rack? Then another $400 just for a single add-on to make it a two-bike rack? That's just silly. I'm sure it's quality and all but no friggin way.
As far as the rust comments, just another reason to not live in heavily salted areas like the upeer midwest and NE! haha I'm on year 4 of my rack in CO and zero rust.
The only options are a single bike rack that comes in either 1.25" or 2" hitch for $599 each (maybe you're looking at the name "Mach2" and thinking it's a 2 bike rack but it is not) and the add-on is $399.
Actually, I think you're referring to 1up, that is not what we were talking about. See that I was replying to the comment from @mm732. Fully aware what a 1up costs since I was the first comment stating how long I've had one haha
@skiboot1: what's not true? That metal rusts? Or that company has garbage qaqc? Yeah it's true and I broke a few of them just by shuttling. It's a shit company. What other dumb shit can you comment about?
It makes sense for the only real justifiable use for ebikes: getting people with disabilities on the trail. If you don’t need a rack like this then you should just ride a real bike.
I seriously doubt that rack is going to be marketed to said 70 y/o woman who want's "to go for a ride with the grandkids". I live on a golf course/retirement neighborhood with a majority blue hairs. Haven't seen any of them on PB and can guarantee they wont spend that much scratch on a rack.
This, just like kashima shocks on the kuat, is a sign of an industry run amok by marketing
@dontcoast: "I can tell you pinkbike knowitalls are often terrible customers."
Yes, I can see that (maybe). Hopefully most of us are not daft enough to pay full msrp at a bike shop, only to wait weeks to get a part and also pay tax on it.
@ATXZJ: good bike shops work on having inventory and staff to fix things for people who have no idea how to repair it, or maybe more money than time.
Once again, you are not the target market.
Get off your horse, it's high.
(and thank you for ordering online, since you presumably know what you need and how to install it. saves us time. just don't bug a shop if you mess up the install)
@dontcoast: That's fine and more power to you guys. Remember, all good things come to an end. The market will adjust and these items will be as silly and passe as driving around in an H2.
@ATXZJ: no doubt the wave will crest at some point.
pretty sure people will keep buying e-bikes and more racks with ramps and lifts will be introduced for many years to come. it's ok it's not for you (or me)
@dontcoast: I also thought bike shops were useless until a started working part time at one. It struck me how many people have no idea of bikes and come in for a tube change. And it's true, there's plenty of grateful customers, nobody needs PB smartasses at a LBS.
@lefthandohvhater: Nonsense. Have you ever shuttled? Ridden at a bike park? I ride an ebike on days I don't have hours to be on the trail climbing but want to get some runs in.
1up is the only way to go. I got mine 10 years ago and it is still holding up strong with no issues. It replaced a Thule Spare-me that rusted out in less than 2 years.
I refuse to get a 1up soley because the 1up fan boys are the most obnoxious people on Earth. "IF YOU DON'T GET A 1UP YOU SHOULD KILL YOURSELF!!" - Basically every 1up owner ever.
@tbubier: I’m with you. I don’t get how defensive they are. Any PB article about a rack, the One Up people rush to the comments to bash it. Despite what they say, I’ve had a Kuat for five years now and it still looks and works as well as the day I bought it. I know plenty of people with the same experience from a Thule.
@Rich-Izinia: totally agree, hostly I bought it due to hype and out of curiosity - lack of plastic parts is stupid since your car and bike have plastic parts and last just fine, did I mention it rattles? And u need some duck tape to fix that;
There are pluses as well - like roof or hitch , etc
@tbubier: yep. Lol. I even owned a 1up for a few years... Yeah it's a great rack, but definitely not perfect.... imo, premium price for subpar product... Pass.
@Lando406: From a fabrication, design, and materials used perspective, they are the best racks out there. I have a phobia of getting my bikes whacked while on the back of a vehicle... so they go in the bed of my truck. LOL
@Lemke: I actually got rear-ended with my bikes on my 1Up rack in July. Thankfully my insurance covered all the damage. Wishing I’d had an adventure van—in vehicle transport is the best rack, bar none.
@DHhack: Sold a neon with 160,000 miles for $2,700 this year. It was the kind of car that you hold your breath when you turn the key and breaks when you’re cleaning it to get ready to sell.
They're one of the few companies that hasn't considerably increased their prices. In the spring, I was looking for a 1 bike rack so I went with a Kuat Transfer V2. It was $279 + 10% off vs. $319 (I think) + shipping for the Quickrack Single. Now, the Transfer is $359 and the Quickrack Single is $335. If I was making the choice today, it'd the Quickrack no question.
There is no such thing as a 100 dollar-pound-whatever Thule anymore. Maybe the cheapest trunk mount is 100 pounds, but that's a different class of rack, the cost of convenience is a huge factor. Any of their hitch mounts are in the range of most of these.
BC cops have hung out at the bottom on Silver Star and other roads to hand out tickets for obscured license plates . Not a problem in North Van where 50% of cars have a bike rack - but could br a problem for you. .A North Shore Rack is inches away from needing a red lumber flag - 3-4 ft from the bumper.i have scene some 4 bike racks that are defiantly past this . A cop can pull you over anytime for unsafe load- I followed a truck through Squamish where a xl 29” downhill bike hung inches from the ground on a hanging rack - well below the bumper -if you were a boat trailer- you would be pulled over for sure.
@pourquois-pas: in my corner of the world, we can get auxiliary plates for just this sort of scenario. I have them for all of my vehicles fitted with hitches.
@Afterschoolsports: I've always driven a pick-up and in my area they are only required to have visible front plates as it is expected that the rear may be blocked due to a trailer or lowered tail gate. So I've never even given it a thought, tbh
An obscured license plate is a “non moving” violation. You have the right to correct it before they issue a ticket. They can only issue the ticket if you’re unable to correct the problem on the spot. Make sure you have the ability to remove the rack on the spot and wait for them to fk off. If you can’t remove on the spot, take a picture of vehicle without rack to court, case dismissed.
I used to go there all the time. Never saw this before. When did it start? Have you been to Nelson or fernie or any other biking community? They'd pull over half the town.
“Sure the bike industry is doing well nowadays, but what good is buying a mountain bike if you have no way of transporting it to the further off trailheads?!”
Buy an 80s dodge van in some dull color, nobody would’ve guessed there’s a 10 grand Yeti inside.
Ebikes are just like regular bikes right? But now we have racks with ramps to roll the bike onto the rack, just like a motorcycle. Can't make this stuff up.
@seraph: Meh, I realize you're making money off selling these items and expect it. Best luck.
If a rider requires a powered rack to lift his/her bike onto the back of their car, maybe they shouldn't be riding mountain bikes. How are they going to lift that e-tank back onto the trail if they have a spill, which we know they will.
To me, this rack is a solution to a problem that never existed. Also, the lights just take it to a whole new level of crap.
@ATXZJ: Lifting a bike up that's tipped over after a crash is way different than lifting the entire bike a few feet vertically to put it on a rack. I'm not sure why that's a difficult concept to grasp.
@ATXZJ: the flatness of the ground is irrelevant. It has little effect on the difficulty to right a bike that has fallen over, regardless of the weight of the bike.
Love my Kuat base rack. Had someone back into it and it is still perfect. the 1UP might work, but it looks like it was made in shop class, cant hang that off the back of my vehicle.
Does anyone know where you can buy just the upper bike rack portion of a NSR/velociraxx style bike rack? The part that holds the front wheel/front of the bike. I have a f350 with a utility bed and lumber rack and would love to bolt one of those on right to the ladder rack. No need to make my truck longer with the hitch mount.
The Kashima Kuat allows you to open the two arms with one hand, whilst the other holds your bike that for some reason can’t be laid on the ground. Not sure what those riders do when they need to take a piss out on the trail?
I get the facetiousness of that statement in the article, but still, implying a bike isn't useful without a rack is a terrible sentiment and should be avoided.
Some of these bike racks are implying that the riders of the bikes have some type of handicap or disability. Unable to lift your ebike on to the bike rack? What the fox?
@nilswalk: look again, the Saris has casters so presumably you can lower it so the rack is sitting on the casters, release it from the receiver and roll it out of the way. Next time you need your rack roll it in, tighten, lift and away you go. You can probably leave the bike(s) on the rack when you detach it. Not my cup of tea but actually quite a well thought out design.
@nilswalk: lol then she needs to have someone install the rack and keep it on there, her problem for driving a tank that needs an airplane boarding gate for her to get into
Don't worry, there will still be some guy with an F-250 with an 8 foot bed rocking a cover and a bike rack, because for some reason truck people don't understand how a bed is supposed to be used.
for the rides when i dont load my bike till after having too many brews….i want a hrydraulic loading mechanism on my next rack! come on Kuat, $5K should cover it!
Any chance the Velocirax or Rubicon will warp wheels from the side-loading? Probably not an issue for MTB, but that one pic of the road bike had me thinking that wheel won't be true after a long trip.
Can I mount any of these in a car sold in EU. The murican pickups that are mostly for those compensating for something are pretty much the only thing that have those weird 2" receivers, all we have is balls around here.
Pretty much every ‘hitch’ in the US is a square receiver that can be used with either a ball for towing, or some kind of bike/cargo rack. Smaller cars often get a 1.25” receiver whilst larger vehicles get a 2”.
@Zany2410: 91301 Forchheim is in Germany. Out of 13 bikeracks for trailer hitch mout only one can carry 4 bikes all other only 1-3. Well, they‘ve already lost me as a customer...
@Zany2410: i no pickup truck but 4 kids and if I want to go for a trip where I need a car then the group counts also more than 4. But this seems to be a general problem with bike racks in europe...
@squarewheel: I'm building a trailer for that. The oldest kid is now 8 so I can just toss the kids bikes(3 of them) in the back of the transit custom. Not going to work for long like that so a trailer it is. And yes, I have tried pretty much the racks I can find but either I just don't have the talent for tetris or the racks are shit.
Cool
www.pro-user.eu/en/bike+carriers/tow+bar/diamant+bike+lift/664
I have not found a good one yet, I bolted mine, and then a hidden bolt. If they really want it they will get it, I'm not a dentist but I can sure park next to one.
www.amplock.com/product/hlp12
A little spendy, but it has worked (functioned in the non rusting, always locks and unlocks as it should sense) flawlessly. I move my rack between vehicles a decent amount and was tired of trying to nurse along corroded cheapies that lasted under a year’s time.
I also have a Laclede chain and ABus Granite lock to buy some more time when stopped traveling, though someone always stays with the vehicle and bikes.
www.1up-usa.com
had a some embarrassing moment and backed into a tree with my 1up on, had to replace a piece and found an exploded parts diagram with every individual part available. Customer for life
As far as the rust comments, just another reason to not live in heavily salted areas like the upeer midwest and NE! haha I'm on year 4 of my rack in CO and zero rust.
The Equip-D is a bit more but still not as you’ve described
The only options are a single bike rack that comes in either 1.25" or 2" hitch for $599 each (maybe you're looking at the name "Mach2" and thinking it's a 2 bike rack but it is not) and the add-on is $399.
Actually, I think you're referring to 1up, that is not what we were talking about. See that I was replying to the comment from @mm732. Fully aware what a 1up costs since I was the first comment stating how long I've had one haha
1Up is the only rack worth buying right now unless you're running shuttles for six people and need a hanging rack for maximum capacity.
THIS!
Srsly, how lazy can we you be? I used to get my 200# MX bike up on a rack when I was a scrawny little kid without such aide.
until then, you won't need it.
Also, be a dick to the 70 year old who wants to put her step thru city bike on the rack to go ride with the grandkids next town over.
Grow up.
I seriously doubt that rack is going to be marketed to said 70 y/o woman who want's "to go for a ride with the grandkids". I live on a golf course/retirement neighborhood with a majority blue hairs. Haven't seen any of them on PB and can guarantee they wont spend that much scratch on a rack.
This, just like kashima shocks on the kuat, is a sign of an industry run amok by marketing
I can guarantee you I sell various $700-1200 racks to 70yo ladies with step thru frames on a regular basis - multiple a week.
Just because they're not on PB doesn't mean they're not spending money - in fact I can tell you pinkbike knowitalls are often terrible customers.
The only thing I can agree with you with is the Kashima is a total joke (but it IS shiny!)
Yes, I can see that (maybe). Hopefully most of us are not daft enough to pay full msrp at a bike shop, only to wait weeks to get a part and also pay tax on it.
Once again, you are not the target market.
Get off your horse, it's high.
(and thank you for ordering online, since you presumably know what you need and how to install it. saves us time. just don't bug a shop if you mess up the install)
the guys who think they know better and bring us broken bits, not so much (quite common!)
pretty sure people will keep buying e-bikes and more racks with ramps and lifts will be introduced for many years to come. it's ok it's not for you (or me)
Wow
Imagine if we could combine the e rack and kashmoney I mean kashima.
There are pluses as well - like roof or hitch , etc
Yes, f*ck me.
Buy an 80s dodge van in some dull color, nobody would’ve guessed there’s a 10 grand Yeti inside.
Wow, we're officially 10-ply now. This is what the end looks like boys.
If a rider requires a powered rack to lift his/her bike onto the back of their car, maybe they shouldn't be riding mountain bikes. How are they going to lift that e-tank back onto the trail if they have a spill, which we know they will.
To me, this rack is a solution to a problem that never existed. Also, the lights just take it to a whole new level of crap.
"Rack weight: 63 lb"
"A Yeti 160E weighs around 49 pounds"
Seems legit
This makes harder to fit some our a bikes …
Still tons of good! Love the bike you ride, love the trails you ride, no matter where.
Out of 13 bikeracks for trailer hitch mout only one can carry 4 bikes all other only 1-3.
Well, they‘ve already lost me as a customer...
regular people carry an maximum of 2-3 bikes with their regular car and not with their pickup truck etc.
But this seems to be a general problem with bike racks in europe...