#1
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of having
a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state. Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but I'd like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative ways of carrying my bikes. Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got a towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more expense and I think it'd spoil the look of the car. So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already, so fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the best model seems to be the Thule range: http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510 I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for around £200. Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does anyone have any experience with them, and how stable they are? Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough not to break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look in my rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone currently use this type of system? Any problems? |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
"adownhiller" wrote in message ... I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of having a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state. Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but I'd like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative ways of carrying my bikes. Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got a towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more expense and I think it'd spoil the look of the car. So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already, so fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the best model seems to be the Thule range: http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510 I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for around £200. Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does anyone have any experience with them, and how stable they are? Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough not to break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look in my rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone currently use this type of system? Any problems? I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about 40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly short and his car is tall. Mike |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
"Michael Dart" wrote:
I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about 40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly short and his car is tall. Mike Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from someone with the same bike. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 12:14:33 +0000, adownhiller wrote:
I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of having a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state. Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but I'd like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative ways of carrying my bikes. Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got a towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more expense and I think it'd spoil the look of the car. So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already, so fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the best model seems to be the Thule range: http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510 I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for around £200. Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does anyone have any experience with them, and how stable they are? Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough not to break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look in my rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone currently use this type of system? Any problems? A couple of points. Firstly, to mount a rack on the rear of the car, you don't need a tow bar. Secondly, getting a bike on the roof is a bit of a 'mare (especially, if as your name suggests, you have to get hulking great downhill bikes up there). If you slip, your bike will do nasty things to your roof. Finally, Thule are very nice, but expensive with it. You can probably get something similar for less money. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
bomba wrote: A couple of points. Firstly, to mount a rack on the rear of the car, you don't need a tow bar. Secondly, getting a bike on the roof is a bit of a 'mare (especially, if as your name suggests, you have to get hulking great downhill bikes up there). If you slip, your bike will do nasty things to your roof. Finally, Thule are very nice, but expensive with it. You can probably get something similar for less money. We discovered that wagon + rack + bikes = too tall to enter local covered garage/car park. I know I'd forget they were up there some day and hit a tree or other overhanging obstacle with my precious bike. Much easier to hang them off the back where I'm reminded of their presence every time I check the rear-view. -Charlotte |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
We discovered that wagon + rack + bikes = too tall to enter local
covered garage/car park. I know I'd forget they were up there some day and hit a tree or other overhanging obstacle with my precious bike. Much easier to hang them off the back where I'm reminded of their presence every time I check the rear-view. -Charlotte Just about everybody I know has done the bike into the garage door header. Fortunately for me....it was my wife's bike (though I was driving) (;-}. Didn't hurt the bike but sure messed up the car after the bike fell off the front wheel carrier and stayed hooked to the back. Gary |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
"adownhiller" wrote in message ... "Michael Dart" wrote: I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about 40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly short and his car is tall. Mike Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from someone with the same bike. My rack is on a Ford Escort Wagon so the bike is worth more than the car. ;^) This makes he rack is about chest high to me and an easy reach to load bikes. Mike |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
"adownhiller" wrote in message ... I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of having a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state. Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but I'd like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative ways of carrying my bikes. Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got a towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more expense and I think it'd spoil the look of the car. So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already, so fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the best model seems to be the Thule range: http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510 I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for around £200. Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does anyone have any experience with them, and how stable they are? Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough not to break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look in my rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone currently use this type of system? Any problems? Check out the Yakima Raptor carriers. They can fit massive down tubes (helpful for DH rides) and, best part, you don't need to take off the front wheel. Bikes go on quick, and I've driven 90 minutes plus at over 75mph with a Sugar on one and a Kona Roast on the other...there was no swaying, nothing came loose, etc. Perfect. I got mine for ~65 US each, and the mounts that adapt the Yakima racks to my factory Subaru rails were about 20. Not bad. Chris |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
Not to put words in Mike's mouth, but he mentioned Yakima towers and rails.
If you're planning to do the towers and bars, it'll be secure. If you're going to fit the carrier to a factory roof rack, I'd be thinking twice. Some factory racks are total junk. Just my $.02 "adownhiller" wrote in message ... "Michael Dart" wrote: I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about 40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly short and his car is tall. Mike Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from someone with the same bike. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Roof racks
"Gwood" wrote in message ... "adownhiller" wrote in message ... "Michael Dart" wrote: I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about 40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly short and his car is tall. Mike Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from someone with the same bike. Not to put words in Mike's mouth, but he mentioned Yakima towers and rails. If you're planning to do the towers and bars, it'll be secure. If you're going to fit the carrier to a factory roof rack, I'd be thinking twice. Some factory racks are total junk. Just my $.02 Exactly what I was going to say. ;^) Yeah, don't bolt 'em to the factory rack. The one on the Escort is a joke. I wouldn't strap Clark Griswold's dead Aunt to it. Mike |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Looking for photo of car roof rack/low garage accident... | George | General | 3 | July 20th 04 10:39 PM |
rear hitch bike rack | curt | General | 12 | March 18th 04 09:55 PM |