Bike racks...

jptbiow

New Member
May 20, 2019
28
16
UK
Waiting for delivery of a META POWER 29 and its unlikely that I'll fit in the car along with my wife, daughter, luggage etc... Give that leaving any of the above behind is not an option, has anybody got any tips re: a solid bike rack that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (for an estate car).

Thanks in advance!
 

Gee

New Member
Jun 20, 2019
38
27
South Wales
I'm waiting for the same bike and I'm going to try it on the roof if the weight is close enough to the rack limit.

Will try it on my Thule Thruride 565, weight limit is supposed to be 17kg. Should be a few kg less than stock by seting up tubeless with the battery out and front wheel off.

LBS says loads of people are sticking ebike (lots of kenevos) on the roof with no probs but it's a chamce you take I suppose.
 
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Mattwilko92

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2018
229
188
Staffordshire, UK
I'm waiting for the same bike and I'm going to try it on the roof if the weight is close enough to the rack limit.

Will try it on my Thule Thruride 595, weight limit is supposed to be 17kg. Should be a few kg less than stock by seting up tubeless with the battery out and front wheel off.

LBS says loads of people are sticking ebike (lots of kenevos) on the roof with no probs but it's a chamce you take I suppose.

I use the Thruride 565 to transport my levo all over the place. Battery out and front wheel off its about 15kg. No issues and recommend the rack, feels very solid and well made.
 

jptbiow

New Member
May 20, 2019
28
16
UK
Thanks for the replies. Had a quote for a tow bar at £500
... Don't fancy sinking half a grand before even looking at the bike rack itself. Looked into the thule rear bike rack range and none of them will fit my A6 estate... Need to check other brands but apparantly will be similar outcome due to the shape of the boot.

Looks like it will have to be roof racks...
 

DTZ

Member
May 5, 2019
116
89
UK
I put 1 x Levo Alloy FSR, 1 x Levo Womens Hardtail (both batteries removed), and 2 x kids islas bikes on the roof of a Skoda Octavia estate with no issues so far (I've only done a couple of short journeys though).
 

Blue Moon

Active member
Apr 17, 2019
135
183
North Manchester
Can also squash a clockwork spesh rockhopper on the 4th rail.

image.jpeg
 

d3ftone

Member
May 29, 2019
100
63
Colorado
The middle metal cylinder part of my Saris Bones 3 has buckled and bent a bit, still usable, due to a 53 lb YT Decoy on the back. I guess I'll be removing the battery during transport from now on.
 

jptbiow

New Member
May 20, 2019
28
16
UK
@jptbiow -If you have a tow bar fitted, I use a Thule 970 Express 2 to carry my Levonall intact: carries up to 30kg, so I just put 1 bike on. At about £65, Cheapest I have seen is Wiggle... well worth considering!

Wiggle | Thule 970 Xpress 2-Bike Towball Carrier | Tow Bars

Thanks so much for the Andy. Will check that out. Roughly what did you pay to fit a tow bar, or was your car already equipped? I had had one quote for £500+ which seems steep...
 

AndyH

Member
Jun 23, 2019
60
63
Portsmouth
This car had it already fitted, but previous was £300 from a mobile tow bar fitter- it was detachable which drove up the cost.... definitely worth looking at mobile tow bar fitters rather than dealers etc ....
 

jptbiow

New Member
May 20, 2019
28
16
UK
This car had it already fitted, but previous was £300 from a mobile tow bar fitter- it was detachable which drove up the cost.... definitely worth looking at mobile tow bar fitters rather than dealers etc ....

Thanks - thats really helpful - this quote was actually from a mobile fitter so I think I need to get a few more quotes, as he seems high.
 

Gee

New Member
Jun 20, 2019
38
27
South Wales
Well, got the bike up on the 565 earlier and I don't trust it at all, bit wobbly, bike minus battery and front wheel is 19kg. It was complete mare to get it up there (Suzuki Vitara so not the lowest roof and had to use steps). Didn't feel very stable and it would only be a matter of time before I either end up doing myself an injury, dropping the bike and/or damaging the car.

Had to use a tonne of effort, cant see myself being able to do that after a ride or with a potential injury after an off, so will be getting a tow bar fitted this week and ordering a Buzz rack.

Was funny tho, as I collected a new emtb for my father today (Giant Fathom HT 650B) and that flew up there and was rock solid with the wheel and battery off.
DSC_1049.jpg
 
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maw1000

Member
Feb 22, 2019
10
12
Fresno CA USA
I have the Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack and really like it. It is a 2 bike rack but because of the weight it can only hold 1 E-Bike.

LBiN1xipQeyPauY+Gtd7xA.jpg
 

MitchF

E*POWAH Elite
Jun 1, 2019
520
611
Mirokumk38
Just picked up a Witter ZX200 towbar mounted rack for £99 It’s for 2 bike so capacity is 36K. I only have one ???
Already have a tow bar.
Don’t pay more than £300 for single electrics fixed towbar ?
 

AndyH

Member
Jun 23, 2019
60
63
Portsmouth
Welwyn, Hertfordshire... Yeah I think you are right, mate...

Time to look further afield.
In summary, if you only have 1 bike, just buy a bike rack that can hold multiple bikes and use that to carry 1.... look at other options too- you never know what is out there... Halfords may be a good start!
 

JoeBlow

Active member
Jul 7, 2019
729
448
South West, UK
In summary, if you only have 1 bike, just buy a bike rack that can hold multiple bikes and use that to carry 1.... look at other options too- you never know what is out there... Halfords may be a good start!
I assumed the same but contacted both Thule and Saris in order to double check. Both told me that max weight was not the issue and advised me politely but explicitly not to use their racks in this manner. Apparently there are individual components for each bike that will not take the weight. In matters like this I'm not convinced that doing something for a period of time without any consequences is necessarily proof of anything and in the event of an accident I hate to think of the insurance implications which is why I heeded their advice and settled for keeping my bike inside the vehicle.

Al
 
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Doomanic

🛠️Wrecker🛠️
Patreon
Founding Member
Jan 21, 2018
8,735
10,399
UK
Bike goes in the car, mutt goes on the front passenger seat.

If the Doris ever wants to come along I’ll cable tie a rocking chair to the roof bars.
 

Dustjunky

Member
Nov 11, 2020
100
42
Derby
Dave Cooper trials bike tow bar rack £98 …..don’t get ripped off by the greedy manufacturers …anything ebike sells for silly amounts of money

8A4266F4-3A6A-4EAB-A84D-C13D607AEFD5.png


45E8D466-3494-4315-AAF3-153A94CD4CB2.png


8EFA7E10-9113-4886-8060-A58AF507B689.png


C96BF2EC-0122-4A5E-9E25-3CC6DA4A8CB0.png
 

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