Carrying a carbon frame Levo on a Thule tow bar carrier what do I use?

[Andy A]

Hi guys I have a Thule 931 tow bar bike carrier and looking at the instructions it says use protection but what do I use as the clamp on my carrier has to be screwed down until it clicks and then it can be locked but will that be too tight as I am worried about how I can carry it?

Any advice would be a huge help

Thanks

 

[Doomanic]

I thought you’d just ordered a Focus???

 

[Andy A]

I thought you’d just ordered a Focus???

I have but Linda still wants a Levo but on reading up on this it says don't clamp a carbon frame so it looks like the expert is off her list as I would be petrified it would crush the frame!

 

[Mad Mark]

I think you've got your priorities mixed up a bit here Andy.......
She can have the expensive bike but you can only have the cheap one..... my friend it's time to ......"MAN UP A BIT" ......
We can see who wears the trousers in that household

 

[steve_sordy]

I cannot bring myself to tighten the clamp on a carbon frame until it clicks. I tried the clamp on the kitchen worktop and it is wayyyyyyy too tight for my taste. So I don't tighten it until it clicks! In addition, the jaws close parallel, but the frame is tapered, so the edge of the jaws bite into the frame which will concentrate the pressure at that point. It just does not feel right to have it so tight.

I put some foam pipe insulation in the jaws, (or better still clip some onto the frame). Then I tighten until I feel comfortable. The clamp always locks, but whether it can be unscrewed or not is a bit of a lottery; try a fraction tighter. I am disappointed, to say the least!

I have a had a lot of problems with the locks that Thule fit to the rack I've bought. The key won't go in, or it won't come out, or it won't turn to lock, or unlock. All intermittent, frequent and random of course! The locks have had a few drops of light oil. The key problems were so bad and easy to demonstrate that the shop replaced the entire rack rather than keep messing about changing clamps.
Despite clearly expressing what the problem was, Thule failed to recognise that it was the keys that were the problems and just sent me new clamps for me to swap out the lock barrels myself (easy job). Hey they are the experts, no?

Sadly the new rack is only slightly better. Actually the rack is fine, it's the clamps and locks I have problems with. At least on the new rack the tow bar lever lock works fine every time. But the clamp locks continue to be troublesome with the same problems as before. That is, until I take the clamps back to the shop and then everything works fine!!! Even I can do it in the shop, but as soon as the clamps go back on the rack, back to square one!

The rack is high quality and works extremely well, it straightens itself up perfectly when I push the lever down. It is robust and easy to assemble. Everything works well and as it should except for the locks. Thule have economised one step too far. Another 50p per lock and all would be well.

Getting close to rejecting the whole thing!

 

[Andy A]

Hi Steve I really like the carrier but I know what you mean about the key and the locks as sometimes it just won't lock/unlock but I get there in the end, Linda has decided that she won't get a carbon frame bike when she changes hers, it's only because the dealer I am going to on Saturday has the carbon Levo Linda wants slightly used for a tempting price but I think with our rack carbon is a no no

I was going to get a Levo but there is no way in my head I can justify spending £6000 but I am really looking forward to getting the Jam 2

 

[Andy A]

I think you've got your priorities mixed up a bit here Andy.......
She can have the expensive bike but you can only have the cheap one..... my friend it's time to ......"MAN UP A BIT" ......
We can see who wears the trousers in that household

Haha I don't mind her having the dearer bike, as for me I could have got one in fact she wanted me to get one but I couldn't bring myself to spend that much on one and I am actually more excited about the Focus than a Levo I know the Shimano motor isn't as powerful as the Brose or the Bosch but I am sure it will feel powerful to me as I have never had one and people do rate the Shimano 8000 don't they.

 

[steve_sordy]

I had carbon fibre anxiety when I bought my first CF framed bike (YT Capra). I was creeping around trying not to clamp it and so forth. But that soon passed and I cheerfully bought a second CF bike (Whyte T130). I still have the Whyte and now I've just bought my third CF bike (Focus Jam2). They are much tougher than you think. Have you seen the notorious Santa Cruz video showing them testing their frames to destruction, followed by several guys trying to break a frame by smashing it against the corner of a wall (and failing repeatedly). But there was only one way that was going to end!

 

[StevoKickstart]

Hi,
I have a carbon Levo and a Thule bike rack- an older one that doesn't click . I wrap a bit of inner tube around the frame where the clamp fits to protect against small movement scratching especially on the way home where sandy mud would scratch. I tighten until the clamp is almost at full tightness without really straining. Then I use another longer piece of inner tube to secure the bike frame to the top of the Thule rack for piece of mind. I have a carbon Capra as well and I have always tightened the clamp to almost full tightness- I play it by experience really, but never had a problem.
I wouldn't be cared to tighten as the clamp also has a rubber layer that flexes as you tighten
Hope this helps
Stevo

 

[flash]

My ebikes are aluminium but my road bike is carbon. Never had a problem in the 5 years I've had it on a Thule carrier including my new 932. Took a few minutes to work out the best spots for the clams but after that no problems.

Gordon

 

[Benson]

I have a Thule 927 carrier with the Acutight torque knob and I also use one of the Thule pressure spreading pads on the frame (2019 Levo Comp Carbon). I tend to use a bit of common sense with the torque but typically stop short of the click.

 

[Andy A]

Thanks guys that's good to know

 

[Jonners]

I have used a Thule 933 to carry my Moustache Samedi Race 9 for the last 18 months or so. I have always used the Thule 984 carbon frame protector and am happy to report no problems.

 

[gunshot72]

I don't see the issue with this really because the clamps are only there to 'hold' the frame. It doesn't need to be super tight. As long as it secures the frame in place so the bike doesn't move. It's just the same as our tendency to over tighten bolts. It's not necessary and doesn't actually do anything. What I would say is definitely use the lock on the clamp handle as this prevents it from loosening from vibration on longer journeys.

 

[steve_sordy]

I have two 18" long flexible rubber covered wire straps (dunno what they are called). Once the bike is on the rack, I put one around the clamp and frame, so that even if the knob comes clean off I won't lose the bike. And one around one of the cranks to stop it rotating.
Once twisted into place the straps will not come loose.