Can the forum recommend a bike rack

Mcofferon

Hi all

I'm looking for a bike rack to transport 2 bikes. 1 road bike and 1 ladies bike with a steeply angled top tube (though not "step through").

Fitting will be to the back of an old Volvo V40 estate. There's no tow bar fitted.

My preference would be a roof mount system, but I'd need to get roof rails fitted first as the Volvo is naked upstairs. All this would probably stretch the budget too far, so I'm looking for recommendations on rear carriers.

Not planning to travel too far with the carrier but priority would be transporting the bikes securely and without marking the frames.

Any suggestions?

Cheers - Mike

keizer

I have one of these: http://www.marreybikes.com/car-racks/655-saris-bones-3-bike-rack.html

No marks to car or bike, I have seen these on hatchbacks as well as using on my own saloon. I can highly recommend.

Mcofferon

Thanks Keizer

Was looking at the Saris gear. Curious about the price difference between the Sentinal and the Bones range as both carry 3 bikes and look very similar. There's a difference of about €100 in pricing on the Marrey Bikes website.

Cheers - Mike

Lemag

Mcofferon wrote: »

Thanks Keizer

Was looking at the Saris gear. Curious about the price difference between the Sentinal and the Bones range as both carry 3 bikes and look very similar. There's a difference of about €100 in pricing on the Marrey Bikes website.

Cheers - Mike

I have the Saris Bones 3 bike rack and it works very well. Much beter than I'd expected it to.

t'bear

I have the bones 3 version, very sturdy, easy to setup and doesnt mark the paintwork on either the car or bikes. Very very adjustable too.

Its a squash though to fit 3 even though its designed for 3. I got mine from Marrybikes too, next day free delivery. Excellent service from Eamon

Popoutman

I've Thule Clip-On 9103 for carrying bikes on the rear hatch of my A4 estate, and it works great. Not lockable to the rear door but I can lock the bikes to the roofrails anyway. Fast to fit, fast to release and very very steady when attached. There's no need for the side-attached straps with this system, and the bikes attach well to it. Padding such as pipe insulation or roofrack pads will be needed as would small straps to prevent the bikes from rattling on the rack.

For your car the Thule website recommends a few, and for you, the High 9105 rear rack may be the best fit, as the wheel are captured as well as the downtube. Certainly worth a look.

I've learned the hard way over the years that it's always worth getting the brand-name racks as they have proven to last longer for me than the cheaper ones at half the cost, and I've not lost racked items from the Thule ones in situations that I have lost stuff from cheap ones. Cheap insurance to get the right ones.

wav1

I make bike racks if your interested.Have quite a few around the country at this stage.Carries 4 bikes with front wheel out plus fork space for the 4 front wheels plus 2 x spare sets of wheels.Clamps directly on to any roof bars.e380.

BailMeOut

I have the Saris Bones 2 bike rack and it works great for gents bikes. For ladies it does not work unless you have one of those detachable frame beams or else you need to put the ladies bike upside down making it a bit wobbly when driving.

Mcofferon

Thanks Guys

I've done a bit more research and can see the ladies bike may be a sticking point with the Saris (and most carriers that support the top tube). The Thule 9105 supports the wheels and just braces the top tubes - but is worth more than the Volvo!

Might look at going for a roof carrier, but would need to get roof rails (no gutter) and roof bars first so this isn't a cheap solution either?

Still if petrol gets any more expensive I'll be looking to fit a car carrier to the bike instead:)

Masala

Got this from Micks Garage at €78 delivered

http://www.micksgarage.com/bike-racks-cycle-carriers/rear-door-mounted/skoda/octavia/octavia-4-doors-2008-onwards/

Used it twice and whilst a little tricky if on your own ... it seems to be doing teh job.

Here is a few pics on a Skoda

(bummer....can't upload...pics are over 1.3MB each. Must learn how to compress them dowm.. if anyone can help..post details!!)

murphyebass

Masala wrote: »

Got this from Micks Garage at €78 delivered

http://www.micksgarage.com/bike-racks-cycle-carriers/rear-door-mounted/skoda/octavia/octavia-4-doors-2008-onwards/

Used it twice and whilst a little tricky if on your own ... it seems to be doing teh job.

Here is a few pics on a Skoda

(bummer....can't upload...pics are over 1.3MB each. Must learn how to compress them dowm.. if anyone can help..post details!!)

Photobucket.

Seweryn

Lemag wrote: »

I have the Saris Bones 3 bike rack and it works very well. Much beter than I'd expected it to.

Another vote for Saris Bones 3 .

And you can attach it to any car.

keizer

Mcofferon wrote: »

Thanks Keizer

Was looking at the Saris gear. Curious about the price difference between the Sentinal and the Bones range as both carry 3 bikes and look very similar. There's a difference of about €100 in pricing on the Marrey Bikes website.

Cheers - Mike

I think that the photo for the Sentinal isn't correct on their site.

karltimber

hi

was thinking of getting this Thule 4 bike carrier to start getting the kids out more.

question - does this type fit both the swan neck & flange ball hitches.

I have a flange type hitch but vids etc only show a swan neck.

Thx

K


update: yes it does fit a swan neck and a flange type towbar - as per pic here