Recent Motorcycle Seat Reviews
How to Buy the Right Bike Rack for your Vehicle
Know What Type of Biker you are and Love the Rack you Choose!
In this bike rack buyer’s guide we offer four considerations to ponder that will help you determine which rack is right for you. From your budget, to the number of bikes, ease of loading and unloading, and finally, looking at the types of trips you are most likely to take with your bike rack, we cover the most important aspects of buying a bike rack!
Are You Shopping Based on Budget?
First of all, what is your budget? If it’s …
Understanding Different Types of Bike Racks
Bike racks come in three basic styles, and the key to choosing the right one is to match the rack style with your lifestyle. Here is an overview of the options.
Trunk Mounted Bike Racks
Trunk-mounted racks use adjustable straps to hold the frame to the vehicle’s trunk, hatchback or rear bumper. Padding along the contact points of the frame prevents damage from rubbing. The arms of the frame feature straps or cradles that hold the bike(s) in place. Up …
Yakima Viper Bike Rack Review
The Yakima Viper is described as the company’s “mid level” roof-mounted bike rack. The price point is lower than the King Cobra’s, but performance is not sacrificed a bit. Made with the same high-quality materials and industrial paint coatings, the Viper delivers features that make it a favorite among roof rack enthusiasts. The ergonomic design allows for easy, no-tool installation and single hand tightening of the skewer, which helps as you keep your ride in place with the other.
Once your bike is secured in the 39.5 inch tray, you …
Yakima Raptor Bike Rack Review
Like all savvy manufacturers, Yakima provides a range of products that offers something for every budget. The Yakima Raptor is the most affordable upright roof rack in their inventory, but maintains the quality and durability the line is known for. It’s still a Yak, after all.
The tray on the Raptor is a generous 52 inches, suitable for just about every cycle on the market. The tray secures nicely to any round or square roof crossbar, and will keep your bike up and off the roof, protecting the vehicle’s paint job. …
Yakima King Cobra Bike Rack Review
The Yakima King Cobra bike rack continues the company’s commitment to making the most secure and durable roof-mounted racks available. The King Cobra grabs your bike in its gentle jaws, and won’t let go. Your bike will arrive along with you, safe and sound. The secure mounting straps and locks assure you of that. And the quick-load features will leave you plenty of energy for your ride.
The King Cobra shares the family genes, producing a tough and durable rack, with automotive paint that wears as well as it looks. The …
Yakima High Roller Bike Rack Review
Yakima racks have been delivering top of the line sports racks for more than 25 years. They have been at the forefront of the industry, making racks for all your outdoor pursuits. The Yakima High Roller bike rack garners high praise from independent testers and users alike. The High Roller is the company’s signature roof rack, and its upright design provides great security and stability to bikes of all sizes.
Roof racks may be a bit tougher to load than hitch or trunk mounted racks, but once the bikes are up …
Yakima BOA Bike Rack Review
The number one concern when considering a roof-mounted bike rack is the security of the cycles on the rack. Out of sight is not out of mind – just the opposite! But with the Yakima Boa, consumers are finding out they really can turn their bikes over to the Boa and forget them.
The Boa is Yakima’s most affordable system, composed of a rear tire tray and a front fork skewer that locks easily. Both fit any factory crossbars, round or square, and the tire tray pivots to create flexibility while …
SportRack Hitch N Drive Bike Rack Review
Bike riders demonstrate as much diversity in taste regarding their bike racks as they do in the rides those racks hold. Enthusiasts of hitch-mounted units are looking for ease of installation and loading. And that is what SportRack delivers in the Hitch’n’Drive 4 bike capacity unit. To maintain stability with a hitch-mounted rack, and the strength to handle 4 bikes, the unit had better be manufactured from some robust materials. Check that criterion on your list, because the Hitch’n’Drive is made from high-grade metal that passes the test.
Another “must” is …
Sportrack Bike Rider 3 Bike Rack Review
Trunk-mounted bike racks feature the simplest designs in most lines. That makes them the most affordable units from most manufacturers, especially in multi-bike units. This holds true with the BR3 from SportRack. Nothing particularly fancy here, just a top quality unit that fits snugly to any vehicle’s trunk or back hatch, using tough, adjustable straps that only need to be pulled to be tightened. The tubular steel of the frame has the beef to meet the needs of its 3-bike capacity.
The contact areas are generously padded to protect your vehicle’s …
SportRack 4 EZ Bike Rack Review
SportRack knows its customer base as well as any manufacturer, and they create a line of racks to fit every need. The 4EZ is their 4 bike, hitch-mounted unit that offers the greatest convenience and versatility. Their designers pulled out all the stops to create a rack that just about installs and loads itself! You’ll have to do some of the work, but setting it in the hitch receiver is a snap, and loading bikes could not be easier.
The cradle platforms adjust to fit any wheel dimension and accept all …
Saris Bones 3 Bike Rack Review
Some designers are content to produce a bike rack that functions well. Others are as committed to form as they are to function. Chief designer at the Saris Cycling Group, Fabio Pedrini, believes that if it is worth making it functional, it is also worth making it a work of art. This philosophy is on display in the Saris Bones 3 rack, a beautiful unit that will also keep your bikes safe and damage free. It is artfully designed to exacting specifications, easy on the eyes and gentle on your …
Saris Thelma 2 Bike Rack Review
The Thelma 2-Bike from Saris is a tastefully designed rack that combines simplicity and style with top-notch convenience. This hitch-mounted rack weighs in at only 26 pounds, and can typically be installed on your vehicle in about 2 minutes. Loading a bike or two is just as smooth and easy. The bikes are nicely cradled in contoured arms that fit most bike tires very snugly. The ratchet straps are easily adjusted, providing a secure hold on your bike as you travel. When you reach your destination, simply unsecure the straps, …
Saris Bones 2 Bike Rack Review
The Saris Bones-2 will carry up to two bikes with sporty style and impressive strength. The good looks come courtesy of Fabio Pedrini, head designer at Saris. He brings an art-lover’s perspective to the task of creating highly functional racks. The catchy arc design gives enough clearance to fit over any spoiler or bumper, or on sedans or mini-vans, making it a versatile rack. And it holds the bikes at slightly different levels, and in different directions, to prevent them from rubbing together. The good bone structure is due to …
SportRack Nomad Bike Rack Review
Roof mounted racks are not for everyone. It takes a bit of energy to hoist your cycle up there and get it secured. But for those with the muscle to do that, a roof unit provides other benefits that make them a great choice for many bike riders. The Nomad showcases those benefits in a quality rack that does exactly what it is supposed to do. First, this rack is easy to install. The skewer locks tighten nicely on any OEM or aftermarket crossbars, and no tools are required. Secondly, …
Hollywood Sports Rider Bike Rack Review
The Hollywood Sports Rider Offers Platform Security in Versatile Sizes
The Hollywood Sports Rider bike rack offers a platform style rack that handles two bikes with ease. Racks for three or four bikes are also available. All the unts are easy to fit onto your vehicle, and the bikes load in a snap. The wheel holders are quickly adjusted, and the 60 inch maximum wheel base means it will fit any bike on the market. The bikes are then secured with a sliding and padded top mount that holds them securely …
Hollywood F1B 3 Bike Rack Review
The Hollywood F1B bike rack is the rack that put this company on the map. This original design is as effective today as it was in 1973, and continues to provide a quality support for up to 3 bikes.
It is made of heavy-duty steel tubing that will stand up to the punishment of travel and storage. The user-friendly design features adjustable hinges that mean the unit is easily attached to any car, mini-van or SUV, and are locked once in place. Extra security is provided by the adjustable tie-down straps. …
Saris Cycle-On Bike Rack Rack Review
Serious bike riders need equipment on their bikes that match their drive. And they need a rack that will keep up with the pace, too.
The Cycle-On from Saris is a professional grade rack that delivers quality construction and superior convenience. Robust and reliable, the Cycle-On holds up to 60 pounds without wincing even a little. The claims to toughness and durability are backed up by a lifetime warranty.
The standard model handles 2 bikes with ease. Add-on kits make room for 2 more cycles while sacrificing nothing in the stability department. …
Hollywood Traveler Bike Rack Review
Hollywood Racks turn out some of the most popular bike racks in the industry, and the Traveler model demonstrates the quality and convenience they are known for. Just slide it into the receiver, secure the bikes with the strong rubber cradles, and go! There are no straps on this unit to secure it to the vehicle, so stability is enhanced with anti-sway stabilizers and a threaded hitch pin.The heavy duty construction means it will wear well over time, and its powder coated paint job will stand up to weather.
The Traveler …
Hollywood F6 Expedition Bike Rack Review
Every company has a signature product. For Hollywood Bike Racks, the F6 fills this niche. Now completely updated, the Hollywood Expedition F6 provides sturdy dependability every time you use it.
The six attachment straps mean that it is easily installed on any make or model. The rubber bike cradles caress your bikes without wearing producing wear. The padded braces protect that vehicle from rubbing of the rack, or contact that can damage paint during travel. The arms adjust easily, and can be set at level, whether the rack is attached to …
Hollywood F4 Bike Rack Review
Some bike owners know that their bike rack is going to receive more punishment than others. Going off-road, carrying a heavy load of bikes, and frequent use create wear and tear. The Hollywood F4 bike rack was made for you, if this is how you plan to use it.
Their heaviest-duty rack, it features thick steel tubing and reinforced hardware. The positioning system is fully adjustable, and will allow the rack to fit snugly on all makes and models, from sedans to SUV’s. Quality padding protects vehicle and bike alike. Extra …
