Looking for a bike rack recommendation
August 30, 2022 12:56 PM Subscribe
My wife and I recently bought Aventon Pace 500 bikes. We want to get a bike rack to accommodate both bikes as well as our son's bike. My son is 6 and has a normal bike. I feel completely lost when it comes to bike racks. We drive a 2019 Mazda CX-5 and a 2020 Honda Odyssey. Can anyone recommend a bike rack that would suit our needs?
I've checked out some youtube videos, but feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options. I've tried asking on ebike-specific forums, but I haven't gotten any specific recommendations, just links to more videos. I'm very inept about these kinds of things and I'm feeling really lost. I'd really appreciate any specific recommendations. Thanks.
I've checked out some youtube videos, but feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options. I've tried asking on ebike-specific forums, but I haven't gotten any specific recommendations, just links to more videos. I'm very inept about these kinds of things and I'm feeling really lost. I'd really appreciate any specific recommendations. Thanks.
Make sure any bike rack is rated to carry the weight of your e-bikes; many are not. I chose the Thule T2 Pro XTR to carry my 50-lb REI e-bike.
If I were in your shoes, I'd plan to carry the kid bike inside the vehicle and the two e-bikes on the rack. 3- and 4-bike tray racks are very heavy and expensive, so my preference would be a 2-bike rack.
[I am a bike mechanic, I am not your bike mechanic ;-)]
posted by workerant at 1:13 PM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
If I were in your shoes, I'd plan to carry the kid bike inside the vehicle and the two e-bikes on the rack. 3- and 4-bike tray racks are very heavy and expensive, so my preference would be a 2-bike rack.
[I am a bike mechanic, I am not your bike mechanic ;-)]
posted by workerant at 1:13 PM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
The big issue is if you have a receiver. I got a hitch/receiver just for accessories like cargo trays and bike racks, well worth it imo (go to a truck mod place for best price, not a dealership or normal auto shop place, in my experience). If you could clarify if you have a hitch, what size, and give a rough total budget you may get more relevant help.
I got this Larin for only ~$150, and it easily fits two adult bikes plus a kid. It goes on or off in about two min. The posted limit is 150lbs but I personally would be comfortable going a little over. Your bikes are listed at 49 lbs so plenty of room to spare. I bought a 2" Curt hitch and got it installed for around $300 total (in 2018, Austin TX). So you could probably do all that for a lower cost than the (admittedly very nice) Thule rack linked above. A big issue is how often you see yourself using this. If it's under 10x a year and you're not taking big treks loaded up, I don't think you need a top-tier rack.
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:37 PM on August 30, 2022
I got this Larin for only ~$150, and it easily fits two adult bikes plus a kid. It goes on or off in about two min. The posted limit is 150lbs but I personally would be comfortable going a little over. Your bikes are listed at 49 lbs so plenty of room to spare. I bought a 2" Curt hitch and got it installed for around $300 total (in 2018, Austin TX). So you could probably do all that for a lower cost than the (admittedly very nice) Thule rack linked above. A big issue is how often you see yourself using this. If it's under 10x a year and you're not taking big treks loaded up, I don't think you need a top-tier rack.
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:37 PM on August 30, 2022
You absolutely need to install a 2” hitch and buy a tray style hitch rack rated for ebikes. Do not attempt to go cheap. Do not use a trunk rock. That way leads to heartache.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:38 PM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:38 PM on August 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have this bike rack and it's been great, carrying up to four bikes without using the top stabiliser strap with no problem (my wife's bike needs a top bar adapter). Given the weight of your bikes, a roof rack isn't going to work, nor is one of those 'clip-on' racks, so you're faced with a choice of a 'hanging' style rack or a 'tray' style rack and you're definitely going to need a receiver.
I like the rack workerant linked above and it has a big advantage of not having to lift the bikes as high. It's a lot of money though, especially if you have to pay for a receiver as well.
posted by dg at 1:41 PM on August 30, 2022
I like the rack workerant linked above and it has a big advantage of not having to lift the bikes as high. It's a lot of money though, especially if you have to pay for a receiver as well.
posted by dg at 1:41 PM on August 30, 2022
Response by poster: I don't have a hitch currently. Price is not really a limiting factor. I'd rather pay more and not worry about something breaking.
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 1:42 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by NoneOfTheAbove at 1:42 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Right, then my advice is start hitch shopping. I wouldn't worry about the one I linked breaking, but if money is no object, the higher end (Thule, Yakima) will be more pleasant to use.
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:14 PM on August 30, 2022
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:14 PM on August 30, 2022
I have a Thule arm-style rack. It mounts to a standard trailer hitch. The arm bends down, so that the hatch can be opened when no bikes are attached. It also folds up compactly. Works great. If money were no object, I might have bought a tray rack out of convenience, but the arm works just fine.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:25 PM on August 30, 2022
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:25 PM on August 30, 2022
I asked a similar question last year and ended up getting the Thule T2 Pro XT along with the addition to make it hold 4 bikes. We only have regular bikes and it works fine but I don't know how comfortable I'd be with carrying 2 ebikes plus a regular bike on it. I'm sure the rack would be fine but I don't know if my car would be.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:58 PM on August 30, 2022
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:58 PM on August 30, 2022
Yeah, like most above, I would add a 2" receiver to each car and get a tray style rack for the three bikes. If you have a Rack Attack near you, you could get a hitch installed and shop for a tray style rack all in one convenient trip. Prices there are MSRP, and you may be able to get some rack deals here and there, but if you want the easy mode, they certainly have it.
2" receivers give you the most options for accessories. I don't see any upside in getting a 1 1/4, and regret getting the smaller size, even on our tiny car.
I have a Saris Freedom 2, and they make a four bike version, the Saris Freedom 4. It's way better than my older style hitch rack where the bikes hang down, and it's not as expensive as some of the other trays. The biggest reason you might choose a different tray system is how easy it would be to put another bike on there. The Freedom line isn't that hard to set to a different sized bike, but it does take a few minutes and the other ones make it trivial.
posted by advicepig at 3:14 PM on August 30, 2022
2" receivers give you the most options for accessories. I don't see any upside in getting a 1 1/4, and regret getting the smaller size, even on our tiny car.
I have a Saris Freedom 2, and they make a four bike version, the Saris Freedom 4. It's way better than my older style hitch rack where the bikes hang down, and it's not as expensive as some of the other trays. The biggest reason you might choose a different tray system is how easy it would be to put another bike on there. The Freedom line isn't that hard to set to a different sized bike, but it does take a few minutes and the other ones make it trivial.
posted by advicepig at 3:14 PM on August 30, 2022
Price is not really a limiting factor. I'd rather pay more and not worry about something breaking.
If your vehicle can accommodate a hitch and quality is a bigger concern than cost, 1UP makes some really nice products, including racks specifically designed for heavy e-bikes. Their products are made in the USA, which may or may not be important to you.
posted by musicinmybrain at 4:19 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
If your vehicle can accommodate a hitch and quality is a bigger concern than cost, 1UP makes some really nice products, including racks specifically designed for heavy e-bikes. Their products are made in the USA, which may or may not be important to you.
posted by musicinmybrain at 4:19 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
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You can easily get three bikes inside a Honda Odyssey, no rack required (this obviously is the most secure and most aerodynamic option). It would be more work with a CX-5, but not impossible.
posted by adamrice at 1:05 PM on August 30, 2022