(locking systems will be discussed in our security metric). Integrated cable locks keep your bikes from growing legs, and the racks arms have a wide, comfortable grip and slide easily to secure the front wheel, with tires up to 5 inches wide. Related: Choosing the Right Bike Rack for Your Car. When the rack is unattached, it is light and easy to haul off your roof. Tiered trays allow bikes to sit closer together, and the rack rides high enough to be out of the way of most exhaust pipes. It is best to carry a long cable lock if you plan on stopping for groceries after a ride. Both the Kuat Trio and the RockyMounts SwitchHitter feature this more secure design. From a durability standpoint, the 1 Up USA Heavy Duty Quick Rack stood out to our test team with a robust, if not overbuilt, design. The Yakima HighRoad knocked it out of the park. Many of the higher-end models, like the Yakima StageTwo, Thule Pro XT 2, and Thule EasyFold XT are quite easy to work with. This makes it best suited for lower vehicles and lighter-weight bikes. Everything can be done with your fingers and fingers alone. Roof racks are more of a set-it-and-forget-it item that consumers often choose to just leave on the roof for extended periods after the initial installation. The system makes installing and removing the T2 easier (though it weighs 52 pounds, so you might still need an assist), but its not foolproof. They aren't particularly difficult to load, but there is almost always some kind of bike-on-bike interference, and there are numerous steps involved to attach them securely for transport. Highlights From the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, 7 Best Kickstands To Prop Up Any Type of Bicycle. 4-bike hanging hitch bike rack swing away black. The Singlespeed performed flawlessly through months of testing, and its front wheel hook and rear tray carried sub-15-pound road bikes, 50-plus-pound e-bikes, cross bikes, kids bikes, fat bikes, and enduro bikes. These racks are designed to haul your pedaled possessions without a rattle and make loading and unloading your bike easy. Our mountain bike review editor, Jeremy Benson, and multi-discipline bike racer Curtis Smith supply the experience and know-how behind this review. User-friendly tilt mechanism at the rear of rack, Less clearance from the vehicle than some, Functions best on vehicles with lower roofs, More security features than other trunk racks, May not work with all frame styles and designs, Only compatible with bikes with suspension forks, One-handed tilt mechanism at rear of rack, Requires tools for installation and removal, Lower profile than racks that clamp the tire, Standard 9mm and through-axle compatibility, You have to remove the front wheel to load the bike, Not ideal for shorter riders or heavier bikes. The MonoRail appears very well made with a sturdy metal receiver arm, main support arm, and bike trays. The added bonus is the included bottle opener built into the end of the rack. The trays are tiered and set very far apart, which makes it extremely difficult to find a combination of bikes that wont work on this rack. The North Shore NSR-6 scored slightly higher because it has a higher payload capacity and can carry 360 lbs, making it E-bike-friendly. Once you're done riding, we have garage bike storage suggestions to help you stay organized. It sure would be nice if we could leave our bike racks on our vehicles all the time, but unfortunately for most of us, riding bikes is a hobby rather than a full-time job. We evaluated how each rack plays with each style of bicycle. Lower scoring racks in our tests only allow the fork mount to be locked and leave the rear wheel unsecured and vulnerable to theft. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. The Kuat NV 2.0, on the other hand, is a bear to assemble that took us a fair amount of time and effort. They may not be the most elegant or refined way to carry bicycles, but their low weight and small size make them quite convenient for the infrequent rack user. Its also not ideal for bikes with non-traditional diamond-shaped frames like some full suspension mountain bikes or bikes with step-through frames. Most hitch racks arrive in several pieces, like the Yakima StageTwo pictured here. Although we don't score products based on price, we know value is important. The North Shore NSR-6 is another rack that has a built-to-last feel. Enduro and downhill mountain bikers will be stoked, but roadies or folks with hybrid bikes are out of luck since this rack only works with mountain bikes with suspension forks. It also comes in 2 and 4 bike versions that cost less than the 6-pack we tested. This roof-mounted option is super easy to install and remove, requiring no tools simply flip a lever, tighten a thumb roller, reclamp, and you're in business. It offers a high level of versatility, with well-designed wheel trays and the included ladder strap extenders that can handle everything from skinny road tires up to 5-inch fat bike behemoths. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Despite challenges from other manufacturers the Thule T2 Pro XT holds onto our coveted top award. In our opinion, the most secure bike racks are those that utilize cable locks like the Kuat Sherpa. The Camber 2 is a two-bike hanging rack thats a great low-cost alternative to pricer tray racks. This rack does fit a wide range of vehicles, but it doesn't work with all vehicles, so it is important to reference Thule's Fit my car feature on their website to find out. For the folks who prefer trunk mounts, the Allen Deluxe 2-Bike is also an outrageous value. It holds two bikes in fixed wheel mounts, secured with a single ratcheting arm that clamps down over the frame. 1Up has built a cult-like following with its industrial-looking racks that take a simplistic approach to secure your bike. This rack can fit a huge range of wheel sizes, wheelbase lengths, and tire widths, so you can carry virtually any size and type of bike. The two vertically-oriented hitch racks scored exceptionally poorly in this metric, and the reasoning is simple: these racks are gigantic and very, very heavy. Some racks feature integrated cable locks to secure bikes to racks and locking hitch pins to secure racks to cars. The highest-rated hitch rack we tested is the Thule T2 Pro XT. An improvement over the tried and true design of the fork mount rack, Kuat has devised an innovative solution that can carry bikes with any axle standard at the fork. Topping the list is a handle with a wide trigger that allows you, with a single hand, to raise and lower the rack (and dip it out of the way for access to rear hatches). Like most great platform racks, the MonoRail holds the bike by the wheels, so there is no frame contact. You can also buy single and double tray add-ons should you need extra capacity in the future. It only weighs 18 lbs and can be conveniently shoved onto a high shelf or tucked into a tight space in the garage. Thule was established in Sweden in 1942. Unlike tray racks, which tend to be very heavy, at only 28 pounds the Camber 2 is light and easy to install quickly, making it a great option as both a permanent fixture on your vehicle or a rack that you put on only when you need it. One of the best features of the Thule EasyFold XT is the fact that it folds up small for storage. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, We tested bike racks from Thule, Kuat, RockyMounts, Yakima, and more to find the best option for transporting your bike. We also feel it is a good value, as other brands sell pivoting swing-away accessories that can add several hundred dollars to the price of an already expensive rack system. At just 18.3 lbs and with a small collapsed size, it can also be stowed in the trunk and won't take up much room in your storage space. The ratcheting arms make it mindless and easy to load bikes of varying wheelbase lengths, as there are no straps to adjust. Adding a ramp to your existing rack is a cost-effective way to make loading heavy bikes much easier. The HangOver 6 is overall a little less user-friendly, although the tilt mechanism is better. The peak capacity for many vehicles can be attained by using a roof mount setup with multiple individual roof racks. Still, we think this is the best hitch mount rack on the market. It's also very heavy, and this weight, combined with its bulky size and awkward shape, makes it challenging to move around and store when not in use. This is reasonably effective and very tidy. Let us know! Considering the staggeringly low price of the Allen Deluxe 2-Bike, it didn't surprise us that it was incredibly basic. There are no cables to clumsily loop around your frame. The RockyMounts SwitchHitter has an integrated cable lock that deploys from the rear of the tray, although you'll need to purchase lock cores to use it. Years upon years of buying and testing bike racks have resulted in this in-depth comparative analysis. Hitch racks fit into your vehicles receiver tube and come in two basic styles: tray and hanging. That said, we do feel that it is worthy of your attention. Instead of using a bolt, the T2 secures to your hitch receiver with an expansion wedge that tightens with a locking knob. This rack also has a higher payload that can accept e-bikes or heavy downhill steeds. Racks that secure the bikes via other means, such as wheel-mounted trays, typically offer a larger amount of adjustability and can accommodate a larger variety of wheel sizes and tire widths. Wheel size, tire width, bicycle frame shape, and frame size can present issues for some racks. Speaking of e-bikes, the Yakima OnRamp and Thule EasyFold XT are both reasonably versatile racks. Some racks were simple to set up with easy-to-follow instructions and quality craftsmanship. For riders with heavy e-bikes, the optional RampUp ($99) loading ramp makes it easy to roll bikes up into place on the trays. Tip: When unloading your bike, release the rear wheel before the front so you dont inadvertently let your bike tip over and smash into your rear window (this may or may not have happened to our testerduh!). Loading bikes on this rack couldn't be easier with its low loading height and well-designed front wheel clamps that help take the awkwardness out of balancing a bike while trying to place it in the rack. This rack arrived completely assembled and had a ridiculously easy, tool-free installation. Although we love how secure the hold is, you may need to adjust the rack to the appropriate wheel size before loading if you switch between bikes regularly. But the same was said when we moved from hardtails to full-suspension bikes, and few have looked back. For racks that dont, the Pivot v2 is a great alternative. All of these racks are somewhat heavy and large, so moving them around can be a chore, although the EasyFold XT folds up into a neat little package making it an exceptionally compact hitch rack. The fork mount design is slightly easier to load than a wheel mount roof rack like the Yakima FrontLoader or the RockyMounts BrassKnuckles due to the fact the bike doesn't need to be lifted quite as high. One included lock secures the rack to the car, and an integrated cable lock provides (very) light-duty bike security, although its long enough to secure only the front wheels. This wheel holding design ensures that there is no contact with the frame or the fork of the bicycle and the hold is exceptionally secure. Choosing the Right Bike Rack for Your Car. Curtis races for the Bikes Plus/Sierra Nevada team in road, mountain, and cyclocross. The Yakima Front Loader comes fully assembled. However, the Singlespeed weighs only 27 pounds and installs in moments, without tools, so its easy to pull off and stow away when youre done. We even put one to the kid test, giving an 11-year-old the responsibility of loading and unloading the bikes to see if he could do it without adult supervision (he had no problem). This rack can be very difficult to use for shorter riders, especially those with heavier bikes. They aren't that easy to move around and they take up a fair amount of storage space. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. With this design, the shape or size of the frame is inconsequential. To move the rack out of the way, undo a lever and pull a handle to release the locking mechanism. Although they can haul a half dozen bicycles, the vertical-mounted hitch racks fared poorly in this performance metric. No assembly required. Testers were also impressed with this rack's user-friendliness, including a one-hand tilt release mechanism at the end of the main support arm that can be used with bikes loaded. The Yakima Holdup Evo is a seriously solid bike-hauling machine; weve had bikes on and off of it almost every day with no complaints. However, since there are no fixed places to mount the bikes, we found it easy to shift bikes side to side in order to fit them together when the bar from one bike ran into the rear wheel of the other. The most secure roof-mounted racks we tested use a cable lock to attach the rear wheel and also offer the ability to lock the fork mount. Not only are they weighty, but their shape makes them cumbersome and awkward to carry. That said, roof-mounted models can still be user-friendly, but we found the Kuat Trio to be the leader of the pack. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. A similar system is employed on the RockyMounts BackStage and MonoRail. Assembly is fairly simple (make sure you follow the directions when removing parts, as the packaging acts as an assembly fixture), and a hitch cam lets you hand-tighten the rack to the receiver for a secure connection. The trade-off for a rack at this lower price has nothing to do with stability or strength, but adjustability: the bikes sit in a fixed location with minimal ability to adjust them away from each other if two bikes don't fit well together; though you can stagger the wheel cradles so the bars and saddles dont interfere. Of the trunk mount racks we tested, the Thule Outway Hanging proved to be the most versatile with support arms that can be adjusted laterally and can accommodate a wider range of fit. We tested each rack with various bike styles on trips to and from the trailhead and on weekend adventures. Hitch-mounted racks are inherently less convenient to install/remove and store due to their heavier weights and larger size. Fortunately, RockyMounts has you in mind, with the BackStage platform hitch rack that can swing out of the way and is made to meet the specific needs of the modern van-dwelling nomad. The latest generation of hitch racks makes it easier than ever to transport your bike without the hassle of wrestling it into your car. This is a heavy-duty, hard-working rack that can be relied on day in and day out. Despite its imperfections, we still think this is a great option for those who want or need easier access to the back of their vehicle. Roof racks require lifting the bike to the height of the roof to load it. The Yakima Dr Tray is easy to remove and store due to its low weight and tool free attachment system. We also included an accessory (at the end of our list) that gives non-pivoting racks the ability to swing out of the way. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Got feedback? Bike racks come with varying levels of security, from none at all to integrated locks that secure the rack to your vehicle and the bikes to the rack. When you swipe that credit card at the bike shop or punch the digits into your favorite website, you want to feel like you are getting a solid bang for your proverbial buck. A stout pivot lets you flip the rack up when youre not hauling bikes, deploy it flat for when you are or drop it to a 45-degree angle for easy access to trunks and pickup beds. This is a thing of beauty, and it really doesn't get any better from an ease of assembly standpoint. This is an attractive feature for anyone who has difficulty loading heavy bikes onto a rack. Assembling and setting up your bike rack is typically a task that only needs to be completed once, so we don't weigh this rating metric as heavily as some of the others. The Pivot v2 swings out 120-degrees, but we found that offers plenty of room to access truck tailgates and van doors. The only hitch (pardon the pun) is your rack will stick out an additional 12 inches, which took some getting used to when parallel parking. Even small crossovers proved to be a little too tall to use this rack easily. If you need to haul around a whole lot of mountain bikes, the North Shore NSR-6 is an obvious choice. True to its name, it's ready to handle the three most common axle configurations right out of the box. There is no wheel removal necessary, and the bike is secured by two counteracting cradles, or hoops, that squeeze the front wheel from both directions. The Kuat NV 2.0 has a quality construction and a finish that looks good and feels very durable. The Trio's innovative system that makes it compatible with through-axle forks without the need for additional adapters also helped it outscore other fork mount racks. How we test gear. After we got this process down, we were able to do it in under three minutes. By our logic, this repeated use gave us real insight into the durability of each rack. Also, you need a 2-inch receiver tube to mount this accessory. For months, our team of bike-loving testers hauled bikes around on hitch, trunk, and roof-mount racks. Searching for a new bike rack? The Thule UpRide also scored perfectly. Not only is the Thule T2 Pro XT easy to use, but it can fit a huge range of bike styles, wheel diameters, and tire sizes. Every other hitch rack in our test selection required varying levels of assembly. The rack itself is in a fixed position, as are the bike support arms, so it has virtually no adjustability to fine-tune the fit for your vehicle or bike frame. The 1 Up is one of only two hitch racks we tested that have folding bike trays, but it was one of the two racks to be shipped fully assembled. Yakimas Singlespeed is a simple and high-quality single-bike hitch rack. The former can either swing out of the way or fold down for trunk or lift-gate access and uses a series of trays into which you rest your bikes tires. The Yakima HangOver 6 is an easier task, while the North Shore NSR-6 is far more difficult. In addition to the included features on a given rack, we recommend adding an aftermarket bike lock to add another layer of security. If you've caught the travel bug or been drawn into the "van life" scene to pursue endless biking adventures, then you already know (or will soon discover) the potential challenges of transporting bikes on your travel rig. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Patagonias Fall 2022 Collection Lauches Today, The Best Brake Cable Kits for DIY Maintenance, The 7 Best Bottom Brackets for Upgrading Your Ride, Best Bike Fenders to Keep You and Your Ride Clean, 8 Best Bike Stems for Upgrading Your Ride, Save Big on Rainy-Day Cycling Gear at Amazon Now. The Yakima OnRamp rack features a ramp to help with the loading of heavy electric bikes. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. It also has 2 small wheels on its underside so you can roll it. The loading ramp is also an awesome feature for e-bike users, but it is sold separately and will set you back an additional $99 on top of the already high price of the rack. Generally speaking, the easier something is to use, the more likely you are to use it. The performance and user-friendliness offered by this rack doesn't come cheap. Rubber frame cradles support the bikes by the frame and secure with nylon straps and plastic buckles. It's only 10 percent of the overall score. The 1Up USA Heavy Duty Quik Rack is nearly impervious to corrosion with all aluminum construction. The loading process requires two hands users need to hold the bike up with one hand while tightening a knob with the other. It comes fully assembled, only requiring one simple step to ready it for use. The Thule EasyFold XT also arrived completely assembled. Our best piece of advice for finding your bike rack soulmate is to start by evaluating your vehicle and bicycle type. The only hiccup we noticed is the ratcheting system can get gunked up, making it hard to remove bikes. The sturdy construction is all metal, and it feels like it's built to last. The T2 Pro XT has a premium price tag, and it's also large and heavy, making it a cumbersome rack to move around or store. The Trail Rider is a great, lower-cost alternative to the premium racks on this list. We traversed all kinds of roads, from fast and straight highways to twisty mountain roads. None of the trunk-mount racks score particularly well in this metric, but some fared better than others. He is also skilled in the art of breaking things, which makes him particularly adept at evaluating durability. We also tested the T2 Pro with the 2 Bike Add-On, and it turned out to be our favorite option for carrying four bikes. We researched the everything you need to help improve your ride, RockyMounts BackStage Swing Away Platform, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Easy tilt release function, durable, fat bike compatible, tool-free installation, Sturdy and stable, high weight capacity, optional ramp for loading heavy e-bikes, security features, Reasonably priced, highly versatile, solid construction, user-friendly tilt release, comes with locks, Low loading height, easy tray adjustment, lightweight, tool free removal, Lightweight, simple, foot pedal tilt mechanism, Sits slightly closer to vehicle than some, some assembly required, High price, sticky tilt release handle, cable locks are difficult to use, questionable durability, Lacks versatility, expensive, 40 lbs per bike weight limit, Impressively easy to use and highly versatile, we think this is the best hitch-mount rack on the market, This heavy-duty hitch rack can handle any bike in your stable and is great for transporting heavy e-bikes with the optional loading ramp, A versatile hitch-mount rack that provides a high price to performance ratio, A lightweight hitch rack with unrivaled adjustability, A lightweight hitch rack with some nice features and a good-looking powder coat finish, Yes, 1.25" receiver and rack add-on for 2 additional bikes, Comes in 1.25" and 2" receiver sizes, 2 bike add-on sold separately, Yes, 1.25" reciever, single bike add-on sold separately, Yes, 1.25" receiver and rack add-on for 1 additional bike, A thoughtful design makes this versatile rack incredibly user-friendly and we think its the best hitch mount rack available, A versatile heavy-duty hitch rack that is great for transporting heavy e-bikes along with the optional loading ramp, This rack combines solid performance and a reasonable price, A lightweight alternative to other hitch racks, with great adjustability, As the lightest hitch rack we tested, the Sherpa was a favorite for its good looks and simple design, A roof-mount rack that's easy to install and remove and works best with shorter vehicles and lighter bikes, An highly engineered and somewhat complex rack that does a wonderful job holding your bike, The NV 2.0 combines beautiful design with great functionality, The swing away design is ideal for vans and cab over truck campers, An ideal rack when used on vehicles with low roof heights, A functional and versatile rack with some durability concerns, This rack eliminates the need for axle adapters and can carry nearly any type of bike on the market, A rugged hitch-mount rack that folds up for compact storage, A stalwart of the hitch rack genera, this rack as relevant today as it was when it was released 10 years ago, A serviceable rack suited for e-bikes at a competitive price point, The SwitchHitter is a fork mount roof rack that can carry nearly any bike regardless of axle standard, Straightforward, user-friendly, and sturdy, this is a quality roof mount option, Security features, stability, and adjustability set this trunk-mount rack apart from the competition, An expensive but somewhat clunky hitch-mount tray rack with some e-bike friendly design features, Light weight, low profile, and user-friendly, the Transfer is a budget friendly platform hitch mount rack from Kuat, A quality and convenient trunk-mount option for occasional bike rack users, A high-capacity bike rack that performs well within its niche, but lacks versatility, A quality, high-capacity, bike rack that lacks versatility, This affordable trunk mount rack has limited versatility and no security features, Basic but functional, this is an affordable and highly adjustable trunk rack. Most notably, it is limited to a maximum weight of 33 lbs per bike, and it works best with bikes with horizontal top tubes (unless you purchase the Thule Frame Adapter). North Shore did an excellent job designing this product to eliminate virtually all interference between bikes. He has placed first overall in the Sierra Cup. The Thule UpRide is a high-end roof-mounted rack. Those concerns aside, this is the best Yakima hitch rack we've ever tested and a highly versatile, heavy-duty option that won't disappoint. It also comes in a 3 bike version. We've invested six years and purchased 38 bike racks to bring you this review of the 25 best racks available today. They also designed a convenient cut-away to supply clearance for disc brake calipers that are common on many modern road, mountain, and gravel bikes. The T2 is heavier and costs more than most racks, and the convenient features mean it requires a little more care. We also appreciate that this rack comes pre-assembled. It may be relatively basic, but it costs a mere fraction of the price of the competition. The Yakima StageTwo works with the optional RampUp ($99) loading ramp to roll bikes up onto the rack, and, in our opinion, is a much sturdier option with a simpler loading process and more secure bike hold than the above-mentioned racks. Despite some unfortunate contact with a tree while backing up that resulted in a bent ratchet mechanism, the Heavy Duty Quick Rack continued to function without issue. The rack itself is quite versatile with a 60 lbs per bike weight limit and wheel cradles that can fit a huge range of bikes and tires up to 5-inches wide. The need to transport these heavy-weight bicycles presents a challenge that some rack manufacturers are beginning to address. The long rubber-coated steel cable on the Sherpa locks to a metal stud on the rack. This lightweight rack weighs just 7 lbs and 9 oz, and it folds up very small for storage when not in use. So far, these are the 11 hitch racks that earned their spots as the best. Add Thule to the list of brands that have adopted the system of dual ratcheting arms made popular by 1UP. While other designs can lead to some scuffing on the fork or top-tube, your beloved bike will be safe and pristine on the UpRide. After removing it from the box and folding the trays to their open position, it is ready to mount on your vehicle and use. These two racks are a little complicated in the way you secure your bike to the rack, but the ramp feature has obvious appeal for those who find it difficult to lift their heavy bikes into place on the rack. How can we improve GearLab? We've been testing bikes and bike-related gear for many years. We paid attention to the obvious characteristics and nitty-gritty details to rate these racks on the chosen metrics.
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