General Cycling Discussion - Another Car Bike Rack Question

ok, i've searched the forum and checked all different options. i've decided on a trunk style bike rack. it seems to be the cheapest solution for me to get from point A to B. The hitch-style is kinda expensive although that's the best way i think.. but right now i'm leaning toward the truck style.

I've seen different brands. Any one you guys prefer or would suggest? Also, if you know of some place that has a hot buy for these, please let me know. Thanks! :P

rui :p

Performance bike, use the coupon. is it a trunk or hatch back?

Performance bike, use the coupon. is it a trunk or hatch back?

i have a 2000 civic coupe. so it's a trunk. so performance has it??? but which one to choose?? :eek:

This one seems to be popular. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17289

$30 off with coupon

$30 off with coupon

wow.. $110 for a bike rack.. that's a bit much to spend. anyone has this particular one? or any other brands? please share your experiences... thanks!

I have the Saris Hitch model. The Saris Bones didn't fit my car that I have now, but on my previous car I had a trunk mount from Rhode Gear. Worked great but it didn't fit my new car. It was similar to the Performance XSport Porter Trunk rack at about the same price.

I have the Saris Hitch model. The Saris Bones didn't fit my car that I have now, but on my previous car I had a trunk mount from Rhode Gear. Worked great but it didn't fit my new car. It was similar to the Performance XSport Porter Trunk rack at about the same price.

how is the the saris bone model? i saw tons of them on ebay. it seems like they are made of plastics and i'm not sure how strong that would be vs. the traditional types that are made of steel. another thing i worry about these trunk type is when i put on 2-3 bikes, i don't wan the bike closest to my car bumper to be scratched by the pedal. so what you think?

Silly question you can't lay your seats down remove the front wheel and put it inside, I've a Honda Jazz and my bike fits in that laying on the floor minus front wheel.( as a bonus no scratch's on the bike. :) )

What is a Honda Jazz? Is that like the Civic?

It's a hatch but smaller than a civic, here's a link to a pic if your totally bored :)
http://www.honda.com.au/showroom1/jazz/index.htm

I don't have the Saris Bones model but it have been around for at least 10 years. Given that, I don't think they would have lasted that long if they were producing junk. When I had my car rack I carried mostly one bike and occationally two in a secure non swaying fashion and I never worried about scratching my car. It's been a long time since I used them but I do recall that I was very satisfied with my Rhode Gear trunk rack.

You can always take off the one pedal closest to your car. Why not go to a bike store and ask if you can try the Bones model with 2-3 bikes there and see for yourself what it looks like. That's what I did when I was shopping arond for another rack for my (then) new car. That's when I found that it would not fit my car and I decided to go the hitch route.

Silly question you can't lay your seats down remove the front wheel and put it inside, I've a Honda Jazz and my bike fits in that laying on the floor minus front wheel.( as a bonus no scratch's on the bike. :) )

geebee.. i know i could just fit it in my civic coupe. however, my car is fully modified for track. therefore i have a tower strut bar in the trunk that gets in the way of me sliding my bike in. thus.. have to get a rear rack.. ;)

rui :P

p.s. that's a nice jazz.. you guys gets the best Honda cars... unlike us here in US. Jazz has so much potential to be beefed up in horsepower! I've seen some fully track modified Jazz in Japan that has over 200whp. that Jazz practically just wanna fly off the track.. hehe :p

I don't have the Saris Bones model but it have been around for at least 10 years. Given that, I don't think they would have lasted that long if they were producing junk. When I had my car rack I carried mostly one bike and occationally two in a secure non swaying fashion and I never worried about scratching my car. It's been a long time since I used them but I do recall that I was very satisfied with my Rhode Gear trunk rack.

You can always take off the one pedal closest to your car. Why not go to a bike store and ask if you can try the Bones model with 2-3 bikes there and see for yourself what it looks like. That's what I did when I was shopping arond for another rack for my (then) new car. That's when I found that it would not fit my car and I decided to go the hitch route.

that sounds good.. let's just hope they will let me try it out.

That Jazz is a cool little car!

I don't have the Saris Bones model but it have been around for at least 10 years. Given that, I don't think they would have lasted that long if they were producing junk. When I had my car rack I carried mostly one bike and occationally two in a secure non swaying fashion and I never worried about scratching my car. It's been a long time since I used them but I do recall that I was very satisfied with my Rhode Gear trunk rack.

You can always take off the one pedal closest to your car. Why not go to a bike store and ask if you can try the Bones model with 2-3 bikes there and see for yourself what it looks like. That's what I did when I was shopping arond for another rack for my (then) new car. That's when I found that it would not fit my car and I decided to go the hitch route.

i think that would be a pain in the butt if i had to remove the pedal every time i put it on the rack. most of all, i would have to get a wrench for that. guess i'll check the saris... since it sounds like my sirrus bike.. haha... okok.. that's corny. :p

How many bikes do you plan to carry? If just one then mount it on the rack furthest from the car.

Yea, I agree, taking off the pedal is not a very good idea, I never had to.

how is the the saris bone model? i saw tons of them on ebay. it seems like they are made of plastics and i'm not sure how strong that would be vs. the traditional types that are made of steel. another thing i worry about these trunk type is when i put on 2-3 bikes, i don't wan the bike closest to my car bumper to be scratched by the pedal. so what you think?

I think that the Bones is the best of the strap-on racks. It has metal cam locks that positively hold the straps tight (check out all the loose straps you see on cars with Rhode Gear racks), it will fit on a wider range of cars than most of the others, and it has virtually no parts to rust. My biggest objection to it is the same as with all of the strap-ons - if you use it once or twice a week for a whole season, by fall you'll be able to tell where the feet and hooks fit on your car.

I think that the Bones is the best of the strap-on racks. It has metal cam locks that positively hold the straps tight (check out all the loose straps you see on cars with Rhode Gear racks), it will fit on a wider range of cars than most of the others, and it has virtually no parts to rust. My biggest objection to it is the same as with all of the strap-ons - if you use it once or twice a week for a whole season, by fall you'll be able to tell where the feet and hooks fit on your car.

ic... i plan on carrying at least 2 bikes. i was thinking about the same thing.. get a 3 bike rack and then put it to the furtherest strap so it won't scratch the bumper. seem like right now the bone 3 is the best choice... :rolleyes:

I just ordered the Sportworks Mod series rack. It is a hitch mount and was more money than you are wanting to spend. I have spent months researching racks and if I were buying a trunk mount i would get the Saris Bones.

Once you see one in person you will get it. The pictures on the net don't do it justice. That thing is HEAVY DUTY and the only way to go if i were getting trunk. Go to a LBS and try to look at one if you are ordering online.

Better yet get one on Ebay. THere are several here that are within your budget. (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&from=R7&ebaytag1=ebayreg&query=saris+bones&query2=saris+bones&search_option=1&exclude=&category0=&minPrice=&maxPrice=&ebaytag1code=0&st=&SortProperty=MetaEndSort)

I just ordered the Sportworks Mod series rack. It is a hitch mount and was more money than you are wanting to spend. I have spent months researching racks and if I were buying a trunk mount i would get the Saris Bones.

Once you see one in person you will get it. The pictures on the net don't do it justice. That thing is HEAVY DUTY and the only way to go if i were getting trunk. Go to a LBS and try to look at one if you are ordering online.

Better yet get one on Ebay. THere are several here that are within your budget. (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&from=R7&ebaytag1=ebayreg&query=saris+bones&query2=saris+bones&search_option=1&exclude=&category0=&minPrice=&maxPrice=&ebaytag1code=0&st=&SortProperty=MetaEndSort)

thanks ranger.. i'll check the saris out. planning on going to my lbs and trying it out. but thus far Bone3 is my choice thus far.

Silly question you can't lay your seats down remove the front wheel and put it inside, I've a Honda Jazz and my bike fits in that laying on the floor minus front wheel.( as a bonus no scratch's on the bike. :) )

Yeah that works great until you want to take your bike out for a weekend- i.e. bring "luggage" too. At least that's possibly managable until you have to take another person in the passenger seat plus his luggage!

I have a Bones 3 and love it. I've had it for a couple of years and used it on 2 different cars. It holds the bikes very securely. Some people have complained that their car gets scratched by the rack but I've never had that problem. It's easy on / easy off. I keep most of the straps set at one length and then just loosen 2-3 and the rack pops off. I've even been able to open my trunk with the rack and one bike loaded on. Of course, the rack feet have to sit entirely on the trunk lid.

I have the Bones two bike rack. I've used it on a mini-van and on a sedan, and I am happy with it. Be sure to check the Saris site (http://www.sarisproducts.com) to make sure the rack will fit your car.

I bought a saris hitch rack and am very pleased with it.
I dont know if the trunk mount is of the same quality but I was sold when I found out the rack has a "lifetime warrenty". I couldnt balk at that.

Another vote for the Saris Bones 3 rack. It works great and is very well built.

Even if you use the holder closest to the car you should be able to keep the inside pedal away from the car (I know for my car, if I put the inside pedal at a 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock position it cleared the rear of the car). Then just get a couple of small bungee cords to hold everything in place and you shouldn't have any problems with your car getting scratched.