Mountain Biking - Vehicle for Transport?

Hey guys,

I was wondering what vehicle you guys use for transporting your bikes to the trailhead, that's fuel efficient, and a teen dude wants to drive? :D

Defiantly used. I was looking at Ford Rangers?

Thanks,

Ryan:)

Volkswagen Beetle

Pickup with motorcycle tiedowns; car with hitch-mount tray-style rack; car with strap-on strut-style rack -- just depends on the day and my mood.

Use the only car I got. 95 Accord EX 4 door with a Thule 3 Bike Carrier.

My '97 Subaru Outback Wagon works great. Fits two bikes in the back with ease plus I can put several on the roof with a rack. Not sure how defiant it is though.

Defiantly used.Many people are adamant about their choices, for sure.

Kawasaki Ninja

BMW M3, bike carrier. Bet I beat you to the trailhead ;)

My '97 Subaru Outback Wagon works great. Fits two bikes in the back with ease plus I can put several on the roof with a rack. Not sure how defiant it is though.

Impreza Outback? I have one that is almost mint. Little old man-Sunday-etc. True, my dad. Dry garage.

Honda Odyssey. Greatest vehicle of all time. Can fit up to 6 bikes (more if you take off wheels inside) and has a DVD player for long road trips so you can watch American Flyers, Breaking Away, and/or any other cycling movie (cycling movies only!).

As for what a "teen" would drive, "You get what you get and don't get upset." When I was a teen, I rode to the trailhead on my bike. None of this "drive my bike to a ride" baloney...

Kids are so soft these days...need a motor attachment for the bike too?

But honestly, despite the "soccer mom" comments I get, I don't regret selling my "hip" Lexus coupe for a Minivan. The mileage is actually comparable, if not better than the Lexus and I can fit more bikes/gear/friends when we travel to races.

BMW M3, bike carrier. Bet I beat you to the trailhead ;)

Lessee what happens when I hotlink to one of Pete's pics.
http://www.petefagerlin.com/images/fftf04/996tt/DSC_0002.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h116/soulbounder/IMG_0164.jpg

Lessee what happens when I hotlink to one of Pete's pics.That's odd - - I got this when I did that:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/General_PEEte.jpg

Must've let the TGMBG borrow it. At least they didn't weld the doors shut.

Suzuki GS500.

Impreza Outback? I have one that is almost mint. Little old man-Sunday-etc. True, my dad. Dry garage.
Legacy. Impreza is too small.

In case your Porsche is a convertible:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/95-MISC-Roof_Rack/images_small/Pic6.jpg

In case your vehicle has only two wheels:
http://www.yostwerks.com/SprintBikeSkiD.jpg

Or my more practical and but definitely less sexy solution is a 2001 Subaru Legacy wagon. I've got Inno racks on top but also like that I can put two bikes in the back which makes things more secure so I can park the car for a time without feeling I need to constantly look out a window to check that nobody has ripped off part or all of my bike.

A pickup truck would be great if you don't mind the open bed (which, on the other hand, can really come in handy at times). With the ones with the half rear doors and fold up rear seat you might be able to keep a bike back there locked up in the truck cab if needed.

The motorcycle bike rack is on my list of things to buy, right after I sell my bike & get an SV650 (should be a matter of weeks now). Until then, this is what it takes to get me to the trails:

188606

Just turned over 3000 miles on my Ford Transit Connect. For me its perfect,but I would possibly trade for the turbo Porsche.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/bloodybill/DCP_0278.jpg

2005 Ford Escape, 2WD, 5 speed. Humble, but holds 2 bikes easily (front wheels off) inside and still plenty of room for gear. Driven modestly I get 30+mpg on the freeway and while it's no Jeep, it has decent ground clearance for rough unpaved roads. My only beef with it is its reverse gear, which has a higher ratio than first- so you can get into places you can't back out of, if you aren't careful.

Had a Jeep Cherokee before it that I really liked, but with the era of $5 gas coming and my need for something that hauls passengers as well as cargo, the Escape fits the bill nicely.

BTW I really like the Ford Transit Connect. Just wish it was sold with a 5 speed in this country.

http://www.1000pictures.com/aircraft/helos/090216-n-1251w-018_1024x768.jpg

No trailhead is too \remote.

Honda Element. I can fit 4 bikes upright with front wheels on, but to do so I can only fit 2 people, me and a passenger. Or 2 bikes with three people, which still doesn't make sense. :p

http://www.1000pictures.com/aircraft/helos/090216-n-1251w-018_1024x768.jpg

No trailhead is too \remote.

Do you keep it on standby for the medivac?


I'm sorry - - that was kinda mean, huh?

The motorcycle bike rack is on my list of things to buy, right after I sell my bike & get an SV650 (should be a matter of weeks now). Until then, this is what it takes to get me to the trails:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=188606&d=1296754234I half expected a washtub and maybe Gran's rocking chair strapped on top too :lol:

When I was living at home, a 1998 Toyota Sienna would hold six bikes with both wheels off or three full bikes, all the while with four usable seatbelts and loads of legroom. My wife's current Altima coupe is conceivably the worst mountain biking car one could buy.

Legacy. Impreza is too small.

It is too small but it was free.

I half expected a washtub and maybe Gran's rocking chair strapped on top too :lol:

If I thought the bike could handle it you know I'd try. Maybe the SV will have enough power ;)

Also, all this talk of minivans is making me nauseous. My S10 could haul 12 bikes with a trailer hitch rack & didn't have stick figures of a family with a cat on the back window. I was also able to drive it a reasonable speed without worrying about little Johnny getting carsick. Beat that suckas.

Hey, as cliche' as minivans are, they are hella bike-haulers. Had a little Dodge Caravan that I could roll DH bikes in without leaning them over or taking off wheels. Just bungee-cord 'em to the sides. Plus, at the races I'd slide that big side door open and have shade and a side porch to get geared up/eat my lunch/rest between runs etc. May not have been too hip but it was sure practical.

Hay so my config right now is a 96 Saturn Wagon (SW2) gets great gas millage (during this cold getting 30 with some problems going to be getting about 40 once done :) ) and was cheap :) paid 1200 for her and put about 400 in parts so far, they are real easy cars to work on, looks great with bikes/ canoes on top, using Yakima q-towers, reason behind the wagon is because of being able to sleep in the back :), but the SL's look great with bikes on top also, or use SC's with q-stretch and will work

(Bit of Saturnfan :P (cheak out the web sight saturnfans.com) its actualy that that got me into getting a new good bike..... a 2010 Giant Recon Disc :)