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-   -   Allen Rack Quality? (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/579514-allen-rack-quality.html)

TinyCycler 08-29-09 11:52 AM

Allen Rack Quality?
 
I bought a rack from xMart. It's the Allen Deluxe Two Bike Trunk Mounted Carrier. I bought it because it was was $37 as opposed to $129 for one at the bike store. Now I'm wondering if I bought myself trouble.

I'll likely use it for the 4 minute ride to the bike path or the 15 minute ride to the trails.

Does anyone have experience with this bike rack and its bar adapter? I'd like to know before I use it.

Thanks.

Torgrot 08-29-09 02:04 PM

How much did you pay for your bikes? If your bike is worth more than $37 dollars then you probably bought the wrong rack.

08 Dr. Dew
torgrot

TinyCycler 08-29-09 02:14 PM


Originally Posted by Torgrot (Post 9579639)
How much did you pay for your bikes? If your bike is worth more than $37 dollars then you probably bought the wrong rack.

08 Dr. Dew
torgrot

I do have an inexpensive bike, a $349 Trek 7000. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money. What else would you suggest?

John Lesar 08-29-09 03:07 PM

If it's only 15 minutes to the trail, ride the bike.

TinyCycler 08-29-09 03:40 PM


Originally Posted by John Lesar (Post 9579907)
If it's only 15 minutes to the trail, ride the bike.

By car it's fifteen minutes on non-bike-friendly streets. Plus, it would take me two hours to get to the trail if I rode. I ride about 8 mph at the most. I'm getting back into cycling after 17 years, and I'm too timid to ride on roads.

I would ride the four-minute by-car route but my street is a 55 mph road with a couple of blind curves, a bunch of mean loose dogs, lots of pastures, and few houses. People drive this road like bats out of hell, it's a two lane, and there are NO shoulders. I do not believe these conditions are safe. Not gonna happen.

TromboneAl 08-29-09 06:26 PM

Excellent quality, high security. Very trustworthy. We drove over 6,000 miles on a recent trip with ours on our Echo and it had no problems.


How much did you pay for your bikes? If your bike is worth more than $37 dollars then you probably bought the wrong rack.
So you're saying you need a $2,000 rack for a $2,000 bike?

A bike rack isn't rocket science. The materials on my Allen rack are solid.

TinyCycler 08-29-09 06:44 PM


Originally Posted by TromboneAl (Post 9580707)
Excellent quality, high security. Very trustworthy. We drove over 6,000 miles on a recent trip with ours on our Echo and it had no problems.

So you're saying you need a $2,000 rack for a $2,000 bike?

A bike rack isn't rocket science. The materials on my Allen rack are solid.

Wow! A 6000 mile car ride! I hope you had fun. Thank you for your reassurance.

prxmid 08-29-09 06:56 PM

I've had 3 racks and the Allen was the poorest quality. However for a 4 minute ride it should be plenty adequate

bengreen79 08-29-09 07:06 PM

What I have noticed with cheaper racks is that they are just harder to use - more of a pain to put on and take off, adjust, etc. It has never seemed to me the bikes are less secure once on.

I have a Saris Bones 2 now which I like.

prathmann 08-29-09 07:23 PM


Originally Posted by bengreen79 (Post 9580876)
What I have noticed with cheaper racks is that they are just harder to use - more of a pain to put on and take off, adjust, etc. It has never seemed to me the bikes are less secure once on.

Agreed. I've used mainly very cheap racks and have never had any issues with the security of the bikes. Friends with much more expensive racks have sometimes had problems, but they've been mainly user-error issues (driving under overhangs with roof racks, being distracted and not clamping the bikes down with trunk/hitch racks, etc.). With any rack it's good to get in the habit of a last minute check before driving off - i.e. give a quick tug on the bikes and rack to be sure that everything is properly secured (and with a roof rack put the garage door remote in one of the bike bags).

prxmid 08-30-09 04:48 AM


Originally Posted by bengreen79 (Post 9580876)
I have a Saris Bones 2 now which I like.

Best rack I ever had

Torgrot 08-30-09 06:15 AM


Originally Posted by prxmid (Post 9582306)
Best rack I ever had

Absolutely, the best. My low cost rack, had a cap held on by friction and a truck went by on an expressway and pulled the saddles off the rack. I almost lost one bike. If you aren't going far, then your low cost rack will be fine.

No I don't think you need a $2000 rack for a $2000 bike. I have about $1000 in my bike currently and another $500 in my wifes. After spending that amount on the bikes, it would seem to be foolish to put them on a rack costing $39. If you look at a rack like the Saris or Thule or Yakima, there are reasons they cost more. Easier to use, less likely to scratch, probably the most important in my mind is that when there is a failure of one part, it is not catastrophic to the whole rack.

08 Dr. Dew
torgrot

Road Fan 08-30-09 06:23 AM


Originally Posted by TinyCycler (Post 9579077)
I bought a rack from xMart. It's the Allen Deluxe Two Bike Trunk Mounted Carrier. I bought it because it was was $37 as opposed to $129 for one at the bike store. Now I'm wondering if I bought myself trouble.

I'll likely use it for the 4 minute ride to the bike path or the 15 minute ride to the trails.

Does anyone have experience with this bike rack and its bar adapter? I'd like to know before I use it.

Thanks.

I think Allen racks are a perfect example of delivering high quality with low price. There's nothing on them that's weak or underspec'd, unlike the Yakima I had that preceeded it, and broke on the first use. I have a 2-bike and a 3-bike. I've carried a pair of bikes from Michigan to New York and back, and on numerous 600 mile round trips in Michigan. Bikes are not cheap, either: Cannondale fitness bike, Woodrup, Mondonico, Trek 610, classic Masi.

Save your $$, get an Allen.

Road Fan 08-30-09 06:24 AM


Originally Posted by TromboneAl (Post 9580707)
Excellent quality, high security. Very trustworthy. We drove over 6,000 miles on a recent trip with ours on our Echo and it had no problems.

So you're saying you need a $2,000 rack for a $2,000 bike?

A bike rack isn't rocket science. The materials on my Allen rack are solid.

Absolutely!

Lion Steve 08-30-09 03:56 PM

I've had two Allen 2 bike racks for over the past 5 years. I purchased the second one for my other vehicle because I was so pleased with the first Allen rack. It is very easy to put on the car/minivan once it is put on the first time for sizing. It now only take about one to two minutes each time. It is very stable and secure. I think that it is the best value out there. I originally only paid about $35 at a discount store(Meijer) for the rack, and I'm glad that I didn't have to pay more for less. Check out the 46 reviews on Amazon for the rack. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating. I don't think that you will be disapointed in your Allen rack.

http://www.amazon.com/Allen-102S-Pre.../dp/B000NOMKYM

TinyCycler 08-30-09 05:30 PM

Sorry, duplicate post.

TinyCycler 08-30-09 05:32 PM


Originally Posted by Lion Steve (Post 9584414)
I've had two Allen 2 bike racks for over the past 5 years. I purchased the second one for my other vehicle because I was so pleased with the first Allen rack. It is very easy to put on the car/minivan once it is put on the first time for sizing. It now only take about one to two minutes each time. It is very stable and secure. I think that it is the best value out there. I originally only paid about $35 at a discount store(Meijer) for the rack, and I'm glad that I didn't have to pay more for less. Check out the 46 reviews on Amazon for the rack. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating. I don't think that you will be disapointed in your Allen rack.

http://www.amazon.com/Allen-102S-Pre.../dp/B000NOMKYM

I looked on the Amazon site. Thanks for posting. But I think the one is bought is this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Deluxe-2...1674857&sr=1-4

Looks like the Premium has two bottom straps rather than just one on the rack I bought.

Lion Steve 08-31-09 06:52 AM


Originally Posted by TinyCycler (Post 9584823)
I looked on the Amazon site. Thanks for posting. But I think the one is bought is this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Deluxe-2...1674857&sr=1-4

Looks like the Premium has two bottom straps rather than just one on the rack I bought.

Actually, the two racks that I have are the same rack that you have. I only posted the other rack to show the reviews of Allen quality.

Road Fan 09-11-11 06:55 AM

In the various models I looked at, I recall (10+ years ago now) that some had strapped attachment points on the arms where you strap the bike frame to the rack, and some that did not. The former design is better. In 70+ mph driving with semis on the read, wind has not been any disruption at all. Mine are the 102 and the 103. One has only one bottom strap, but both racks are very secure.


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