Originally Posted by
bengreen79
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).