Review: Racktime Addit Rear Rack
 

I recently purchased a new rear rack and thought I would share my impressions so far. The rack is the Racktime Addit. MSRP is $60, but I got it on sale at REI for $48. REI only carries this rack in black, but it is also available in silver. It features a sturdy aluminum frame, dual mounting rails, and a max load capacity of 30 Kg / 66 lbs.

Installation was pretty easy. All the necessary parts were included, and I did the job with a hex wrench, an adjustable crescent wrench, and a hacksaw and file (for trimming the excess length of the upper attachment arms). Bear in mind that not all bike frames are alike, and installation may not be as easy on other frames.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../Bikes/rt3.jpg

First impressions: This is a very sturdy rack, with excellent build quality. It fits my 58cm Surly Cross Check very nicely. The rack remains solid when riding, and there is no rattling of any kind. It feels almost as if the rack is an extension of the bike frame, simply because I don't notice it's back there. There is plenty of clearance for fatter tires and/or fenders, which I may well add at some point. One final touch is a mounting plate for a rear light, which ends up being quite well protected by the rack frame.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../Bikes/rt1.jpg

Unfortunately, I had to relocate the hooks on my Jandd Mini Mountain panniers to get them to fit the rack. This took a bit of time. On the plus side, when the panniers are attached to the lower rails, it keeps the upper rails fully clear for lashing other items to the top platform. Heel clearance is good too.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../Bikes/rt2.jpg

While I got this rack primarily for commuting and errands around town, I have already used it on a four day bike tour, and it performed very well.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...nhouli/cc4.jpg

One possible downside: where the lower rails end at the front of the rack, the hollow tubing is completely open. Two rubber caps are provided to cover these ends, and they fit pretty tightly. I added a shot of glue to make sure they would stay on there. I just wonder if the rubber caps might deteriorate over time, in which case I will have to find something else to plug the ends to keep water and such from getting in. This is not a huge concern for me, however, and my guess is it will be fine.

Nice report. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, green. When I was looking for a new rack, I found reviews like this one very helpful, but hard to find. So, I decided to write one that may be helpful to others.

Got a tape measure handy? I didn't see the measurement specs (other that fits 26" and 28" wheels...) and would like to know how long the top platform is. I've got heel strike with my current set-up and hesitant to invest in another rack if it has similar dimensions as mine.

May just have to get another bike-- just don't let my wife know ;)

I have one of these. Really like it. Very nice rack.

J.

Hi no1mad. The top platform is about 14" long. However, another factor I noticed is how the rack fits on the individual bike frame. I think where the rack sits on your bike, how far forward or back, depends upon the design of the rack, as well as the shape of your frame and the location of the rack eyelets. I previously had a Blackburn rack, and I had heel strike issues with it. The platform was 2" shorter, so that was likely part of it, but it also just mounted further forward on the bike, so much so that the front of the platform was nearly running into the rear brake cables. Another rack I tried did the same thing. It actually mounted so far forward that it simply wouldn't fit on the bike without tilting it back at a significant angle, away from the brake mechanism. But I'm kind of determined to have a nice, leveled out platform, so that was unacceptable to me. Fortunately, the Addit just happened to fit perfectly on my bike. BTW, while this rack does claim to be "unisize," based on how it fits my 700c bike, I imagine it would sort of tower over 26" wheels. I know other Racktime models come in two different sizes for different sized wheels. If you have an REI store near you, you could always get an Addit there and try it out. They have a hassle-free return policy if it doesn't work for you.

No REI in my State. But having it "tower" over the wheels may not necessarily be a bad thing as it creates a bit more space...

Here's a bigger pic of my bike that's also my avatar. The current rack is some Avenir that is labeled XL (and it has a platform length of only 12").

Nice write up, and review. Thanks for sharing.

I almost ordered that rack for my Jake, but I found the specs and it didn't seem as long as I'd like. I must say, though, that it looks like there is a lot of space from the lower mount points back, at least from your picture.

Thanks for the review. I considered that Racktime rack for my Felt hybrid commuter. I went with the Axiom Journey, which is cheaper, and has worked out great, but I really like the lower rails on yours.

^ Those Axiom racks look like a great value, and I definitely considered a couple of them. However, I was swayed when I saw the Racktime in person. It made an impression once I had it in my hands. That and the 20% discount.

Good review. Was very close to ordering this for my new build but went another way due to availability. My favourite thing about this rack is the solid black mounting bracket arms which connect to the frame beneath the seat. So much more solid and less fiddly than bending the stainless mounting bracket arms on the Topeak which also ruined my all black look!

Nice write up and thanks! I've been wanting one of those for a while now. I think I'm going to have to pass now that I can see how high it sits. The lower rails aren't much lower than the rails on my Delta Mega Universal rack and it doesn't look you can mount it any lower.