Yakima vs Thule
07-26-06 | 01:37 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 389
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From: Orangevale, CA
Yakima vs Thule
ok, i want to get a bike rack. i always liked the Thule rack, but i noticed that Yakima is everywhere. is one better than the other? i know its personal preference... but any thoughts?
07-26-06 | 04:24 PM
#2
Southern Gentleman
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Muscle Shoals, AL
Bikes: 99 Specialized Allez Comp, 03 Cannondale F400, 02 Motobecane Cafe Latte
They are, for all practical intents and purposes, the same. They both work great and look great.
That said, I have a Thule roof rack, with 2 fork-mount carriers and a kayak stacker. Most of Thule's products will fit on Yakima or Rocky Mounts bars, so that is a plus (I have a friend who has a Yakima, and sometimes it is necessary to put my Thule carrier on his bars, as he only has 1 carrier).
Yakima carriers only work with Yakima bars.
That said, I have a Thule roof rack, with 2 fork-mount carriers and a kayak stacker. Most of Thule's products will fit on Yakima or Rocky Mounts bars, so that is a plus (I have a friend who has a Yakima, and sometimes it is necessary to put my Thule carrier on his bars, as he only has 1 carrier).
Yakima carriers only work with Yakima bars.
07-26-06 | 05:42 PM
#4
genec
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27,072
Likes: 4,533
From: West Coast
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
yakima is a Beaverton OR company...
Yakima
15025 SW Koll Parkway
Beaverton, OR 97006
But the racks may be made elsewhere... like most everything in America.
Of course thule is a Swedish company, but who knows where the racks are actually made... They have divisions all over the world... although they don't seem to have a direct division in the US. If that matters.
I got these facts directly from the web pages of each.
Yakima
Thule
Yakima
15025 SW Koll Parkway
Beaverton, OR 97006
But the racks may be made elsewhere... like most everything in America.
Of course thule is a Swedish company, but who knows where the racks are actually made... They have divisions all over the world... although they don't seem to have a direct division in the US. If that matters.
I got these facts directly from the web pages of each.
Yakima
Thule
07-26-06 | 05:47 PM
#5
59'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,307
Likes: 12
From: Alexandria, IN
Bikes: LeMond Maillot Jaune, Vintage Trek 520 (1985), 1976 Schwinn Voyageur 2, Miyata 1000 (1985)
I have Yakima all the way. Bulletproof stuff.
__________________
07-27-07 | 07:25 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Venice, Florida
Bikes: Cinelli Proxima/Dura Ace 9-speed/Fizik Aliante/Easton Vistas/Michelin Pro 2's
I've had both (roof). The Thule was great -- easy to install -- bikes rock solid.
The Yakima was easy to install, once I figured out the parts that I needed, and very well built. The Yakima site said that I needed a stretch kit (I think it was called) for my 2-door Thunderbird. Turns out that it was not necessary, and that $130 part now sits in the garage unused. The rack ended up costing a lot -- like $600 + if I remember correctly. The bike are very unstable, and my new Cinelli fell off twice, slightly bending one front dropout. I finally fugured out that if I use a toe strap to secure the bike to the front wheel next to it, the bike seems stable.
The Yakima was easy to install, once I figured out the parts that I needed, and very well built. The Yakima site said that I needed a stretch kit (I think it was called) for my 2-door Thunderbird. Turns out that it was not necessary, and that $130 part now sits in the garage unused. The rack ended up costing a lot -- like $600 + if I remember correctly. The bike are very unstable, and my new Cinelli fell off twice, slightly bending one front dropout. I finally fugured out that if I use a toe strap to secure the bike to the front wheel next to it, the bike seems stable.
