Any experience? Positives/negatives? It's ~$120 less than a Seasucker; Prime shipping; and returns until Jan 2021. Is this a good area to save some coin, or is this a terrible idea to "cheap out" on? [straps muli-thousand dollar bike using $180 bike mount] 😄

I've got a few things from Rockbros: grips, bottle cages, glasses... all are decent quality. However there's no way I would mount my bike on such a contraption, Rockbros or not.

A proper bike rack is not that expensive.

No experience, but with the visual suction indicators and a bit of redundancy, I wouldn't be too worried. I mean, I'd still be a little nervous the first time around, and I'd be somewhat OCD about checking on the indicators any time that I used it, but I'd still use it if I couldn't use a conventional rack.

I've been using the strap-on Allen, trunk bike rack, but since the addition of deep section wheels the bike flutters and slaps the trunk. I use bungee cords to hold the bike frame to the mount, as well as to hold the front wheel steady. At freeway speeds it still moves around. I figure having the bike inline with the wind, and tethered by the fork dropout, would steady the bike.

As stated by Whyfi, the redundancy in the front suction cups helps alleviate worry, and I would double-triple check the suction cups anytime I make a stop. I've scoured the web for negative reviews and I've only found one or two, where someone claimed the aluminum base plate cracked or that the suction cups cracked their windshield.

Why not a tried and true 1upusa or Kuat nv?

Definitely a bad idea! I'd spend for a Sea Sucker if it's really worth it(I wouldn't use a suction rack,IMO).

I have a Rockbros sucker rack. No complaints - only mod I did was a bit of threadlocker on the bolts. Make sure the roof and suction cups are clean and you shouldn't have an issue. Check the indicators at every stop, though.
I haven't take it on a 500+ mile journey, but I did take it around the I275 loop of Cincinnati - about 90 miles. I stopped once and everything was holding as it should.

They suggest using a silicone spray as an adhesion promoter. I've also seen videos of people using water. Do you use either one of these methods?

I just took a quick look at those items. The 1upusa is sold out until Nov and has a higher associated cost. The Kuat nv uses a tow hitch, which isn't something I'm looking for. I like the idea of suction cup mounts because of its versatility and ease of transport.

I just use water on the cup.

John

+1

I've seen one fail. YMMV

like catastrophic fail? In person?

The rear suction cup released on a short ride.

If that's true, that would be a deal breaker for me right there. No way I'm going to be forced to clean my vehicle's roof every time I use a bike rack, or face the possibility of rack failure.

+2. Not a chance in hell I'd use a suction-based rack. IIRC, there is a relatively recent thread somewhere on BF from a guy whose Sea Sucker rack failed at highway speed.

Well, not the entire roof. I just wipe down the area where the cups go with a wet cloth. Takes 5 seconds and helps with the sucking.

John

Yes, the single rear cup can be a point of failure, but I think they take that into account. It would be easy enough to design a mount with two cups for a single bike, but they don't.
Even if it fails what's the worst that happens? There's still friction between the cup and the roof so it shouldn't slide around too much. If you hit a bump, maybe the rear wheel comes up off the roof?

John

If it can happen to one, it can happen to multiple cups.

Outside of an external problem I think the chances of multiple cups failing is fairly low if not non-existent.

John

Just make sure to keep the surface contact areas all clean and I'm sure you won't have multiple failures.

Against all odds, I will be giving the IPT suction bike rack a try. It only has one, large front suction cup; it has no redundancy. I did a little research on Amazon and it would seem they specialize in these suction cup products for use as professional devices. That gives me some reassurance. The product is also within a more reasonable price range ($99) for such a product. I'll report back my findings [fingers crossed]

The IMT rack looks to be...inspired...by the Kupper bike rack.

John

Don't use it on a car you care about...or carrying bikes you care about.

I use a SeaSucker on several hundred mile trips a few times a year. Interstate speeds a good bit of the time. I follow the recommendations and have never had an issue. I wouldn't want to put anything very heavy on it, but it seems to be perfectly fine for a ~16lbs road bike

At the risk of derailing this thread, is it a dislike of inexpensive bikes racks, or a distrust of suction based racks?

john