BigSean

What are you using and what do you like/not like? I bought a new honda civic hybrid and am looking for a rack.

huytheskigod

Thule rack system with Velo vice fork mount trays. Pretty much like all aspects of it. Also use it to carry skis and snowboards. Main complaint is that I have a small SUV so its a little harder lifting the bikes that high. Reason to have light bikes

urbanknight

I used a Yakima on my Ford Taurus and then my Mitsubishi Lancer. Worked pretty well but I recently ditched it for a trunk rack so I don't have to take the bike down before entering my new apartment's garage and driving another 200' before going back for the bike.

Pros: Holds the bike secure. Can hold 4-5 bikes depending on bar width. It's always ready to use.
Cons: Sucks for garages, drive-thrus, and motel awnings. Gas mileage goes down 1-3 mpg. People under 5' tall have a hard time getting the bike on.

umd

I have a Yakima that I'm pretty happy with:



I wanted it to look nice, so I went with the high-end "Sprocket Rocket" fork-mount rack. My wife doesn't like having to lift the bike onto the top of the car, but can do it if she has to. For short trips, especially with just one bike, she will usually just use a cheap trunk-mounted "hollywood" rack on her Mini.

carlfreddy

I have a Ford Focus and I'm using the OEM roof rack from the Focus Kona special addition. For a bike tray I've got an old Rocky Mounts that my friend gave me. Eventually I'll upgrade to a nicer tray that has a lock cylinder.

Since I've got a smallish hatchback I went the roof rack route (+5pts for alliteration!) in order to keep my trunk easily accessible when I'm carrying bikes.

Extort

I am using the 3 bike Saris Bones rack. It will fit on just about any car because it is adjustable. The downside is that you cannot lock the bikes to the rack and the car.

asmallsol

I have owned a 92 Civic Hatch and now I have a 92 Prelude and with both cars, I have used the same Yakima rack I peiced together with the roof extender (kinda important if you have a 2 door) and for the bike attachment I have the RockyMounts.com bike rails (what ever you want to call them)

Plus sides of the RockeyMounts racks are you can get them in any color you want, and are cheap. Downside is the Skewer handle is made of plastic, and when you tighen it up, after a while, the metal curved washer digs into the skewer (Not good)

Over all my impressions with roof racks in general: in town they are nice. I have to drive about 5 miles of city driving to get to the road where I ride at, so its nice and convient to throw it up there. However, for long road trips on the highway, when I take my bike along, my gas mileage can go to ****. On my civic, normally I would get about 38-40mpg at 60-70mph and 35mpg at 80mph when I didn't have my bike up there. However, the first time I took it for a long car ride leaving at midnight from my house, I only got 25mpg and left me dead on the side of the road at 3:30 am in the middle of nowhere.

Now when I go on long car drives with my bike (over a few hours) I take apart my bike and throw it in the back seat area and take the roof rack off.

One of the reasons the hybrid civic gets decent mileage besides being a hybrid is honda put a decent amount of work on the areodynamics of the car (front splitter, areo wheels, rear diffuser, small spoiler, ect) and putting a bike rack on there kills the areodynamics. Remember, areodynamics is a large function of velocity, so at city speeds, the bike rack won't kill it too bad, but at highway speeds, it plays a large factor.

If your not into any winter sports or kyacking (sp?) or another sport where you can use the benifits of a rack, I would just go with a nice rear rack. However, remember, expessially with your civic with it areo package, the bike will be right in the exiting air with a rear rack, which means any dust your car kicks up will be directed right to the area of your bike.

DrugCoder

Yakima rack on my Honda Accord with the Viper trays. Haven't had a bit of trouble with them.

UT_Dude

Yakima > Thule. The rack I own is Thule, but a family member has had a Yakima, as well as teammates. The Yakima works far better, and seems to be more durable.

Other than that, roof racks are great. Slight reduction in gas mileage, but worth it IMO.

v1k1ng1001

I have a Yakima that's been through hell for 10 years now. Looks ugly but it still works. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

ranger5oh

I love my Thule Rack. It loks great and I have put two very heavy bikes on it without any problems. Its been really durable. I think Thule and Yakima are pretty well equivalent though.

Cycleman1958

It is July 2002. The kids and I are driving from Seattle to the Canyonlands with mountain bikes perched on ancient bike racks on the tent trailer. Along the way the racks are failing and the bikes start falling down on the tent trailer. By Salt Lake they are toast.

We roll into REI at Salt Lake and plunk down some denerio and emerge with Yakima Copperhead racks. At the time I have a Ford Aerostar. This means buying a ladder too. The rest of the trip is eventful, but not because of the racks.

2007, coming from Spokane in my Ford Explorer two weeks ago in high winds my bike blows off the rack I use the most. Part of the reason is the screw cap on the interior has it's teeth worn down from use. I get the bike back from the LBS today, new wheel and repaird fork. See my thread under General Discussion "Bike Blew Off Car" or something.

It is like anything else. These will wear over time. I almost never remove the rails, except to move them around when installing the Yakima rocket box. I never remove the cross bars.

ginsu

I use a trunk bed Rhoade Gear front fork rack. My truck bed has a liner that is grooved, so I installed it such that my rear tire slots in nice. However, I am concerned about the damage it can/is cause to my carbon forks. I dont have AL stays, so its kind of gnashing at the paint and stuff. I also think I tweaked one of the carbon stays yesterday.

Whats the best way to carry and latch on to full carbon forks without AL stays?

OldRoadGuy

I've had a variety of Yakimas with various vehicles over the
last 20 years. I haven't found anything I like better though
Thule's cargo boxes look sharp.
Use the Yakima car fit list to see what you need. Maybe
check Craigslist for used (but in great shape) gear.
I have a couple extra lightly used sets too. Not trying to shill...

grail29er

get the thule that you can mount bikes without taking the front wheel off.

seb1041

Yakima rack with the steel head bike mount.

Safe, strong, looks sharp.

Yakimas are not cheap so look for used parts if you can...

Personnaly I prefer a rack that you have to remove the wheel..it takes 30 sec+ but it's way more stable.

sfrider 

I have a Yakima rack that works well, but most of the time when it's just me and a bike I put the bike in the back of the car (99 Subaru Outback).