View Poll Results: Bike rack options
Roof rack
18
40.00%
Hitch rack
27
60.00%
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll
Roof rack or hitch rack?
12-18-08, 03:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Roof rack or hitch rack?
Time to buy a new bike rack for my Honda Civic. Currently I do not have a hitch so buying a hitch kit + nice rack would be more expensive than a roof rack by about a hundred bucks.... Roof rack would be cheaper but I would be limited on the # of bikes I could carry plus all the damn wind drag from having the bikes on top.
What solution would you go with? I race/travel a lot with most trips being over 2 hours on the highway.
What solution would you go with? I race/travel a lot with most trips being over 2 hours on the highway.
12-18-08, 04:03 PM
#2
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,374
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
Why would a roof rack be more limiting than a hitch rack? I got 5 bikes on my Ford Taurus by alternating directions. But yes, I calculated about 1-2 mpg less just having the rack on and about 4-5 less with the bikes.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
12-18-08, 04:28 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a Honda Civic and theres no way a roof rack would let me fit more than 3.
12-18-08, 04:31 PM
#4
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,302
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 724 Times
in
371 Posts
Partially depends on the height of the vehicle, but a high quality hitch rack is really nice in my opinion.
1) much easier to get bikes loaded and unloaded.
2) less likely to damage the bikes, and the car (in the loading process, or in the inevitable stupidty of driving into things.
3) better gas mileage.
Draftmaster racks are an expensive solution but they are very nice and can be configured to haul any sort of bike.
1) much easier to get bikes loaded and unloaded.
2) less likely to damage the bikes, and the car (in the loading process, or in the inevitable stupidty of driving into things.
3) better gas mileage.
Draftmaster racks are an expensive solution but they are very nice and can be configured to haul any sort of bike.
12-18-08, 04:39 PM
#6
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
roof rack or hitch rack
i came up with a good solution for my Toyota corolla i found a good hitch(2 inch receiver) and i added the kuat(alpha hitch 
mount) made of aluminum(14 pounds ) .....i have no problem carry 3 bikes very steady ....when is not in use i stored in the back of the car...
mount) made of aluminum(14 pounds ) .....i have no problem carry 3 bikes very steady ....when is not in use i stored in the back of the car...
12-18-08, 05:31 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 386
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a Hyundai Accent and I had the hitch receiver installed just so I could put a hitch mount rack on. It makes a difference in gas mileage: when I used to have a roof rack, I could expect city numbers on the highway. This summer I drove to upstate NY on the Thruway with two bikes on the hitch rack and got 38 mpg. Also, my wife is a foot shorter than I am, and it's a lot easier for her to put her own bike on and off the rack than it was when we had the roof rack. Finally, no squashed bugs on the headtubes!
12-18-08, 05:39 PM
#8
Senior Member
Take a couple extra, club members; I need both a roof rack and my Hollywood portable rack for those extra smelly riders en route to somewhere.
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living
^ Since January 1, 2012
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living
^ Since January 1, 2012
12-18-08, 05:40 PM
#9
Guadzilla
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dialing it up to 400W
Posts: 3,697
Bikes: Pinarello F4:13 W/Campy Reecord & Blue RC6 W/SRAM Force
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I have a hitchmount and a Raxter rack. I like it. Course, I drive a convertible so a roof rack is out of the question for me.
12-18-08, 06:33 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
A roof rack and a couple of nice bikes is the way to maximize your style points.
12-18-08, 06:48 PM
#11
It's ALL base...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,716
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Partially depends on the height of the vehicle, but a high quality hitch rack is really nice in my opinion.
1) much easier to get bikes loaded and unloaded.
2) less likely to damage the bikes, and the car (in the loading process, or in the inevitable stupidty of driving into things.
3) better gas mileage.
Draftmaster racks are an expensive solution but they are very nice and can be configured to haul any sort of bike.
1) much easier to get bikes loaded and unloaded.
2) less likely to damage the bikes, and the car (in the loading process, or in the inevitable stupidty of driving into things.
3) better gas mileage.
Draftmaster racks are an expensive solution but they are very nice and can be configured to haul any sort of bike.
12-18-08, 07:05 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cleveland MS
Posts: 292
Bikes: 04 Trek 2100, Ultegra, Koobi,Syntace
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a Mazda Miata that I built a hitch for, and use a Delta hitch rack. Love it.
You'll never drive into a garage or drive-thru and scrape your bikes off the roof with a hitch rack.....just don't back into anything.
You'll never drive into a garage or drive-thru and scrape your bikes off the roof with a hitch rack.....just don't back into anything.
12-18-08, 07:12 PM
#13
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
I think a rear rack is more versatile especially if you carry lots of different types of bikes. I've loaded tandems, hybrids, folders, kids bikes and even trail-a-bikes on my rear rack.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
12-18-08, 07:22 PM
#14
Oh The Huge Manatee
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: mabra
Posts: 4,528
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i have a roof rack and want a hitch rack. I just moved my rack to a new car without a sunroof and I hate not being able to see my bikes while I am driving. Id also like the better mileage. I am about to drive 2400 miles with two bikes on top of my car and I imagine thats going to make a huge difference.
The only think I dont like about a hitch rack is the potential to be rear ended. At least with a roof rack it would most likely be my fault if I ruined my bikes. I also dont like the idea of parallel parking with bikes on the back.
The only think I dont like about a hitch rack is the potential to be rear ended. At least with a roof rack it would most likely be my fault if I ruined my bikes. I also dont like the idea of parallel parking with bikes on the back.
12-18-08, 07:33 PM
#15
.....
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Long Island
Posts: 4,816
Bikes: 2006 Cannondale CAAD8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Time to buy a new bike rack for my Honda Civic. Currently I do not have a hitch so buying a hitch kit + nice rack would be more expensive than a roof rack by about a hundred bucks.... Roof rack would be cheaper but I would be limited on the # of bikes I could carry plus all the damn wind drag from having the bikes on top.
What solution would you go with? I race/travel a lot with most trips being over 2 hours on the highway.
What solution would you go with? I race/travel a lot with most trips being over 2 hours on the highway.
I have a complete system that was used for 2 weeks that came off of my civic. The previous buyer backed out so let me know. I would consider the condition pretty much brand new and im selling it for much less then retail.
12-18-08, 08:01 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Montreal
Posts: 405
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Roof Rack: If you wreck your bike it's your fault.
Hitch: It's the fault of the guy behind you that couldn't stop in time.
Hitch: It's the fault of the guy behind you that couldn't stop in time.
12-19-08, 07:33 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Athens, Ohio
Posts: 5,104
Bikes: Custom Custom Custom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I've got a toyota matrix and its probably just as wide as your civic. I have 5 bike trays on there. If I could space my loadbars wider (its got a weird roof line so its not possible) I could probably squeeze one more up there.
Get loadbars longer than what Thule or Yakima recommends so you can fit two trays on the outside of the feet.
Get loadbars longer than what Thule or Yakima recommends so you can fit two trays on the outside of the feet.
