kpfeif

Wow, that looks cool. How do you get into the trunk though, I don't see huge differences in the attachment vs. a standard trunk rack.

cshell

Two hooks on top of trunk lid. Two hooks on the bottom of the trunk lid.

When you open the trunk, it goes up with the trunk lid.

This unit fits on my car (sedan) and my wife's Dodge Durango - SUV. Fit's both perfectly, and takes all of 2 minutes to take on and off.

fazzman

One in the reciever there is a pin/bolt that holds it in place. I got the locking reciever bolt so its more secure. I also got the lock cores for the front wheel holders. So once you ratchet the front down it locks. Can also throw a long rope lock around the bikes and lock. I take it off usually if i know i wont be using for awhile. Easy on easy off. There is a latch on the rack that lets it tilt down and you can access the trunk or hatch. I love it.

Tunnelrat81

Another vote for the hitch rack. Simple design, and lightweight. Super easy to install/uninstall and folds nicely to store easily in the garage/closet etc. I had the hitch installed already for pulling a pop-up trailer, and www.etrailer.com had this gem of a hitch rack for around $130 I think. And it's expandable to 4 bikes also. They also have similar racks that have more 'lift' to them so for those of you with lower cars would have options. This is a picture of the rack on our car with both my wife and I's bikes mounted. Our car is tall enough that I wanted a rack that my wife could use in my absence. So the roof rack was out. Plus this one was hundred's cheaper. I really like the fact that the bikes are mounted quite close together, so the rack isn't quite as long as some of the other hitch racks. This forces you to alternate directions, which is a good idea anyway. With the bikes off, you can quickly fold the rack flat to open the back hatch.

-Jeremy

caloso

Another vote for Yakima. I move mine between the van (with factory rails) to the Prelude (the Q-clips grip the door frame) without any problems.

FL_MarkD

I bought the Thule roof rack used for my MazdaSpeed3, but it is too much effort to use. Usually I put the bike in the back. However, the Saris Bones looks like the best answer and will also avoid the dreaded garage crash that comes when you forget the bike is on top.

And that WHITE MS3 pictured above is rare too, must be from north of the border. White is not available in the US for the MS3.

Mark

JayC

FYI the new 3, thats not gonna work. The rear bumper valance comes down a lot farther. Ground clearance would be nonexistent.

I ended up going with Mazda's roof rack for the 2010 3, which is made by Thule, even tho Thule claims it isnt. Its got Thule stamped all over it on the inside and on the outside, its branded Mazda.

.Jared

JayC

I agree with you there. Having a hitch mount since day 1, I despise the roof rack but I guess Ill have to learn to get used to it. I thought about putting a hitch on my 2010 Mazda 3 but it would be so low to the ground, it was probably bottom out all over the place. Its several inches lower than my old car and that thing drug the hitch everywhere.

damocles1

Yakima has a roof fit for the 08 Tiburon.
That being said, two guys on my team use the Bones trunk rack...on a 5 Series BMW and a Lexus LS460.
Works well on both...

Bolo Grubb

Hitch rack have the added bonus of blocking photo radar

And yes this is a 2003 mazda protege 5

midnightruckus

I would like to see a picture of how the hatch can open when the bikes are still mounted on. Thanks.

midnightruckus

Actually it was available in 2008+ Mazdaspeed models.
Haven't had a garage crash, but I hit a lot of tree branches when I forgot about the bike on top.
Oh and I hope you don't have the Aero Bars on the Thule roof rack. They stink when you try to mount a bike tray on top. I should have went with the square bars. Grrrrrr.

urbanknight

Without. I admit that I have no idea how much the fairing would have helped.


Putting a roof rack on and off is more of a pain than the Saris trunk rack, plus the trunk rack folds up and stores in a smaller space (but if you're not doing it already, the roof rack hangs easily on the garage wall if you have that much wall space available). So, I'll stick with the trunk rack.

caloso

It's my wife's actually. A '92 with all-wheel steering. It's getting a little dinged up but it still goes like hell. (Kinda like me.)

CCrew

Means you bought the wrong trays. Mine ride upright with the wheels on.

martinus

Hmmm.. must be my area ... if anything the caps trap moisture . My next set ( current oine is too far gone : ( ) will have the caps siliconed on. Grrr...

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martinus

Anklebiters FTW . LOL ...

VW ones ( thule I *think* ) work well tooo, ugly as hell ...

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CrimsonKarter21

We've been selling these Swagman XTC2 racks at work for the past few months. They've been really popular. So since I bought a new car, I bought a hitch, installed it myself, and popped one of those bad boys ont here. I've driven 450 miles now with bikes ont he back. It's very stable, strong, adjustable, and it doesn't hurt the finish of the bikes.
$215 MSRP.

I suggest you get one. They've also got a SUPER duty 4 bike version of this.


::EDIT:: Also, you can totally lock the bieks in by using one lock, and it's very easy to use even more. When I'm out of the car, the ratchiting arms get locked, and I have the ability to wrap a thick cable lock around both bikes and to the hitch.

cwiginton

Has anyone ever used the bones on a Volvo XC 90? I currently use a Yakima roof rack because I couldn't find a trunk/hatch rack that would fit the XC 90 due to its clamshell/split tailgate opening.

I would love to have a trunk rack, especially so I don't have to shove the bike in the back to take it to work, since I park in a parking deck.