How to choose a bike rack?

Allowing you to transport one or more bikes in complete safety - both for the bikes themselves and for your vehicle - a bike rack is a long-lasting and relevant investment, ideal for varying your riding and discovering new routes, but one that must be chosen with care to suit your riding and lifestyle. And, of course, make sure the model you choose is compatible with your vehicle.

Features of a bike rack

Types of bike carrier : roof rack, trunk mount (tailgate), towball mount or towball platform mount.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BIKE RACKS

Roof rack mounting

Benefits

This classic solution doesn't impede rearward visibility, leaves the trunk and rear seats of the car completely free, and doesn't prevent operation of the tailgate. Roof loading can be optimized by placing a roof box next to the bike(s). Last but not least, bicycles are securely fastened and spaced apart, so they're protected from damage. Manufacturers have developed quick-release fasteners suitable for most bikes, including city bikes with gooseneck frames.

Disadvantages

Loading and unloading bikes at height is not always easy, and the front wheel sometimes has to be removed. Wind resistance can increase fuel consumption and create aerodynamic noise on freeways. Of course, roof-mounted bicycles prohibit access to parking lots and other areas with a height restriction of 1.90 m. Be careful not to forget that you are transporting bicycles, or you risk serious damage! Finally, check that the load does not exceed the car manufacturer's recommendations.

Trunk mounting

Advantages

The most economical solution, trunk-mounting also allows easy loading of bikes (at top tube level), without tools and at ground level. The system is lightweight, space-saving, accessible and creates little additional wind resistance.

Disadvantages

Installation of the bike carrier is not always easy and can take time, especially when it comes to finding the right position: centered, neither too high nor too low. The straps must be evenly tensioned to guarantee stability. It may also involve reaching under the rear of the car to hook the bottom straps.
Moreover, with this system, access to the trunk is impossible when the bikes are loaded, and visibility via the central rearview mirror is greatly reduced.
If several bikes are loaded, they may touch. It is therefore necessary to separate them with foam protectors. Visit pedals or handlebars can also come into contact with the bodywork. Here again, foam inserts are a good idea.
Finally, this solution is often not ideal for transporting children's bikes and urban/women's bikes without a horizontal top tube.
It should be noted that French regulations limit the load on the trunk to three bikes.

Ball hitch mounting

Benefits

Easy to install - provided, of course, you fit a towbar and ball hitch to your vehicle - this solution offers excellent stability and maximum bike security (up to four bikes can be transported, depending on the model). If it has a tilt function, the trunk of the car remains accessible, even with the bikes loaded.

Disadvantages

The maximum weight allowed for each bike is often around 15kg, which excludes electric-assist bikes and downhill bikes. In all cases, it's important not to exceed the maximum permissible load, and at the same time to check the hitch's drawbar weight (indicator S): the weight of the bikes + the weight of the bike carrier must not exceed it.
Finally, rearward visibility is reduced.

Platform on ball hitch

Benefits

The ideal solution for transporting several bicycles, the ball hitch platform is easy to install and handle. Stable, it can be equipped with a tilting function to allow free access to the trunk (note that on certain MPVs, minivans, vans, etc. with very large tailgates or side openings, the tilting system may not allow the trunk to be opened).

Maximum loading capacity: up to six bicycles on some models. Supporting heavy, wide bikes with long wheelbases, the platform is particularly well suited to transporting electric bikes or MOUNTAIN BIKES DH bikes.

The bikes are usually held in place by wheels and by the frame with very precise adjustment, guaranteeing maximum stability, including for children's bikes and city bikes and/or for women with gooseneck frames.

In most cases, these bike carriers include anti-theft devices for both the platform itself and each individual bike, to secure your entire load.

Finally, the platform can be used to carry something other than a bike, such as an optional travel box.

It's the bike carrier of choice for long journeys, especially as folding models are available, to take up minimal space once you're at your holiday destination.

Disadvantages

As practical as this solution is, it's still rather expensive, so it's best reserved for intensive users. It also takes up more space at the rear of the vehicle, which can make parking difficult.

Which bike rack to choose?

Please note The use of a bike rack requires the following prerequisites for installation:

- Vertical installation with the ball in line with the gooseneck;

- The hitch ball must be ISO50 standardized;

- The towball's maximum load capacity must exceed the weight of the carrier AND the weight of the bicycles you wish to transport;

- The distance between the towball and the vehicle bumper must be at least 6.5 cm;

- The towball must be made of steel or another material at least equivalent. Cast-iron (GGG40) or aluminum towballs are not suitable;

- Electrical connection must be 7- or 13-pin (see local and legal specifications);

- The plug cannot be placed directly on or just below the hitch ball.

In addition to compatibility with your vehicle, which must obviously take precedence over everything else, the choice of a bike carrier should be based on the number of bikes to be transported, their weight, the shape and size of their frame, the frequency of use of the carrier, and the storage location.

Number of bikes

For transporting more than 3 bikes, ball hitch solutions are the way to go: check the maximum weight authorized by the carrier (total weight and weight of each bike) and by the hitch itself (weight of carrier + bikes).

The weight

Of course, the greater the number of bikes or the heavier the bikes (freeride, downhill or electric bikes), the more robust the bike rack will need to be.

Type of bike

The shape of bikes can sometimes pose problems: some very complex frames don't fit on a trunk-mounted rack, for example. Mountain bikes with high-volume tires (fat bikes or 27.5+) can be difficult to fit snugly on platform rails.

Conversely children's bikes and women's and/or city bikes with gooseneck frames are difficult to fit on trunk-mounted and hitch-mounted bike racks, whereas a roof-mounted or platform-mounted bike rack is ideal.

On the other hand, very high-end, fragile bikes don't cope well with contact with other bikes: a roof-mounted rack is ideal.

Frequency of use

For occasional use, trunk-mounting is economical and flexible. For very frequent trips, on the other hand, ball-mounted suspension is ideal, as it takes up very little space, is quick to install and offers great stability.

Securing

A anti-theft device necessary to protect your bike rack? Some models include one. Indispensable if your car is going to sleep outside, in an unsecured area.

In any case, don't forget that a license plate and remote lights may be necessary with trunk-mounted or hitch-mounted bike carriers. To limit your investment, consider your current vehicle and its equipment: do you already have roof racks? In that case, a roof-mounted bike rack is a good idea. Calculate the total height with the bikes, so as not to be surprised when approaching a bridge, for example. If your car is already very high, don't forget that installing the bikes could be very complicated. The same applies to towbars: if you already have one, a towbar-mounted suspension system is a reliable and appropriate solution.