Roof racks

I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of having
a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state.

Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but I'd
like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative ways
of carrying my bikes.
Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got a
towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more expense
and I think it'd spoil the look of the car.
So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already, so
fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the best
model seems to be the Thule range:
http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510
I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for around
£200.

Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does anyone
have any experience with them, and how stable they are?
Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough not to
break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look in my
rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone currently
use this type of system? Any problems?

"adownhiller" wrote in message
...
I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of
having
a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state.

Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but
I'd
like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative
ways
of carrying my bikes.
Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got
a
towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more
expense
and I think it'd spoil the look of the car.
So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already,
so
fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the
best
model seems to be the Thule range:
http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510
I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for
around
£200.

Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does
anyone
have any experience with them, and how stable they are?
Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough
not to
break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look
in my
rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone
currently
use this type of system? Any problems?


I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and
rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about
40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it
down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems
a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused
the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly
short and his car is tall.

Mike

"Michael Dart" wrote:
I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and
rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh about
40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock it
down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it seems
a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This caused
the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's fairly
short and his car is tall.

Mike

Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from
someone with the same bike.

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 12:14:33 +0000, adownhiller wrote:

I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of having
a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state.

Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but I'd
like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative ways
of carrying my bikes.
Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got a
towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more expense
and I think it'd spoil the look of the car.
So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already, so
fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the best
model seems to be the Thule range:
http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510
I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for around
£200.

Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does anyone
have any experience with them, and how stable they are?
Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough not to
break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look in my
rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone currently
use this type of system? Any problems?

A couple of points. Firstly, to mount a rack on the rear of the car, you
don't need a tow bar.

Secondly, getting a bike on the roof is a bit of a 'mare (especially, if
as your name suggests, you have to get hulking great downhill bikes up
there). If you slip, your bike will do nasty things to your roof.

Finally, Thule are very nice, but expensive with it. You can probably get
something similar for less money.

bomba wrote:

A couple of points. Firstly, to mount a rack on the rear of the car, you
don't need a tow bar.

Secondly, getting a bike on the roof is a bit of a 'mare (especially, if
as your name suggests, you have to get hulking great downhill bikes up
there). If you slip, your bike will do nasty things to your roof.

Finally, Thule are very nice, but expensive with it. You can probably get
something similar for less money.


We discovered that wagon + rack + bikes = too tall to enter local
covered garage/car park. I know I'd forget they were up there some day
and hit a tree or other overhanging obstacle with my precious bike. Much
easier to hang them off the back where I'm reminded of their presence
every time I check the rear-view.

-Charlotte

We discovered that wagon + rack + bikes = too tall to enter local
covered garage/car park. I know I'd forget they were up there some day
and hit a tree or other overhanging obstacle with my precious bike. Much
easier to hang them off the back where I'm reminded of their presence
every time I check the rear-view.

-Charlotte


Just about everybody I know has done the bike into the garage door header.
Fortunately for me....it was my wife's bike (though I was driving) (;-}.
Didn't hurt the bike but sure messed up the car after the bike fell off the
front wheel carrier and stayed hooked to the back.

Gary

"adownhiller" wrote in message
...
"Michael Dart" wrote:
I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and
rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh
about
40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock
it
down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it
seems
a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This
caused
the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's
fairly
short and his car is tall.

Mike

Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from
someone with the same bike.



My rack is on a Ford Escort Wagon so the bike is worth more than the car.
;^) This makes he rack is about chest high to me and an easy reach to load
bikes.

Mike

"adownhiller" wrote in message
...
I've had my old car for around 6 years now, and after all those years of
having
a bike slung in the boot every weekend its in a bit of a sorry state.

Finally, the other day I sorted my finances and have bought a new car, but
I'd
like to keep it in its nice clean condition, so I'm looking at alternative
ways
of carrying my bikes.
Ideally a towbar rack would be my preferred option, but the car hasn't got
a
towbar. I could get one fitted, but I'm reluctant to do so as its more
expense
and I think it'd spoil the look of the car.
So I've been looking at roof racks. The car has roof rails on it already,
so
fitting one would be no problem. I've had a look around and I think the
best
model seems to be the Thule range:
http://www.roofrackwarehouse.co.uk/i...spx?PartNo=510
I've worked out I can probably get the full setup to carry 2 bikes for
around
£200.

Anyway, my question is: Before I go spending my cash on this system does
anyone
have any experience with them, and how stable they are?
Obviously I'm aware that these systems are designed to be robust enough
not to
break, but my bike's pretty heavy, and I'd be mildly dissapointed to look
in my
rear view mirror and see it bouncing down the road after me. Anyone
currently
use this type of system? Any problems?



Check out the Yakima Raptor carriers. They can fit massive down tubes
(helpful for DH rides) and, best part, you don't need to take off the front
wheel. Bikes go on quick, and I've driven 90 minutes plus at over 75mph
with a Sugar on one and a Kona Roast on the other...there was no swaying,
nothing came loose, etc. Perfect.

I got mine for ~65 US each, and the mounts that adapt the Yakima racks to my
factory Subaru rails were about 20. Not bad.

Chris

Not to put words in Mike's mouth, but he mentioned Yakima towers and rails.
If you're planning to do the towers and bars, it'll be secure. If you're
going to fit the carrier to a factory roof rack, I'd be thinking twice.
Some factory racks are total junk.

Just my $.02

"adownhiller" wrote in message
...
"Michael Dart" wrote:
I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and
rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh
about
40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock
it
down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it
seems
a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This
caused
the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's
fairly
short and his car is tall.

Mike

Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from
someone with the same bike.

"Gwood" wrote in message
...
"adownhiller" wrote in message
...
"Michael Dart" wrote:
I have the Yakima King Cobra roof carrier mounted to Yakima towers and
rails. It carries my Intense M1 and Bullit fine. Both bikes weigh
about
40-50lbs each. Easy to load too. Just roll the bike into it and lock
it
down. I've seen friends with the Thule rack you're looking at and it
seems
a bit of a balancing act to get the downtube into the holder. This
caused
the bike to fall with the pedal gouging the paint of his car. He's
fairly
short and his car is tall.

Mike

Cheers Mike, I ride an M1 too so it's good to have a recommendation from
someone with the same bike.



Not to put words in Mike's mouth, but he mentioned Yakima towers and
rails.
If you're planning to do the towers and bars, it'll be secure. If you're
going to fit the carrier to a factory roof rack, I'd be thinking twice.
Some factory racks are total junk.

Just my $.02


Exactly what I was going to say. ;^) Yeah, don't bolt 'em to the factory
rack. The one on the Escort is a joke. I wouldn't strap Clark Griswold's
dead Aunt to it.

Mike