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before i drive 2 hrs to pick one up, will the latest incarnations of rad gravity sleds fit on this track?
my longest (fnaar) is a large starling swooop, approx wheelbase of 435.
all help appreciated
You sure about that wheelbase? Sounds kinda short.
Long bikes can go on, but they aren't held super firmly
Large alpine6 (wheelbase 1231mm) or large whyte E180 (1290mm) fit. Just. I stick a strap between the end of the bar nearest the van and the seat post to stop the wheel from being steered by the wind.
edit: your swoop should have a wheelbase of 1258mm.
They struggle with properly long wheelbases, but a bigger problem is the spacing between bikes. they are a pre-Boost design and LLS means you can’t shift things left/right to try and create space
Thule Velospace or Easyfold are the ones to go for with modern LLS 29ers it seems, been doing research myself. They have the longest trays and better spacing between the trays.
Are the Thules longer than the equivalent Buzzracks?
You want the Atera Ebike ML for LLS.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/1779/44025451772_e69a36349c_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/1779/44025451772_e69a36349c_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2a5nWZj ]Atera Ebike ML rack.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Ok, did my own research. Buzzrack gave Thule a bit of a spanking in the LLS war
E-Scorpion - max wheelbase 1295mm, spacing 300mm
E-Hornet - max wheelbase 1340mm, spacing 280mm
Velospace - max wheelbase 1300mm, spacing 250mm
Easyfold - max wheelbase 1300mm, spacing 220mm
My L solarismax is OK but it rarely travels with friends.
I always add extra straps but I'd do that for any bike
We've got a Strada and it's become increasingly difficult to get 4 bikes on it as the kids have grown. Not just due to wheelbase and boost hubs, but also handlebars hitting the rear window of the van.
Currently I remove the front wheel of bike 1, rotate the bars and strap the Maxle onto the rack. Then add the other 3 bikes in the other slots as normal. It only just works, and is a royal PITA.
I got a 1345mm on a Strada but its not totally ideal. I tended to turn the bars 180degrees to shorten the wheelbase a little though. Requires long enough cables obviously. Starts sticking out from the vehicle when the bikes are this long too.
for those with multiple, big bikes on this rack, do you find the ball clamping secure enough ? I have a thread going on this, having just purchased one..
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/atera-strada-rack-clamping/
I've never had any issues. Even with two e-bikes and two regular bikes on the rack. Sure the sliding cradle will wobble around in the mirrors but the framework underneath remains steadfastly secure. You ignore the wobbles. I think I managed to move it on the ball once, by reversing into my mate's gatepost.
On an atera rack, the clamp only stops it moving horizontally. Any up/down movement is controlled by the base of the clamp resting on the area of coupling just below the ball. If it's moving in the horizontal plane, degrease the ball (take the paint off it as well) and the clamp.
I put my Bird AM9 size large on my Altera Strada, it's not ideal but works fine.
I only purchased this model to work with tailgate van door and that was my main criteria.
I find the rack great in every other way.
What I really want for our four, now all adult sized, bikes is a towball version of a vertical rack like this.
Does such a thing exist?
yeah mine flexes quite a lot (both the rack and the towbar relative to the car) but never slips. It seems to hold the bikes quite a long way from the car, which exacerbates the issue. I wouldn't put 4 heavy bikes on
whoops, yes my w/base is not 435 as that would be ridiculous.
its only one lls bike, the rest are 26 kids bikes. dont mind a bit of faffage with bar turning so should be good to go.
I've tailgate van so restricted with choices.