[Closed] MTB Transport

bloody useless as a car though.
Last time I spent any time in a small, cheap French car the last thing I'd have done after getting out is go on a bike ride. Physiotherapy would have been more appropriate

We all different. Afaiac it moves at the speed limit and stops.its taken me to the south of France and at least has the pedals and seat and wheel in a line unlike any vauxhall I've ever had.

By contrast the c1 i had in tenerife I'll whole hearted agree with you. It was grum . Im sure the shocks and springs had been replace with steel rods.

I think the upright position of the berlingo is what makes it comfy- well for me cause I'm tall with long legs most regular cars have me looking through the sun visor to reach the wheel with the seat back enough to get my legs under the wheel.

3 bikes and three people isn't that hard. Any focus sized estate should do it with wheels off.

Unfortunately Sharkattack's mate didn't buy a bad example. I work on a lot of Jap pickups and you couldn't give me a Navarra.

I also know someone who had one and had to spend 2 grand having the engine put back together after it blew up. Fortunately it was under a warranty so he got his money back.

3 bikes and three people isn't that hard. Any focus sized estate should do it with wheels off.

Yeah exactly. I used to get 3+3 inside my Civic hatchback. Although to be fair bikes have gotten longer and bigger wheeled so it's not quite so easy these days, but I laugh when people suggest a van for this purpose - a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

I know you say you're against racks, but I've got a big Thule towbar rack which locks to the car. I can then put a big motorbike chain lock around all the bikes. No worries stopping at service stations etc. Obviously that doesn't stop thieves following you home but vigilance will hopefully stop that?

DrP - Member

When we head to Wales or Scotland we always take a decent break for at least half an hour. If the bikes were on a rack we wouldn't be able to do that.

well...you would be able to though, wouldn't you..!!

just don't go to the cinema or anything!

DrP

Well not really as it's nice for both of us to sit down in the restaurant/coffee shop at the same time.

I know you say you're against racks, but I've got a big Thule towbar rack which locks to the car. I can then put a big motorbike chain lock around all the bikes. No worries stopping at service stations etc. Obviously that doesn't stop thieves following you home but vigilance will hopefully stop that?

The only other problem with a tow bar rack is the nose weight on my Fiesta will only really accommodate two mountain bikes, three at a push. My motorbike chains (Almax Series III) weigh almost as much as my Whyte T-130. 🙂

out of sight out of mind is a better front line security than any chain though.

Stop trying to fight it, you clearly need a van.

I suggest hiring one for a weekend to see how you like it.

trail_rat - Member

out of sight out of mind is a better front line security than any chain though.

Totally agree, hence me thinking that a pick up with the hard top cover might be a good idea (which, from the responses on this thread, isn't). Still don't like the idea of bikes on the outside of the vehicle.

chakaping - Member

Stop trying to fight it, you clearly need a van.

I suggest hiring one for a weekend to see how you like it.

Money no object, a VW or a new Transit would be top of the list and I wouldn't even be asking. 😀

Hiring for a weekend is a good call. 🙂

Totally agree, hence me thinking that a pick up with the hard top cover might be a good idea (which, from the responses on this thread, isn't).

Anyone takes a look at a blacked out or hard topped pick up is going to think "tools" and pop it open for a look, which won't take more than a flat bladed screwdriver and 15 seconds. One of the guys i get in to do our heating/plumbing stuff takes the top off whenever he's got to go somewhere in the pick up and be away from it. He had it broken into 5 or 6 times before he decided it was less hassle to put a smaller tool selection on the back seat and leave the rest in the workshop rather than get all his kit stolen again. Or his van broken. Again. 99% of his work is rural/farming, so he doesn't need to remove the top often, and he really needs to pick up to get to some of his customers installations.

Still don't like the idea of bikes on the outside of the vehicle.

<Neither do i, that's why i have a large estate, and take the wheels off. (proper boot liner is on the list for what ever we get to replace the current one.)

Vans don't drive like cars and then only feel like one once you've silent coated everything to bring the sound deading qualities up to those of a car. Once you've done that though, what you're left with is a big wafty monster - ours is the most comfortable long distance cruiser I've ever owned.

Pickups drive even less like cars, but do oversteer comically. A rack is what you need.