[Closed] Roof bars and bike carrier question

Clamping the fork is a far more stable method but then you have to remember to pack the front wheel!

I've yet to find any difference between square and aero bars on a car so I've saved my pocket and went for the cheaper option. Also, not noticed any real noise increase - although that might be due to the volume the music is playing at...

I doubt an aero profile bar makes much difference. Standard rectangular bars on my car and aero bars on the other half's. Different cars, different engines, different profiles - its hard to tell whether aero bars make any difference.

After you've had them on for a few days, you'll forget what it was like without them anyway.

Got a Thule 561, bought it so I didn't have to clamp my carbon frame....but then I got 15mm bolt thru forks which won't fit to it....

I've also got the ones that clamp the down tube, and they're totally fine too.

Sorry not to be more enthusiastic, but don't overthink it, you can't go wrong with Thule generally 🙂

I've got a pair of square and a pair of aero Thule bars and haven't noticed any difference in noise/fuel economy between them , can't comment on the bike rack as I've not used them.

I recently replaced Thule Aero bars with Whispbars. They are much quieter than the Aero's (and for that reason are worth the money).
I've not monitored mpg closely enough to comment on fuel economy.

Thanks for the responses.

Looks like I'll get a set of Whispbars.

angeldust
I'm assuming that the Thule 561 Outrider has a universal fit onto the Whispbars?

There is an advantage to aero bars over standard bars which is that the T-track means that you can attach bike racks directly above the "feet", which is useful if you want to get lots of bikes on.

hello

I've got a pair of aerobars for sale with a 757 footpack if you are interested.

I have changed to a Thule wing bar because I was told that the aerobars would not be wide enough to fit my new car. The wing bars are no quieter and to rub salt in.. my old aerobars are the same width so would have fitted.

Anyhow... let me know if you want pics of the aerobars and footpack.

Steve

looneylunn

Thanks , yes I would be interested.

Can you send me some images ( email is in my profile).

Whereabouts in the country are you? I won't be getting the new car until 1st March though.

Whispbars use a T-Track, same as the Thule aero bars, so anything compatible should fit. I use Thule Proride 591's.

If you are not sure about anything have a look on roofbox.com.

I'd go for the 591 over the fork clamp. Had a fork clamp for the tandem, plus the wheel holder so as not toforget it. And it's a real pfaff compared with the 591 rack. I can mount three bikes in the time it took me to put the tandem on the roof.

I recently replaced Thule Aero bars with Whispbars. They are much quieter than the Aero's

Even when you've got a bike rack and bike up there making lots of noise?

I can mount three bikes in the time it took me to put the tandem on the roof.

It takes me longer to put the tandem on the roof than a bike, but that's because it's big and heavy, not because there's anything inherently slow about using a fork mount (my tandem rack is a homemade job with an axle bolted through a [url= http://www.kirtonkayaks.co.uk/home/index.php/shop/shop-racks/134-v-bar-kit ]kayak v-bar[/url], but the principle is the same). On one you have to do up a QR on the fork and strap on one wheel, on the other you have to do up two wheel straps and one frame clamp. How does it take longer to do up a fork QR than a wheel strap and a frame clamp?

For the record on mpg, on my Subaru legacy, I get between sod all and less than 0.5 less mpg with racks and bikes on compared to nothing.

Combination of lawyer lips, front rack interference and locking the fork down onto the rack then locking the front wheel onto the carrier. I wish i'd bought the non fork mounted one. My 591's are fast and painless by comparison, and stable loaded four up at 80mph over several thousand miles. I had one of the cheaper thule racks too, but the low down clamping of the 591 really is superb, particularly as my rack is high up on top of a Honda CRV

Whisperbars are fantastic, pretty close to silent and minimal impact on fuel consumption (I can get better MPG with mine on than my Dad gets in an identical car).

Running a Buzz Rack on mine at the moment, which is pretty good, though would probably get something different were I to change it again as it is pretty bulky, but very funtional.

I now have 591s. Used to have the precursor to the 561... And in terms.of stability, ease of use etc.. the 591 wins hands down.

Thanks, I'm going to get a set of Whispbars - but might have a re think on the Thule 561 vs 591.

I still like the security of clamping the forks though - I used to have the 591, and the bike would sway a bit with the clamp/arm leverage.

Either system is well trusted and tried though.

Thanks again.

I've been running roof bars and racks for years. The 591 is a bit easier to get the bike on/off but I always hated the way it wobbled on the roof, plus you do need to be careful when positioning the bike in the clamp - I've had a bike topple over on the roof (my fault but very annoying)! I changed to a 561 and a Pendle 15mm fork mount carrier and much prefer them. Bikes sit much lower on the roof and are rock solid.
I am probably selling the 561 (and Pendle) if you're interested as I'm changing to a tow bar rack now. 🙂

' I recently replaced Thule Aero bars with Whispbars. They are much quieter than the Aero's'

'Even when you've got a bike rack and bike up there making lots of noise?'

Obviously, the Whispbars won't have much of an effect on the noise coming from the bike. Whispbars are silent on my car, when not carrying anything. With a bike clamped on the overall noise is reduced (barely noticable, and completely eliminated with the radio on at normal levels). Significant improvement over the Thule bars.

If you leave the bars on all the time, it might be worth it.

If not, the bikes will make more noise and cause more drag than the bars anyway, so wouldn't be worth it.

fbk

YGM

I had Thule aero bars on my Volvo V50 and they whistled like a canary! And the noise was speed dependant, the faster i went the higher the pitch and the louder they got.

I now have Whispbars on my Jeep and they are silent.

The other thing with Whispbars is that the fitting kits are under £30 so if you change car it easy and cheap to transfer the bars.

Use to mount on roof but have now gone to towbar mounted rack.
Will never go back to roof mounted carriers, so much easier on the rear no crap dropping off onto roof!

The other thing with Whispbars is that the fitting kits are under £30 so if you change car it easy and cheap to transfer the bars.

When the Whispbar is £90 more than Thule square bar, it's going to take a few changes of car for that to pay off!

I now have 591s. Used to have the precursor to the 561... And in terms.of stability, ease of use etc.. the 591 wins hands down.

Seriously? HAving the bike clamped by it's fork is less stable than having the complete bike on the roof strapped by a strap on each wheel and a clamp on the downtube? Have you ever watched a bike on a 591? Wobbles it does and going over bumps it shakes as well...clamping the fork is far far more stable (but requires a wee bit more faff (of about 30 seconds) and needs the front wheel to be stashed somewhere.

I've got a Pendle single bike rack and 2 591's. The 591's are used constantly but mainly due to the Pendle rack being too long to fit on my short roof...to be honest, I'd rather have the Pendle set up every time as it is far more stable (and as the bike sits a wee bit lower, less risk of skelping the bike when going under low objects).