[Closed] Anyone have a Saris Bones? And use it on a Saloon?

I have a Bones and a 3 series coupe. Not actually used it on this car but I'll dig it out and fit it tomorrow and see how it goes

Yes, works well.

My sister used to have a 306 cabrio, which essentially was a saloon shape. She got a Saris Bones as it was about the only rack that would fit.

OP I have same motor. Deliberated long and hard between a bones or roof system....Went roof bars route and glad I did, was def right decision 🙂

The Bones is an amazingly versatile rack actually...I've used one on multiple cars (though not a 3-series) and there alwasy seemed to be a configuration of the arms that would fit.

However, I now have bars and carriers - and as fenred says, it was the right decision. The Bones got sold.

Ok cheers folks. Part of the roof rack / bar issue is not wanting to leave them on top for fuel economy and to advertise the fact i have bikes when not in use.

Kato; i'll be interested to see how it goes.

Cheers

Si

I have a 'bones and a 3 series, and have used it.

Fits fine, nice and secure. I used to stick some chamois leather under the feet though as they marked the boot lid where they rested.

I went to a roof rack so I could get use of the boot again, without the rigmarole of removing the 'bones.

I have a Bones and use it fine on an MX-5.

Bones for years on a saab 93, superb bike rack, just make sure you keep the tyres away from the exhaust, I blistered some tubeless mudx's on a long journey. My hatchback is now pretty scratched though, especially the spoiler where it rubs the buckles but who cares.

My Z4 used to have (now sold) a similar saloon esqe rear boot. I bought a Saris Bones RS and it was spot on, no problems, robust, quick to fit and no markings on car. I'll try and dig out some piccies and mail them...
It was a bit of a sail when the bike was mounted - shudder to think of the mpgs.

Oh, meant to say - what bike do you own??

A mate has a Saris Bones and insisted we'd get 3 bikes on it for a trip up to Scotland.
We tried for almost an hour to get the bikes on before giving up & sticking them in the boot of my car.
The bikes were:
- Kona Coiler
- 2010 Stumpy FSR
- SC Heckler.

Because of the various shock mounts etc. it was very difficult to get them mounted well. They wouldn't sit well on the rack, were rubbing together like mad and just felt a bit unstable.
So, we chucked the bags & wheels in his car and the frames in my car and did it in convoy instead.

@ stumpy - I've got a saris extension bar for just that reason, gives any bike a traditional flat crossbar, sometimes take front wheel off too.

I have a Halfords Hi-Mount rack and it fitted real sweet on my Alfa coupes.

The big advantage, other than the lights and number plates not being obscured, was that the top part of the rack can be angle back to the same angle as the rear window, putting the bar that the bikes rest on angled back rather than horizontal.

So if one of the straps holding the bikes broke the bikes wouldn't fall off as they were 'hooked' on to the rack.

It was probably more aerodynamic as well.

I saw a version of that where it had bike trays for the bikes, like a tow-bar rack would. That looked a bit better but I couldn't see a brand on it. It was at Peaslake Walking Bottom car park.

I have seen Bones racks but they don't look that impressive to me and they need a light and plate extension don't they, to not be illegal?

bike shop i worked in recently we fitted bones 2 and 3 to saloons all the time, no problems, got a bones 2 on an audi tt, most versatile and easy to fit and use rack there is,

User review from elsewhere:

There are however some serious considerations to take into account when buying this rack. Firstly, I've read reviews elsewhere that suggest you will struggle badly to fit many brands of full sus bikes on the rack. It would be annoying if you bought it only to find you couldn't even load your bike on there. The only full sus I've ever put on there is my Cannondale Prophet, which requires some jiggling to slip it over the hooks, but does go on quite easily. I've put plenty of hardtails on it with no problem at all, but if you have a full sus check that it's actually compatible before you buy.

Secondly, there is a compatibility issue with some cars. The issue is not that the rack won't attach to the car, but that there may be no way of attaching the rack and putting bikes on in a position that doesn't obscure the licence plate and rear lights. I found this out to my cost when my cousin and I were pulled by the cops and fined with the rack on his Citroen C3 - the crank and pedals of one bike were covering a couple of letters of the licence plate and one of the wheels was covering the rear lights on one side. Obviously if you own, or intend to buy a light-board to attach then this isn't a problem, but that adds extra cost and significant extra loading hassle. When one of the biggest selling points of this rack seems to be the speed you can whack it on and off and get yourself out on the trail as soon as you've parked up, you don't really want to be complicating it with an extra piece of kit to be attached and taken off. Of course you may be lucky - I used the rack for two years with my Corsa, never giving a thought to the illegality of blocking the lights and number plate and never once got pulled. Since getting stung by the cops though, I now use my old man's Astra which raises the rack higher and doesn't block the lights or plate. I can say from direct experience this rack isn't really suitable for a Vauxhall Corsa, Citroen C3, Golf MK2 or Fiat Punto (without the lightboard) but it works fine with a Vauxhall Astra (not the newest shape) and a Subaru Impreza.

Also, a minor gripe I have with the Saris Bones concerns the elasticated string that secures the dangling part of the straps you use to attach the rack to the car. When you pull the straps tight to affix the rack, there is always a length of strap that dangles. The rack comes with a little elasticated hoop that you use to hold the dangly part in place, but after a while it loses elasticity and doesn't really do anything. If the straps dangle, once you go over about 50mph they start twirling around and make a very loud noise, like a light airplane propellor, which is just irritating. This is easily remedied by just tying the dangling bit in a knot or using an elastic band or similar to hold it in place... or by making sure you never do more than 50mph!

Helicopter tape under the feet. If you use a cloth, the cloth will move and you'll get a gritty, rubbery foot over time rubbing at your paintwork.

I own a SC Heckler, and its likely i'd probably only carry one other bike with it (my mates HT) . Did the SC fit ok stumpy01?

VW Bora. Fine with Bones 2 but Gaffa tape on the bumper and top of the boot lid.
Need to pull the arms in closer to fit the Zest on but seems OK.