Bike rack reccomendations

I’d like to get a towball mounted rack so I can go further afield I only need it for 2 bikes max, any reccomendations thule,witter etc.

Dave

I’ve got the Buzz Rack e-hornet from here… https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/all-products/buzz_rack_e_hornet_2_13_pin_lights_bike_tilting_e_bike_carrier_no_brp412/Qx%40w%2C6M4PHS%2CZGenkQvENMr6QL

Fits 2 bikes. Hangs on the garage wall and goes on and off the car in 5 minutes. Big enough to handle modern, long wheelbase bikes and heavy e-bikes if I ever buy one.

I bought it hoping that I’d never need to buy another one and it’s been solid so far.

Search for the seller skid-1972 on eBay. I got my Thule 4 bike carrier from him. All his stuff is second hand, but it was totally immaculate- like it had never been used before. A mate had similar experience

Tilting is better but they weigh more so if you have heavy bikes and/or a small car or a mid sized one with a low nose weight (e.g. some EVs) then you might be overloading your rear suspension.

The buzz rack attachment system is a bit more involved than the drop on and pull the handle down of some other makes and if not fitted right then they rotate on the ball side to side.  It works really well if you follow the instructions religiously. It’s not difficult but requires a tiny amount of discipline.

From a happy basic non tilting 4 bike buzz rack owner.

Have had a thule 3 seater for 12 years,  it’s been faultless.easy attachment w one lever, no wobbles, and tilting. Tilt is a must in my book

I’ve got the Yakima Justclick rack. 

It’s fine, but three of my mates have the Buzz Rack ones and I really wish I’d got one of those instead. A fair whack cheaper and they seem to be absolutely bomb proof and well thought out. If I was buying again it would be the Buzz Rack E-Scorpion XL with no further discussion.

also worth checking compatibility.  Some of the current crop of folding retractable towbars, the BMW one in particular, have a shallow neck profile and many of the above popular and very good racks will not fit.  I know from experience.  I sold on my Yakima for this reason, and the above mentioned Buzzrack is the same, along with most of the Thule ones.

Atera do quite a few with a shallow profile ball clamp that does fit these towbars.

My Halfords Advanced 2 bike rack has been good for the last 4 years or so.  Will take two ebikes, although it only usually carries one.  I notice they have gone up in price quite a bit, though, I think I paid £250, they are now £360.

Yakima just click here.  It’s a pretty good piece of kit, no complaints.  But…. it’s max wheelbase compatibility is quite short.  Fine for me, no bikes bigger then a M in the household, but I’d image some modern geo longer travel bikes would be problematic.

Some good info in my thread from a little while ago

.https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tow-bar-bike-racks-5/

Buzz Rack E Hornet or Scorpion are great options, I’ve got the latter and would still make the same choice if buying again. Plenty room between the bikes the accomodate modern dropout spacing, support bar being in the middle means there’s no threading arms through awkward frames, plenty of room for modern wheelbases. And it’s good value compared to most options

second (or 3rd, 4th) the Buzzrack, i’ve got this one https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/buzz_rack_e_scorpion_2_bike_folding_rack_no_brp612/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B~cC4ure_QE_y

tis really good quality and i like it all folds up and packs away.  Yes different, slightly more involved clamp meachnism, , but once you’ve used it a couple of times it takes ~10 seconds to put on!

now – if Buzzrack made a fitment for the fix4bike towballs they’d be unbeatable!

sam_underhill

Yakima just click here.  It’s a pretty good piece of kit, no complaints.  But…. it’s max wheelbase compatibility is quite short.  Fine for me, no bikes bigger then a M in the household, but I’d image some modern geo longer travel bikes would be problematic.

Yakima Justclick here, no issues with it for my large Geometron G1

The wheel holder do slide out to widen it 🙂

How about this type? It looks easy to put on and store but looks less substantial. Any thoughts?

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/buzz_rack_v_buzz_2_bike_tow_ball_carrier_no_brh002/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B~cC4urewJaWO

Dave

@bbdave

I’ve had 2 similar ones in the past. As you say, easy to put on and store – and travel with in the car (I did a winter trip to Northern Ireland with the bikes packed up in the car, and the carrier inside for security, but once I’d arrived could build the bikes up and go for day trips without having to pack them back up every time.

However, there are 2 main drawbacks:

1. They only work well (particularly with more than one bike on) on bikes with a conventional design with a fairly horizontal top tube. A more sloping top tube means the back sits very high, an elaborate full suss with no top tube, or a step through frame, need a “false crossbar” – an attachment between the seat post and stem to give the bike something to hang from.

2. They have no provision for lights, so you need a separate light bar strapped to the bikes.

By the time you’ve solved all these problems, it takes a lot longer to load the bikes than the sort of racks shown above.

I’ve had the Witter version of that before and a Buzz Rack Buffalo. They’re great in terms of simplicity and storage but as stated above, they only fit traditional shaped bikes with a big horizontal top tube.

The last bike I had which fitted nice was a large 26″ Cotic Bfe. The Geometron fitted but at a dodgy angle and everything since then, the front triangle isn’t big enough to get the arms through.

I didn’t want to sell the Buffalo as it was such a solid bit of kit but that’s also the reason I went with Buzz Rack again.

I really like my Thule Epos 2.

There was only 2 racks I could find which folded easily had adequate clearance between chainstays.

Thule Epos and a BuzzRack E Scorpion XL.

I wanted something that folded easily and with minimal setup. Which is why the Thule won over the BuzzRack with its additional straps, attaching the number plate etc. I had enough of taking wheels off and cleaning the car with Seasuckers.

Came across Spinder TX2 after buying the Thule, similar design and cheaper. Availability in UK doesn’t seem to be great though.

For me the biggest feature to have is space between bikes, I can’t stand bikes getting rubbed when on the rack. I’ve got the e Scorpion above with the attachment for a third bike if needed. It’s 300mm between bikes compared to 280mm on the Hornet. I couldn’t find another rack with as much spacing, plus they are really well priced compared to Thule. It also has 2 wheel straps for the front wheel which stops handlebars shimmy at speed, absolutely rock solid.