Showing posts with label bike carriers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bike carriers. Show all posts

8/02/2012

Raider TOW-104 Motorcycle Carrier Review

Raider TOW-104 Motorcycle Carrier
Average Reviews:

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I've hauled dirt bikes for years in trucks and trailers but was a little hesitant to buy a hitch hauler, especially since I put it on a Wrangler Rubicon.
But, jumping in with both feet got me a fantastic hauler for a third of the price of brands like Joe Hauler. It does everything expected from a hitch hauler, I haven't had any issues yet with hauling, and like I said, for the price the small issues are moot.
Positives and short comings?
Downsides:
-It's a little light and sways a bit
-You'll have to wiggle the front wheel back and forth to avoid putting pressure on any spoke when you insert the pin to hold the front wheel in place
-The tie down points are in the middle instead of the front
-You can't really get the ramp in the holder once you tie the bike down, and if you do it rattles like crazy
-It's too thin (and light as I mentioned) to carry much more than a dirt bike
-Sits out a little far if you don't have a spare tire
Positives:
-Cheap!!!!
-Bolts together snuggly and being light it's great for vehicles with low tongue capacity
-Gaps in the chanel work perfectly with knobs on dirt bikes
-Holds the bike snuggly once everything is strapped down
-Sticks out far enough to avoid spare tires
-Hasn't had much affect on the driving of my Wrangler despite the weight out back (positive for me!)

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7/30/2012

Curt Manufacturing 11384 Class I Receiver Review

Curt Manufacturing 11384 Class I Receiver
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The Curt Manufacturing Class 1 receiver (11384) I purchased was installed on my 2007 MazdaSpeed 3. This is my first time installing, owning, and using towing equipment, so I was unsure of the results. I use it for a hitch mounted bike rake that holds 4 bikes.
Install:
The install was simple and required the drilling of four (I think) holes in the rear bumper frame assembly. It was simple and done with a battery hand drill. Next, fishing the bolts through the end-caps of the bumpers to the newly drilled holes using a guidewire took patience and an ounce of luck. After the second one they seemed to go in rather quickly. Finally torque all nuts down to spec. Overall, it took about 45 minutes with no prior experience.
Fit:
The receiver was actually too small and had some gap between the bumper frame assembly and the outer flanges of the receiver. Some reviewers recommended hammering/bending it into shape (we were unable to do this). I kept torquing down the nuts evenly and bent the flanges into shape that way. Now it's snug, but in retrospect, I probably should've used some sort of spacer or pre-bent the flanges. The receiver box shows from behind the car but nothing else. Rear ground clearance has only been reduced by a 2-3 inches from that part.
Performance:
I've used the receiver with the aforementioned hitch mount bike rack many times. The way the receiver mounts allows a certain flexibility on the rack as the weight is kept about 2.5 feet from the mounting points. This allows the bikes and rack to bounce excessively with the slightest of bumps. I'm going to drill and bolt in two more bolts closer to the receiver mount to eliminate most of this bounce. It hasn't caused and problems yet (especially on a 2000 mile road trip with some scary highway bounce), but I want to be safe. This is why I'm giving this 4 stars: the bounce, and poor fit between the frame.
Overall, it's a fantastic receiver with a few niggles. I've owned it for several months and I would buy it again had I the choice. On a clean install, I would've like to have made the above mentioned changes as well.

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7/09/2012

Saris #996B Mounting Plate for BAT, 5" to 7.75" Tire Depth Review

Saris #996B Mounting Plate for BAT, 5 to 7.75 Tire Depth
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Had to order it with my Saris bike rack. It fit like a glove, and I didn't encounter any installment problems. I've driven with it on for about half a year now in every kind of weather and terrain, just about---still going strong. Great quality.

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4/24/2012

Yakima Beddy Joe Review

Yakima Beddy Joe
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I got this item at a local REI. It is perfect. It is for 2 bikes and it holds them easily. It does take some assembly but that should take only a few minutes. It really should come preassemlbed as it would still fit in the same box and save you some trouble. But not a big deal. It is super light yet really clamps down on the bikes. Easy to install in the bad of the truck. I would suggest you get in the back and put your knee across the bar when tightning it down. It makes a huge differance in the hoding power. I drove down a pretty bumpy trail to get to where we wanted to bike, and there was zero movement. The problem is the you can't really lock the bike up. After biking we went to a playground and I was a little uncomfortable leaving the bikes in the bed of the truck with no locks. I parked where I could see the truck..... You do have to take the front wheels off the bikes to clamp them in so that is protection from people on foot. But it is somthing to consider.

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1/24/2012

Evo Fork Mount Truck Bed Bicycle Carrier Review

Evo Fork Mount Truck Bed Bicycle Carrier
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Hard to find 15mm QR fork block. Simple, no lock :( but for the price, ya cant beat it. Some type of plastic lining inside the axle holder keeps the steel from scratching the axle

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1/20/2012

Swagman Locking Anti-wobble Threaded Hitch Pin - 1/2 - 64029 Review

Swagman Locking Anti-wobble Threaded Hitch Pin - 1/2 - 64029
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The Swagman 2 bike rack that this is supposed to fit is a great bike rack. I am completely confused as to why these locking pins don't fit the model they are made for. I have now purchased two locking pins from Swagman and neither fit my rack??? I don't know if i'm missing something! I wouldn't mind some professional help here. and yes, i have already looked up my model numbers to make sure i'm talking about the correct equipment.

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1/08/2012

Surco A100 Conversion Bar Bicycle Rack Adapter For Select Bicycles Without Top Tubes Review

Surco A100 Conversion Bar Bicycle Rack Adapter For Select Bicycles Without Top Tubes
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The concersion bar seems extremely flimsy compared to other models on the market, does not seem sturdy enough for long distance. The telescopic tubes should have stopper so that they would not disassemble during installation on the bike. The conversion bar is extremely awkward to install with the bolting type mechanism.

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GIRLS BIKE ADAPTOR

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1/02/2012

12/10/2011

Softride 26373 Top Tube Adapter Review

Softride 26373 Top Tube Adapter
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I orderd 2 of these "Top Tube Adapters," and they work very well. The rubber coating on the ends that come in contact keep scratches on your bikes to a minimum. These are very sturdy and very easy to install and uninstall.

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12/04/2011

Curt Manufacturing 18011 Bolt On Bike Rack 2 Bike Carrier Bolts On Ball Mount Review

Curt Manufacturing 18011 Bolt On Bike Rack 2 Bike Carrier Bolts On Ball Mount
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Arrived fairly quickly and assembled easily (I am mechanicaly inclined) . The only issue that I encountered may have been my fault, I was under the impression that the rack bolted on over your hitch, it actually replaces it. The bolt that replaces it seems to be an odd size as well which made attaching it a bit of a pain. That said, someone with more tools may not have that problem, but I have a ton of tools.
The main reason I bought it however was the suprisingly low price. HOWEVER, when I went back to look at the ad again after I received it, the price had nearly tripled. Guess I got lucky.

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11/25/2011

Thule 166 Roof Rack Fit Kit Review

Thule 166 Roof Rack Fit Kit
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Great product. Thule is not cheap but you will have a product that will last for years and the racks are more solid than anything else I have used. I could literally pull the car over on its side with the roof rack. I have used my current rack for well over ten years and just replaced the bars and will expect another ten. To transfer it to another car only requires buying the foot package and presto, it is on another car. And the kayak rack I just purchased is perfect also.

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11/07/2011

SportRack EZ Hitch Platform 2 Bike Rack Review

SportRack EZ Hitch Platform 2 Bike Rack
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we received our first one without any locks, etc. Followed the instructions online and we actually had a new one the NEXT DAY! We have assembled it and attached it, but with all the rain haven't actually used it yet, but looking forward to it!!!

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10/22/2011

Saris T-bones 2 Bike Universal Hitch Review

Saris T-bones 2 Bike Universal Hitch
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Having hit my mid-life crisis, late last year I suddenly became intensely interested in getting a 2 seat convertible sports car (aka roadster). The only barrier was that I needed to be able to carry my bikes. The main criteria were that the rack needed to be easily detachable and not weigh too much (my car can only carry 400lbs total!). After much research I decided to order the Saris T-Bones. I actually got the three bike version because I also planned to use it on my wife's SUV.
There really aren't any other racks out there like this one. Thule has a lightweight rack, but it's still much heavier than this one, and not easily detachable.
When you buy this rack you get the full package:
- three point attachment (holds the seat tube as well as top tube so that bikes don't sway and hit eachother)
- integrated locking (detachable part of rack locks to hitch-mounted part, hitch part locks to hitch, cable locks bikes to rack)
- stand for rack when it's detached from car
- just 10lbs, so it's a cinch to handle
- very attactive, brushed aluminum column, light grey plastic, yellow accents (matches my car well)
- bag, but I don't use that as I have a garage
Being so light and largely made of plastic, this rack feels flimsy, but the build quality is excellent. It's rated to carry 90lbs (I think, check the specs), but I will drive very carefully if I actually load three mountain bikes on this thing. It has nice two layer straps to hold the bike in.
Other reviewers have commented that it's hard to get the column off in hot weather. I can see how this could happen, as the fit if very tight to keep the column from swaying. I spray light oil on that area to prevent it seizing (I'll probably try some silicone grease).
Overall this rack works exactly like described in the video. If you want a rack to keep attached to your car/SUV all the time, this is not the right rack. If you want one that pops on/off easily then this one is great.

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10/14/2011

Saris T-RAX Basic 2 Bike Hitch Mount Rack Review

Saris T-RAX Basic 2 Bike Hitch Mount Rack
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Just got this rack at LBS on sale for $125. I got the 212 which is the 1-1/4" supplied version. Basically the same as the 222 without the 2" hitch gizmo. All the 200 series have 1-1/4" frames. I have a 2" receiver on my trailblazer, so went to harbor freight and bought a 2" - 1-1/4" adapter ($9.99), then to home depot for a 1/2" X 3" bolt ($0.70) to replace the hitch bolt that comes with it (I was afraid I wouldn't have enough thread on the supplied bolt to engage the nut inside the rack tube). Drilled a 7/32" hole in the end of the bolt for the cotter pin, but will be putting a small masterlock in there for security.
I'm carrying (2) 700C hybrids on this puppy and she's solid as a rock. With a little ingenuity, I now have a formidable rack for under $150.00 that includes anti-sway.
"Buy Wisconsin - great cheese, great bike racks"

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9/30/2011

Hollywood Racks HR1200 Sport Rider SE 3-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver) Review

Hollywood Racks HR1200 Sport Rider SE 3-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)
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I am very pleased with this rack. It was easy to assemble and since it works mainly by pulling pins (for adjustments), pretty much anyone can use it. Figure about five minutes for on/off. The stabilizer hitch pin prevents any swaying and the entire rack (and bikes) simply stay put. Nobody likes to see wobbling in their rear view mirror! The construction seems very solid and my only minor gripe is that the cables holding the pins could be a thicker. Also, it is a bit tedious moving all the pins around for each bike bracket when setting up/tearing down. I think they could have combined certain pins in a more efficant manner. The piece is somewhat bulky, so expect to have help if you are not comfortable lifting heavy objects. You are most likely going to leave this rack in place as I have found unplugging/plugging from hitch, moving the pins and straps around gets tiring after a few on/offs.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hollywood Racks HR1200 Sport Rider SE 3-Bike Platform Style Hitch Mount Rack (2-Inch Receiver)

Designed to fold flat against the back of a vehicle when not in use, this heavy-duty platform-style rack mounts on a 2-inch hitch and holds three bicycles. The rack uses padded universal top clamps and adjustable wheel holders. Bikes need simply to be dropped into the wheel holders and clamps slid down onto the frames. Velcro wheel straps add security. To prevent rack sway, the hitch system is "no-wobble/no-tools" and includes a locking pin and 9-foot security cable. The rack carries a limited warranty against defects.
About Hollywood Racks Hollywood Racks started in 1973 when they began making trunk racks in the back of our bike shop in Hollywood, CA. As a retailer, the company knew exactly what people needed: good quality products that were easy to use. They earned a great reputation fast and began selling racks to other dealers, and later to the bike companies. Today, Hollywood Racks builds racks the only way they know how: simple, strong, and secure.
Hollywood Racks are built with top-quality materials including high-strength steel, aircraft-quality fasteners, and thick powder coats to withstand the elements. Generous amounts of padding protect bikes and cars, and all of their products are fully covered with a limited warranty. The company's products continue to receive accolades from all the major outdoor sports magazines, and are in demand by everyone from recreational cycling families to weekend warriors to race teams on the road and off.


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9/29/2011

Yakima Spare Tire Carrier Review

Yakima Spare Tire Carrier
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I got this bracket to hold my second spare on a Body Armor Roof Rack on my Jeep. Since this rack has thicker bars on the basket I can not use the brackets coming with the part so I have a hard time to install it. With the original brackets it would bemuch easier but that's my rack, not a general thing. My roof rack is in 8 feet height which makes it harder but it is doing its job very well. I'm still using additional straps, better safe than sorry.
I would recommend it to a friend.

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