Best car bicycle racks

Among the many joys of owning a bicycle is its ability to help you explore new places - and one of the best bike racks for cars will help you to get further afield for your cycling. We've tested models from all the most popular types of bike racks, seeing how best car bicycle racks they are to set up and use.

Are you looking for a new bike rack? We've spent the past six years purchasing and testing over three dozen models to bring you this evaluation of 17 of our favorite bike racks on the market today. We understand how difficult it can be to locate a rack that works for your bike, vehicle, and budget, so we're here to assist. For months, our bike-obsessed testers carried bikes on hitch, trunk, and roof-mount racks. We switched between cars, trucks, and SUVs, driving up dirt roads, down freeways, and parallel parking around town. We were impressed by how simple it was to load and unload our bikes and how securely they kept our prized possessions. Continue reading to discover the ideal rack for your needs, budget, and vehicle.

Best car bicycle racks

The best bike racks for cars make transporting your ride less of a chore and are an absolute essential if you can't squeeze everything inside your vehicle. There are multiple bike-rack styles available at a range of budgets, and this guide covers everything you need to know when you're deciding which one suits your needs. We've reviewed many car bike racks over the years, with our team of testers putting them through their paces and entrusting them with road bikes, mountain bikes and gravel bikes. In this article, we've compiled the bike racks that scored the highest in testing and put together a buyer's guide to all the major types. The Thule ProRide is a benchmark for roof racks and a great all-round choice as long as you're happy to clamp directly onto the down tube of your bike the jaws are designed in such a way as to minimise the risk of damage. The is ideal if you want to transport bikes with mudguards because, unlike those that hold the bike by its wheels only, the rack won't interfere with them. The Yakima Highroad mounts on virtually any roof bars and is an ideal choice if you're worried about scratching your frame, because it holds your bike by its wheels only. Mounting a bike on the Highroad is particularly easy, with no need to adjust the front wheel hoops for different-sized rims and tyres. A built-in cable lock adds a bit of security, although you'll need to pay extra for the lock barrel. It's a sleek design that's fairly unobtrusive when folded flat. The only major downside is that racks like this are completely incompatible with full-length front mudguards. However, the bikes are secured with only a cable, which would be easy to cut. With practice, mounting and dismounting the rack and bikes isn't too long and you can fold the rack arms down when it's not in use. Load capacity is up to three bikes of up to 15kg, for a total of 45kg weight, while the rack itself weighs just under 9kg.

Roof racks are more of a set-it-and-forget-it item that consumers often choose to just leave on the best car bicycle racks for extended periods after the initial installation. He looks like he should be better at cycling than he actually is, and he's ok with that.

Finding a hitch bike rack that accommodates your bikes, as well as your budget, can be a challenge. We know what makes them great, and we also know their limitations. A few notes about our recommended hitch racks. A more complete buying guide click to jump down is provided later in this review. Unlike platform racks, hanging hitch bike racks carry bikes via their frame rather than their tires. If you are on a tighter budget, especially if you need to haul 3 or 4 bikes, hanging racks are your best bet. Compared to platform and vertical hitch bike racks, hanging bike racks are significantly lighter, making them much easier to install and remove.

When you need to carry your bike by car, you want to do it as easily and securely as possible. Of the tray-style hitch racks we tested, this is one of the easiest to install and use. This hanging-style, two-bike hitch rack costs less than our top pick. This rack is great for carrying bikes weighing up to 65 pounds. This upgraded model offers sturdy construction and light weight at an affordable price, making it a great value if your car can't accommodate a hitch mount. You have to lift your bike up higher to load it than with our top pick. This tray-style hitch rack is lighter than most similar models, easy to use, and reasonably priced for a four-bike rack. This one-bike roof rack is simple to install, allows easy access to your car, and holds a bike securely, with no frame contact.

Best car bicycle racks

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear. The latest generation of hitch racks makes it easier than ever to transport your bike without the hassle of wrestling it into your car. These racks are designed to haul your pedaled possessions without a rattle; they make loading and unloading your bike easy. Our rack picks vary by mounting position, actuation of the rack for trunk access, and the number of bicycles they carry. But all are dependable options for your next two-wheeled adventure. Hanging racks hold your bike, cradling its top tube and downtube on horizontal bars. These racks usually cost less and weigh less than tray and vertical racks, but they do not hold bikes as securely and have limited carrying capacity. Many contemporary mountain and aero road bikes cannot fit on these racks.

Premier medical cookeville tn

There's a base hitch that attaches to your car, then you add the carriers you need for up to four bikes. While the Piston Pro X hitch rack may have a hefty price tag and weigh quite a bit, it is still considered our top choice. The Beta, a hanging hitch-mount aluminum rack, is easy to put on and pull off your car, weighs only 18 pounds, and folds down tiny enough to stash in a closet. But when deciding which style of hitch rack is best for your style of vehicle, the most important thing to consider is how far off the ground your hitch receiver is. Thule UpRide. You should also consider practicality: whether the rack will suit your needs now and in the future; ease of use — how easy it is to fit to the vehicle and load; security — whether it holds the bikes safely and locks the bikes to the rack and the vehicle; and how much storage space it will take up when not in use. Rear mounted racks usually suspend the bike by its top tube from supports at the top of the rack. The racks themselves are much lighter than a hitch system since they separate the bike retention from the car retention. By Luke Friend Published 5 March As denoted by the name, Saris also makes similar racks for one and three bikes. The first, and most important thing to consider when choosing the best bike rack for your needs is to ensure that whatever you buy will be compatible with your car. Some hitch racks feature integrated cable locks to secure bikes to racks and locking hitch pins to secure the rack to your car. The Thule UpRide is a high-quality bike rack with much going for it. A claimed weight capacity of 50 pounds per tray means you'll be hard-pressed to overload it.

The best bike racks for cars help you to transport your bike or bikes further afield safely and securely.

Riders hoping to keep the most secure hold of their bike will likely love this model. Who helped us. While it requires a little more assembly than some other models, your efforts are rewarded with a solid, tray-style mount and an easy-to-use tilt release that's complete with locks. When not in use, the rack can be folded up flush with the back of the car. If you only need to carry 3, 4, 5, or 6 bikes, the Velocirax is still a high-quality and rugged option. The ability to access the rear hatch of your car while the rack is fully loaded is another great feature available on most higher-end racks. Best for bikes with fenders The HighSpeed attaches to your rear wheel with a strap, rather than an arch, so it doesn't interfere with fenders. The SwitchHitter accepts thru-axle designs, and RockyMounts claims the rack fits all crossbar styles. However, these racks have limited versatility and can only accommodate bikes with suspension forks. This upgraded model offers sturdy construction and light weight at an affordable price, making it a great value if your car can't accommodate a hitch mount. We also found that as long as we paid attention to cleaning dirt and grime off the ratcheting system after driving on dirty or dusty roads, trouble was eliminated. The rack is available in versions for up to seven bikes. Despite some unfortunate contact with a tree while backing up that resulted in a bent ratchet mechanism, the Heavy Duty Quick Rack continued to function without issue.