Edcase

I know there are plenty of dedicated mtb'ers on here from previous threads.

Having just sold the Subaru and bought a company car (Passat) I am once again happy to put a bike rack on!

Can people recommend me some good examples from experience?

We'll probably only ever carry 2 bikes, but would be good to be able to carry four.

cheers

Ed

MooseRacer

Get a pendle towbar rack mate, by far the safest/best

Edcase

Hmmm, not got a towbar and not keen on fitting one TBH. Any others that dont need them? condsidered a roofmount, but concerned about crosswinds.

ChrisB

Other downside of a roof mount is forgetting about the bikes as you go under the car park barrier...

Positive is no worries about obscuring lights / plate.

I've been looking at the Avenir and Peruzzo models from BikeWizard. I like the look of the models with the hold downs for each bike.

HTH!

austen_wrx

I got a £15 special from Macro, its the most stable rack i have seen, 3 bikes 80mph no problem (although you cant see the number plate, or rear lights too well unless you take the wheels off). I laugh at the people driving round with £100 racks bouncing around on the boot.
I used to have a passat and it fitted a treat

DrJP

Recently returned to cycling after many years, any advice on the best roof rack for my 04 STI

the moose

Seconded - 100+mph across Europe, never had a problem. Whereas I know of someone who now has a mono-wheeled Klein Palomimo as a result of a poor rack.

Tow bar is by far the most secure, but also most expensive. Depends on how much you value your bike.

r32

Tow bar, safest and best for your bikes, roof mounted? No way, A friend has just rearranged the shape of his titaniun Litespeed on a carpark barrier. Also imagine when its raining its like a giant pressure washer, screws all the bearings up as it forces water into them. I have seen too many bikes on the motorway to want a strap on rack. ALso the Bill are getting hot on them, if you do go that way you ought to get a trailer board.

Edcase

ok, those stories alone are enough to back up my worries about roof mounted!!!

The rack I used to have was a Makro special also, and that managed 3 full D/H rigs from London to Dorking almost every weekend, so maybe I will take a trip up there later today, and maybe then to Halfrauds.

r32

The Hobo rack was great but they dont make them anymore, the Pendle are pretty good too ..

There used to be a hang on rack called a Hollywood that was always rated as the best, my son had one, it was pretty good ........

austen_wrx

No idea what mine is called, but its silver, made of 2 u shaped bits of steel tube that are bolted together to form an adjustable "X" shape. It sits on the back bumper and boot lid a treat on a passat, with 6 straps which clamp onto the edges of the boot lid. The only thing i can complain about is that the nylon covered hooks that go onto the boot lid can scratch it, so i now trap a piece of the anti skid foam between the hook and paint work, its not marked it since

austen_wrx

There is one of these at our local park, i think some people call it a bench

trails

iTrader: (41)

this is a halfords jobbie (tow bar mounted), it will take four bikes even tho it only says three on the box...high speed testing also proved successfull, just try and remember its there on the twisties

OllyK

Just bought the same at the weekend - not tested it on the move yet, but I can swing on the thing and I am a tad more than the 40Kg or so recommended max weight

Edcase

How much will I be looking at for tow bars nowadays?

OllyK

Think mine was circa £200, single electrics, fitted.

trails

iTrader: (41)

Mine was only £40 at halford and I fitted it!

Edcase

the tow bar or the rack??

OllyK

I think he means the rack. The one in the picture is not quite the same as mine. Mine was £70. Fitting to the towbar is a doddle, undo the 2 bolts, slip it on behind the towball and do it all up again. 24mm spanner IIRC.

If he manged to get a towbar with single electrics from Halfords for £40 I'd be amazed, especially as they don't stock them anymore. I got mine fitted about 4 months ago and when to ChavWorld, I mean Motorworld. You'll probably get it supplied an fitted for £150 if you shop about a bit.

trails

iTrader: (41)

bike rack...tow bars are around £250 for a removable towing point but I quiet like mine as it stops people damaging your car when they drive into you