If you don't want to spend a small fortune on a well-designed, user-friendly, versatile, and secure bike rack, we think this an excellent option to consider. NV Base 2.0 2 Bike Add On. A RockyMounts MonoRail rack bike carrier is as simple to use as most modern bike racks, with a ratcheting arm that holds the front wheel stable and a ratchet strap to secure the rear wheel. Our biggest complaint with the Beta is that Kuat doesnt offer a higher-capacity version. The plastic parts used on the Monorail do appear to be highly durable, though plastic tends to break down over time. I'm happy with my Kuat Transfer 3 rack. The extra design complexity and materials do add weight and costRockyMounts BackStage is 10 to 20 pounds heavier than a non-swing-away alternativebut are worth it for those that prioritize the feature. Haven't even picket it up yet! At 32 pounds, its a whopping 20 pounds less than the Kuat NV 2.0 above, which makes it a whole lot easier to install and remove from your vehicle. Plus, the optional 2-Bike Add-On (for another $550) doubles its capacity. $598.00 (1) RockyMounts. Most notably is price: At $650, the NSR above is one of the cheapest options out there (Recon Racks premium designs start at $1,200, while the Yakima HangTight 4 is $899). Mountain bikes have been trending towards longer designs, which has impacted the length of their wheelbases. RockyMounts makes a full line of bike racks and accessories. The tilt release handle is simple and well designed, adding to the user-friendliness of the Monorail. For group rides, shuttling, tour companies, or if you simply want to maximize your carrying capacity, 1UP's Recon Rack 6 is worth a serious look. Our favorite platform-style models are in the 45 to 52-pound range, which can make installing and removing them a challenge. That being said, the two-bike version is among the most expensive on the market at a hefty $805.See the 1Up USA Heavy Duty Double. There are obvious downsides to the vertical hanging style, however. 15-20 minutes later and you're ready to go. All standard wheel sizes are no problem. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. At RockyMounts, we offer various premium vehicle bike racks and accessories for those anywhere in the US and Canada. In addition, its important to point out that the rack has a relatively low weight capacity per bike: At 37.5 pounds, its less than its primary competitors (like Recon Racks and NSR), which can be a problem for those hauling downhill rigs or e-bikes. This design shares a number of basic features with the Thule T2 above, including an attachment system that avoids frame contact and a tilting function that allows for access to the back of your vehicle. or Best Offer. It should be noted, however, that this cable lock system is far from theft-proof and is more of a theft deterrent than anything else. Despite the complaints, the HangTights ability to carry various bike stylesas well as its all-around solid buildearn it a spot on our list Read in-depth reviewSee the Yakima HangTight 4. And on the road, weve noticed theyre more prone to wobbling while driving than more solidly built competitors like the Kuat NV 2.0. This limitation is what pushes the Beta down our list, but among two-bike hanging racks, we think the Beta has a best-in-class mix of weight, build quality, and functionality.See the Kuat Beta 2.0. But step-through frames (common on cruiser bikes), full-suspension mountain bikes, and kids bikes can be problematic. The finish seems to be improved with almost no surface rust at this point (wish we could say the same for the hardware), it carries most of your every day bikes super fast and easy, and is capable of holding 4 bikes with the HoldUp 2+ (2 inch . And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. It loses a little ground in this metric due to its standard threaded hitch pin which must be tightened with a wrench. With a premium build and price tag to match, this rack is feature-rich, designed to work with a wide variety of bike styles and sizes, and has proven to be durable and reliable even Weve been a fan of Thule bike racks for yearstheir T2 Pro XTR is currently our top-rated modelso we were pretty excited by the release of the premium Helium Platform. This cable isn't permanently attached to the rack in any way so it's quite easy to loop it through your bike frames. This rack certainly doesnt have all the bells and whistles of the more premium options above and below, but it will reliably transport your bikes from point A to point B. I have and love the Thule T2 Pro XT. The good news is that Kuat provided a replacement with their excellent warranty, but this experience leads us to think its worth upgrading to the burlier NV 2.0 if youll be leaving the rack on the back of your car most of the year.See the Kuat Sherpa 2.0. Rockymounts Monorail Solo can be adjusted to fit various bike sizes. It's the 2.0. I just made a deal on a slightly used, but fairly new Sherpa! Theres no getting around the fact that quality platform-style racks are expensive, but those looking to save should check out Kuats Transfer v2. $5.00. Among platform-style racks, its best to choose one of two basic designs: a ratcheting arm that locks in over the front wheel and a strap through the rear wheel (featured on the Thule T2 Pro XTR, Kuat Transfer v2, Kuat NV 2.0, and others) or a dual-arm design like 1Ups Heavy Duty that tightens over the front and rear tires. In the end, dedicated cyclists will be better off with the higher-end Thule, but if youre willing to make a few compromises, the Kuat offers a whole lot of bang for your buck.See the Kuat Transfer v2 2. Its when you get to the extreme ends of the spectrum with 12- to 24-inch kids bikes or fat bikes with 4- to 5-inch tires that problems can crop up. That said, the Transfer packs in a surprising number of features for the price, including a solid weight capacity (60 lbs. And with the exception of some truly cheap options, nearly all hitch-mounted bike racks have this functionality. There are two main receiver hitch sizes1.25-inch and 2-inchand it goes without saying that you should verify which one you have on your vehicle prior to purchasing a rack. Its expanding wedge attachment system makes for a wobble-free connection, the 60-pound weight capacity means you can haul nearly all bike styles (including many electric models), and you get ample clearance from your vehicle and between bikes. As with any product, there are bound to be compromises. For hauling a lot of bikes with relative ease, the HangTight is a great option. No sponsored content. $598.95 By Yakima Yakima HoldUp EVO 2-Inch Bike Rack. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Below we break down our top picks for 2023, from high-end, exquisitely manufactured designs like 1Ups Heavy Duty Double to Kuats budget-oriented and weight-conscious Beta. Note: The Helium is discounted at the time of publishing, as an updated Helium Platform XT has been released. $380.00. For a bargain-basement $145 (on Amazon at the time of publishing), the Swagman XC2 features a highly adjustable tray system, sturdy and secure ratcheting arms, and a threaded hitch pin that keeps rack movement to a minimum. The SuperClamp EX 4 is one of their leading platform-style racks that differs from our top picks above with its ability to carry four bikes on a set of two platforms (rather than having only one bike on a platform). If youre going to be close to the maximum weight or a little over, we recommend upgrading to a sturdier modelits not worth the risk of breaking your rack while driving or voiding your warranty. But once 29- and 27.5-inch wheels hit the market, the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since. Our editor described it as "a work of art much like a high-end bike," and there is a lot of truth to that statement. All that said, it's hard to overlook the beauty and level of craftsmanship of the 1Up. One design that does a great job of balancing metal construction and strategic use of tough plastic is our top-rated Thule T2 Pro XTR. We much prefer the lighter weight racks anytime we have to move them by hand as they are far less cumbersome than heavier models like the Thule T2 Pro at 51 lbs, or the Kuat NV 2.0 which weighs a whopping 57 lbs 10 oz. The ladder straps that secure the rear wheels are also easy to use by simply pulling tension on them, they don't have a ratcheting feature like some racks. Similar to racks like the Thule T2 Classic and the Yakima HoldUp, the Monorail has plastic wheel cradles and some clamp arm components. We carried all types of bikes and logged thousands of miles on everything from smooth highways, winding mountain roads, and washboard doubletracks. Simply pull the blue handle up to release the rack and move it into whatever position you like, up, down, or tilted down. If you can score a coupon, it makes these more reasonable. Kuat is a leader in the platform rack market, and their signature product is the NV 2.0. But were willing to deal with the added weight because of the benefits of a sturdier construction that carries bikes more securely and lasts longer. There are a wide range of options to choose from, but hitch racks fall into two basic categories: platform models are the most expensive but offer excellent stability and convenience, while hanging racks maximize carrying capacity in a compact package. It does have padded arms, but those only help so much, and frame scuffs are inevitable. By Yakima Yakima HoldUp 2-inch Black Bike Rack. One is on the hitch pin and the other is locking the cable to the rack. If your bike will not fit on your hanging rack due to a heavily angled or swooping top tube, purchasing a separate top tube adapter is your best bet. What are the shortcomings of the NSR 4-Bike? Priced at a reasonable $469 for the four-bike version, the RidgeBack offers double the capacity of the Thule T2 Pro above for hundreds less. Moreover, there is very little space between the bikes when theyre loaded, which can lead to rubbing and damage to the paint. At $699, its a big investment for a rack with so many compromises, but the FullSwing 4 does undercut the RockyMounts BackStage by $711 and can carry two additional bikes.See the Yakima FullSwing 4. The T2 Pro XT takes up a lot of space when stored, and moving it around on a regular basis is not all that enjoyable since it weighs 51 lbs. The MonoRail is similarly easy to remove and store as most of the other hitch mount platform racks in this test. The RockyMounts MonoRail Solo holds a single bike with tires up to 5 and overall weight up to 60 lbs. With a load capacity of 130 pounds (between two bikes), the EasyFold checks all the boxes for a heavy hauler. The tilting feature is available on both hanging and platform-style racks, although one key point of differentiation is that many platform models can tilt with the bikes loaded, while hanging racks require you to unload your bikes first. Was planning on waiting for the Quik-Rack Mach 2 but he has had some material delay issues and just haven't gotten around to spending the money on the 1Up QuikRack (OG version). As expected, 2-inch receivers can handle more weight, which is a consideration if youre planning on hauling a heavy platform rack with some 50+ pound e-bikes aboard. Others, like the Kuat NV 2.0, require two separate adapters to fit bikes with wheels between 20 to 24 inches and tires larger than 2.75 inches. The single-bike version uses the exact same burly folding chassis as this two-bike version and goes for $280. And what we like most about the SuperClamp is its minimalist and relatively lightweight build that takes up a surprisingly small amount of space behind your vehicle and is easy to store in your garage. In short, it can't match the sheer number of useful features included with the Thule T2 Pro above. Carbon fiber bikes are dream machines for many riders and come with premium price tags, so its no surprise that a common question is how to transport them safely. If you have a truck, the simple pickup pad is a nice, affordable option, but you do lose the security of a locking hitch and it can take some work to limit bike-to-bike contact. Type: HangingWeight: 56 lbs.Number of bikes: 4Weight capacity per bike: 40 lbs.What we like: The convenience of a swing-away design.What we dont: Heavy and pricey for a hanging rack. The vertical orientation also means you have to reach up to load them, and their tall profiles take up a lot of real estate on the back of your vehicle. Helium Platform XT 2 Bike Rack. The ramps are quick to deploy, do a nice job guiding the bikes up and down, and store easily on the rack while driving. Had the Transfer and now the Monorail, out of the 2 imho I think the RM is a lot better rack. And finally, the RockyMounts is a little limited in bike compatibility, with a max weight of 40 pounds and tire width of 3 inches. Platform Rack Add-Ons The Superclamp 2 is very easy to use. It is solid and well built. GearLab is reader-supported. I'll second the Saris Superclamp EX2, I've been using one all year and it's great! For a cheaper but less refined e-bike-ready alternative, check out Yakimas $729 OnRamp.See the Thule EasyFold XT 2. Other competitors are much taller. *Editor's Note: "Capacity" refers to weight capacity per bike. 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