Help with purchase of a bike rack

[saty]

Hi all,

I am looking for a rear (or roof) mounted bike rack for my BMW, I have a 2003 saloon sport model which has a small lip spolier on top of the rear boot.

Don't really want to spend much money.. what do you have?

Many thanks

 

[bonj2]

The best ones are tow bar mounted ones. They are:
* stable (i.e. bikes not likely to fall off),
* secure (i.e. bikes relatively hard to nick),
* easy to use (bikes easy to get on and off), and
* versatile (can get in the boot while it's on)
They are, however, expensive.
My one is an atera strada, and it was between £200 and £300.

However if you don't want to spend that much, then my mate has a SARIS one which impressed me when we used it, as it did inspire confidence in its quality of being STABLE, even if it lacked the other three qualities of being secure, easy to use, and versatile.
Don't get me wrong - stability is by far the most important of the three qualities - however the others are nice to have if you can afford it.

hope that helps

 

[saty]

Thanks Bonj... Tow bar one would be good but i change my car every 6 months lol..

Will look into the SARIS one

 

[saty]

Thanks Paul (or shall I say 'sultan' )

 

[bumsteer]

Thule roof-mounted.

Stylish, secure, lockable and easy to re-mount when changing car. And Halfords are doing a special deal on 'em at the moment.

 

[saty]

i had a look at the thule roof mounted kits they are expensive, you seem to need 3 components for the roof kit and then a carrier, in the region of £250..

Cheers BS

 

[garrilla]

I got a Pendle one. Very easy to install, no problems so far.

Was cheap too, http://legacy2.pendle-bike.co.uk/

 

[l4dva]

I got a rack that can be used on roof bars that you can have.....only prob im in brum

Not sure what make it is, but shud do the trick.....

 

[AWG]

Well I have a "Jeremy Clarkson cool list" (hmm!) Citroen Berlingo Multispace, so racks play no part in the equasion nowadays. It will still seat three people when three bikes has been swallowed up by it. However, having a long memory and never giving up the chance to put the boot in - against Argos; - well it's the year 1995 and I have a 2 year old Nissan Sunny Hatchback (yes, I actually bought one of those drab, characterless, 100% reliable machines!). I bought a Paddy Hopkirk rear mounted carrier from Argos. Assembled it exactly as required. The whole lot collapsed just passing Grin Low car park entrance, Buxton. Thankfully no motor cyclists behind or they could have been killed. One bike punched out the rear o/s back lense on the Sunny (nearly £80 then). The damage to the bikes strangely enough was just cosmetic, - scraped pedals and handlebar rubber grips.

Would the AA help me? NO! Because they said it wasn't a breakdown and the car was still useable. The warden at Grin Low kindly stored the bikes for us and I returned later in the day, partly dismantled them and squashed them into a Fiat Panda which being more of a square shape would hold them.

I argued with Argos for many, many weeks and neither they, nor Paddy Hopkirk cycle racks would accept any liability whatsoever. All Argos would do would give a full refund! But I never 'let go' and here I am in 2009 telling the story again.

It's a different millennium now - 13 years on. Designs may have improved, - but every time I see bikes on a rear strap fixed mounted carrier (not tow bar) I cringe!

 

[Danny]

Would also recommend a Saris rack.

I have the Saris Bones and it has been really good - much better than some of the rubbish racks you get at Halfords.

And I picked mine up on eBay for a good price.

 

[briank]

Another vote for the Saris Bones.
Quality kit.