Bike Rack Opinions?

Use the liftgate, Obi Wan!

Sorry. I'm an 'inside the vehicle' kind of guy unless I go for the roof rack (rare these days).

Even a small car such as the Matrix can easily swallow a couple of bikes and gear...with the deployment of padded shipping blankets to separate wheels/frames of course.

The matrix could look good with either a hitch or roof rack from any of the major players. I think all the name brands are sturdy enough and if it were my investment, I would be looking at anodized aluminum finishes over powder coating. For ease of loading, it's hard to beat a tilt-away hitch mount.

Of course, both the roof models and rear mounts both off unique and time-tested methods of turning your $3,000 lightweight into a workshop lamp project...do you prefer modern art free standing lamps or more compacted desktop op art lamps?

etrailer.comBike%20RackOpen ↗

Several to choose from and a couple are anodized frame cradle types. The platform type carriers probably offer the most versatility in carrying different type/styles of bikes, but with the adjustable frame cradle models on the market now...there's not a lot of advantage to the platform carry racks other than the ultimate in stability...maybe!

Rack Attack is a decent place to go online window shopping:
rackattack.comtoyota matrix rack systems.aspOpen ↗

Hyper, you did not mention roof, hitch or price preference and that may help get more opinions.

If you don't mind having a rack that weighs about as much as your Matrix, I am really liking the Kuat NV rack that I got a couple weeks ago. Expensive and heavy, but will probably outlast a few of my future cars. [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

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More pics here at the bottom

CB gave you some good advice.....put the bike inside. One bike is easy, two and gear takes a bit more care but still should be no problem for most overnight trips to the big rides. Your expensive bike stays clean and dry, and out of reach of potential thieves or just vandals. You've bought a hatchback vehicle for utility, so why not use it as intended? I drive a Golf, and two road bikes fit inside easily.

Now, having said that, I know some people just think it's wrong to lay a bike down inside a vehicle. Some guys here drive full-size SUVs or pickup trucks to rides but still have hitch racks. For your Matrix, the lightweight solution is a rear rack that straps onto the hatch when you need it, comes off when you don't.

The hitch racks and hitches are a heavyweight solution. The hitch itself weights 40 lbs or more, and some of the racks with the wheel trays probably weigh as much. That's a lot of fat to add out on the end of your vehicle and haul around. My favorite hitch rack is the 1upusa, which is made from aircraft-style solid aluminum and SS fasteners. It has swing-up arms which lock the front and rear tires firmly to the trays. First-class way to go, but it's a heavy and expensive solution.

Thanks to you all. Certainly, now I have some things to ponder concerning racks. Any opinions concerning the Saris Gran Fondo. It's pricey, but it attaches to the hatch and there is no contact with the bike frame and carries two bikes.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by hyperliterate [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I am interested in purchasing a bike rack for my car (2010 Toyota Matrix) for my new Cannondale Super Six. Can anyone suggest a good rack? Thanks in advance.

Any of the roof racks are good.

hyperliterate said:

Thanks to you all.  Certainly, now I have some things to ponder concerning racks.  Any opinions concerning the Saris Gran Fondo.  It's pricey, but it attaches to the hatch and there is no contact with the bike frame and carries two bikes.

I'd look at a Saris Bones rack or a hitch rack before the Gran Fondo. I'm not big on racks that stick the bikes out into the airflow, like the Gran Fondo or roof racks. Such racks kill gas mileage. I've got a Saris Bones, now, and it hides the bike well enough from the airflow. My next rack, however, will be hitch rack.

The Saris Gran Fondo gets middle of the road reviews from users. Mounting can be easy to a royal pain, depending on the vehicle. The more vertical the surface the rack is mounted on, the more awkward the installation generally.

While the wheel cradle is secure and versatile as far as wheel sizes go, fenders on the bike are a no go. Locating rack pads on the vehicle's window glass gives me the heebie jeebies. Attaching any rack strap to glass just plain causes me to send hate mail to the design staff.

The Gran Fondo also has the 'I still have to lift the bikes up' syndrome. It's just my two cents worth, but for all that I would go with a roof rack that carries the bike with the front wheel removed. Either separate front wheel holders on the rack or stuff them inside the vehicle. Yeah, Yakima and Thule are decidedly not cheap, but it's more than marketing that keep them selling in large numbers. They both build killer products (as do a couple other manufacturers).

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by alienator [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I'd look at a Saris Bones rack or a hitch rack before the Gran Fondo. I'm not big on racks that stick the bikes out into the airflow, like the Gran Fondo or roof racks. Such racks kill gas mileage. I've got a Saris Bones, now, and it hides the bike well enough from the airflow. My next rack, however, will be hitch rack.

I bought the Saris Bones last year to use on my wife's car when traveling and I like it. Takes just a few minutes to put on and take off. I would stick with Bones over the Gran Fondo as well. The only thing that made me nervous using it while traveling is how easy it would be to steal the bike if we went in a place to eat, but even with that I simply got a table with a view to the car. Of course this is only a small issue when traveling and leaving the bike unattended for a short time. But I would probably be nervous about any of my bikes no matter the rack or if it were in the car. People break in car windows in Atlanta just to steal a 10 year old Garmin Nuvi that is not worth $20.

Laying the bike down in the car was not an option for us (sedan with fold down rear seats) was losing cargo/trunk space with the amount of luggage. Part of why I picked a hitch mount with trays was for a number of those reasons. It puts the bike lower down behind the car rather than a roof rack that would catch more air (plus I am short and would need a ladder for a roof rack on a SUV). I do not want to lay it down inside and lose cargo space. I felt a hitch mount with wheel trays can be potentially more secure with routing cable locks through the wheels and frame(s). We each have our own reasons why one or another rack or cargo option may be better suited.

It is thinking about all the options of how you would use the rack, secure the bike, if you travel and need cargo space, if you want to remove the rack during work week and other facets that may help spend your bucks more wisely.

"...if you want to remove the rack during work week..."

Back in the day, if you spotted a car with a roof rack you spotted a racer.

Bones are dirt cheap on Craigslist and can even be found pitched to the curb on cleanup days (America, the land of free bikes with 25 miles on them and bike racks that made one trip before the owner discovered, "Bikes iz hard!".).

I think I'll just install a hitch on the car and get a good hitch rack. Thanks to all for your help.

Good choice. The bikes are easy on/easy off. The rack, itself, is easy on/easy off.