Specific Bike Racks for Y Frame Bikes

[Frost]

I believe that this question may have been asked once before but here I go once again. I have a Norco 2003 Atomik VPS and I am looking for the best and least expensive bike rack for a trailer hitch type rack. Does anyone have any suggestions on brand that works with this type of bike?

Frost

[Futurelooks Guy]

Drive down to RackAttack in Portland, and Pick up the Thule T2. It cost me about $400 US, with lock cores, no taxes. Since I put it on over there myself, I just drove over the boarder with it, no questions asked. It is both cheap and the best because it costs almost half of what CDN retail is which I think is $800 or something, and with the lower US exchange and no tax in Oregon, you get a nice scenic drive thrown in ;)

[Frost]

There are no local brands that work? I agree that it would be cheaper to buy some things in the US but I am surprised that there is not a local company that makes a product like this.

[djb]

I think yakima sells a bar that goes from the seat tube to the stem that makes a "top tube" that can be used with any bike rack. I use one with my hitch mount rack and it works fine... mine is red and black. swagman also sells a cheaper, (more annoying to operate) version

[SubPlop]

I have one of those "bike bars" too, you can get them from Wal Mart or probably any bike shop for about $30-$40.

Austin

[Fat Whacker]

I have a hitch style rack with 2 of those "cross bars" for sale if you wish. Will come cheap and can be shipped to Surrey. PM me if interested.

[the Master Plan Dan]

Okay that might work and it might not... if he has a double crown good luck getting that on there. I had the same problem until I bought the truck and throw them in the back. Just make sure that bar can fit through the double crown... if you don't have it.. buy away!

[yellowdogx]

canadiantire has a rack that will work:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669474&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1153796664094&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443247991&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

And before we start a flame war about the build quailty, he said he wanted something cheap that would work, this is cheap and has been trouble free for a few years for some of my ridding buddies.

[Futurelooks Guy]

Buy the T2 and your troubles will go away!

T2 Arnie: "Buy it if you want to live..."

This rack rocks! I can have my bike locked to my car in less than 5 seconds.

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=917

It's cheap in the US ;)

[darce_b]

back when i was riding a vps it worked fine with my yakima kingpin

[drummer_dil]

think my rack is called "the stealth hitch" i think its made by norco, but my brothers 03 vps fits on it fine.

[nouseforaname]

try North Shore racks,. not cheap but will carry any type of bike. No fuss no muss. Quite a few people i know have them and are stoked.

[Frost]

My bike is not a dual crown and I am looking to install this on a 2002 Subaru Imprenza. Not a big vehicle but I am looking to move at least 3 bikes at the most.

[Tonestar]

if you are in Surrey, go to Cap It Canopies, they do hitch installs and sell Yakima hitch racks. You won't be able to carry any more than 3 bikes on a Subaru Imprezza hitch, it will be a 1.25" which only allows for a 3 bike capacity.
Also, be carefull what hitch rack you get, as yo will have very little ground clearance for speed bumps, dips in the road and steep driveway transitions. I've seen people rip their bike rack/bikes off getting on and off the ferry as well, when the tide is high or low it is a problem.
Solution for this is a tall mast on the rack for bike to ground clearance, and a quick up curve on the bottom of the mast for ground clearance.

[Dean W]

I have the rack below and it is great. 2 bikes no problem. Good clearance and realtively cheap at Canadian Tire. I have a hidden hitch on a Subaru 2.5RS

http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Automotive/BikeSportRacks/0401110_450_CC_20dc5.jpg

[rider1313]

Buy the T2 and your troubles will go away!

T2 Arnie: "Buy it if you want to live..."

This rack rocks! I can have my bike locked to my car in less than 5 seconds.

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=917

It's cheap in the US ;)


i'd have to second this. i have the yakima version which is the same thing and it is by far the slickest system around. you can get an extender too so you can carry two more sleds.

[Madman]

think my rack is called "the stealth hitch" i think its made by norco, but my brothers 03 vps fits on it fine.


I have a stealth bumper rack, called "Stealth +3" Its really lightweight and fits pretty much anything you want. $110 at LBS and My 03 VPS fits on it no problem.

http://www.stealthrack.com/images/bumper_3.jpg

[Tonestar]

I have a stealth bumper rack, called "Stealth +3" Its really lightweight and fits pretty much anything you want. $110 at LBS and My 03 VPS fits on it no problem.

http://www.stealthrack.com/images/bumper_3.jpg

Be sure to take that thing off when you are not using it. That style rack will damage your molded plastic bumper cover (over time), they lose their shape with the weight and the heat. Those bumper covers are not cheap either. Better to get something that sits on the trunk and liscence plate area (steel parts of the car) if your going with a strap rack.

[Madman]

Be sure to take that thing off when you are not using it. That style rack will damage your molded plastic bumper cover (over time), they lose their shape with the weight and the heat. Those bumper covers are not cheap either. Better to get something that sits on the trunk and liscence plate area (steel parts of the car) if your going with a strap rack.

Yeah good point, the above picture isnt my car though and I always take it off because its soo easy to re-install. Also make sure nobody hangs off the end of it, its pretty scary watching how hard it pulls on the trunklid.

[Futurelooks Guy]

I have the rack below and it is great. 2 bikes no problem. Good clearance and realtively cheap at Canadian Tire. I have a hidden hitch on a Subaru 2.5RS

http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Automotive/BikeSportRacks/0401110_450_CC_20dc5.jpg

I had this. Started to get really loose and wobbly after a season of using it. Starts to rust and rotate on weird parts of the assembly. It's really only meant for light bikes, not big squishies.

That's why I manned up and got the T2. Impreza's have a class 1 hitch which means up to 200 lbs of static weight. The Yakima version is also a great rack, but I found that the locking mechanism was nicer on the T2 because all you need are lock cores, and the rack becomes lockable. They are the same price as a base unit.

[Futurelooks Guy]

Be sure to take that thing off when you are not using it. That style rack will damage your molded plastic bumper cover (over time), they lose their shape with the weight and the heat. Those bumper covers are not cheap either. Better to get something that sits on the trunk and liscence plate area (steel parts of the car) if your going with a strap rack.

I can attest to that. It killed the top bumper of my parents old Accord after a hot summer road trip. They were pissed :P

[Frost]

I do live in Surrey so where is the best place to find the T2?
( Dont want to piss off Arnold)
I still am looking at a hitch as well any suggestions about the best and cheapest place to get one?

Thanks so far guys for all of the information.

[Futurelooks Guy]

Rackattack sells them...but for a LOT!

http://www.rackattack.biz/shopexd.asp?id=1109

$600 CDN plus taxes. I think BRO Card gets you a discount. MAYBE 10%?

This is $350 US on the US Rackattack site. Since US Exchange is dirty cheap right now, at around 1.15...or less...you'd be $402.50 CDN, no taxes in Oregon.

My hitch cost me about $200 installed at Rackattack in Coquitlam. If you're going to shop this one over the border, I'd recommend getting the hitch put on here, then drive over and pick up the rack. Still cheaper, even with the drive and gas. Might as well make a vacation of it ;)

[Frost]

I have a roof rack on my car already and I have been toying with the idea of getting a roof mounted system as well. I can see it being a bit of a pain hoisting the bike on the roof. Do you guys have any experience, thoughts or suggestions about this type of system?

Thanks
Frost

[Tonestar]

The roof is the best place to carry stuff, unless of course you have a super high SUV or Van. The roof is cleaner (less road grime/salt in winter), the roof cannot get rear ended (bikes cover brake lights), it is easier to park a vehicle without bikes extending off the back and/or blocking your view.

The exceptions to this rule are: tall vehicles are hard to load, you can't get into underground parking/drive throughs with bike on, the load capacity of your cars roof is too little.

Do the research to see what ytou can carry opn the roof of your specific vehicle before making this decision. Look up the fit on Yakima.com or Thule.com, or call somebody like Rack Attack, Rack Stop or Cap It Canopies(Surrey).

[SkunkworkS]

You don't want to put 3 DH bikes on a Impreza hitch.

A combo of roof trays and a 2-bike hitch mount would suit your needs.

[Futurelooks Guy]

I actually dropped the fork of my bike on my roof one time. It made a dent. It was a long ride, and I was too tired to put it up there properly. Long story short, if you can stick with two bikes, there is much pleasure in being able to literally roll your bike onto your rack, and be gone in less than 10 seconds.

But yeah, I wouldn't put more than two big bikes on the back of the Impreza. Two Trek Sessions is about the limit.

[Tonestar]

I actually dropped the fork of my bike on my roof one time. It made a dent. It was a long ride, and I was too tired to put it up there properly. Long story short, if you can stick with two bikes, there is much pleasure in being able to literally roll your bike onto your rack, and be gone in less than 10 seconds.

But yeah, I wouldn't put more than two big bikes on the back of the Impreza. Two Trek Sessions is about the limit.

I wouldn't recomend the fork mount bike racks for the roof, unless they are for road bikes. You would go with an upright bike mount (King Cobra style), that way it will carry any size bike tire, without having to remove the front wheel. Those adaptors for QR20 to fork mounts suck, especially for the problem listed above.

[Frost]

Has anyone had any experience with the Swagman Barracuda Roof rack. Any ideas if I could use this with my stock roof rack?