Packing the car for a getaway but want to take your bikes with you. You need a bike rack solution to take your bike on some rad adventures. Maybe you don’t have a car with a hitch mount or you are just looking for ways to transport you bike other than by hitch. These bike racks over a solution, mostly trunk bike racks, but also racks for mounting on your rear mounted spare wheel or a even better solution for mounting on your sports car!
If you are like me and have a smaller car with not much room to store the bike inside the car with the seats down, no hitch mount and you don’t have a roof rack for a bike carrier. Then some of these racks are the perfect answer to your bike transportation needs.
Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack
Best For : Sedans and smaller cars Number Of Bikes : 2 Bike Attachment Point : Frame
Bike Compatibility : Bikes with Fenders, Fat-Tire Bikes, Kids’ Bikes Weight : 10.5 lbs or 4.76 kg
Max Weight Per Bike : 35 lbs or 15.86 kg Price : $200
This rack has an innovative arc-based design that separates bikes to different levels and fits over the spoilers of many cars. Made from a heavy-duty recyclable plastic construction, so no rust. Ratchet straps securely hold bikes in place; anti-sway, articulated feet protect the paint on your car, ensuring bikes and vehicle aren’t damaged.
Easily fits a wide range of vehicles including sedans, hatchbacks and minivans. Not recommended for tandem or recumbent bikes and comes with an adapter to carry bikes with step-through frames (sold separately). Even if you have a tiny car like the Mazda Miata this rack is perfect! It’s recommended to put felt down where the rack’s feet touch the bumper and trunk as it can visibly buff the paint. If you need to get into the trunk this rack allows you to be able to quickly remove and remount the bicycle rack and bicycle.
They also offer a 3 bike rack option.
SeaSucker Mini Bomber
Best For : Most Vehicles Number Of Bikes : 2 Bike Attachment Point : Fork (Axle & Wheels)
Bike Compatibility : Most bikes (will need adapter for thru axles) Weight : 12 lbs or 5.44 kg
Max Weight Per Bike : 45 lbs or 20.4 kg Price : $489
A unique solution to cars that face the challenge for transporting bikes. If your car lacks a hitch mount and you don’t have a roof rack. Say you have a sports car and you want a quick fix solution a non permanent bike solution. Attach to metal, glass or fibreglass, conforming to your car’s curves, the SeaSucker Mini Bomber 2 bike rack is versatile, aerodynamic and quick to install for your faraway bike adventures.
Featuring 4 powerful 210 lb pull-strength vacuum front cups and 2 rear cups with 22″ straps to secure the back tires. Made of 0.75″ thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for strength and durability. Compatible with virtually every car and bike model even fat bikes. Includes 2 Universal HUSKE (HUb Standards Keep Evolving) fork mounts, 9mm plugs, quick-release axle skewers, spare pump, 2 crank arm straps and 5g lube tube. You will need the thru axle plugs if you bike requires them, with 3 thru axle size options.
I personally use this rack on my Toyota 86 as pictured above. However be sure not to leave it attached to your car for longer than needed. As I found when you use water to spray on the suction cups to help for better mounting this leaves some light marks on the paint of my car (if left out in the hot sun for extensive period of time.)
Yakima SpareRide 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack
Best For : Jeep Wranglers Number Of Bikes : 2 Bike Attachment Point : Frame
Bike Compatibility : Most bikes (with standard top tube) Weight : 29 lbs or 13.15 kg
Max Weight Per Bike : 35 lbs or 15.86 kg Price : $399
Turn almost any vehicle’s rear-mounted spare tire into a bike-hauling machine. Its ideal for Jeep Wranglers and the likes with centred spear wheels. I am looking for a potential rear rack for the spare wheel on my Nissan Patrol and as the spare wheel is off centre not sure this would be best as a part of the bike may stick out off side on the car. Other have had fitting issues with rear cameras which is worth keeping in mind. Make sure the included plate mount fits your vehicle before proceeding with purchase as it might not align with any of the mounting screws on your spare wheel. Also another potential worry could be the clearance for the rack to pass in front of more beefier off-road tires.
However, its made from a steel construction for strength and durability. From their product page they say it “fits nearly any size spare tire, including oversize truck tires (P195 to P318)”. Designed with an anti-sway cradle to minimize bike-to-bike contact. Allows you cant go past the nice touch of the Yakima signature bottle opener, which would be perfect for cracking a cold one at camp.
Yakima FullBack 2-Bike Trunk Rack
Best For : Sedans Number Of Bikes : 2 Bike Attachment Point : Frame
Bike Compatibility : Most bikes (with standard top tube) Weight : 21 lbs or 9.53 kg
Max Weight Per Bike : 35 lbs or 15.86 kg Price : $299
Sturdy and secure rear trunk rack solution for most cars. The SuperCush ZipStrip cradles allow for premium bike protection, 4-strap design for easy installation, Enhanced vehicle fit is achieved through external frame construction and padding, featuring a compact design, folding arms with anti-sway cradles. Secure thanks to the Full SKS locking package that locks the rack to your vehicle and your bikes to the rack. Allowing up to a total of 70 pounds or 32 kg of bike weight on the rack. They also offer a 3 bike solution.
SeaSucker Talon 1-Bike Rack
Best For : Most Vehicles Number Of Bikes : 1 Bike Attachment Point : Fork & Rear Wheel
Bike Compatibility : Bikes with Fenders, Kids’ Bikes, Fat-Tire Bikes Weight : 6 lbs or 2.72 kg
Max Weight Per Bike : 45 lbs or 20.4 kg Price : $299
Looking for a versatile and super lightweight bike rack solution for just about any vehicle? The Sea Sucker Talon is best if you only need to transport 1 bike on your car. And much like the Mini Bomber, it’s quick to install and aerodynamic, with strong vacuum cups that attach to metal, glass or fibreglass.
Same as the Mini Bomber it’s a fork-mount-style rack for bikes up to 45 lbs. This model features 3 powerful 210 lb. pull-strength vacuum cups for the front and a rear cup with a 22 in. strap to secure the back tire. Made of 0.5 in. thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which is a bit thinner compared to the Mini Bomber. Super compact size that fits into bike bags or carry-on when you’re traveling with bike by air. Also with this model you will need to buy the thru axle plugs separately.
Thule Gateway Pro 3 Bike Rack
Best For : Sedans and Hatchbacks Number Of Bikes : 3 Bike Attachment Point : Frame
Bike Compatibility : Most bikes (with standard top tube) Weight : 14.7 lbs or 6.67 kg
Max Weight Per Bike : 35 lbs or 15.86 kg Price : $249.95
Transport your bike and still have access to the trunk with the Thule Gateway Pro 3 Bike Rack. It makes transporting multiple bikes easy and leaves seven inches of space between each bike. The Gateway Pro features ratcheting cradle straps and anti-sway cradle attachments help further secure your bikes and eliminate bike-to-bike contact. An integrated cable lock secures your bikes to the rack for a secure transport.
Very easy to use and install, a sturdy rear bike rack solution. Users have said that they didn’t notice any bike movement even at higher speeds. Some have mentioned that the bottom rubber supports which sit on the bumper split apart after some time.
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