Best Made Bike Rack I've Seen

[DervAtl]

After being disappointed in the recent purchase of a platform bike carrier, I returned it and resumed the hunt for one I thought would be here after two years. I hunted all the usual stores online, as well as the local bike shops. Pretty much everyone had the same thing. I had pretty much narrowed it down between a Thule and one other. Neither of these were at a price point I liked, but they seemed to be the best quality. Then I ran across this gem:

http://www.1upusa.com/1upusarackhome.htm

This appears to be the best made rack I’ve seen. It's not sold in stores, only online. I liked the looks, so I ordered it. It arrived a couple days ago and I’m very impressed. This bad boy is almost a work of art. It’s beefy, light weight, and easy to use. On top of that, it’s made entirely in the USA. I ordered the single bike model ($299), but it has add-on mounts available to take it up to 4 bikes. Although the rating on each bike is 60 lbs, it’s so overbuilt I would have no worries with a 75 pounder on it at all. Here’s some pics:

They have an interesting method of attaching the rack to the receiver. There is a large ball that presses out against the receiver when you tighten a bolt. Never seen one like that before. Also, the adapter for a 2 inch receiver is unusual as well. When this is tight, there should not be any movement of the rack due to compression inside the receiver from the ball.

 

[johnrobholmes]

that does look nice! Good to hear something different for the hitch mount, there just wasn't anything out there that didn't have some play in it. USA made, another plus!

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

I am very impressed, that rack looks to be about the toughest yet.

Really like the 200lb capacity for the 2" receiver, great for a couple e-bikes. 8)

Of course, I'm still partial to my method of strapping bikes in the back of my brat the same way you would a motorcycle, compressing the front forks/tires by attaching tie-downs to the bars, but if you don't have a truck bed, this rack looks to be a really nice alternative.

 

[cassschr1]

There made about 80 miles from me. I called and asked about a 100 pound bike , he thought it was to heavy. Whats your impression........whats your bike weigh? I would want a2 bike rack.

 

[John in CR]

I need a kid rack, because sneaking to the beach for a couple of days, my ebikes go inside the van with me. If there's not room for the kids they're SOL, and can go outside on the "kidrack".

That's a nice looking rack though. I just went straight to the pics, and suffered a brain fart trying to figure out how this thing goes on a bicycle.

 

[DervAtl]

There made about 80 miles from me. I called and asked about a 100 pound bike , he thought it was to heavy. Whats your impression........whats your bike weigh? I would want a2 bike rack.

My bike weighs 61 lbs with battery (E-bike Kit 10ah LiFePo) and 49 lbs without.

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When this rack is installed in the hitch, it's tight with no wiggle at all. Carried my bike to my LBS this afternoon. The guy that runs it came out and looked at the rack and was impressed. He checked the "wiggle" in the receiver and found none. Said it was the first one he'd seen that seated this tight. They sell Thule and Saris. He really liked it. They did the "one month tune-up" on my bike (adjusted cables and deraillier) and also trued my kit wheel for free, even though they didn't sell it to me. Nice shop.

He also mentioned that they had tried out the top-of-the-line Izip that a factory rep showed them and was extremely impressed with it's power. This is the one with an external RC motor, belt drive, 15ah Li battery, and pedal sensor. He swears he hit close to 40 mph on it in a very short distance in their parking lot. I've not seen this model, so I can't comment on it.

 

[gogo]

I have the trainer from these guys. Its a first rate unit. Makes you wonder why other American manufacturers can't also compete with the foreign stuff.

 

[gogo]

*BUMP* I picked a similar but even heavier duty carrier than in the original post, made by the same company, 1-UP. I'm 240 Lbs. and when I jumped up and down on it when mounted in my hitch, it didn't complain. This thing is SOLID. The guy I talked to said you can get an extension to hold 5 bikes, so it should be good for one or two electrics no sweat. It was made for Cycle Force Group, a local company that sells branded bicycles nationally. They are having a warehouse sale that extends through 5 PM Sunday, April 18. The one bike model was $100 (I think), and the 2 bike model I got was $150. I can take more detailed pictures if anyone wants them. I'd also be willing to pick one up for anybody, or see if they will ship at the sale price, just PM me.

Here's their websites: the warehouse (including phone #) http://www.cyclefg.com , and the local scratch and dent store http://www.bicyclesurplus.com. I hope they have electric bikes at their warehouse sale next year. :wink:

Here's some pictures of the carrier:
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[DervAtl]

Great find gogo! That's a great bargin too.

 

[evblazer]

Can those expand at all length wise for longer wheelbase bikes? My main ride is short but my current ebike has about a 67" wheelbase I think and then there is the xtracycle.
edit: "Works on all bikes and wheel sizes and wheel base up to 56 inch" boo

 

[gogo]

Can those expand at all length wise for longer wheelbase bikes? My main ride is short but my current ebike has about a 67" wheelbase I think and then there is the xtracycle.
edit: "Works on all bikes and wheel sizes and wheel base up to 56 inch" boo

And it would seem full fender cruisers are out of luck on the rear wheel.

If you took the rails meant for the second bike and figured out how to use them to extend the rails for the first, that would work. It wouldn't be a ready solution, and you would be down to just one bike at a time, but it could be done.

 

[DervAtl]

And it would seem full fender cruisers are out of luck on the rear wheel.

Yes, full fender bikes or any bike with the wheel covered (on the outside quarter) will not work well with many of these platform carriers. They attach to or use the wheels as their attachment point. The Thule may be the exception. It has a bar that that hooks over the top bar of the bike. Ya gotta hook to something!

I've never thought about the xtracycle. That's a really long drink-a-water.

 

[4REEE]

Bummer! Unfortunately, this design would crush or crack my plastic fenders!