Bike Rack

[georgefromvt]

I just purchased a new bike--An Evelo 48 volt bike. Electric bikes are inherently heavy, even the best ones so need some suggestions for a sturdy safe bike rack. My old one is over 10 years old, no longer trust it despite using additional ties and bungees. I prefer a wheel mounted design d/t my bikes shape. My car doesn't have a hitch so that kind of limits my selection and I have no plan of hosting my bike on top of the car. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks.
http://www.discountramps.com/car-bicycle-rack/p/BC-9524-2TP/

 

[dogman dan]

I haven't seen that one before. One issue is lifting a heavier ebike up that high. A lower hitch mount rack is super easy, put one wheel in the slot at a time.

Best bet is going to be starting with a hitch. I found a very inexpensive one on ebay for my Subaru, and it was extremely easy to install. They give you some trick little bolt holding thingies, that make it simple to install.

Then you can go with a cheap swagman hitch rack, or more expensive versions that hold by the wheels. I carry two ebikes on my swagman all the time with no problems. It wiggles some, but it does not break or drop bikes.

I have just the lightweight hitch, plenty strong even for ebikes.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Those trunk mounted strapon bike racks struggle with anything more than a couple of 20lbs bikes. If you've ever looked at how much your trunk and plastic bumper bend under the weight of them, you would never want to use them again. They also carry the bikes up very high, so it's much harder to load and unload them.

A hitch isn't cheap, but neither is it horribly expensive either. A carrier like a Yakima or a Swagman will handle the weight of a heavy Ebike much better, and is lower to the ground, making loading easier.

 

[molybdenum]

I got a hitch for my Honda Accord from a wrecker - total cost $50.00 for the "hidden hitch" brand hitch and $30.00 for the trailer light wire harness:

It took half an hour to install myself.

I added a good quality Swagman hitch mount bike rack to easily support a 100lb ebike; as an added bonus, I've saved hundreds of dollars in truck rentals

I don't recommend putting more than 20-30lb on a trunk mount carrier rack.

 

[cal3thousand]

DO NOT put your ebike on a trunk mounted rack. That will ruin your paint and possible the underlying sheet metal.

Get a tow hitch and either install a hitch mounted rack OR tow a tiny trailer. I prefer the former

 

[dogman dan]

Don't know what car you have, but if you hunt long enough, you should be able to find a new hitch well under $150. For the smaller receiver.

 

[mattrb]

I added a good quality Swagman hitch mount bike

I like the pictures but you never showed the Swagman bike rack. Also what type of Swagman bike rack do you have?

 

[molybdenum]

I added a good quality Swagman hitch mount bike

I like the pictures but you never showed the Swagman bike rack. Also what type of Swagman bike rack do you have?

I have the Swagman XP 4 bike carrier for the 1 1/4" receiver hitch (you can kind of see the base on the first photo)

http://www.swagman.net/products/single-arm-xp-racks/xp-4-folding/

I found this one on craigslist for a short notice camping trip and paid $100.00. The rack itself is super sturdy and weighs 38 lb; I've loaded it with 120+lb of bikes and driven hundreds of miles. Since I have kids, I need the 4 bike carrier. I place my heaviest bikes nearest the car so it doesn't act as a fulcrum going over bumps. If I were buying this for exclusive ebike use, I'd opt for a sturdy 1 or 2 bike carrier because it is difficult to place a 60+lb bike on the inner rung.

Also note that this one is rated for 35 lb per bike, though I've placed far heavier bikes on it with the load well balanced about the top tube. Removing the battery helps and I try not to corner on two wheels :lol:


Also, I noticed the OP has a bike without a top tube. You can get carrier bar adapters from Swagman that connect between the handlebars and the seatpost:

http://www.swagman.net/products/rack-accessories/bar-adapter-3/

I've found it difficult to keep the weight distributed using these, as they tend to slip through the carreir mount. Alternately, you can use the type that hold the bike by the wheels. These are a pricier option and most mount only to 2" receivers.

 

[Alan B]

The Swagman bike rack I have is rated for 35 pounds per bike and 70 pounds total. It works pretty well, but I have retired it in favor of a motorcycle carrier that fits into the hitch. Dropping one or two ebikes on the freeway by using an under-rated rack could lead to significant liability for a serious traffic accident and injuries.

 

[cal3thousand]

There are two 2" hitch racks that I am currently investigating. One is made in the USA and folds really nicely down, but is super expensive and would only be justified if part of a business expenditure.

The other one, is a Hollywood HR1450-E, made for electric bikes. Also expensive ($400 currently), but has been lower before ($249).

Either one will do well for electric bikes, but are costly compared to regular racks.

 

[dogman dan]

In 5 years use, never dropped my bike off my swagman. But when I go freeway, I do bungee the wheels to the chocks to be sure I don't.

It's no Yakima, but it's held up to some serious use, including dirt roads, forest service washboards for miles. You can angle the lock down bar to the side, and clamp one bike down by the fork. Don't need the extra crossbar really.

But a motorcycle carrier for a 2" hitch would be stronger. I'm just saying I haven't worried one second about my swagman, cheap as it is, failing.

 

[Alan B]

I didn't worry about mine either until I realized that I was putting a 65 pound ebike on one side, and a 120 pound ebike on the other (2 bike model). Then I decided a better rack was prudent, but the Swagman never gave me any trouble. The motorcycle racks are not expensive and much stronger, but not quite as convenient or easy to move around (more steel).

 

[dogman dan]

Yeah, I use a trailer for my 150 pound ebike. It's too long for a rack of any kind. The swagman carries bikes more in the 60 pound range, take the battery off to carry. Closer to 120 pounds total.

The wheel holders do bend down some, but I never broke one yet.

Once you have a hitch, then a light trailer is another option. My trailer will take 3 ebikes and a generator to the mountains.

 

[georgefromvt]

Thanks for the advice. Think it's time to install a hitch. Ford quoted 150 bucks for installation, Uhaul 60 bucks. Time to buy a hitch and heavy duty bike rack! http://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Trailer-Hitches-near-Keene-NH-03431/791065/

 

[kfong]

My favorite ebike racks. Picked on up this year, fits on a 2" hitch. Been very happy with it. Excellent CNC quality.
Pricey, but sturdy enough for Ebikes. 75lb per bike or 225lb total weight. Quick to setup. Folds out of the way when not used.
http://1upusa.com/product-SDquikrackdoubleblack.html

 

[molybdenum]

My favorite ebike racks. Picked on up this year, fits on a 2" hitch. Been very happy with it. Excellent CNC quality.
Pricey, but sturdy enough for Ebikes. 75lb per bike or 225lb total weight. Quick to setup. Folds out of the way when not used.
http://1upusa.com/product-SDquikrackdoubleblack.html

That is a great rack indeed. I'm wishing I could find a 2" hitch for my car, as it opens up a bunch of possibilities for stronger, better quality racks. Although you can get a 1 1/4" to 2" adapter, the tongue weight of a 1 1/4" hitch remains limited to 200 lb

A hitch based system is vastly superior to a trunk mount solution and if possible, selecting a 2" hitch is best.

 

[Alan B]

My favorite ebike racks. Picked on up this year, fits on a 2" hitch. Been very happy with it. Excellent CNC quality.
Pricey, but sturdy enough for Ebikes. 75lb per bike or 225lb total weight. Quick to setup. Folds out of the way when not used.
http://1upusa.com/product-SDquikrackdoubleblack.html

Very nice bicycle rack, best I've seen. Nice to have it fold, the Swagman also folds, seems to be adequate for a couple of ebikes though not rated quite that high. I have used it with 60-70 pound bikes and it didn't break. I did NOT try a 120 pound ebike on the Swagman. When I carried the Borg there was no rack and no batteries or covers. It was basically very stripped. Still was probably 70 pounds or a bit more. I only did that once. Still it was a heavy load and you could see that it was stressing the wheel holding components.

Here's my current 500 pound rated ebike / motorcycle type rack, now on sale for $64:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003E2WQE4/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Requires a 2" hitch, and is very solid.

Trailers are great, and I have one, but when you just want to carry an ebike the hitch rack is a lot more convenient.

 

[kfong]

That's a great deal, too bad I need to carry 2 bikes at times. I've gone off road with this rack and the bikes stay secure. It's hard to find any bike racks that can handle such loads. The only complaint is the high height. Lifting Ebikes isn't fun.

 

[Alan B]

They have dual motorcycle racks, they stick out farther, cost more, weigh more, are harder to move and store so I went with the single for now. If I need more I use a 4x8 utility trailer, or I'll get another dual rack. It is hard to find the ideal solution.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Yeah, for a heavy bike, a motorcycle rack is the way to go. I've got one just like that, only modified with a crossbar so I can lean the bike against it while strapping it in. It also holds the bike in place with only one strap, if the others come loose. Funny how small it looks with the Monster Bike on it.

For a normal ebike, My Yakima held my 85lbs Kona for many thousands of miles over the last 7 years. its been on 15-20 trips halfway across the country, usually carrying another bike as well. It does fit a 1-1/4" hitch, or the 2" with an adapter.

 

[georgefromvt]

Thanks for the advice. I went with a Hitch and a Curt bike rack. For only 60 bucks, Uhaul with install the hitch. Pretty good deal in my eyes, yeah I could do it myself but lack the time and tools.
http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Bike-Ski-Racks-Ramps/Bike-Ski-racks-and-Ramps/Curt-Platform-Bike-Racks-With-Tilt?mid=740