Bike Rack Recs? Looking at the SeaSucker Talon

I searched and found this thread on Reddit discussing the Seasucker bike racks, multiple models mentioned, but one mention of the Talon.



You basically need to find a good area for the suction cups to make a good seal, and it also has to be strong enough to support the weight. They mention you should check the valves on the Seasucker after mounting, as you should be able to visually determine if the suction is being lost by looking at the valve. You can test mount the Seasucker and see if it holds suction overnight.

That curved piece of glass is very expensive, you need to be very careful when mounting your bike over it. Lifting 30 bulky pounds of bike up and over that glass... all it takes is one slip...

Be especially mindful of the pedals, as the tires are, well, rubber after all. Though I see that the Talon is a fork mount rack, so you have to be careful when placing the front fork in the mount, make sure you don't miss! I see on the FAQ that the Talon bike mount comes with a crankarm strap to hold your crankarm (and pedals), supposedly in a horizontal position, to avoid having a pedal pointing down to possibly damage your roof or glass, etc that your mount is over.

SM-S936U ?

 

I agree that the cost of a hitch is an overpriced racket that people should not spend their money on. So instead for $20 you can pull off your bumper cover and get this: 3500 lb. Step Bumper Receiver and some long bolts and some metal straps for top side of bumper and bolt it to the bumper and cut a hole in the bumper cover. Then spend $70 on a hitch haul and attach your bike to that.

This is way better than the loss of MPG, as well as hassle of lifting your bike onto the roof. Plus it's way more afforadable than a $250 hitch and a $700 bike rack.

 

I've had a Seasucker Hornet since 2014 and used it frequently to transport a 24lb mountain bike 10 miles at least 200 times primarily with a 2011 Honda Insight that had a similar size as the Prius except for the curved windows. I had to purchase another cincher cord to secure the bike to the rear hatch; running it in through the front and out the rear hatch.
I also place a towel, to provide additional padding, where the seat bottom rests on the rear hatch. The weight makes the towel stay in place. The rear license is also visible whereas other vehicles the seat would rest on the rear bumper which obstructed the license plate.

 

Do you have any pictures of this setup? Sounds like a solution to the ground clearance issues of installing a hitch under the bumper.

 

I did a post on here about it a couple years back... I'll see if I can dig it up. I'm actually soon going to pull off the bumper cover and see how aluminum crash bumper has held up as I've been hauling endless tons of stuff with a gardening trailer for years.

 

K I'll do some digging too in the morning

Doing Hitches for Bike Carriers - Hitch Hauls - Mobility Chairs - Trailers | PriusChat

Nice, I found it!

 

Thanks for finding it!

I'm eager to see how beat up the bumper looks. Many people on here said I would twist it and if their was ever a chance that could be done I bet I did it after the hell I put that trailer and hitch through for the past three years. It's gonna fun to find out!

 

Aluminum is more prone to stress fractures than steel, there could also be galvanic corrosion where the steel hardware is bolted to the aluminum bumper.

Interested in seeing any points of possible concern.