Thule T2, Yakima HookUp, Saris Cycle-On with Prius?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Mar 2 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]399184[/snapback]</div>

The Performance rack (XPORT Flatbed 2 bike hitch rack) I recently purchased and included the link to supports the bikes primarily by the wheels. The frame is contacted only to stabilize the bike and keep the wheels from moving out of the wheel trays. If you don't even want that frame contact then I guess you'll want a different rack.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(onree @ Mar 2 2007, 03:37 PM) [snapback]399253[/snapback]</div>

I'll give you feedback on the Performance XPORT flatbed rack once the snow melts off the trails and it's not a mud fest.

I know that Performance buys their racks from other manufacturers and puts their name on them and the flatbed rack does look identical to the SportRack 2EZ. I'll bet that SportRack makes the flatbed rack for Performance. Do you know how the price compares? I didn't see a price on the SportRack website.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(steved @ Mar 2 2007, 04:31 PM) [snapback]399338[/snapback]</div>

Yes, that's what I meant - frame contact. I realize that the bike is actually supported by the wheels. With a thin-walled carbon bike, having vibrating frame contact can be a disaster as the gel coat is slowly eroded. The price of high-end gear is a gift that keeps on giving.

 

Well, my new HookUp is supposed to arrive this weekend. We'll see!

In the meantime, I'm going to sell my Yakima Roc4. I'll list it in the sale section after the weekend, but here's the page I just made:
http://evnut.com/prius_yakima_roc4.htm

I'll make a great price to somebody who's local (Between SF and Sacramento).

 

Whichever rack you choose, be sure to secure the bikes to the rack. For the past two years I have seen bikes laying on the Hollywood Freeway, while headed to the LA Marathon bike tour. Last year it was a silver mtn bike in the fast lane. It didn't look like it had been hit, or that anybody stopped to look for it. Yesterday, there was some sort of mangled bike debris in the 3rd lane, and a couple of cars and a tow truck on the right. Maybe its the early morning rush, or whatever, but be sure the bikes are tied on securely, for the bike's safety, as well as other motorists. I bought the Prius so I could keep my bike nice and secure in the rear hatch. My other car needs a rack, and I never feel that secure, even double and triple checking the bike and rack.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Mar 5 2007, 12:12 PM) [snapback]400499[/snapback]</div>

All good points, of course! I put my bike inside whenever possible as well. But when I take the bike AND my family, there's no choice but to carry it outside. The safest place to keep your bike is under your butt! I don't like DRIVING my bicycle anywhere - but sometimes it is the only way to fit a ride in.

 

Oh, and I've had my Hookup for a couple of weeks now. Loading and holding of the bikes could not be better. The weight, however, is insane. The thing alone weighs more than any three bikes that I own. Then add a couple of bikes, and that's a lot of weight to dangle out the back! Honestly the weight is my only concern. I love how it centers the bikes behind the car, and keeps them solidly in place without touching ANYTHING but the tires. It really is a matter of a few seconds total to load or unload two bikes. Could not be more simple and more secure.

I just ordered a SportsRig trailer that I'll customize a bit. I will likely be using that with some fork-mount units, and selling the Yakima Hookup.

 

Does anybody know how much the Xport rack weighs? And do you have to use an adapter sleeve for the 1-1/4 hitch, or for the 2" hitch?

 

Here's the Cycle-On Pro on sale: http://www.nycewheels.com/bike-rack-saris-cycle-on-pro.html

Shipping is a bit steep for me on the other side of the country, however. So... anybody know how much THESE weigh? I have a call into Saris, but had to leave a message.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Mar 20 2007, 10:47 PM) [snapback]409395[/snapback]</div>

I don't know how much the XPort flatbed rack weighs as I decided to return it to Performance based on it not being as sturdy and easy to use as I wanted. I ended up purchasing a used Thule T2 for not much more cost then the Xport rack and it is a much higher quality. The Thule T2 weighs 55 lbs and I figured even if it's 15-20 lbs more then the Xport I'd rather have a solid rack and easy loading of the bikes. I'm planning on having my Coastal receiver reinforced to decrease the deflection due to the cantilever design.

I do know that the Xport rack was based around a 1.25" receiver and when used with a 2" receiver there were 2 spacers bolted to the rack to increase the thickness.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(onree @ Mar 21 2007, 12:08 PM) [snapback]409739[/snapback]</div>

Great find! Thanks for the pointer. Man... who'd have thought that this was the lightest one? Yikes. I'm gonna weigh mine to make sure it is accurate. I found a couple of inaccuracies in the review, but it was mostly good. The Yakima DOES come with the proper hex wrench for assembly (review says no tools) and they failed to mention that the Saris is the only one of the three that pivots the hold-down arm in the mid-section of the front wheel - this gives a straight pull down onto the wheel, not off-tangent like the other two.

I can confirm that the rear wheel strap is annoying - and in more ways than they mention. The strap sits in the way when you load, and it can be hard to cinch down (it slips on the last tooth). Getting it into the rigth slot is no problem as long as you know the "issue" there.

OK, just weighed it - 43 pounds exactly - same as they said in the review. The lower weight, coupled with the fact that it sits closer to the reciever means less torque. I guess I'd better keep this one! I do worry about all that weight on the little reciever tube though! Man.

 

OK, Folks... what about THELMA?
http://www.cycleops.com/p-298-thelma.aspx

I don't see anybody having these in stock, and I see no reviews. They're cheaper and much lighter than the others. But Saris won't answer the phone!

My two big questions:

1. How the heck to you load the bike around that huge plastic scoop that goes around the rear of the front tire?
2. Where do you buy it?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(onree @ Apr 3 2007, 07:04 PM) [snapback]417393[/snapback]</div>

Oh, it is new alright! And none of the Saris dealers in my area have ever heard of it. Oddly, I've driven past billboards with this thing advertised for the past couple of months. They're making a big deal of it - I hope they can pull it off. The Yakima Hookup takes about 10 seconds to load two bikes. Literally! They advertise "two minutes" for this one. It does seem a bit more complicated - but I sure do like the light weight part. I mean the weight savings alone accounds for one whole bike's weight! That's significant. I drove around with two bikes on my Hookup this weekend (28 pounds and 30 pounds respectively) and I definitely worried about my hitch (this was a type-1 hitch on my electric Rav - same rating as the one on my Prius). With just one bike on there it was just fine though. The leverage is what concerns me the most. Go over a bump and the outboard bike has a huge moment arm to torque the reciever tube.

I tried calling Saris all day long, and got a busy signal every time. Called after hours and got right through! I'll keep trying tomorrow.

 

This Thelma biz is driving me nuts! Saris doesn't know how I can buy them, and my dealer can't get any. Has ANYBODY found them for sale?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(onree @ Apr 11 2007, 05:00 AM) [snapback]421411[/snapback]</div>

Ha... yeah the bad news is that the whole reason RackOutfitters shows them as "out of stock" is because they were the only place that even listed them when I started looking. I called and asked about availablity (mostly because they didn't even list which hitch size they were "selling" - they checked with Saris, apologized, and changed the page to "out of stock."

 

OK, folks. I just installed my new Thelma. Great rack! Save a few issues.

I think I can safely say that I have the first pictures of a Thelma on a Prius!

http://evnut.com/saris_thelma.htm