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Submitted by
clarkejimw
a Downhiller
from laguna beach
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | easy to use, no worry of the bike flying off. Can't steal rack/bike | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | King Cobra,Sidearm | | Bike Setup: | Thule roof racks | | Bottom Line: | LOVE IT!!!! Never had any issues. I have #50 downhill bikes that don't budge going 75 down the freeway. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tracy White
a Cross Country Rider
from Memphis, TN
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Auburn VW, Washington | | Strengths: | design, ease of installation and use | | Weaknesses: | cheap, brittle component | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | specialized stump jumper | | Bottom Line: | AVOID THIS RACK!! Only used twice before the fork cam assembly shattered. It never properly attached. One side would be secure while the other side was loose. I tightened it, applied very moderate pressure and multiple components shattered. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spyder
a
from santa fe, nm
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | rack attack in CO | | Strengths: | ease of use and product support. Thule warranties all their products with no questions asked. Great staff too. | | Weaknesses: | short lifespan: The plastic cam fatigues and fails. Also, the skewer broke and my bike fell off the roof | | Bottom Line: | The older Thule Velo Vises are poorly constructed and evident by the new design and construction. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BobL
a Cross Country Rider
from Silverado Canyon, CA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Ease of use, looks | | Weaknesses: | Cheap plastic parts, internal and external. locking device seizes, becomes un-even. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mounts, old style Yakima, upright style carrier | | Bike Setup: | SC BLT, Carbon Allez, Alu Lemond, Trek 9.0 Carbon | | Bottom Line: | After using old style fork mounts that required a fair amount of fiddling to deal with "nader nubs" on the fork drop-outs, the Velo-vise design was a welcome relief. I'm sold on the concept of fork mount carriers but these have been nothing but a headache. I have replaced the heads at an avaerage of 1 per year until this year, when the score is 3 replacements so far.
At first, I thought it was me. But after repeated failures of the same type, I realized that this carrier is just plain junk. Other reviewers have speculated that the weight of mountain bikes vs road bikes could be an issue, but as most of my bikes are under 25lbs, save the Blur which is 28, it is not the bike, it's the crappy rack.
Every failure has been this: the drop-out adjustment wheel starts getting hard to turn, then almost impossible w/out the use of a screwdriver, then the drop-out grabbing knobs become un-even resulting in only one side holding one drop out securely while the other will not snug up. I have even had one head's internals explode.
The final straw was 2 weeks ago when our community was being evac'd due to the wildfires. I went to put my wife's bike on the rack and the head literally disentegrated. Not a good time...
Bottom line: don't buy these, they are absolute junk! They will fail on you at the most in-opportune times and Thule takes forever to warranty. if I could give no flamin' chilis I would | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Ease of use, great design if the components of the product were engineered better, can fit both Yakima and Thule racks | | Weaknesses: | Engagement mechanism is plastic and breaks OFTEN. I've been through 4 of them now in a little less than two years. | | Bottom Line: | I'd have serious reservations about buying these again. On the one hand, my local bike shop (Bicycle Village) has been great about getting them replaced for me and now they have a limited lifetime warranty. On the other hand they seem to break at the worst times, one was in Fruita and we had get creative to figure out how to keep one bike up there.
Luckily, mine have only ever broken at the plastic mechanism and I can always tell when they break. If the head cracked in half and sent my bike through the roof like other reviews I think I'd be taking them all off the car and finding something else pronto. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Ease of use, great design if the components of the product were engineered better, can fit both Yakima and Thule racks | | Weaknesses: | Engagement mechanism is plastic and breaks OFTEN. I've been through 4 of them now in a little less than two years. | | Bottom Line: | I'd have serious reservations about buying these again. On the one hand, my local bike shop (Bicycle Village) has been great about getting them replaced for me and now they have a limited lifetime warranty. On the other hand they seem to break at the worst times, one was in Fruita and we had get creative to figure out how to keep one bike up there.
Luckily, mine have only ever broken at the plastic mechanism and I can always tell when they break. If the head cracked in half and sent my bike through the roof like other reviews I think I'd be taking them all off the car and finding something else pronto. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gui
a Cross Country Rider
from Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Trip Aventura | | Strengths: | Easy to use, can lock the bikes on | | Weaknesses: | Durability
Reliability | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer-x | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Velo Vise system mounted in Thule Aero bars.
After three years of little use I have experienced just too much trouble with this rack system. I have seen that the problems are the same as the ones reported in this review board, which makes me believe that the Velo vise system has yet to improve a lot to be considered worthwhile.
1o - Breakage ! The head unit in secured in the bars with a single bolt and it just cant take the continuous side to side loading when driving in unpaved roads (this unit is designed for disk brakes, used in MOUNTAIN BIKES, which trails sometimes required driving in unpaved roads to get to, no surprise here Thule !).Even driving carefuly, my head unit has cracked TWICE and the third time it was the bolt itself that snapped. Almost had the bike flying on the highway...
2o - The plastic roller adjuster seizes, compromising proper securing of the fork. Mine actually failed and unexpectedly realeased the fork dropouts while driving, almost resulting in a catastrophic event.
After all this trouble, I just cant trust this sytem anymore. Nothing is worse than drive to trailhaed constantly worring if the rack is going to fail. Cant recomned this. I wish I could find Yakima here in Brazil... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stufdptato
a Weekend Warrior
from woodside
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Braille Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | backcountry.com | | Strengths: | looks, ease of use, interchangability (is that a word?) fit | | Weaknesses: | locking mechanism in the silver 'alligator' clamp. for a $130 mount, why place all your structural integrity in a plasic screw set? | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Kona Hoss (the kind with the Red Bull Wings in the event my V2 system fails and it needs to save itself at 70 mph). | | Bottom Line: | I had one of my V2 mounts fail two months after initial purchase:(
Do yourself a favor....avoid these racks if you value your bike. If you've taken the time to read up on REAL reviews (not the ones written by magazines funded by the industry), then you value the mtb community's opinion: listen up! these racks will fail! (if you're a brand new V2 owner and have that funky uh-oh feeling in your gut, join the club. I just joined the uno chili club!)
90% of the V2 system looks and operates well, but unfortunately it's the crappy 10% of the system that the whole shebang depends upon for function. Thule, I can't understand why you'd allow your 20-40lb rigs +misc lbs. of wind/g forces to rely on the the cheesy plastic screw system. For $130, I'd think you could use some kind of steel/lever clamp system in the V2 mouth.
So, I'm locked in my investment now, and crossing my fingers - luckily I have a sunroof so I can keep an eye on my carbon babies. Hopefully I can catch any slippage during highway runs to the Demo and Skeggs. I think I'll make the most of a funky situation and cable lock the bikes to the racks for insurance. Fortunately, unlike some of the reviewers on here, Thule provided excellent customer service and turned over a new V2 replacement in 8 days. For the record, I love my Thule ski clamps, bars, and old school rack hitch.
Hope I haven't screwed myself with bad Thule/bike karma with this post, but I feel I should at least pass the word to others who value their rides....1 chili cause they broke, 2 cause at least they send me a replacement clamp in 8 days. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ePic biCH
a
from Wilkes Barre Pa USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | After all the failures it has no strengths | | Weaknesses: | I have had my Velo Vise 2 replaced twice and now the third one failed also. The first two times could have been bad but this time was the worst. The head unit snapped completely in half with the whole front of the bike hangin down the side of my suv nothing holding it but the tire being strapped into the tray. Had it occurred differently it could have come down harder and gone though one of my windows. There is no doubt a desgin flaw here and total failure of the materials used to make this. I had given hope the first time it was warrantied and should have been reluctant on the second time but I will never trust my bike to one of these units again. Thule must know of an apparent problem as there is no question of even seeing the damaged part or wanting it returned for replacement. before the the units actually breaking in half (all three of them) I did also encounter the same problems as some others with the wheel mechanism. DO NOT BUY WHATSOEVER unless you do not value the bike you put on it. feel free to email me for a pic of this latest installment of dealing with thule garbage. mtnrider1009@yahoo.com | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bottom Line: | Absolute flaw in design and materials nothing more to say!!!!!! I am not sure if roadies have the same problem but it seems like the unit might be more tollerable to a 20 lb bike. anything more than that you are a gamblin man. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric
a Racer
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$68.00 | | Strengths: | easy to lock and secure | | Weaknesses: | they break... often | | Similar Products Used: | rack start and saris roof systems | | Bottom Line: | DO NOT BUY THIS SYSTEM!
I bought these racks in September or 06 for a trip to GA. They broke after one week of use. Bought replacements at REI to get my bikes home. The replacements broke three weeks later. I returned those to REI got a refund and have been in a three month battle with Thule to replace the fork mounts...
The problem is the roller in the assembly breaks and the unit no longer tightens to hold the fork... Thule first told this happens because the system is not designed to hold long travel mountain bike forks (anything over 80mm). When I explain that the original set broke when I had road bikes on the roof, they still marked the problem up to user error.
Then I got a rep to agree to send new fork mounts in February of 07 it is now May and I have still not received them. I call Thule about one every two weeks and go through the same conversation about how the rack broke and how any replace is on back order and they email me when a replacement is available. They don't even have a case file or anything. I finally got a package from Thule this week. It was u-bolt for the mount. THAT”S NOT EVEN THE PART THAT'S BROKEN!
This is by far the worst costumer service I experienced in the bike industry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick harrison
a Cross Country Rider
from edinburgh, scotland
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | All of wilderness Scottish Highlands | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords UK | | Strengths: | Interesting design, simple and fast to load up. | | Weaknesses: | Die cast sections fractured twice, followed by a more catastrophic failure where the whole rack collapsed at 60mph. Now imagine what that would look like as it came towards you through the windscreen of your car. A lot of force goes through one bolt which failed. A critical compoment couldnt do the job. | | Similar Products Used: | Saris Bones for 3 bikes | | Bike Setup: | Marin Attack Trail and Spesh Epic Comp | | Bottom Line: | Great design involves a knowledge of the laws of physics and the strength of materials.
Great design alone does not make a great product. This is pants and a liability. Avoid. Interestingly Thule no longer sell this in the UK... curious or what... Wonder why that is ? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Milwaukee, WI
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Strengths: | Decent finish, solid mount to load bars | | Weaknesses: | Locking mechanism of 590 V2 (for disk brake bikes) is utter junk. If it hasn't failed for you yet, it will. | | Similar Products Used: | Yakima upright mounting system | | Bike Setup: | GF Tassajara | | Bottom Line: | I'm getting sick of having to call Thule every couple months for a replacement locking mechanism. Ive noticed 2 problems with their design. First, the parts that lock the fork into the mechanism pull closed via a PLASTIC screw type adjuster. This is where mine has failed both times. Ive also noticed that, when brand new, both mechanisms that clamp into the fork dropouts pull in at different rates, meaning that there isn't equal clamping force applied to each side. Luckily I haven't had a bike go flying off the roof yet, but it makes me nervous to use this product for just 20 mile drives. I'll probably be looking elsewhere if this product fails again for me. Why take a chance anymore! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Biff Condor
a Downhiller
from Hood River, OR
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | sport rack outfitters | | Strengths: | Ease of use. | | Weaknesses: | It fails. Bang. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Thule & Yakima trays. | | Bottom Line: | Beware the Velo Vise. It's a bad design. I've had two fail, and the last one cost me a $600 Fox Forx. The VV has a plastic aduster wheel in the center, and when it fails it usually lets one side get loose, while still clamping the other dropout. When the bike falls over (which it will), it takes the dropout with it. Snap. Crackle. Pop.
Most Thule stuff is great. I have three Thule rack systems, 2 boxes, etc. This particular design is JUNK. Buy something else other than the Velo Vise if you value your bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Ashbunr,VA,USA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Difficult Run | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Great fit and quality | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized stumpjumper, fox fork, XTR crank, sram XO derailers and grip shift, Mavic Crossmax avid juicys | | Bottom Line: | I think the velo vise with disk brake option is the best fork mount on the market. It only takes one hand to secure the bike to the rack and secure it is. It is very solid and fits perfectly on the rack itself. I have never had any problems with it coming loose and with the optional keyed lock I feel confident it never will | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Powers
a Racer
from Vermont
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | the dirt roads of vermont | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | ems in Lebenon N.H | | Strengths: | easy on and off | | Weaknesses: | I use the rack for both my mountain bike and my road racing bike. I had a serious problem with my racing bike.
The front vice could not get tight enough and it eventually pulled out of one side. I stopped the car and found my bike leaning heavilly to one side. the event bent the folk at the point of contact of the side that held. i am now waiting to hear from my bike store to find out weather the folk can be bent back or wheather i need a new folk. | | Bottom Line: | I have serious concerns about the velo vice rack for a racing bike. Has anyone else had a similar problem? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Beller
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Collins, Colorado
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Easy to use. Good lock. Fine for street use. | | Weaknesses: | This rack broke on a bumpy 4x4 dirt road in Arizona, despite slow speeds. My bike fell over and was banging on the roof. Thule wouldn't replace it, saying their warranty doesn't cover off-road use. I looked, and their warranty didn't say that. Fortunately, REI replaced it under REI's money-back guarantee. I now recommend Yakima. | | Bottom Line: | I'd buy Yakima next time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glynn Tate
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Palmer Park, Jone's Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Agee Bike (ageebike.com) | | Strengths: | Easy to install and use. Holds bikes securely. Good looks. | | Weaknesses: | Paint comes off aluminum trays easily. Some of the mounting hardware rusts easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Yakima, Performance | | Bike Setup: | '02 NRS Air | | Bottom Line: | I really like these racks. I've used them for years and they're by far the easiest to install and operate. In my experience, they hold your bike very securely - and for long periods. I'm in the military and have moved cross-country 3 times and never had one work it's way loose at all. As with other Thule products I've had, some of the hardware does tend to rust. On my latest set, the paint didn't adhere to the trays very well. I still have an older set that doesn't seem to have the problem. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
termite
a
from mt. sinai, ny
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | nice design | | Weaknesses: | poor attention to the plating | | Bike Setup: | bianchi single speed white xc fork | | Bottom Line: | i have used thule products for over twenty years [!] including every single fork mount that they have ever made. by far, the vv is the easiest to use and the most secure for bike transporting at high speed. the problem that thule has continued to have is that the plating on all of the bolts and fasteners begins to rust w/in months of installation. result is that the expensive bike tray looks like crap shortly after purchase... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from New Haven, CT
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | supply ponds | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | rack warehouse | | Strengths: | Ease of use, speed (set once and go), security | | Weaknesses: | hard to release? maybe it needs to loosen up. | | Similar Products Used: | thule upright racks | | Bike Setup: | specialized rockhopper | | Bottom Line: | WAY WAY better than the uprights i had before. hold the bikes securely--no more looking out my sunroof to see if they're still there. no rocking. only real concern is that I see other people's velo vices that are all rusty on the fork clamps--hope this doesn't happen to mine. i'll keep them oiled (but not the part that contacts the fork!!)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia, PA USA
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Pennypack and Wissahickon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$460.00 | | Purchased At: | Guy's Bicycles | | Strengths: | Trusted brand name; ease of installation of rack (had a tough time with the fairing for a SUV, though); quality construction; verstatility of Thule system; options available for carrying other types of outdoor gear (looking to getting into some type of kayaking some time in the future). | | Weaknesses: | I had a tough time putting on the fairing for a 2000 Ford Explorer. The arms for holding the fairing to the rack need some type of lock tight sprayed on them to keep them from moving around and un-screwing. | | Similar Products Used: | Saris Bones trunk rack. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Ventana El Saltamontes with 2002 Z1 Fly. | | Bottom Line: | A little expensive, but worth the price for its versatility and options. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dogbert
a Cross Country Rider
from Lebanon, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chimney Rock | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Bike N Gear | | Strengths: | The new V2: all-metal head is bombproof and very secure; disc brake compatible tray (you don't need to cut a relief area out of the tray for caliper clearance) | | Weaknesses: | all-metal head is noticeably heavier than original glass reinforced nylon [plastic] head (good thing my car is a turbo!); tray is a little too short for my bike; the front clamp mounts to the cross-bar with a u-bolt instead of a plate like the older VVs (see below). | | Similar Products Used: | Thule Velo Vise 589, Yakima Ankle Biter, Saris Bones trunk rack. | | Bike Setup: | Turner XCE
| | Bottom Line: | This thing installs in a snap and can fit either Thule or Yakima bars. After a few days, I heard a squeaking sound while driving. The u-bolt that clamps the V2 head to the front cross-bar loosened a little as it settled in, causing the clamp/tray to wiggle a little. I just re-tightened it and it's secure as ever. I think the plate-type clamp from the older VVs would prevent this as it has more of a flatter contact area. When tight, I've driven 90+ mph and the bike doesn't sway at all. I'll just keep an eye on the clamp bolts from time to time in case they loosen.
This V2 is more secure than the older VVs. My ex-gf had two "incidents" with her bikes with the older VV. On one, the front clamp released the fork as she was driving and the whole bike flipped over backwards (the rear wheel was still attached), denting the rear of her car. This was with an older bike that didn't have the safety tabs on the fork dropouts. The other time was when one of the dropouts came out while rounding a turn and when the bike leaned over, the dropout that remained in the clamp bent. This 2nd incident was on a different bike that did have the safety tabs. Both times were probably due to operator error as the adjuster dial on the clamp probably wasn't set tight enough (either the clamp adjustment loosened over time, or she didn't make it tight enough since that would've made it harder to open...see next paragraph).
The instructions say that the clamp is tight enough when you feel resistance at the halfway point when closing the clamp. This makes it too tight, and very difficult to release, unless you like banging the back of your hand on a fork leg. Resistance about 2/3's down, or 1/3 from closed, holds just as well and is a lot easier to open. The clamp also "clicks" in when it's fully closed so it should remain closed while driving, even if you don't lock it (I lock it anyway since I don't want to find out).
My rear tire rests on the end cap on the back of the tray, but the wheelbase on my bike is approx 43½" ±. You can leave the end cap off, but then you risk the rear wheel strap or the side "skins" (which are available in different colors for those who feel the need to color-coordinate their bike &/or car) sliding off the back of the tray. Another inch or two of tray length would be great.
The only advantage I'll give my old Yak Ankle Biter is that I wouldn't have to take the front wheel off. Although it held my bike at high speeds, the bike would often sway, which didn't instill confidence as I watched this through my sun roof. And it was a pain to install.
You can now get a disc brake adapter for the regular Velo Vise to accomplish the same thing (you also get an extra clamp block with the adapter). Or you can just dremel a little clearance area out of your existing tray, which is what I did with my old VV. It voids the warranty, but does little to affect how the VV works. Since I don't have my old Velo Vise and tray anymore, and didn't want to stick with Yakima, I opted for the new V2. I'm glad I did. Yeah, the new V2 clamp head is heavy, but it's a heck of a lot lighter than the Ankle Biter unit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A Swan
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | Adventure Bicycles | | Strengths: | Velo Vise 589- Easy to install (hopefully not easily to be unauthorized removal), Bikes are fitted to rack nicely, and vise holds desired fork settings for easy in and outs. | | Weaknesses: | Pretty flimsy trays, and vise appears to be plastic. My setup has the allen bolt holding the rack to the rail. It requires some force to close vice without alot of room to move. The rear tire is held by a rubber strap (no locks), and the aft part of the tray is mounted by simple plastic finger nuts (easily removed and in the wide open!) | | Bike Setup: | 2 GT I-Drives 3.0, | | Bottom Line: | I have this rack installed on my 99 GMC Yukon, it is quite a reach for me to put the bikes on; however, I purchased a step that straddles my vehicles tire and provides a stable platform to manuever bikes. I have to remember to remove the step from the tire after bikes are mounted; and that the clearance now needed to clear the bikes is around 10 feet. Watch out for drive ins to popular urban stops, or peel the bikes off!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
erkobeserko
a
from sydney
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | Update to previous review -- DON'T GRIND A HOLE IN THE RACK TO FIT THE DISC. I e-mailed Thule and they called first thing next working day, then e-mailed me to ensure i received the message. Replacement fork mount to suit discs in the mail as we speak (honest), free of charge. Apparently it's an import (on this side of the earth anyhow) which they don't retail. Assuming it turns up and solves the problem, 5 flaming arseholes for customer service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
erkobeserko
a
from sydney
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | Bought this one after talking to various people who already used it, due to the front lock and due to the fact that i was told (by two separate reps) that it would take a disc brake. 5:30 am, in the dark and the rain, trying to get my ATX890 onto a set of racks on top of a 4WD. Wish i had have read the reviews earlier.
OK it's not the rack's fault that i was lied to. One allen bolt and it'll fit. Have some security concerns, but a secondary chain/lock will fix that ( i own a ute (pickup for the yanks) so can physically lock the bike to the vehicle). All that said, it worked a treat with a different bike, on a 400 mile / 70mph freeway trip. Re tensioning, as i drive off-road as well, i'll give the threads a hit with LocTite.
They're bloody expensive on this side of the earth, so 4 stars, but i can now lift my bike above the fuel cans, chainsaws, and other 4WD "bike killers", so i'm happy, but not happy having to attack it with a grinder.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Clem Hobbs
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | Built to last, ease of use & installation | | Weaknesses: | expensive, tray doesn't hold wide tires as well but it's not a performance flaw | | Bottom Line: | I've had this on my Civic for years now and it works flawlessly. I've had all sorts of bikes on the rack and never encountered any problem I couldn't deal with.
As for disk brake issues, one guy below had an awesome suggestion of turning your forks 180 degrees or you can grind away a small portion of the tray. One other solution is to get the DB1 from Thule which converts the front end to accept disk brake calipers (basically does the same thing as grinding)
As for the security issue, if you want to leave your bike unatended or out of site for any length of time on the top of your car (like waving a $$$ flag), you have to live with the consequences. Anything can be stollen by someone who is determined enough.
Even though my car has been broken into 5 times so far, the rack (and bike carriers) have always remained since everything is locked to the car. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a
from NY
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$89.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Bike hasn't fallen off. | | Weaknesses: | Handle doesn't provide adequate leverage to tightly close and open the velo-vise. With all of the crap on top of the car already, who cares about the aerodynamics of the closing device. Make it easy to grap!!
Flimsy channel and rear mounting hardware.
| | Similar Products Used: | taking off the wheels and seat in dumping the bike into the trunk of an '88 Ford Crown Vic, Rhode Gear trunk rack which sucked. | | Bike Setup: | current vehicle-honda odyssey with factory rack, also bought the thule square mounts made for the vehicle, these are nice. | | Bottom Line: | In order for the velo-vise to grab both sides of your fork, you have to turn the adjustment for a tight fight. There's no way a person with weak finger/hand strength could release the bike.
The aluminum channel into which the rear tire fits is very flimsy, otherwise, the Thule velo-vise is solidly built. I have no complaints about the Thule racks, they are solid and very strong.
Low value rating due to excessive price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peteer
a Racer
from Novato, CA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Adventure Bike | | Strengths: | The section of tray I had to cut off works well as a door jam. | | Weaknesses: | This rack sucks. I bought the Velo Vise along with the cross bar that converts a factory rack to Thule. Or half of it, anyway. The proprietary screws for mounting the cross bar to your factory bar are too damn short; you need two people and a vise to get them on an '02 Protege5. Also, if you want to mount any other kind of rack on this half Thule/half stock rack, YOU CAN'T. Furthermore, the wheel tray is too long and will scratch the hatchback when you open it (new car... well, it was.) Had to hack-saw it off and then re-drill the required holes.
Really, Thule just sucks the big one. | | Similar Products Used: | Yakima. | | Bike Setup: | Doesn't matter | | Bottom Line: | Bottom Line:
Thule sucks. Go to their website and try to leave feedback. Their website is so bad it makes their racks look like engineering marvels of the 22nd century. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from surrey UK
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | it works, no straps, | | Weaknesses: | none, | | Bike Setup: | klein mantra with hayes disks | | Bottom Line: | Never had a problem with this rack, but had to remove a 1" bit from the metal V section at the front to get the brakes to fit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
W. C.
a Weekend Warrior
from Southern USA
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ruston | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | one of the online retailers, cant remember | | Strengths: | Ease of installation, ease of bike loading, locking.
Inventive fork locking mechanism. Ease of Adjustability. | | Weaknesses: | Load bars recommended are to long, they are about 1 foot too long. I imagine i could take the rack off and cut them to the lenght desired. | | Similar Products Used: | Allen rack. | | Bike Setup: | Road, and mountain. | | Bottom Line: | This is my 1st roof rack. It has been one of the best purchases i have made. I love not having to mount my bikes on the trunk or inside the vehicle. I bought the rack pack, which attached to my Expedition rather easily, especially since I'm not much of a tool/wrench guy. It is a bit of a challenge putting bikes up that high on the vehicle, but I can do it using the running boards.
Alot of people have complained about the velovise not being made of heavy enough steel, and I kind of understand that. I imagine that aheavier tray gives an impression of more security; but if you think about it, how much of the bike actually touches the tray? about an inch of rear wheel, and the fork. I guess it does allow for a little more lateral flexibility, which could pose a problem. I would also like to see the vice part (fork mount) made of a stronger feeling material, like steel. I'm sure its strong enough, but would feel better if it were steel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bonehead
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland, OH
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Rackwarehouse.com | | Strengths: | Very easy to use
Slightly cheaper than Yakima | | Weaknesses: | More flimsy than Yakima
Security (a small screw-driver |
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$ 50.00
