The Cross Country "XC" 2-Bike Rail Rack can easily accommodate children's and adult bikes, downhill bikes, cruiser bikes, full suspension bikes, BMX bikes, "Y" frame designs and much more, without the hassle of removing wheels. - The XC slides into a 2" receiver and carries up to 2 bikes, with an option to carry up to 4 bikes with another module (4 bikes on Class III hitch only). - The XC easily adjusts to different bike frame sizes with the simple movement of the wheel hoops. - Frame grip arms have a soft-frame friendly coating to protect your bike's finish. - When not in use, the rack folds up for easy storage (on or off vehicle), shipping, etc. - The XC carries the widest variety of bike frames in its class.
Submitted by
JMD
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay area, California USA Date Reviewed: October 1, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$130.00
Purchased At:
Amazon
Strengths:
1) Inexpensive when compared to other brands (Thule, Yakima, & Softride)
2) This 2" Hitch version is built very solid.
3) Holds bikes very solid, wobble free, rattle free.
4) Doesn't damage the paint-job of your bikes.
5) Easy to assemble (~10 min. for me)
6) Easy to mount and dismount bikes.
7) Very manageable mounting and dismounting rack from car.
8) Ample clearance between bike and car.
Weaknesses:
1) Need a rachet in your car for mounting and
dismounting the rack. Not really a problem!
2) Does not come with a lock- for the clamp-triggers- you'll have to improvise
and search on your own.
3) Wish they had an option/add-on to make it carry 4 bikes-haven't seen one
yet.
4) Optional Hitch-pin locks are a little pricey for me. Optional
5) On some vehicles- may have to dismount bikes and/or rack to access/open
rear gate or trunk. I did not have this issue with my 95'4runner.
Similar Products Used:
Compared only to BRANDS- Thule, Yakima, & Softride
Bike Setup:
TREK 7.5 FX hybrid
Bottom Line:
It's a solid performer! It's exactly what I expected. Solid mounting of bikes- secure, wobble free, and no rattle! You can't beat its "price to performance" factor and piece of mind knowing that your bikes are securedly fastened. Only thing is you'll need to get locks to better secure your bikes on the rack.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a solid rack without breaking the bank.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
axlissel
a Weekend Warrior
from lima, peru Date Reviewed: August 24, 2009
Favorite Trail:
all
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$129.00
Purchased At:
etrailer.com
Strengths:
quick to install, load and bikes are safe. This product carries the bikes never touching each other or the car. very good price and excellent quality
this review if for the xc 2 bike rack with 2 inch hook and ratchet system
Weaknesses:
with mud and rust the ratchet is difficult to unload
Similar Products Used:
roof racks and rack in the back of the car hanging with belts.You cannot compare the functionality of this to other systems
Bike Setup:
knolly endo
Bottom Line:
buy this, is easy on the pocket, works perfect and is versatile. I carry my 57 road bike, my knolly, and my kids bike. even I carried a tandem once, without the wheels and upside down.
I usually hook inside the square tube with the pin that holds the rack structure a regular 3 bike rack, the ones that carries the bikes hongging from the top tube. With this I have a 5 rack system, very versatile. I will hook another of these rack in the back I think the XTC2 so I have a 4 bike platform rack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Eugene, Oregon Date Reviewed: March 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Eugene East Bank River trail
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$135.00
Purchased At:
CAmping World
Strengths:
Durable and easy to load
Weaknesses:
Hitch can wobble a bit
Bike Setup:
Two recumbent bikes (Bike E)
Bottom Line:
This is a great rack, especially now with the recumbent hoops that allow for a variety of bikes including recumbents. We've used this rack on the back of our motorhome with our Bike Es for 20,000 miles over two years (full timers). The XTC2 looks even more sturdy so try out both if you have the opportunity.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
turf
a Cross Country Rider
from Marietta, GA Date Reviewed: October 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Blankets
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
HitchestoGo.com
Strengths:
Great value, holds 4 bikes securely, easy to mount, easy to lock bikes.
Weaknesses:
Not enough hitch extension for rear mount spares, not enough rise for steep driveways.
Similar Products Used:
Thule spare mount rack, Yakima Kingpin
Bike Setup:
Prophet built from frame
Bottom Line:
Got the Swagman XC4 for a Honda CRV to replace a Yakima Kingpin which was getting tiring threading dual suspension bikes on. The XC4 is no longer an XC2 with an addon. It has a single central support dual beam. It is not nearly as heavy as the four bike Yakima standup models (the Hookup or Holdup) so one person mounting is possible, and it's about 1/3 the cost.
I considered the Sportrack but liked the ratchet mechanism on the Swagman much better, plus it makes it easy to lock the bikes down since a padlock can fit through the ratchet to prevent the button from being pressed. Bikes are held quite secure and I don't really feel a need to use the velcro wheel straps unless I will be going a long distance although I suppose it's always a good idea since something unforeseen could occur like losing pressure in a fork or shock.
Now, the hassle. When I first got the Swagman my son and I quickly put it together and mounted it on the back of my 2004 CRV which has a spare tire mounted on the rear door. The Swagman would not fold up since the spare was in the way. The distance from the hitch was not long enough, although I am sure it would be fine for most vehicles that do not have a door mount spare. I figured I could get a hitch extension. But we have a steep driveway and that might be a problem. We mounted it as it was, folded down and even that would not clear the driveway, much less with an extension. So I needed to find a riser/extension.
I looked around for hitch risers and found a few of them priced from $120 to $160. WTF - for an assembly of three short 2" welded tubes? Luckily I found the Valley 75090 multipurpose hitch adapter for only $40 (O'Reilly's). It provides both a ballmount which hangs down and has a riser welded on, too, made to use a bike rack (an upright hitch mount) and pull a trailer at the same time. It got the rack out enough to clear the tire with inches to spare and raised it up around 6" which was plenty to clear the driveway so I thought. Got down the driveway fine (loaded up with two bikes) but when I came back in the driveway there was scraping. How could that be - the thing was up 6" higher. But it was not the rack, it was the ballmount, which hung down from the hitch insert. So I spent an hour removing the ballmount with a cutting wheel and thought I was good. Got down the driveway fine with bikes loaded but on the way back in heard a scrape again. The fourth bike tire loop assemblies dragged now. So, removed them and only mount them when I need to carry a fourth bike.
Overall I like it, but it should have a couple more inches from the hitch and a steeper rise to make up for not having the folding assembly like Yakimas do which picks them up 8 or so inches, but then I can't really complain since it is likely fine for almost all cars or trucks that don't have a rear mounted spare or have a steep driveway, so I rank it a 4.5 rounded up to 5 (3 if you have a 2004 CRV due to all the work I had to put into it) and a 5 for value compared to the competition.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
a Weekend Warrior
from Aurora Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
www.bikerackshops.com
Strengths:
Easy to Assemble Solid Construction Pretty light but solid
Weaknesses:
Locking mechanism to lock bike to rack
Bike Setup:
2005 Cannondale Synapse
Bottom Line:
The Swagman XC2 (6450) was easy to assemble. It took about 10 minutes. I bought a locking "J" pin to use instead of the included hitch pin. With the locking "J" pin, the rack does not move at all. There is no need for an additional anti-sway mechanism. The bike is held firmly in place with a couple of good presses down on the hook (I use a piece of cloth over the frame where the hook touches because of my OCD nature). It has a place for a small lock to prevent the hook from being released but the only purpose it would serve is to keep the honest, honest. I have driven from CO to NE without issue in my Chevy Colorado (hidden hitch). It had plenty of clearance going up and down my driveway and in and out of store parking lots. For the $140 price tag it’s awesome compared to paying close to 300 for a Thule or Yakima tray rack. If you want a great rack, with a small price tag that does its job well, this is for you.
Summary: For the price I paid you can't beat the solid construction, easiness of use, and performance. I have no regrets and will be buying the extension to add two bikes when my wife and little one start riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
c b
a Weekend Warrior
from fw, tx Date Reviewed: July 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
swagman
Strengths:
This is for the 6450 2 bike rack. Very nice. adjustable to fit all kinds of bikes, sturdy, not to heavy, arms fold up and middle can fold down to side.
Weaknesses:
Make sure and get the hitch stabilizer. If you don't, the rack will be loose and swing all over the place. They should actually sell it with the rack.
Bike Setup:
Yeti (V -type top tube)
Bottom Line:
Don't waste your time with a non-wheel mount-hanging type bike racks anymore. They are all a pain and dated. The Swagman is less expensive than Thule or some others and does the same thing. The bars that hold the bike are covered with soft material and hold the them secure. The wheel loops are adjustable so you can easily fit any size bike. Doesn't take long to assemble either. Swagman has an add on for two more bikes which I plan to get.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
a Weekend Warrior
from Utah Date Reviewed: June 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Strengths:
Easy to load, secure bike mount, no sway
Weaknesses:
Very heavy! I mean very very very heavy! No hitch lock included.
Similar Products Used:
Yakima, Thule
Bike Setup:
Old Specialized stumpjumper with just about everything replaced except the frame.
Bottom Line:
This is for the XC-4 model.
After struggling with roof racks I decided to get a hitch type. The first I got was a swing-away yakima type. It's heavy too, but snaking 4 bikes onto the mounts is difficult, particularly if you have water bottle cages and/or smaller kid frames to mount.
So I started looking for wheel mount units that can carry 4 bikes. This one is the cheapest, so I ordered it online.
It's very sturdy, no worries about overloading this unit! And there's very little sway behind the car, (without a tightening type hitch pin!) but it's heavy! I estimate 70 plus pounds! It's not too hard to put on the car, I can do it by myself but my wife won't be able to use this! If you have to haul your rack down/up a set of stairs, do not get this one!
It does load easier, if you take the top ratcheting mechanism completely off the post before mounting the bike it's even easier. Fits all the bikes we have, (kids and adults) We did lose the ability to open the back of the SUV with the bikes on, but I think that I saved gobs of bike mounting time with this unit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Dashnaw
a Weekend Warrior
from Wayne, NJ Date Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The one I'm riding
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At:
swagman
Strengths:
THIS IS FOR THE NEW XC4 MODEL
Simplicity and ease of use. Once set it up, you can load the bike in about 10 seconds each.
Weaknesses:
??? none so far, will keep you posted
Similar Products Used:
None, had a thule roof rack on top of a GMC Jimmy before. NOw no more reaching up.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Blur Classic with all fo the bells and whistles.
Bottom Line:
Buy this rack, and you will be most happy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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