AutoNesting™, a key RAXTER™ innovation, provides for independent forward and rearward positioning of bikes. This feature eliminates the inconvenience of repositioning seatposts, entanglements and resulting damage that occurs with other bike rack designs. The bikes are nestled closely while being firmly prevented from touching. The AutoNesting™ innovation organizes the loading and unloading procedure into a few easy steps.
The RAXTER™ Bike Rack's wheel mount arrangement secures bikes without clamps, eliminating the risk of dents to thin-walled frames, scratches to bike or vehicle finish, and the damage commonly associated with other bike racks. Wheels need not be removed and are bound in place so they cannot spin. Since the wheels stay on the bike, dirt stays outside the vehicle.
With the RAXTER™ Bike Rack, bikes are positioned at the rear of the vehicle, allowing owners of the RAXTER™ Bike Rack to enjoy reduced aerodynamic drag and better fuel economy, while their bikes enjoy better protection from bugs and road debris.
The RAXTER™ Bike Rack, built from glass-filled nylon composite, cold-rolled powder-coated steel and marine-grade nylon straps, weighs a mere 28 pounds and accommodates virtually any bicycle frame design, style or size. The RAXTER™ Bike Rack is a solid receiver hitch-rack, but is light enough for anyone to install or remove. With a very competitive suggested retail price of $299.95, the RAXTER™ Bike Rack is positioned to appeal to value conscious consumers who want a full-feature bike rack.
Read the Professional Review for the Raxter Rack! Click Here»
Submitted by
RustyMallard
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa OK Date Reviewed: October 26, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Turkey Mtn
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$269.00
Purchased At:
raxter web site
Strengths:
Simple
saves time(bikes go on and off quickly)
light weight(way lighter than competition)
does not damage bike!(does not even touch the frame,think carbon)
excellent design
no need to remove bike wheel
no damage to vehicle
bikes do not touch each other
no need to move seats or handle bars (bike fitting is expensive and I don't have to move anything)
modular, I bought a single and have added a double to use on occasions of hauling more than one bike,two bolts and the double is off in 30 seconds.(way cool)I always leave the single on the truck.
excellent customer service! small parts available fast and reasonable price.
velcro straps do not hurt carbon or anodized wheels, and after two years still work great.
better gas mileage than roof rack
safer than roof rack(think garages)(if some one hits your bike with thier car,thier insurance pays for it not yours,your insurance man will thank you)).
folding option(think pulling vehicle in garage without removing rack)
customer service. Kelli rocks!!
Weaknesses:
None that I can think of. far as the sway bolts they really are not needed as the minor sway others have observed in this review is not detrimental to the product,vehicle,or bike it is just a perception that movement is bad. I think that is why the engineer did not spec it. Just saying.
Similar Products Used:
trunk mounts,other hitch racks.(I do not want to bad mouth by name,it is impolite)
This bike rack does it all. I have not found a combination of bikes that will not fit together on this rack. I have used it for 2 years with no complaints. It is strong,light weight and fairly priced(rare.) I have hauled many bikes thousands of miles without issue. The rack has never caused damage to any bike or my truck. Only a major brain fade could cause a bike to come off(think forgetting to attach all four velcro straps, if you have done this do not admit it.) Tires can go flat and the bikes still can not come off. The guy who designed this is a thinker. He has used the KISS method of engineering (keep it simple stupid:)) no fancy marketing hype it just works the best.(think better mouse trap). best buy for my money. Raxter Rocks! (This has not been a paid advertisement)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jajepp
a Cross Country Rider
from Balko, OK USA Date Reviewed: October 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Palo Dura Canyon
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Hotter N Hell
Strengths:
It works. Its simple. Its fast. Its strong. Its well constructed. It looks great. It holds the bikes efficiently. It is easy to adjust. The bikes go on without a struggle.
Weaknesses:
Really none
Similar Products Used:
Saris hitch (4 bike), Hollywood trunk mount
Bottom Line:
If you want a bike rack that is strong, easy to use, comparably affordabe, and efficient you want this rack. The Raxtor guys are easy to work with and they put out a very good product. If you're looking to replace an old rack (which I was) then you won't regret this investment. Gone are the days in which loading bikes onto my vehicle is a 30 minute endeavor in patience and self control of the tongue. With Raxtor, the bikes go on quickly, efficiently and easily. Buy it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mad Chemist
a Cross Country Rider
from Chino Hills, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 21, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$229.00
Purchased At:
silverarrowcyclework
Strengths:
Secured by the bike's wheels. Doesn't touch the bike frame or fork or anything else for that matter. Simple, easy to use and assemble (4 bolts), light weight.
Weaknesses:
4 Velcro straps per bike is a little slower to secure than similar racks from other manufactures.
Similar Products Used:
Yakima stickup, Allen
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Vertexs
Bottom Line:
So far so good. I bought the non-folding, 2", two bike version. The folding version didn't seem that much shorter when folded and seemed more likely to scrape (the folding mechanism sits lower, further back). And I always remove the rack when not used. The light weight makes removal a breaze. Bought this rack to replace my 1 year old Yakima Stickup. The rubber on one of the hold down tubes of the Stickup wore thru and scratched the paint down to bare metal on of one of my bikes :( Like most here, I recommend the anti-rattle pin. silverarrowcycleworks.com got the rack to me quick.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gzacckey
a Weekend Warrior
from Reading, PA Date Reviewed: August 19, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$288.00
Purchased At:
Ultimatebikehitch.co
Strengths:
Versatility, ease of use, compactness and lightweight are some of it's best strengths
Weaknesses:
I feel all racks of this caliber should come with locking hitch pins and anti-sway features.
Similar Products Used:
Thule, Hollywood racks (love their built-in anti-sway feature)
Bottom Line:
I have the fold-up version.
I've loaded bikes with 12", 20", 26", 700c, and 29" wheels. The nesting feature eliminates most interference issues. This allows the bikes to be racked much closer together so the rack doesn't extend as far as competitor models.
It's lighter than Thule, Yakima, and Saris tray style racks.
It's extremely simply to load your bikes on the rack. I put the bikes on the rack and my 7 yr old grandson can secure them.
The only thing I added was the silent locking hitch pin. It's stops the rack from swaying and locks it to my truck. It doesn't come with a locking cable so you will need to purchase a cable lock to secure the bikes from theft.
I would have given it 5 chilis if it came with anti-sway and locking capabilities.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
clee-bikes
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford, MS Date Reviewed: June 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Lake Lurleen
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Bikecarrierdirect.co
Strengths:
Lightweight and simple to use. Single rack works great on VW when mated with a Curt Hitch. Works with my road bike and my fat tire 29er. Ready out of the box in 5 minutes.
Weaknesses:
Go ahead and buy the anti-sway nut or silent hitch pin to eliminate play at hitch. Adds a little to the price, but well worth the peace of mind.
Similar Products Used:
Thule and Saris products.
Bike Setup:
Road and 29er.
Bottom Line:
Outstanding product and customer support. I had questions on order and Raxter was quick and friendly with responses.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chrisshultz
a Weekend Warrior
from Eugene, OR Date Reviewed: May 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Whypass
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$169.00
Purchased At:
Raxter web site
Strengths:
Simple, can open hatch of Subaru with rack on the car, t.he auto-nesting mechanism is a good design, the only hitch-mounted rack I have found for only 1 bike
Weaknesses:
Can't lock bike to rack, need to use cable and u-lock, not an ideal solution
Similar Products Used:
Yakima and Thule fold-up racks -- they take up too much space when deployed and when folded up I can't open the hatch.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Roubaix Comp road bike; Bianchi Axis cross bike
Bottom Line:
I park in a parking garage at work. Roof racks won't work (ask me how I know). I need a simple, hitch-mounted rack that allows my to drop my bike in when I want to, and the rest of the time it stays pretty much out of the way. The Raxter non-folding one-bike rack is the answer. The finish and quality is very good. I am impressed so far.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
frankbroostin
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa Date Reviewed: January 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Turkey - Best in Oklahoma
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles of Tulsa
Strengths:
Lightweight, elegantly simple, excellent customer service
Weaknesses:
Stability in high winds
Similar Products Used:
Saris roof rack, lots of trunk racks
Bike Setup:
XC Mountain Bike
Road Bike
Bottom Line:
Single bike rack is very good. Very simple to use. Extremely easy to handle because of light weight. Load/unload is incredibly simple and fast. I looked at the competition and this is the best rack. Why buy a 40 or 60 pound pig when this rack will do the job with half the weight? In high winds, the bikes does move around some, but I have never been concerned, even at 100mph when late to a ride. I added an eye bolt and tack welded it so I can lock the bike to the rack and use a locking hitch pin. Nice setup if you need to leave the bike on the rack at work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rjb1000
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA, USA Date Reviewed: September 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
raxter website
Strengths:
Ease of use, simplicity, modest weight, no impact on fuel economy, price, great multi-bike fit and does not damage bike. Fold up feature very helpful, well worth modest add'l cost.
Weaknesses:
The product performs exactly as advertised.
Similar Products Used:
None, this is the first bike rack I've owned.
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR
Bottom Line:
The Raxter has worked very well on extended high speed (80 mph) interstate drives and equally well on gravel roads and high-clearance 4x4 paths. In each case the rack kept an iron grip on the bikes and was rock-solid in the receiver hitch with no damage to the steeds. A locking hitch pin has been a useful accessory, allowing the multi-day traveler to leave the rack securely attached to the vehicle and adding stability/peace of mind on all road surfaces. Granted the rack works fine with the included quick pin, but some slight swaying at higher speeds and in sharp corners was noticed. Moreover, the fold-up option has also been a great help, facilitating garage storage and allowing access to the back of the vehicle (SUV) when the bike is out of the rack. All in all the Raxter has been money well spent, allowing for the bike to easily and securely tag-along while maintaining plenty of space in the vehicle for the family.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bryan123
a Weekend Warrior
from Sonoma, CA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Rockville
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$270.00
Purchased At:
Raxterracks.com
Strengths:
Ease of use-Loading/Off loading bikes. Can be expanded to accomidate more bikes. Light weight, so you can keep down the "Tongue weight" if you're using it on your car.
Weaknesses:
The Plastice Wheel Cups on the arms. Broke the piece on one cup that holds the velcro strap. Doesn't effect functionality at all though. No good way to lock the bikes to the rack.
Similar Products Used:
Various Bed heads in the truck, one strappy thing that was a project to put on anything, if you got the straps untangled.
Bike Setup:
29er, Fully 26er, road bike
Bottom Line:
Bike can accomodate anything I have to throw at it. Has 3 long road trips under it's belt now. Sway only seems to occur when passing big rigs and getting caught in their turbulence, and with the aerodynamics of my car after 85mph.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gatorling
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Petersburg, Florida USA Date Reviewed: July 20, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
1up.com
Strengths:
Super easy to use, light weight, low profile and folds up out of the way. After 3 months of use I can load my road bike onto my carrier in under 1 minute. I'm already heading home while other roadies are still fiddling with straps and buckles (or removing their front tires).
Weaknesses:
Looks like slight rusting on the bolt hinges, hope this doesn't get worse, slight play on a 1 1/2" hitch.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Specialized Allez Elite stock
Bottom Line:
Awesome product but a bit pricey. Wish they would've foresaw the rusting problem and done something to prevent it.
The Raxter rack definitely is a secure and safe rack. I live in Florida and regularly take I-75 up to Gainesville (130-140 mile trip). My average car speed on I-75? 85mph, I've gone 100mph before without the bike flying off the rack. You can definitely tell that the rack does produce some drag but you don't really notice it until you're going 75mph+.
Only issue I have is that the bolts are starting to rust a little..afraid they might give out eventually and my bike will go flying off on the interstate.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pointwell
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
All trails at Tsali
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$329.00
Purchased At:
1upusa
Strengths:
It is a relatively light hitch mount rack, folds up, is fairly compact and EASY TO USE!! I planned to take the Raxter rack off between uses - but changed my mind when my gas mileage actually improved!!
Weaknesses:
None so far - does look like some rust is happening from hardware where one of the "arms" attach.
Similar Products Used:
Used to use roof mount Thule, which I love, but got a new car that didn't allow a simple adapter, so got a hitch put on. Originally got the Yakima Kingpin 4 - hated it, bikes moved, it needed so many bungee cords, and took a long time to get mountain bikes loaded - CRAZY!! Love the RAXTER!!
Bike Setup:
Specialized Tarmac PRO road bike and Specialized EPIC PRO
Bottom Line:
Only drawback is that I need to plan ahead in that I can't open my back hatch once bikes are on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen Spindler
a Weekend Warrior
from Riverside CA USA Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Sycamore Canyon Riverside CA
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$279.00
Purchased At:
e-Bay
Strengths:
This is a great bike carrier rack. Simple, easy to assemble and use, and not heavy like the swing-arm type. I purchased the dual carrier for a 2 inch hitch. I have hauled our mountain bikes from Riverside CA to Zion, Utah area (350 mi), and to beach and back (60 mi) with no problems. The bikes are held securely and do not move relative to one-another, and so do not hit one-another like on the hanging racks. Mountain bikers with hanging type racks I have met have to use attachable crossbars to hang the bikes from and then pads and bungees to hold the bikes together and keep them from banging together. Way too much trouble, and the pads can migrate during transport. For security, I use a hitch lock purchased at an auto-supply store, and two 5' 6" series 4 Kryptonite NY Chain w EV Disc Bike Lock ($89.99 from e-bay). I use one of the locks to hold both chains to a chain hold on the auto hitch, pass the two chains through the front and back tires, then the frame and then together with the other lock. No-one even tries to mess with them.
Weaknesses:
I have had no problems and have no complaints.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Specialized Stump Jumper full suspension - Stock
Bottom Line:
Great rack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Racer713
a Weekend Warrior
from Princeton Jct, NJ 08550 Date Reviewed: May 1, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
www.raxterracks.com
Strengths:
Customer support! Ease of use, Stability, Light weight, Works great with Lefty forks.
Weaknesses:
None that I can think of.
Similar Products Used:
Various trunk racks, Thule roof racks. Etc.
Bottom Line:
I have had this rack for a little over a year now and I am very happy with it. I use it for my Road, Mtn, and BMX bikes. It works well with any frame or bike combination. I work in a bike shop and have access to Thule racks at a discount and chose this rack for its auto nesting feature and light weight. What I got was a great rack that meets and exceeds my needs. I had a couple of material finish issues "harsh north east weather = rusty bolts etc." I wrote Kelli and explained my situation. Within the next week I had all new hardware. I would highly recommend this rack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeffrey Reisinger
a
from Sonoita, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: October 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$325.00
Purchased At:
www.raxterracks.com
Strengths:
Excellent fit and finish. Lite weight yet well built. Bike is held very secure at both wheels not just one. Two bikes do not hit each other. Intuitive to use. Fast on and off. Folds when not in use. Customer service is first rate. No need to worry about tree limbs, garages, or road debris. Will not damage frame.
Weaknesses:
Really none.
Similar Products Used:
Demo'ed Thule roof rack, crappy trunk mount racks.
Bike Setup:
2007 Orbea Orca, SRAM Force everything, Ksyrium ES, DA pedals, Fisik saddle, Reynolds Pro Anatomic carbon bars
Bottom Line:
I am a roadie, but found great reviews on this webpage. I needed a rack that would not touch the carbon frame. I also didn't like the fact that everyone I know who has a roof rack has removed their bike unintentionally -- almost always a parking garage or their own garage. This rack takes care of both of those problems. Plus, you do not have to have spacers for different size wheels nor do you have to remove the front wheel. This rack has an arm for each wheel that cups it at the 10 or 2 position depending on your point of view. Each wheel has two Velcro restraints. One on the arm cup point, and the other on the wheel tray. It folds up when not in use. FYI, I use it on a VW Passat. Bottom Line, this is a great bike rack that fits all my needs. It doesn't hurt that it is well designed. So easy that an untrained monkey could operate it. If your concerns or needs are anything like mine, this is the rack for you. The price seems a little steep. However, it is in line with the competition, and the quality and customer service make it a very easy pill to swallow.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rocker
a Cross Country Rider
from camarillo, ca Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$269.00
Purchased At:
1UPUSA
Strengths:
Very efficient, smart design. High quality build. You can tell right away when it's assembled (which takes about 10 minutes) that the fit and finish are excellent. The simplicity and flexability of the design works for me. It's quick to mount to the truck and easy to attach the bikes with the swinging arms and velcro.
My only problem was that my hitch is smaller than standard because it is built into an aftermarket off-road bumper so the rack would not fit. I called Raxter and they were more than happy to authorize me to grind the rack corners to fit. If there were any issues, they offered to replace the square tubing. They were great to deal with and called to follow up. Remember, this issue was caused by my hitch, not the Raxter design.
Raxter's customer service is excellent. I'm so glad I didn't go with another brand.
Weaknesses:
I wish it had a locking hitch pin and a hoop easily use a cable lock for the bikes. Both can be corrected fairly easily.
Similar Products Used:
Thule and Softride frame hanging hitches. These have trashed my bikes more than the trails. I needed a wheel mounting hitch to stop the damage from the bikes swinging in the racks and hitting each other.
Bike Setup:
Scalpel and F400.
Bottom Line:
The Raxter is a great buy and I didn't have to get the over expensive Thule. Some of the other reviews mention the great customer service and I'll back those up.
This is a top-notch rack that I wish I had purchased earlier. I was actually dreading using my frame mtg racks again. Thanks Raxter!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon
a Weekend Warrior
from Bedford, TX, USA Date Reviewed: November 18, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Many
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$330.00
Purchased At:
www.raxterracks.com
Strengths:
First I should mention I have the folding 1.25" 2 bike rack
-Light weight -Strong & durable frame -Bike is securely attacked to the bike rack -Doesn't touch your bike's frame or car -Simple and easy to use -Unmatched customer service!!!
Weaknesses:
(This is only relevant to the folding rack) Security: Just like the 1upUSA a lot of the rack can be taken simply by removing one bolt. I've looked for security bolts with no avail and instead have welded the hinge bolt to the nut. To be clear the folding mechanism still moves but it cannot be taken off now.
Similar Products Used:
None, but have friends that use the Bone and roof racks.
Bike Setup:
Trek 4300
Bottom Line:
You will not find better customer service anywhere else. If you have a problem the designer himself will do his best to help you out. When I was doing research for a rack he received more than his fair share of emails from me. He went as far as to send me engineering drawings with dimensions so I could make sure the rack would clear my bumper.
I put this rack on my '03 Honda civic. You should know that I drive rather fast and that includes corners. I say with complete confidence that this rack will hold your bike with no problem. It also happens to match the silver paint on my car perfectly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miguel
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX Date Reviewed: October 6, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Memorial Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$185.00
Purchased At:
http://www.raxterracks.com
Strengths:
-Excellent Quality -Practical -Light Weight -Price -Single Bike Option -Great for Smaller Cars -Sturdy -Easy Installation/Removal -NO Crap on the roof of the car -Does not come in contact with the bike frame
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
Yakima/Thule, But both of these hitch mount style rack come in considerably heavier, bulkier and with a much higher price tag and stick out much further making clearance an issue on smaller cars.
Bike Setup:
2006 Stumpjumper Disc
Bottom Line:
After extensive research and comparison of my options I went with the Raxter single bike rack for 1.25" hitch. Some of the factors that made me decide to go with raxter was the fact that the thule and yakima rack weighed in at 52 and 53 pounds vs the minimal 16 pounds of the raxter rack. Thule/Yakima racks were designed to fit a Class II or greater tow hitch which requires a 300 Max Tongue WT, Making the thule and yakima racks too heavy for most hitch options on smaller car b/c they use class I hitches.
Another point was price both the yakima and thule were close to the $400 dollar range and that I didn’t want the bulky set up on the roof of my car.
This is a very well built rack that exceeds its design intent I have taken corners quite fast forgetting that I have my bike on the back of the car and the bike did not move at all , it is also stable at highway speeds.
Customer service was excellent its not may times when you call a manufacturer to place and order and you get to talk to the engineer who came up with what you are planning to buy.
Over all I have no complaints and would recommend this rack to anyone in the market for a light weight, well built effective bike rack at a reasonable price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: July 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
See previous review
Weaknesses:
Still no notable ones
Bottom Line:
This is an update on my prior review. I recently replaced my original fixed rack with the folding version of the two bike rack. The staff at Raxter were very helpful when I was doing this. The folding mechanism is quick, easy to use, and stable. There is a little more clearance beneath the bikes than with the fixed design. The rack is still excellent, with the added convenience of being able to leave it on my vehicle full time. After one year of regular use, I have not had any of the issues noted by another reviewer on this site. It's a great rack!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Island Date Reviewed: July 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Bike is secured with 4 velco straps
Weaknesses:
I can not get it off my 2" hitch for the life of me. Bends are poor, and paint is too thick in certain areas. Bolts rust, should have been coated with a thin layer of grease.
Similar Products Used:
n/a
Bike Setup:
mountain bike and road bike
Bottom Line:
If I could get the darn thing off I would. I don't know if its just Product but I certainly haven't gotten the same results as everyone here. I think the folks at Raxster welded the wrong end of the rack and I am forced to keep the rack on at all times.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Maciek Rupar
a Weekend Warrior
from SW 'burbs of Chicago, IL Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palos Forest Preserve
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$185.00
Purchased At:
direct from Raxter
Strengths:
Mine is a single bike rack for a 1.25" receiver; had it for two months. The price paid includes shipping. It's very light: powder coated square tubular steel base & crossbar & swing-away nylon arms to hold the wheels. Rack installation & removal are quick and easy. The bike goes on upright in seconds and remains secure and away from my paint job.
Weaknesses:
The only thing I wish could be improved is the stability inside the receiver. The clearance left inside my hitch causes the assembly to rock side-to-side a little.
Similar Products Used:
Thule 2-bike hitch rack - the thing is a monster by comparison.
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar dually
Bottom Line:
This rack is perfect for quick solo trips. You're on the road in minutes. No muss no fuss. No issues on the interstate either. The customer service from Raxter is excellent. Thumbs up Mike! My unit is a custom assembly - using a shortened 2-bike base - it elevates the crossbar higher than the single-bike base. I found my Thule would scrape - receiver sits fairly low to the ground on my car. No such problem with the Raxter rack. I highly recommend this rack for build quality and ease of use.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Traugott
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder Creek, CA USA Date Reviewed: July 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
West Cliff Drive
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
direct from Raxster (shipping included)
Strengths:
Lightweight but sturdy. Securely grasps bikes so they will not move, yet mounting and unmounting bikes is extremely quick and easy. You only need to lift the bike about one foot and fasten four velcro straps. Price is quite reasonable compared to main competition (Yakima and Thule) for a rack of this design and quality. Customer service is excellent beyond my expectations.
Weaknesses:
Some might want a rack that folds or swings out to allow access to the back of a vehicle like my Subaru Outback. Raxster is supposedly working on such a design; but my take is that it requires less time and effort to remove and replace the bikes on this rack than it does to operate more complicated systems. (This rack does not interfere with the rear hatch when there are no bikes mounted.)
Similar Products Used:
Yakima roof-mount system -- which is physical torture by comparison to this rack!
Bike Setup:
My Cannondale mountain bike and my wife's road bike.
Bottom Line:
This is an intelligently designed rack that is manufactured to high standards. The ease of getting bikes on and off the rack is remarkable. Because it weighs only about half of what the alternatives weigh, it is also a breeze to get the rack itself on and off the vehicle. I have also been amazed at the customer service I received. This is a small company, just starting out. When you call with questions, you are speaking with the owner/designer, and Mike's answers completely reassured me on every point I raised. When I asked about security, he helped me find the perfect answer (a new style of cable lock -- up to 15' long -- recently put out by Master Lock, that you can cinch up to just the length you need.) When my rack arrived missing one small nut, Mike and Kelly put one in the mail and I had it within two days. I can't say enough positive about this product or the people who are making and selling it. Although I have owned it only a few weeks, its operation has so far been flawless, and I have the added reassurance that a responsible and responsive company is standing behind it. I am a completely satisfied customer. If you are looking for a hitch-mount rack, you should definitely check this one out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Doug Boyd
a Cross Country Rider
from Canadian Texas Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
light weight, easy to assemble, easy to use, and you do not have to worry about straps coming loose. the bike is stable and it is not going anywhere. it takes less than five minutes to put the rack in the hitch and secure the bike or bikes for travel. there is absolutely now fram contact when securing the bike either. great product!
Weaknesses:
none that i know of!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
tight and secure. i know it is not going anywhere.
Bottom Line:
great product that is well worth the money. the service and personal contact is also a plus.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lance
a Cross Country Rider
from Liberal, Kansas USA Date Reviewed: May 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palo Duro Canyon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Direct from Raxter
Strengths:
-Well Built. -Easy to install bikes: 30 seconds per bike -Does not touch any part of the frame -Bikes are free from other bikes do to the "auto-nesting" I can load my Santa Cruz Superlight mountain bike, and my Trek 1500 Road bike without any problems.
Weaknesses:
Only weakness I have is the fact I did not buy a raxter sooner. Because it is the Bomb. I think in the future the rack should look Carbon.
Similar Products Used:
Trek trunk rack, saris, homemade-2x12 board with drops to put your front fork in, this sucked do to the time it takes to disassemble the front wheel.
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight-Mountain bike Trek 1500 Road Bike
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a rack the "Raxter" is for you. It is light, strong and easy to install any size bike. The best part about it is the fact you can spend more time riding than trying to get your bike out of the rack. Have I mentioned it is easy to install.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kim
a
from Pleasanton, CA Date Reviewed: May 5, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
direct from Raxter
Bottom Line:
For me, a hitch mounted rack is the only way to go because nothing touches the paint on my car. Hitch mounted racks have the additional benefits of being down low so they are easy to load, they do not store the bike above the car (a big deal with a mud caked mountain bike), and avoid having to store a removed wheel. I avoided the “hanging” types of racks, and the racks with swing-arms which secure the frame directly, because I value the paint job on my road bike, and because my mountain bike does not have a conventional double-triangle frame (so there is no good place from which to hang the bike).
This narrows the selection to hitch racks which secure the two wheels, such as the Raxter, 1upUSA, and SportsWorks. These racks are all extremely quick to load/unload bikes. What sets the Raxter (www.raxterracks.com) apart from its competition is its simple and efficient design. This results in a huge weight savings (the SportWorks is over twice the weight of Raxter’s 28lb 2-bike rack), as well as a cost savings (the 1upUSA is $150 more, and is virtually unavailable at times). I take the rack on an off the car each day I use it, so light weight was the single most important parameter for my choice in a rack. The Raxter’s elegant design also should be extremely reliable, as there are few moving parts and no complicated mechanisms/linkages. The rack does not fold up or tip down, so this might be an issue if you are using this with a van (I do not know whether the others would really tip down far enough when loaded with bikes to allow a van door to open either.).
I have been using the Raxter for 4 months, and love it. The light weight of the rack (due to the efficient design and use of nylon parts) allows quick and easy loading onto my car, and loading bikes is even quicker (<30 seconds per bike). The bike and rack are held securely, so there is no swaying while driving. I have tested the rack with road bikes, 2.5” mtn bike tires, and kid’s bikes with 20” wheels – all work great. If you are looking for a lightweight hitch mounted rack, I highly recommend the Raxter!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Hardin
a Weekend Warrior
from Davie, Florida Date Reviewed: April 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Oleta State Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Direct from Raxter
Strengths:
Easily accomodates my Specialized FSR and my son's 20" GT. And is lightweight enough to put on my truck or take off in a minute with little trouble. I can also store it up in my garage.
Weaknesses:
I'd like to be able to carry four bikes and fold it up out of the way while still on my truck. But, these are secondary wants, not needs.
Similar Products Used:
Rhode Gear. This rack was a mess. No Name Swing Away Rack for 2" Receiver. A good rack that I've used for years, but it weights a ton. Very difficult to handle when storing it, so I tended to leave it on the truck. Over time it got rusty and the rubber oxidized. It also only handles top-tube designed bikes (or requires the use of a sissy bar) and the bikes tend to rub together when on long trips.
Bottom Line:
So far, I'm pretty impressed with the Raxter. Read about it here on MTBR and contacted the company for more info. The rest is history. I'm also a roadie, and it handles my GT Ti Edge with no problem. I have two kids, 8 and 9 years old, and it will handle either of their bikes with no problem. Regardless of what bike I want to carry, I can just drop them on the Raxter and secure them in seconds without worrying about straps or getting them scratched, etc. And when we're done, it is light enough to yank off the truck and store on a shelf that is high up and out of the way in my garage. At $300 it was fairly priced for a quality branded rack. If you're looking for a rack, get this one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Perryton Texas Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palo Duro canyon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$275.00
Purchased At:
Direct from raxter
Strengths:
Weight, my six-year-old daughter can carry this thing. Any of our bikes fit with no adjusting and no clearance problems. Fast and easy.
Weaknesses:
No weaknesses, and I am picky.
Similar Products Used:
Saris, Thule, homemade between mine and my friends. I believe I've tried them all.
Bottom Line:
The Raxter comes preassembled, except for 4 bolts and is ready to go. The Raxter is simple, and it works great. The quality of all the parts and pieces is excellent. Not many products meet my expectations in this rack has exceeded all my expectations. This is the best rack I've ever used.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: November 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Mission Trails Regional Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Direct from Raxter
Strengths:
Easy, fast loading/unloading. Very stable & solid. Light weight makes it easy to install and remove. Holds bike securely without touching frame.
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Rhode Gear trunk mount rack, Yakima and XPort hitch mount top tube-style racks.
Bottom Line:
A great rack at a great price. I have used the rack to carry all combinations of mountain bikes, road bikes, and kids bikes. You can load any bike securely in less than a minute without any bikes touching. I have driven over some pretty rough roads with the rack fully loaded. The rack has plenty of clearance and was rock solid under every driving condition I have encountered. This rack blows away any other rack I've seen. Overall, just an outstanding rack for mountain, road, or any other bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, Ok Date Reviewed: November 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Greenleaf State Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$299.00
Strengths:
Light weight and easy to load and unload. Maximum protection for your high dollar bike. Auto-nesting? Whoever thought of this should get an award. Awesome.
Weaknesses:
Only hitch mounted rack available.
Similar Products Used:
Yakima, good rack, but I gave it away after using this rack.
Bottom Line:
This rack is awesome. Light enough to actually install or un-install if you need to in minutes without breaking your back. I loaded a 12" bike, a 20" bike and two mountain bikes in 3 minutes and not a single bike was touching another bike in any place. Raxter racks you rock man. Great rack. People who are serious about their bikes should buy this rack. This rack protects your bike to the fullest. Road bikes, mountain bikes, kids bikes....it doesn't matter.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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