Submitted by
alanchan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: October 8, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$215.00
Purchased At:
Sporting Life
Strengths:
Easy to install and remove, wheel tray folds down for compact storage, pretty stable rack, easy to load and unload bikes, light weight (down side is can't hold up weight)
Weaknesses:
No access to tailgate with bikes on (but which one does except Thule Revolver)
Ratchet strap for the wheels are poorly design and cheap
Wheel size specify bike carrier (I manage to fit a 24" kids bike on to a 26" carrier tho) - no 29er
Material will not last long for everyday usage
No security system
Will not work with bikes with front fender
Weight limit means no sub $200 bikes and no DH bikes
Similar Products Used:
Many Thule roof mount and truck mount racks
Yakima Roof mount racks.
Bike Setup:
too many...Ventana, Niner, Santa Cruz .... etc
Bottom Line:
I use this system on a friends vehicle and recommended it to him due to the price ($240 CAD) and carries three bike. Note this review is for the 'Thelma 3'. Most hitch bike carrier with no contact to frame only holds two or with the add on to four bikes but that cost like 4x the money!
This will be a good rack if you ride a couple times a month (which is what my friend do). I myself ride 4-5 times a week in peak season and this rack will not last. The strap system also sucks which will get quite annoying if you use very often.
The wheel size specify tray can be rig. I rang up Saris USA and a couple of the local dealers and they said it will only fit specify wheel size (26" for mine) but I was able to fit a 24" on with something holding up the front wheel. It will NOT fit a 20". You will need to buy the kids version which Saris do offer (2 adults, 1 child bike).
Overall, a good rack for the price of occasional users only.
Then it comes another issue, weight limit. If you ride occasionally or use it a couple times a year for family picnic, going to camp/park, you probably won't have a superlite racing rig. That means you have to watch the weight of your bike. If you use it for your DH bike, you also have to be careful of the weight limit.
In conclusion, Saris has build a rack for good value and pretty practical but I don't see the target customer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cjv
a Weekend Warrior
from wausau wisconsin Date Reviewed: June 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
nine mile
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$209.00
Purchased At:
buelers
Strengths:
looks , simple to use ,light weight
Weaknesses:
will not fit large frame bikes with 2.35 tires or greater. Had to return the rack.
Similar Products Used:
swagman
swagman
Bike Setup:
specialized epic
Bottom Line:
There needs to be a disclaimer on the box. This rack is not for large frame (26 inch) mountain bikes. We clled the company and they tried to get use to strap the tire on the side of the bracket, this would only leave the strap holding the wheel. Not something I, nor the guy driving behind me , would like to see. Look elsewhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jitenshakun
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB Date Reviewed: March 6, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
-Zero bike frame contact
-Light weight
-Tight hitch mounting
-No wheel removal required
-Perfect for road bikes, great for XC bikes
Weaknesses:
-Folds up mighty tight to the rear bumper
-Trouble with tires greater than 2.3
-often seats have to be lowered to accommodate handlebar of other bike
-35lb single bike weight limit
Similar Products Used:
-this is was my first hitch rack but I have used multiple roof racks
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight and Trek Madone
Bottom Line:
For anything other than a heavier AM, FR or DH bike this rack works extremely well. Its easy to get on and off the car, holds the bike tight and will not damage your bike's frame. It can work with 2.3 and greater tires, so long as you deflate the tyre, load the bike and re inflate the tyre in the rack. I have driven my car in a track situation with a 30lb bike on the rack without issue. Yes, this is not usual for a rack, but it is a heck of a test.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
silvermtb69
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Tx, USA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
offroad
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
looks good. good design.
Weaknesses:
straps too short for 29er wheels, Hitch piece too tall for swing open rear hatches
Similar Products Used:
Sportsworks
Bike Setup:
Intense Spider 29er, Spot Longboard 29er SS
Bottom Line:
Nice looking rack that is very modern and doesn't touch the bikes frame. The front wheel holder in the locked position will not hold a 29er wheel so I leave it unlocked in order to strap the front wheel in (1 strike). Website shows the rack on the back of a Lexus GX470 which is what I have so it should work on that vehicle, right?? I even called before purchasing to make sure.... Wrong.... You can't open the rear door since it swings out instead of up like most SUVs. I had to design & have a receiver adapter made to drop the entire rack down 3" so that I can open the rear door with the rack installed. (strike 2) This bike rack costs more than it should considering the materials used to make it. I like the rack but it definitely could use improvements/options for 29er people. Otherwise, rack works good for roadbikes & 26" mtn bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dustoffbob
a Racer
from Augusta, Georgia Date Reviewed: September 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
FATS
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$299.00
Purchased At:
Andy Jordans
Strengths:
Easy to load and off-load bicycles, never touches the frame; keepsbikes from rubbing each other or truck; no need to pad between bikes.
Weaknesses:
need to make modifications to wheel holders for certain mountain bike wheel types; rachet straps can bea little annoying
Similar Products Used:
SARIS Bones, Swagman, you name it I have probaly tried it
Bike Setup:
Too many to list
Bottom Line:
This is no doubt the best rack I have ever used. I can load or off load three bicycles in under 60 seconds. Once the bikes are on I never worry about them falling off, and trust me, I have had a $4000 mountain bike fall of my truck using a different rack. With this one I never worry about losing a bike. This is probably the last rack I will ever need. If you want an easy to load, lightweight rack that makes life simple, BUY IT
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mtg7aa
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: September 7, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Light, inexpensive for a hitch rack, looks cool, holds bike by both wheels (no need to put one wheel inside your car)
Weaknesses:
The ratchet straps suck, it is harder than it should be to get them engaged, and they are too short (like somebody else said, it's hard to use with 26x2.35 tires), also you have to deflate 29er tires to get it in the rack. It BARELY fits downhill knobbies (straps are too short, and the wheelbase of bikes with downhill knobs are too long for the rack, and the rack is only rated for 35lb bikes anyway)
Similar Products Used:
Saris Bones, Thule T2
Bike Setup:
Road bike to DH
Bottom Line:
It works well for road bikes up to ~30lb mountain bikes with tires no bigger than 26 x 2.2". If you have an All Mountain bike or FR/DH rig, get a heavier duty rack.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scotte2981
a Cross Country Rider
from long island Date Reviewed: July 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
rocky point
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$260.00
Strengths:
very easy to assemble, easy getting bikes on, very light, very cool
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
cannondale prophet 600 race face cranks, avid juicy brakes, sram gears, candys on the feet LEFTY
Bottom Line:
this rack rocks and with the lefty it is a match made in heaven. had the thule but too much sway and this is real sweet because nothing touches the frame. Very well made and innovative UNIQUE
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
smmcpherron
a Cross Country Rider
from Sandy, utah, USA Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Wasatch Crest Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$190.00
Purchased At:
Tree Fort Bikes
Strengths:
Never touches the bike frame. Both bikes stay away from each other. Steady. Simple, easy, strong. Very easy to load bikes, including 2.35 inch tires, if you install it right. Affordable.
Weaknesses:
For me, none.
Similar Products Used:
Swagman which is the absolute worst. And a Thule which is great, but, the bikes hang from it, and that is not good for carbon fiber frames.
Bike Setup:
IBIS Mojo with customer build, and Specialized Tarmac S-works. Ventana El Saltamontes.
Bottom Line:
Awesome
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john edgar
a
from topanga ca 90290 Date Reviewed: May 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
wilson
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
wheelworld
Strengths:
its very lite it looks super cool
Weaknesses:
it fits two out of five of my bikes does not fit 29ers strap is to short to reach around my 2.35 tire on 26inch great for road bikes and commuters oh and not kids bikes
Similar Products Used:
you mean like other racks
Bike Setup:
giant reign with bomber 29er up front specialized crosstrail 29er custom curtlo cannondale 1fg master ironman davescott centurion
Bottom Line:
its for road bikes and commuters it looks hot it scares me to think how little is holding my bike it looks cool its lite it makes me sad to need another rack to carry my other bikes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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