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Home | Product Reviews | Bike Rack | Thule Echelon Fork Mount | ||||
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Submitted by
Thule has been a PIA
a Cross Country Rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: 4/19/2008 12:35:25 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Price Paid: | $999 |
| Purchased At: | lbs |
| Strengths: | Easy to use, and holds the bikes well. |
| Weaknesses: | Noisy. You need an adapter kit to use them on rapid aero bars. The adapter kit is noisy and makes a squeaking sound when driving on anything but a smooth highway. They STILL don't lock!!! Thule posted that message above about how they are a stand up company and are working to make things right.....yeah right. I have waited close to a year for replacement heads for this tray. Last time I talked with them, which was in 2007, I was told my name was on a list and when the replacement parts came in they would expedite shipping them to me. I just called back a couple of days ago and my name is no longer on any list and they still don't have an idea of when the parts would be available. WHAT A JOKE. My name is on another list though, Marie's, who did a good job at acting as confused about the whole situation as I am pissed. |
| Bottom Line: | Still don't lock even though they are listed on Thule's website again after being pulled for a while and I doubt they are even available yet. If they are, why don't I have replacement heads that lock? I bought these in June or July 2007 and the issues still have not been resolved. Here's the bottom line. Thule doesn't care about customer issues. It must not be worth their time or money. Look for another tray. |
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Submitted by
deputy
a Weekend Warrior
from Mass Berkshires
Date Reviewed: 1/30/2008 8:23:39 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 6 months |
| Strengths: | Marketing hype and product looks |
| Weaknesses: | Locks, mounting |
| Similar Products Tried: | velo vice, rocky mounts |
| Bike Setup: | Cannondale Scalpel |
| Bottom Line: | A brilliantly clever design! A little over the top for what it really has to do (clamp a freakin' fork). Too bad Thule couldn't pull it off. Sloppy die-casting and poor component quality and assembly make this thing a nightmare. Locks don't work. Haven't they figured this out yet? Bracket that clamps the head to the load bar looks like it came from some recycled Yugo. A classic case where mfg and quality couldn't execute/produce what was designed. I heard the top designers jumped the company for higher ground and this thing was left abandoned just before launch. Stay away. Go git yourself a conventional skewer fork mount carrier and be safe and happy. |
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Submitted by
Thule has been a PIA
a Cross Country Rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: 9/17/2007 12:30:00 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $180 |
| Purchased At: | lbs |
| Strengths: | They look like they nice. |
| Weaknesses: | Apparently they don't work as designed. |
| Similar Products Tried: | So far I am wondering why I ever went away from Rocky Mounts. High dollar racks are proving to be a bunch of hype. |
| Bottom Line: | So far I am p!ssed but I am going to reserve judgment until I actually get to use the fork mounts. I have ordered a whole system from Thule because I figured they were a well respected company and their products were quality. I guess a company is only as good as the people that work for them because so far I have waited over 2 months for missing parts so I can't even install the Echelon's. I mentioned that I had these trays and locking cores in a email to Thule but nobody thought to mention this issue to me while I waited on the other parts. I could have had different trays or replacement heads by now considering I have waited so long for the other pieces on backorder. I guess nobody there is thinking that far ahead considering these "awesome" fork mounts were designed with such oversights. At least they would have information on their site about this. Maybe I can go their to find out if the fork mounts I purchased were 1st generation, maybe I can find information about how to quickly get replacement heads sent, right? WRONG!! I would have never known this was an issue if I didn't come across this review! Looks like more waiting and wondering for me! So far, I can't see any reason for giving my money to this company. Almost 1K spent and still nothing to show for it. |
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Submitted by
Howard Jeffries
a Weekend Warrior
from Natick, MA USA
Date Reviewed: 8/15/2007 7:04:02 PM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Vietnam |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $139 |
| Purchased At: | On line - Rack and Road |
| Strengths: | Solid looks and design. Lifetime guarantee Carries my road bike and mtn bike perfectly Good range of adjustability Made in USA |
| Weaknesses: | I am assuming that the Locks don't work well. I do not use them but it is a definite shortfall. I always use a U-Lock for security but I want a perfect product anyway. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Velo Vise |
| Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight Bianchi pista Indyfab crown jewel |
| Bottom Line: | Since buying the Echelon I have loved it. After reading the other reviews about the locks did not working I was bummed. I called Rack and Road and they told me that Thule is aware of the problem, that they are fixing it. Thule brags about their lifetime guarantee and it's legit...both Thule and Rack and Road are backing it up. The shop said that Thule will replace Echelons at no charge and Thule is going to send me a new product as soon as the new one is ready. I am on a list and can keep using mine until a replacement arrives in a couple of months. I am going to rate the product with an average rating because when the lockable version arrives it will kick ass. |
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Submitted by
Marcus
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City MO
Date Reviewed: 8/10/2007 9:56:51 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | South Mtn Px Az |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $139 |
| Purchased At: | Midwest Cyclery |
| Strengths: | metal (I'm trying really hard to not give this rack too much credit) |
| Weaknesses: | Locks, Installation failure, poor engineering, lack of packing, all of the above. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Yakima Viper, Rocky Mounts |
| Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz, Cannondale |
| Bottom Line: | I waited for this "top of the line" piece to arrive at my LBS and when it finally did, i was more than disappointed. First, out of the box you will find it scratched up and marred from the lack of packing. Second, installing the rack on your thule bars (prob yakima ones too) proves to be next to impossible. I had to turn the rack 30 degrees with one bolt in the head just so the other bolt would line up with the clamp tab. Once I finally got the rack secured to the car, I installed the locks and they spun in place and wouldnt even stay installed!! when i "found" the stop to pull out the key, the core came with it!! and don't think that the locked position means locked; i was able to lift the arm with minimal force. Ive been on the phone with Thule 3 times now to try and figure out what happened and one customer service rep had the balls to say "lets just say that the designers didnt try as hard as they should have on this rack" !!! OMG I really like supporting my LBS and this isnt helping any of them. On a positive note, the base rack system, there carriers, and hitch mount racks all are high quality in my opinion. But they really need to stop trying to re-invent the wheel with there bike carrier's head designs and try and make a quality product. bottom line- DO NOT BUY THE THULE ECHELON. EVER. |
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Submitted by
Stephen
from Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: 8/5/2007 10:36:24 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only |
| Strengths: | Nice brushed silver color |
| Weaknesses: | I am new to mountain biking and a shop near us does free bike rack installs. So, a guy that has done 300+ Thule installs attempted to mount two new Eshelon bike trays onto the roof of my 4Runner using LB58 Thule Load Bars and 450R Thule Rapid CrossRoad rack system. What happened with the Echelon's you ask... HORRIBLE lock system!!! The lock cores he TRIED to install didn't work on either of the two the Echelon trays I was buying!!!! Then, he got two co-workers who each have installed approx 100 racks to try and help him. So, 500+ combinded rack installs and they said the Echelon is the biggest piece of sh*t they have ever seen!!!!! Not only would the lock core just spin, not catch, and not work in either Echelon but, as he was trying to get the lock to actually work, be sheered off the meer 1mm tip that separates your bike from thiefs! He was only using light/moderate pressure trying to get the lock to work and he broke the security feature off. Some low-life using the heel of his hand could break your sh*tty Echelon rack open with the heel of his hand and steal your bike in 2 seconds!!! Thank God the rack purchase came with a free install... they swapped the Echelon out for two V2 fork mounts and apologized repeatedly. The shop owner was so pissed at Thule and felt so bad he gave me 25% off the V2's. The shop owner pulled the remaining Echelon's from the sales floor and said he was "mailing as these piece of sh*t racks back to Thule"!!! I have never left feedback on any product before but felt compelled to leave feedback on this worthless fork mount. DO NOT buy this fork mount and attempt to install it at home... you will be screwed!!!!!! |
| Similar Products Tried: | Thule V2 |
| Bike Setup: | Specialized Rockhopper Comp |
| Bottom Line: | Don't buy the Echelon fork mount no matter how cool and silver it looks... it is absolute garbage!!!! This rack sucks! I don't know when you will be more frustrated, when the lock core don't work or when a thief breaks the 1mm security tab with 3 pounds of pressure and steal your bike!!! |
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Submitted by
Justin Owens
a Cross Country Rider
from Providence, RI, USA
Date Reviewed: 8/4/2007 11:00:21 AM |
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| FavoriteTrail: | Rocky Ridge in PA |
| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | Heavy all-metal head |
| Weaknesses: | Incredibly poor engineering, terrible quality control |
| Similar Products Tried: | Older Thule racks - I worked in a shop for 5 years |
| Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar & Dakota AL |
| Bottom Line: | The previous reviewers, unfortunately, nailed this rack dead-to-rights. This is an incredibly pi$$-poor piece of engineering for a high end company. First off, the previous reviewer's complaints about the cosmetic quality-control are true. Thule doesn't bother to carefully pack this tray, so your $100 bike tray comes out of the box with plenty of scratches and mucked-up stickers. More importantly, the lock is one of the single most poorly designed engineering mishaps I've ever seen. He ain't kidding about the 1mm metal tab - that's ALL that stands between your expensive bike and a thief or bump. One sharp jab upward on the head lever and it's over. Bike gone. Secondly, one of the two trays I bought didn't even have these tiny pieces - it's like the mold screwed up! So that head won't even pretend to lock, the cylinder just spins and spins. Save your money, get a "lesser" design or a different brand. I'd go Yakima if I hadn't already bought and installed the entire rest of the rack. I'm returning these right away. Echelon my a$$. p.s. Thule appears to have removed this tray from their website...maybe they got the message. |
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Submitted by
Stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from Penngrove, CA
Date Reviewed: 7/26/2007 10:09:13 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: | Nice looking. Tray and head are more stout that the already stout 590 V2. New lever design is easier to use that the 590 V2. |
| Weaknesses: | Won't stay securely attached to my Yakima crossbars. Lock function erratic. When open, the gizmos that grab the fork, often stick partially closed and therefore hang up on the fork making it hard to get the bike in or out. |
| Similar Products Tried: | Thule 590 V2 |
| Bottom Line: | Don't buy this rack. If you can find a 590 V2, get it instead. Thule really scr**ed the pooch on this one. I had these on order since April. The repeated slipping of the delivery date should have been a clue. These are going to have to go back. This rack attaches to the crossbar with a metal plate. The metal plate attaches to the rack with a tab and two screws. The metal tab may be satisfactory on the Thule square bars, but on my Yakima round bars it bends upward, slowly releasing the rack! I tightened the screws twice thinking that I had not gotten them snug, but after the third time it was loose, I looked more closely to see that the tab was simply pulling out of the slot! In addition, like the previous reviewer I have had problems with the lock. My problems were not as severe, but the lock is erratic, sticking now and again, and just being a PITA. Finally, the touted new improved ETC™ (Equalized Twin Cam) clamping system bites. Literally. Damn thing won't let go of the fork. Nothing worse than wrestling with a bike that is up over your head while the rack refuses to let go of it. Gotta hope that someone formally employed by Thule is currently looking for a new job, cause given that this is their top of the line rack, they really botched it. |
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Seal Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: 7/22/2007 10:26:32 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $139 |
| Purchased At: | Rack N Road |
| Strengths: | None |
| Weaknesses: | Crap engineering |
| Similar Products Tried: | Old Thule bike rack |
| Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler |
| Bottom Line: | For the record, let me state that I have been using Thule products for 25+ years and have always been happy enough with them - until now... After waiting since February for Thule's new top of the line bike rack to finally ship, I finally got the call that they had come in after many delays. The overall appearance was not that great as there were many chips in the finish and the Thule stickers were on crooked - signs of rushed production. What has me REALLY angry is the poor engineering of them. The "Lock" mechanism DOES NOT WORK, nor can it because of it's absolutely idiotic design. Apparently the engineers at Thule think that approx 1 mm of aluminum is the basis for a rock solid locking mechanism. I was able to simply lift the cam/release lever with ease whether or not it was "Locked". I returned to my Thule dealer and showed it to them. All the other Echelon's in there stock did the same. (No surprise here as it's a engineering / design flaw). The dealer at that moment removed them from his display and floor stock. I would not trust this design to drive my bike around the block let alone anywhere else for fear of it opening up and jettisoning my bike. It is now obvious why there have been so many delays of this product - there must have been an internal fight among Thule personnel about this very issue and it appears that the Sales/Marketing guys one. NICE GOING THULE!!!! I suggest that you get your legal team ready for whats coming when a bike comes off on the freeway! In my opinion these need to be recalled for safety reasons. |
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