[Flynnster]

Hey there MTBR, I'm looking to get a new bike rack for this season as my new bike doesn't work to well on with the style I have now. These are the three I am looking at, the overstock.com one and the amazon.com one are identical (according to the picture) and much cheaper than the Yakima at cracksandracks. I would love to support a sponsor of this forum but is it really worth the extra almost $100 for the Yakima?

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Mighty-2-bike-Rail-Rack/3967114/product.html
http://www.amazon.com/Swagman-Cross...YY/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1298262777&sr=8-20
http://www.cracksandracks.com/yakima-2420-stickup-bike-rack-p-625.html

I may add that I will get free shipping from all websites.

 

[Flynnster]

bump?

 

[jtmartino]

Those racks look nothing alike. The Swagman and one from Overstock use two thin metal loops to hold the wheels, whereas the Yakima actually has a wheel tray.

If you want to get one for cheap, check out this:

http://www.performancebike.com/weba...angId=-1&catalogId=10551&ddkey=http:ClickInfo

I personally have never experienced any of those racks (except the Yakima) but I'll tell you the XPORT from Performance seems to have better knobs (replaceable) and burlier construction. Take it FWIW.

 

[Flynnster]

I didn't mean they two cheapies were anything like the Yakima, i meant they were similar to each other.

Thanks for the link though that looks much nicer than the other two in expensive ones.

 

[joetmtb]

I have an identical rack as the performance one but with another name. Hate it for my bikes. Maybe its because they both have sloped top tubes and the rack sways so much but the rack lets my bike loose no matter how tight i make the knobs. HATE it.
Will replace as soon as I get the funds.

 

[Flynnster]

Your saying that the knobs that hold the top tube never stay tight?

 

[joetmtb]

Yes. That has been my experience with that rack.

 

[joetmtb]

I want a rack that holds the bike by the wheels. They do cost more.

 

[roxnroots]

I have a GT Sanction 1.0 in size small from Performance. Their guys admitted that most of their racks won't play well with the Sanction's sloping odd-shaped TT or the tight positioning of the DHX 5 shock which is kind of what joemtb was talking about.

So I got the 1.25" hitch and their XPort tray-style rack and fairly soon afterwards the threading on the adjustment knob for the hook holding the TT down stripped simply from regular 4-5 days-a-week use which bothered me because I try to be careful with my gear. I didn't even bother to take it back - whole rack felt a little flimsy anyway.

Went to a Thule T2 tray hitch rack -a little expensive but rocksolid (satisfying ker-chunk sound when it drops into lowered position).