BIKE RACKS 101

You’ve got a bike and now you and your bicycle are ready to hit the road and explore – welcome to the club! You’re almost done making all these big, bike-related decisions.

Now it’s time to find a car rack for your bike.

What Is A Bike Rack?

A bike rack is a type of bicycle accessory that attaches to a vehicle to transport one or more bikes.

Often times when someone hears the phrase “bike rack” they may picture a rack that attaches to a bike or a bicycle parking rack (although we make those too). And while these are also considered “bike racks”, our bike racks attach to vehicles to transport your collection of bikes wherever the compass may lead.

Which Bike Rack is Best For Me?

When starting your search for a new bike rack, the best place to start is by asking yourself: where on your car do you want to carry bikes? In the car rack world, there are three locations to choose from: trunk, hitch and roof. Here at Saris we only manufacture trunk and hitch racks, and will touch on the benefits of each below.

And if you’re looking for something specific to fit inside vans, SUVs and trucks, we have the Traps Single and Traps Triple Track.

Which Bike Rack is Best for My Bike?

Now that we’ve got the mount location figured out, let’s dig deeper into which car rack is right for your bike. Here are three central questions to get started:

1) Can the Rack Touch the Bike's Frame?

Most bike owners have strong feelings about whether they are comfortable with a car rack coming into contact with the frame of their bicycle. That’s why we make bike carriers that cater to both persuasions: car racks that hold the bike by its frame (aka: hanging, or mast-style) and those that do not, instead transporting bikes by their wheels (aka: platform, or tray-style).

Unsure if this feature matters for you? Follow this general rule: if your bike has a carbon frame, opt for at platform rack. When in doubt, contact the bike’s manufacturer for a bike-specific recommendation.

2) How Much Does Your Bike Weigh?

Almost all car racks list the maximum bike weight in their specs, and for good reason: to protect you, your car, your bike and everyone else traveling around you.

Here at Saris our bike racks are divided into two weight classes: 1) car racks that can carry bikes up to 35 pounds; and 2) car racks that can carry bikes up to 60 pounds. The former is a spec tied to the hanging-style racks for both trunk and hitch locations; while the latter applies to our entire line-up of platform hitch racks.

An additional consideration regarding bike weight is maneuverability. If it’s difficult to lift a bike to shoulder height, aka: the required distance from the ground to hang the bike from a mast-style rack, we strongly recommend the easier to load platform hitch rack.

3) What Do You Want to Transport?

Last, and certainly not least are the big questions of how many and what types of bikes you want to haul.

First, let’s address how many bikes you want to transport. Our line-up has bike-carrying solutions for one bike up to five. In fact, the number of bikes a rack can carry is so important we’ve put it in each rack’s name so that it’s fast and easy to find.

Now that you’ve established the number of bikes you want to transport, let’s take a closer look at what types of bikes you’re hauling. In addition to frame type and bike weight, factors such as wheel size and wheelbase length can dictate which car rack best accommodates your needs.

For example, downhill mountain bikers with longer rigs will need to pay extra attention to wheelbase specs, while fat bike owners will be on the lookout for trays that can hold big, juicy treads. And if you have a collection of step-through bikes and want a hanging-style rack, know that you’ll likely need an accessory, like the Bike Beam to properly fit your bike onto the rack. Similarly, if you have a family of bikes of various sizes and builds, you’ll want to take rack versatility into consideration.

In short: take stock of your bike collection and think about how your fleet will impact your choice of bike rack.

Looking to haul more than just bikes? Try our Cargo Accessory

What Else Should I Consider?

Now that we’ve got the big, bike-related questions figured out, let’s talk other features worth considering.

Hatch Access

This feature allows you to access the gear, snacks and pets that frequent the rear of a vehicle. If you find yourself stopping frequently to get into your hatchback, truck bed or trunk then selecting a bike rack that tilts away will save you headache down the road.

• Trunk racks do not provide hatch access.
• Most hitch racks feature hatch access, but not all do. Look for the on our catalog to show which Saris hitch racks have hatch access.

E-Bike Compatible

There are three things that make a bike rack e-bike compatible, and that’s: 1) the ability to carry the weight of the bike; 2) the ability to transport an array of e-bike frame geometries; and 3) the ability to be loaded lower to the ground. A platform hitch rack checks all three of these boxes. Additionally, our e-bike friendly hitch racks come in two sizes: for use in 1 ¼” and 2” receivers.

In other words, when it comes to hauling electric bikes, there’s only one good choice – and that’s a platform hitch rack.

• Trunk racks do not transport e-bikes that weigh more than 35 pounds.
• Hitch racks can, but not all do. Look for the on our catalog to show which Saris racks are e-bike friendly.

Lockability

It's no secret that cycling can be an expensive sport. From the bike to the rack to the gear, the price tags add up. And once you take the plunge you want to be sure that both bicycle and car rack are not going anywhere. Take a look at the locking mechanisms used to not only keep the bikes secure on the rack, but also for the rack to the vehicle.

• Truck racks often lack the double security of locking bikes to the rack and the rack to the car, but not all do. Look for the on our catalog to show which Saris trunk racks feature locking.
• Most hitch racks feature integrated bike and hitch locks, but not all do. Look for the on our catalog to show which Saris hitch racks feature locking.

RV Compatibility

We've all seen RV's humming down the road, loaded to the gills with gear for every outing - bikes included. But did you know that very few bike racks are actually approved for use with RV's or motorhomes? It boils down to needing one heavy duty rack, capable of withstanding the extra force created by these do-it-all, homes-on-wheels. Here's what to look for:

• A true 2" receiver. Not a 1.25" receiver with a 2" adapter (which work great for non-RV use), but an actual 2" receiver.
• RV Approval Class A, B & C motorhomes.

Within our own hitch rack line-up, the SuperClamp HD checks all the boxes.

Want to Learn More?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions watch our Instructional Videos or check our Manuals.