When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
V35 here, I use a Yakima rack on my sedan, works pretty will ~75 lbs worth of mtbs.
Hard to see the bike in this pic, but you get the idea. I did have some issues with the clamps roughing up my paint, which I don't really mind as my paint is already f**ked, but I was able to solve that with some extra clamping and liberal use of old socks.
1-1/4" rear hitch will always show, where this roof option will too. A trunk mounted system probably would gum up the paint. It's hard to make a choice.
I put my road bikes in the trunk and MTBs on a hitch rack. Drop the wheels off of the road bike and my size 56 bikes fit right in. It's the easiest and most secure option, and if that's the kind of bike you need to transport, I'd just do that. For long trips when I bring the MTB, I drop out the fork and put the bike in the trunk. The hitch rack is great for transporting a bike around town, but drops MPG by about 20% on the highway.
The hitch sticks out a little, but it's not too bad:
Yep, a loaded hitch rack drops my highway MPG from 26-27 to 21-22. I've never tried it unloaded, as I always remove it after a ride. I'd imagine if you leave it on and fold it up, the hit wouldn't be nearly as big. The advantage of the hitch is the easy install/removal. It takes less than a minute.
If the OP does get a hitch, I'd look into a 1up rack. They're a lot lighter and lower profile than something like my 56 lb Thule T2.
I put my road bikes in the trunk and MTBs on a hitch rack. Drop the wheels off of the road bike and my size 56 bikes fit right in. It's the easiest and most secure option, and if that's the kind of bike you need to transport, I'd just do that. For long trips when I bring the MTB, I drop out the fork and put the bike in the trunk. The hitch rack is great for transporting a bike around town, but drops MPG by about 20% on the highway.
The hitch sticks out a little, but it's not too bad:
I have to give the trunk another try. I tried my XC hardtail and that was a no go.
I ride 58cm road but I don't want to mess with the seat post height if I have to put the bike in the trunk (for both road and MTB). And I have the 6 disc changer so that doesn't help.
I threw my old ~38lb mtb (Kona Coiler, my first full suspension) on a trunk rack a few times for longer journeys, and the thick rubber pads left marks in the paint that I've never been able to get rid of. I used the same rack on my old Civic hatchback and never had an issue - so I chalk that up to the Nissan paint department. Putting the bike onto the rack I had to be super careful not to let it contact anywhere, and I would also have to tie the cranks/pedals into place or they had the chance to rotate and scuff up the bumper or trunk. I also had to re-tighten the rack once the bike was loaded, as the weight would compress the pads enough to give noticeable slack.
The only reason I didn't go with a hitch rack is I wanted to be able to easily access all my gear in the trunk, and I think the sedan looks pretty great with a roof rack/fairing, if I do say so myself c:
Last edited by MooseLucifer; Jul 11, 2018 at 05:44 PM.
long time mountain and road biker here I think i've tried everything. The best solution is Seasuckers. the best part is that they are transferable from car to car.
long time mountain and road biker here I think i've tried everything. The best solution is Seasuckers. the best part is that they are transferable from car to car.
I've always liked the idea of the seasuckers, but I don't think I could ever trust them with a 35lb bike at near triple digit speeds on a less than perfectly smooth highway. I get paranoid enough with my Yak rack at those speeds. Maybe for my road bike, but even then I'd still be worried.
I trust them all the time. People make the mistake thinking they are suction cups. They are not. They are vacuum cups. The harder you pull, the stronger they get. I've done 95 mph traveling across the state to bike races. Never an issue.
The only reason I didn't go with a hitch rack is I wanted to be able to easily access all my gear in the trunk, and I think the sedan looks pretty great with a roof rack/fairing, if I do say so myself c:
A hitch rack doesn't block the trunk on a sedan. It sits back far enough that you still have full access, even with a bike or two on the rack. The only time they get in the way is on an SUV/CUV or hatchback. I can't open the trunk on our CUV with bikes on the rack, but it's fine when the bikes are removed.
Seasuckers are a cool idea. I've never used them, but they do solve the main problem with roof racks (noise and MPG penalty when not in use).
