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Transport Your Bike Safely With The Best Car Bike Rack

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Last Updated: May 15, 2024, 6:09 p.m.

The popularity of cycling has grown steadily throughout the years. Every year, a slew of brand-new bike paths go up all over the country, making it simple to find new places to ride. But, as anyone who has attempted to do so is aware, transporting a bicycle without the right equipment is difficult.

Thankfully, bike racks are available in various configurations, ranging from hitch and trunk attachments to roof racks. With the help of one, you won’t have to worry about your bike getting damaged on the way to your destination. There are numerous car bike racks available, but choosing the right one for your vehicle might be difficult. We reviewed and compiled a list of the leading car bike racks of 2023 to assist you in selecting one that meets your needs.

Car Bike Rack Buyer’s Guide

A suitable automobile bike rack will carry your bicycle to your destination safely and provide an overall pleasant trip. No matter how often you go hiking or cycling, you need the perfect car bike rack to ensure that your bike is safe. When so many brands and features are available, it’s difficult to find one that precisely meets your needs. That’s why you’ll need to consider several factors before selecting the ideal automobile bike rack.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Car Bike Rack

Easy installation

Installation of a rack on a vehicle should be simple, requiring minimal equipment. The lighter the rack, the simpler it is to transport and install. A hefty bike rack is difficult to carry, detach, and reinstall — you may leave it on the car even when it's not in use. This consumes extra gas and may, over time, place undue strain on the metal of certain aluminum racks.

Foldable

When not transporting bicycles, the arms of a hanging hitch or trunk rack should fold up and out of the way. A tray rack should be able to fold up vertically to reduce its protrusion from the car's rear.

Easy storage

A rack that folds flat without disassembly is easier to store and occupies less space. Well-balanced hitch racks that can stand on their own, rather than falling over or requiring bracing, are ideal to consider before shopping.

Easy assembly

Even though this is often a one-time task, choosing simple racks to assemble is crucial. Many racks may require extensive out-of-box assembly, so pick one with simple assembly and installation to save yourself time and frustration.

Different Types of Bike Racks

Tray hitch bike racks

Tray-style bike racks are among the most popular racks. They are practical and effective, simple to load, don't require you to lift your bike high for loading, and have minimal impact on fuel economy. They require a trailer hitch and are often available for either standard 2-inch hitch receivers or smaller 1¼-inch receivers that are more common on smaller cars.

Rooftop-mounted bike racks

Roof racks are among the car bike racks that are easy to use without a trailer hitch. Upright mount and fork styles are available for roof-mounted bike racks. Mountain bike racks and fork mount roof racks need you to remove your bike's front wheel, adding an extra step and requiring space inside your vehicle for the wheel.

Pickup truck bike racks

Pickup trucks are ideal for transporting bicycles, and you can easily transport a few in the bed of your vehicle. Unfortunately, leaving your bicycles loose in the vehicle's bed can bounce them around and damage them. The tailgate pads allow you to hang the front wheel of your bicycle over the tailgate for a safe ride and maximum capacity.

Vertical hanging bike racks

The vertical hanging bike racks are widely used in mountain biking but are now available in designs that can accommodate any bicycle. They have a "mast" that rises upward from the trailer hitch and a crossbar for hanging bikes. A few of these racks end by holding on to the suspension forks, while others hold the front wheel on a tray.

Trunk bike racks

Trunk bike racks are adjustable racks that attach to the trunk of a vehicle. These racks are one of the least expensive and are easily detachable when not in use. The majority of these car bike racks suspend bicycles by their top tubes, but mountain bike frames are distinctively formed because it is difficult to carry them using these racks.

Horizontal arm hitch racks

Horizontal arm hitch bike racks are another trailer hitch-mounted rack with horizontal arms that hold bikes by their top tubes. These racks are ideal for transporting standard bicycle frames with a smooth flat top tube. They typically accommodate a family's load of bicycles and may be swung out to reach the trunk.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Allen Sports Trunk Mounted Bike Rack
Most Practical: Yakima Ridgeback Car Bike Rack
Best Design: Kuat Sherpa Car Bike Rack
Optimal Durability: Saris Bones Car Bike Rack
Best Results: Maxxhaul Car Bike Rack
Best Overall For Easy Assembly And Installation: Kac Standard Bike Rack For Car

Reviews

Best Overall

Allen Sports Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

Pros	Cons
Secure and safe to use No assembling required Lightweight and easy to store	It isn't adjustable

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Most Practical

Yakima Ridgeback Car Bike Rack

Pros	Cons
Removable ZipStrips attach bikes to the racks Tool-free SpeedKnob tightens and locks the rack Easy to install and use	Limited weight capacity

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Best Design

Kuat Sherpa Car Bike Rack

Pros	Cons
Firmly holds the bikes Easy to store when not used Convenient for loading and unloading bikes	Larger bike wheels hang off the rack

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Optimal Durability

Saris Bones Car Bike Rack

Pros	Cons
Easily adjustable with most vehicles Folds into a compact form for storage Lightweight and durable design	Not easily locked to automobile

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Best Results

Maxxhaul Car Bike Rack

Pros	Cons
Bike cradles are highly adjustable Rubber padding keeps bike safe The built-in knob keeps bikes secure and steady	Can't support much weight

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Best Overall for Easy Assembly and Installation

Kac Standard Bike Rack For Car

Pros	Cons
1. Easy to assemble and install 2. Holds up to 4 bikes securely 3. Folds for compact storage	1. Rack is heavy and cumbersome to manage. 2. Difficult to remove from the car due to solid bolt.

Specifically designed for e-bikes
Premium locking mechanisms included
User-friendly assembly and usage
Capable of holding up to 120 lbs
Accommodates 2 e-bikes simultaneously
Heavy-duty construction for stability
Comes with a limited lifetime warranty

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FAQs

Is it worthwhile to use car bicycle racks?

Yes. They help expand parking capacity and space — a wall of bike racks may accommodate more employees and customers than just a single parking space. Bike racks also provide an easy location for bicycle storage. Even more, sufficient bike parking keeps bicycles out of the way of pedestrians and bystanders.

Is it safe to use a car bike rack?

Yes, car bike racks are safe, but only if you take precautions. They can cause damage to the vehicle's exterior or even fall off when they're not fully secured.

Should I keep my car's bike rack on my car?

Yes, you may leave bike racks on your vehicle even when no bike is attached. Regardless, many remove the racks because they can raise fuel consumption, impede trunk access, and increase car maintenance.