Review: the best bike racks on the market
Do you cycle regularly and intensively? Are you looking for a way to transport your bikes to go on holiday/weekend and keep space in the trunk. To do this, you will need a durable bike rack that can travel several kilometres.
Hitch, tailgate or roof-mounted bike racks, here is our selection of the best bike racks on the market.
Tailgate bike racks:
These are the most common bike racks. Attached to the trunk of your car, these bike racks allow you to transport one or more bikes easily and at a relatively low cost.
| Thule Clipon | Thule Outway Hanging | Thule Wanderway | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price incl. VAT | €199.95 | €339 | €519 | |
| Max. number of bikes | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| Max. weight per bike | 15 kg | 15 kg | 15 kg | |
| Bicycle hooks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bike racks on hitches:
Certainly the most practical solution for transporting your bikes. Whether you're heading to your favourite playground or going on holiday, the bike carrier on a hitch will be the most reliable solution because of its stability and safety on long journeys.
| Thule EasyFold XT | Thule Euroway G2 921 | Thule Velocompact 924 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price incl. VAT | €699 | €374.50 | €489.99 | |
| Max. number of bikes | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
| Loading capacity | 60 kg | 46 kg | 46 kg | |
| Compatible with | MTB/Hybrid/Road | MTB/Hybrid/Road | MTB/Hybrid/Road | |
| Wheel size | 24”/26”/27.5”/29” | 24”/26”/27.5”/29” | 24”/26”/27.5”/29” | |
| Foldable (storage) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Foldable (trunk opening) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Bike lock | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Bike rack lock | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bike racks on the roof:
If you have a roof rack on your car, a bicycle rack can be fitted. However, be sure to check the overall height of your car with the bikes for tunnels and tolls. The aerodynamics of the car will also be reduced, due to its greater height.
| Neatt 1 vélo | Thule Fastride | Thule Upride | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price incl. VAT | €39 | €162.95 | €213.95 | |
| Max. number of bikes | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Loading capacity | 15 kg | 18 kg | 20 kg | |
| Compatible with | MTB/Hybrid/Road | MTB/Hybrid/Road | MTB/Hybrid/Road | |
| Wheels size | 24”/26”/27.5”/29” | 24”/26”/27.5”/29” | 24”/26”/27.5”/29” | |
| Bike lock | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Bike rack lock | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Roof rail compatibility | All types of roof rails | All types of roof rails | Without roof rails |
In summary
The choice of your bike rack will depend on several factors:
Your car: is it equipped with a towball, roof bars or neither?
How you use it: if you intend to use it regularly or for holidays/weekends, we recommend a tow bar bike carrier. Otherwise, a tailgate bike carrier will be sufficient.
Your budget: the price of a bike rack varies from €30 to €700 for some high-end models.
Nowadays, the vast majority of bike racks are adaptable to larger frame and wheel sizes. However, only a few of them are compatible with FAT bikes.
If you want to transport electric bikes, look for a Neatt or Thule bike rack with a hitch, they are the only ones that can support the weight of an electric bicycle (weight and size).
