*NOTE* The rack actually does tilt away from the tailgate when fully loaded with bikes. If you take out that little pin where the tilting mechanism is, you just push the lever down and the bikes will fold away to give you hatch access ( ua-cam.com/video/bSymZloS8V0/v-deo.htmlm12s ). I had no clue it did this, so thats cool.
The Vegan Cyclist if you compare any other 4 bike hitch wheel mount rack saris is way shorter. The Thule t2 and Yakima holdup for instance require an added bar and are almost 50% longer. Just something that comes with territory for a 4 bike hitch rack but the saris is super slim for the category of rack
"not cheap" is a relative term. I could have up to $25,000. of bikes between me & my buds on a rack. $1K is a small price to pay for peace of mind and at the end of the day, it's cheap insurance when compared to what losing 1 bike would cost.
Dude, I work in a bike shop, I would lift up a hybrid and then go to a kid's bike and lift it up expecting it to be even lighter and it feels like I am dead lifting compared to the hybrid. Kids bikes are ridiculously heavy
The newest Saris Freedom 4x **does** allow for SUV tailgates to open/close with the "first" (closest to number) rack occupied by a bike. And thank Sweet Jesus Riding A Bicycle for the improvement.
Have used in this order: Put bike inside car, trunk rack, roof rack, homemade rack inside SUV, hitch rack on SUV. As someone who mountain bikes and has nice carbon road bikes, I will never use anything but a hitch rack again. Having the rack only touch the wheels and not having to take a wheel off-awesome. And quieter and better for fuel economy than a roof rack, in my experience. My kuat rack will fold down so you can open the trunk of my Ford Escape.
Great review. I have this rack and I think it's great. I carry 2 heavy e-bikes for my wife and son, and my road bike. Easy on and easy off and no worries.
Great video! I ordered one and was wondering if I made the right decision but you convinced me. I too have been loading my bikes in the van and it hasn't been pretty. I agree about the investment in a rack. I read horror stories of people seeing their bikes on the freeway behind them....nightmare. Peace!
How do you lock your bike on this rack? I'm always terrified someone's going to walk off with my bike so I run some cable locks through my current (hanging, not hitch) rack. It seems like some Saris offerings give you locking mechanism but other's don't.
Oh - the reason you wanna avoid hanging carbon frames by the frame: carbon fiber is SUPER stiff in only one direction. So manufacturers use this feature to create ultra stiff frames while minimizing weight (read: material); in some parts of a frame, the carbon fiber may only be 3-5mm in thickness (not a typo...mm!). So while it's strong enough to carry a grown man's weight plus the many forces he exerts on the bike during normal use, he could push with one finger on some parts of his frame and punch through. Albeit he would have to push pretty hard. Still, that's why you don't want to hang, store, or mount a carbon frame by the frame. Lean against rear wheel, maybe saddle and hoods if you don't care much about those, mechanic stand by the seat post, and ONLY racks that secure wheels or forks!!! Can you get away with frame-mounted racks?... sure... right up until you can't.
Simple fix is when leaving the house with bikes on the top...place a something in the parking space...garbage can or something simple. When you arrive back home and open the garage door..you will cuss because something is in the parking spot...but relieved when you get out and realize the bikes are on top of the car. Whew....
If I were the driver of that SUV with bikes on rack and I saw a vehicle behind me speeding up so fast that the collision is unavoidable I would honestly turn to the left lane risking frontal impact from the upcoming traffic at least hoping that the air bag would saved my life but also save my bikes in back #FOODFORTHOUGHT
*NOTE* The rack actually does tilt away from the tailgate when fully loaded with bikes. If you take out that little pin where the tilting mechanism is, you just push the lever down and the bikes will fold away to give you hatch access ( ua-cam.com/video/bSymZloS8V0/v-deo.htmlm12s ). I had no clue it did this, so thats cool.
The Vegan Cyclist if you compare any other 4 bike hitch wheel mount rack saris is way shorter. The Thule t2 and Yakima holdup for instance require an added bar and are almost 50% longer. Just something that comes with territory for a 4 bike hitch rack but the saris is super slim for the category of rack
"not cheap" is a relative term.
I could have up to $25,000. of bikes between me & my buds on a rack. $1K is a small price to pay for peace of mind and at the end of the day, it's cheap insurance when compared to what losing 1 bike would cost.
Tyler, note for future. Heaviest bike on 1st, lightest bike on the last position (most rearward). -U10
Dude, I work in a bike shop, I would lift up a hybrid and then go to a kid's bike and lift it up expecting it to be even lighter and it feels like I am dead lifting compared to the hybrid. Kids bikes are ridiculously heavy
The rack is Saris Freedom Superclamp 4-Bike and it tilt down the other way so you can open your trunk read the manual
The newest Saris Freedom 4x **does** allow for SUV tailgates to open/close with the "first" (closest to number) rack occupied by a bike. And thank Sweet Jesus Riding A Bicycle for the improvement.
Have used in this order: Put bike inside car, trunk rack, roof rack, homemade rack inside SUV, hitch rack on SUV. As someone who mountain bikes and has nice carbon road bikes, I will never use anything but a hitch rack again. Having the rack only touch the wheels and not having to take a wheel off-awesome. And quieter and better for fuel economy than a roof rack, in my experience. My kuat rack will fold down so you can open the trunk of my Ford Escape.
What a spectacular rack you have.. thats the first time i said that to a man.
LOL
Did you get a pot for your neighbor ha ha ha
Warranty is awesome...so easy to work with Saris if needed. Made in America! 😁
Great review. I have this rack and I think it's great. I carry 2 heavy e-bikes for my wife and son, and my road bike. Easy on and easy off and no worries.
Great review bro. A learned that the bike rack that I have right now is not good for my carbon fiber bike. I'm looking for one like yours. Thanks.
I love the Kuat 2 bike and then buy the 2 add on if you need, it also allows you to use 2 or 4 set up as you need.
Great video! I ordered one and was wondering if I made the right decision but you convinced me. I too have been loading my bikes in the van and it hasn't been pretty. I agree about the investment in a rack. I read horror stories of people seeing their bikes on the freeway behind them....nightmare. Peace!
Thule has a hitch mounted 4 bike rack that tilts back to allow opening and closing the tailgate.
If I remember correctly, it cost about the same also.
Now that you have it for almost 4 yrs, how are the "shoes" (where the bike wheels fit in) holding up? Are they plastic? Thank you for the video.
You can’t go through any car wash with any kind of bike rack. (FYI)
about 2 years later, how is it holding u? do they have a 5 bike rack? i have a big family.
I put my bikes in the back of the suv. Lay down an old sheet below and old blanket on top, no dirt or dmg.
+simon A I got grease all over the place. And have ing 2 or 3 bikes in the back is a nightmare
I just got an epic ad about strokes changing the words from the YMCA song
👏🏾🙌🏾👍🏾Awesome review !!
Great review. I'm in the market for a new rack and this one is on my short list.
How do you lock your bike on this rack? I'm always terrified someone's going to walk off with my bike so I run some cable locks through my current (hanging, not hitch) rack.
It seems like some Saris offerings give you locking mechanism but other's don't.
Has cables inside they loop through the frame and back to a snap ... opens with the same key as the locking pin
Oh - the reason you wanna avoid hanging carbon frames by the frame: carbon fiber is SUPER stiff in only one direction. So manufacturers use this feature to create ultra stiff frames while minimizing weight (read: material); in some parts of a frame, the carbon fiber may only be 3-5mm in thickness (not a typo...mm!). So while it's strong enough to carry a grown man's weight plus the many forces he exerts on the bike during normal use, he could push with one finger on some parts of his frame and punch through. Albeit he would have to push pretty hard. Still, that's why you don't want to hang, store, or mount a carbon frame by the frame. Lean against rear wheel, maybe saddle and hoods if you don't care much about those, mechanic stand by the seat post, and ONLY racks that secure wheels or forks!!! Can you get away with frame-mounted racks?... sure... right up until you can't.
My father has whacked his trek madrone 9 series with full sram red 22s into the garage roof not ONCE, but TWICE!!!! But insurance covers it... luckily
:0 (
Simple fix is when leaving the house with bikes on the top...place a something in the parking space...garbage can or something simple. When you arrive back home and open the garage door..you will cuss because something is in the parking spot...but relieved when you get out and realize the bikes are on top of the car. Whew....
I know you mentioned MTBs but does it work all with Road Bikes with Disk brakes?
3 years later hows it holding up?
If I were the driver of that SUV with bikes on rack and I saw a vehicle behind me speeding up so fast that the collision is unavoidable I would honestly turn to the left lane risking frontal impact from the upcoming traffic at least hoping that the air bag would saved my life but also save my bikes in back #FOODFORTHOUGHT
Tell me more about that $499 PRICE TAG!!!!
Sameeeeee!
'MERICA!
Notice any difference in mpg?
Beef, it's what's for dinner!
Where did you get that awesome shirt?!
+Steffen Kelly Made it! You can pick it up at www.thevegancyclist.com along with some other dope swag
The Vegan Cyclist sick! I'll check it out.
Should've got a Kuat
Wives move economy :D
back of the car is more aero too!
Looks cooler with a roof rack tho.
Dude, I just looked at your bike falling off the old walmart bike rack. Turns out you put the rack on upside down, and that's why your bike fell off.
your right.....BUT. With it the correct way, the arms pointed down. So i flipped it so that if anything did happen, the arms would catch it.
They tilt.
Geez, VC, you don't kill enough plants already, you have to run one over with your car!? You monster!
crappy rack with expensive bikes vs expensive rack with crappy bikes??
Thule till i die
dude your hair slows you down on an uphill
I LOVE MEAT MEAT IS THE BEST MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT I LOVE ITCFUCK FLANTS MEAT I LOVE MEAT
buy a big van dude lol
Those cheap ass racks are dangerous and they fuck your paint up.
On a side note, dude VC your in So Cal cruising with the Cookie Monster, going after some KOM's?
+ganja4u Gonna be hard to do with all the talent here. I am feeling good though, gonna try to stay with the front group tomorrow.
The Vegan Cyclist
Take a vid of it, smoke those LA wheel suckers!