Anybody got a Bike Rack on their V?

[TheOrangeChannel]

Looking at the Yakima King Joe 2 for my '07 SL wondering if anybody had an ish with intalling and operating one of these? Roof rack's a tad over budget currently since I've got cash needed elsewhere (guitars and recording gear) so this sort of removable dealio seemed to be the best idea at the time. Anybody have any other suggestions/ experience with one of these?

Thanks!

J.

[Urq]

Yakima is what I have on my car with 1 bike rack and it works great.

[TheOrangeChannel]

Yakima is what I have on my car with 1 bike rack and it works great.

I take it this is a roof rack?

[DejaWiz]

Sub'd because I'm looking for a quality affordable double bike rack for my wife and I.

[motoguy128]

I had a Yakima rack on a previous car. They work well, but there is a small hit on mileage. I installed a trailer hithc on my Versa (as with every car I've owned) to tow a small utility trailer and my motorcycle. I have an inexpensive tilting hitch-mount rack that hold 2 bicycle.

Couple advantages:1) Only need to lift the bike 16". 2) Do not need to remove the wheel.3) Titlts easily so you still have trunk access4) no impact on mileage or wind noise5) No insects to clean off the bikes.6) Total package including hitch is around 30-40% cheaper than a complete roof rack set-up.... and you have a hitch to tow small trailer (The Versa does a great job towing for a small car)

The downside is that you need to install a trailer hitch.... and that in a rear end accident, you're bikes are destroyed.

[Urq]

Yes it is a roof rack.

[feloniousmonk]

Which brand and model hitch?

[KimberKenobi]

search this...

but I have a Siris Bones and it is mactastic.

I love it. Attaches over my hatch, comes to hold 2 or 3 bikes, adjustable arms so you can carry 'male' or 'female' style bikes...

very versatile... and paintable (rofl) as mine currently matches my Camel.

*EDIT*looks like this: Saris Bones but in the US they come in grey and you can get the Bones (pictured) or the Bones 2 (which holds 2 bikes).I don't have a spoiler so I can mount mine directly to my hatch (with the bottom feet on the bumper you can still open the hatch)

*EDIT*Folded down:

Extended:

Those are old pics... back from the first Camel...
Modified by KimberKenobi at 5:18 PM 6/8/2008

[feloniousmonk]

And the straps don't loosen overtime? I've used racks like that two decades ago with horrific results. Good thing they were cheap bikes then. BTW, thanks for sharing the pictures.

[TheOrangeChannel]

Snap. The spoiler is a deal breaker I assume...at least on this sort of rack. THis sucks. I don't know about the hitch because I have the sport bumper kit that came stock on my car so I don't know if that puts the trailer hitch out of the question. it doesn't look like it's much lower than my wife's non-sport S Versa tho if anything, really just the paint, but I haven't sat down and actually measured this...gah.

[bikeman]

Find a good local bike shop. They should be able to put the right rack on the V. Bike racks have improved and the folks who sell/install them will know what works on particular vehicles. Usually talk to the owner or manager. They're the ones with the experience.

David

[Mikey5408]

If you're looking for a rack for the top of your car, I'm trying to sell one. Yakima rack, never used but fitted for the Versa. Let me know if your interested ([email protected]), if you ever want to carry anything else besides a bike, you'll need a top mounted rack. It pops on and off in less then 5 minutes.

[KimberKenobi]

And the straps don't loosen overtime? I've used racks like that two decades ago with horrific results. Good thing they were cheap bikes then. BTW, thanks for sharing the pictures.

...

I only put the rack on when I'm carrying the bike.

...

You can put it over the spoiler... click the link to see how it works... the Bones is designed for cars with spoilers and it just so happens to be beautiful for hatches too.

[KimberKenobi]

Hell, this is easier:

[Knightro2]

That thing is just freaky lookin'. Looks like you backed into some weird alien and drove off with it stuck to the back.

[feloniousmonk]

FYI, the Saris Bones 2 and 3 racks are on sale at bikenashbar.com right now.

[fjwagner]

Thule has a great system that I use. Thule has a foot pack available for most cars including the Versa. I tend to leave the rack on since I use the bike carriers several times a week.

[KimberKenobi]

That thing is just freaky lookin'. Looks like you backed into some weird alien and drove off with it stuck to the back.

[feloniousmonk]

Come to think of it... has anyone tried to put a mountain bike inside the V? my bike is in piece right now in the middle of a rebuild so I can't really test it out.

If the front wheel and seat are removed, is there enough room to put the bike in the V standing up? If so, then all I'd need is something like this:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile...ducts

[srellim234]

I have put my Diamondback Edgewood hybrid bike in my hatchback a few times. Fold down the seats and remove the bike's front wheel. It's tight, but it can be done.

[feloniousmonk]

I have put my Diamondback Edgewood hybrid bike in my hatchback a few times. Fold down the seats and remove the bike's front wheel. It's tight, but it can be done.

Sweet! Thanks.

[srellim234]

To clarify a little more, I move the front passenger seat forward to make it fit easier, too. The bike lays down. I don't see any way you could stand a bike up inside the Versa.

[JakMaehoffer]

I was toying with the idea of attaching a fork mount to a length of a 2"X4" and seeing if I could find a way get my MTB to stand up with the rear seats down. I have everything already so maybe tomorrow I will try it?

[fjwagner]

one of the features that almost swayed me to buy a Honda Fit was their "Magic Seats". Can put a bike in the car upright; probably with the front wheel off.

[bikeman]

one of the features that almost swayed me to buy a Honda Fit was their "Magic Seats". Can put a bike in the car upright; probably with the front wheel off.

No way.Well, one way. If you're so short that that it would fit upright in the back seat floor of the Versa with no problem, then yes it would fit it the Honda.

David
Modified by bikeman at 4:25 PM 6/28/2008

[fjwagner]

No way.Well, one way. If you're so short that that it would fit upright in the back seat floor of the Versa with no problem, then yes it would fit it the Honda.

David

Modified by bikeman at 4:25 PM 6/28/2008

I think you like to disagree with me I took one home and tried it, did it and experienced it first hand. I lowered the seat on my Trek Madone 5200 and put in in. I was able to squeeze it in with the front wheel on, but was easier with the front wheel off. Have you tried it or just being argumentative?

http://automobiles.honda.com/fit/modes.aspx

[bikeman]

I think you like to disagree with me

You do make it easy. :->

I took one home and tried it, did it and experienced it first hand. I lowered the seat on my Trek Madone 5200 and put in in.

If we lower the seat, take the seat out, remove wheels, or temporarily modify the bike in any number of different ways, we can make it "fit" in almost any vehicle. I can put my 64cm Trek in the Versa by merely removing the front wheel. That's a heck of a lot more convenient than lowering my seatpost. Being anal, getting the seatpost back exactly as I had it is time consuming. Putting the front wheel back is 10 seconds max.

I was able to squeeze it in with the front wheel on, but was easier with the front wheel off. Have you tried it or just being argumentative?

Don't need to try it. The bike won't fit upright without modification. You failed to state the lowering seatpost part in your original post. Yes, on a few subjects that I have some knowledge, I can be discussive.

David

[srellim234]

I have a quick release lever on my seatpost and used a silver paint pen to mark the post for the correct height adjustment, making it easy to reset it to where it belongs. Unfortunately, I now have a seatpost mounted trunk rack on the bike and would have to adjust that as well, so I just lay the bike down.

If I ever have a second person and/or bike to put in, I'll get a trailer hitch rack and utilize the trailer hitch on the Buick instead.

[fjwagner]

Being anal,

David

on that we can agree