Swagman Upright Roof Mount Bike Rack

I rarely write reviews but since I benefited from them for this purchase, here goes: Pros: - Very sturdy: I drove 300 miles thru mountains in ridiculous white out rain/wind and this brace did not budge. I was nervously looking thru the moonroof but my bike took a worse beating (luckily I had chain lube on hand). There was *some* movement when a hard gust hit but it was more of a squeaking sound and did not result in loosening at the attachment points [to the crossbars]. - Very budget friendly: My bike is not the most expensive but it was def an investment at 1500 and when I reviewed alternate rack options (Thule), it just didn't see the value add. - Low profile: be it laziness or a reluctance to re-attach the rack to my crossbars (see below), it's stayed on except when I wash my car (and then I remove the crossbars w/ rack still attached). - Relatively easy to assemble: just have the right tools and make sure you tighten bolts appropriately. The instructions could have been more thorough but the graphics were helpful supplement. Cons: - More difficult to install: I had some trouble with the upside down clamps attaching to the crossbars and I have smaller hands. On the flip side, since the bolts install below the bar it makes for good theft deterrence (since some folks commented on the lock mechanism) - I have a shorter SAV and I'm 6'-0" but on flat pavement, it can be a struggle to hoist the bike up. A chunky mountain bike probably requires 2 ppl Add'l Thoughts - I used a bungee to render the handlebars stiffer. Would definitely recommend something to limit movement. - Lock: I wouldnt consider the locking mechanism thorough by any stretch but it definitely makes it more difficult to steal. A thief would have to undo the crossbar attachments and walk off with the rack attached to the bike - it's not like they're just lifting a bike off and riding down into the sunset. If you're that concerned, secure the bike w a cable lock while away.

This type of rack has been around a long time, and works well if you, like me, require a roof rack and prefer keeping the front wheel on the bike while it's being transported. The rack arm grips the bike's down-tube, holding it upright, and then a wheel strap in front and in back keeps everything in place. The knob for tightening the arm comes with a key lock, so the bike can be locked to the vehicle. Whether this is an adequate theft deterrent depends a lot on how long you leave the bike on top of the car, where you're parked, and if you can keep it in view. Remember, the rack itself does not lock to the roof, so a would-be thief just needs to remove the rack (five thumb screws) to make off with the rack and the bike. So I give the locking feature three stars. It's enough to deter an opportunist. Not enough to deter a determined thief. But on the other hand, most bike locks can be defeated in seconds or minutes with a battery powered grinder. So deterrence is probably about all you can hope for anyway. Carrying a bike: Set the bike on its wheels atop the rack's wheel tray. Then lift the arm up to the bike's down-tube, and tighten it around the down-tube. Finally, place a strap through the wheel tray in front and in back, securing each strap around the bike's wheel. It's pretty easy, and doesn't take long. Assembly: This step consists of six bolts with nuts and washers, two end caps, and a little measuring to make sure you're accommodating your car's rack correctly. It takes a half hour or so. Installation: This step consists of three U-bolts, six thumb screws with washers, and some more measuring and fiddling to get everything lined up right. This takes ten or fifteen minutes the first time. Subsequent installations should take around five to seven minutes. Comparison to "name brand" racks: This rack is sturdy enough. Maybe not quite as heavy a metal gauge as a high end rack, but strong enough and secure enough. Assembly is no fun. It's like the "ready to assemble furniture" experience but for bike racks. A name-brand rack would come further assembled, and with more refined parts. Additionally, installation takes longer than a name brand rack would since you have to screw on several U-bolts. Typically the name brand products have more convenient mounts. And of course they cost 2x to 3x as much as this rack does. One note about the rack's overall bike carrying strategy: This rack does require making contact with the bike's frame where it clamps around the down tube. For nice bikes, and particularly for carbon fiber bikes, you're probably better off with solutions that only make contact with the wheels (examples include the Yakima Front Loader and Top Loader). For steel or aluminum bikes, and bikes where you're less concerned with signs of having been rack-carried, this is fine. I have three racks on top of my car; two Front Loaders, for the nicer bikes, and this one which I use for the kid bike. You can mitigate the wear that the clamp will cause by putting a cloth around the down tube where contact is made. But I probably still wouldn't use this on a lightweight carbon fiber frame. Four stars: It is inexpensive, strong enough, and gets the job done without any fuss. It would be five if the mounting and assembly were easier.

First and foremost the bike is secure and im confident with it up there. I only use this rack when we shuttle so its not used often, for that reason I was not going to drop big $ on a name brand. this thing rocks for what it is. ___ CONS: Bike has a very slight sway from side to side when you shake it by hand. I did not want to worry about that so i use a bungie from the handlegrip to the cross member- just to force the bike to stay swayed to one side. This actually stands up perfectly straight so no harm done (bungie not in the photos sorry) I'm on 29 2.3" tires and they are a bit too big to sit down inside the tray but the tray walls are high enough to where it doesn't really matter. side-note: wider tires probably got popular After this product was designed ___ PROS: Super easy to install and it holds the bike great. comes with 2 different types of U-bolts so hopefully it will fit everyone crossbar style. Dirt cheap ___ As with any rack, dont rely on the lock for security. if a Bike thief wants your bike he is going to get it. Be Smart about where you park and all that nonsense.

Muy buena calidad para el precio Da miedo pero funciona bien Recomendado

While the rack works well, the provided nut isn’t secure and keeps falling off the bolt. I can hear it clattering while I drive. I already lost two. Replacing the bolt with zip ties seems to work quite well.

Very easy to set up but sadly it wasn't big enough for my Trek Roscoe MTB even though it has MTB on it in the pictures.

good quality and affordable... i will buy two more... hope the price remain the same...

Easy to install, and bikes stay secure. Have used them to bring the bikes up north for 3 years now and they work great. They don’t take up much space which is nice for storing.