Bike Rack Guide

There are many different ways to carry a bike on your vehicle, we can help you get the right product for your needs.

select a category below to browse, or keep scrolling to learn more:

Hitch Mount Bike Racks

Hitch Mount Bike Racks REQUIRE that your vehicle already has a 1.25" or 2" receiver hitch installed. Hitch Mount Bike Racks can be a very convenient option, provided the hitch is capable of handling the load.

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We have two styles of hitch racks available: hanging and platform. Hanging racks sling the bikes by their frame and hold them in place with rubber or Velcro straps. With platform racks, the bike tires sit in a tray similar to an upright roof rack and are held in place with a hooked arm over the frame or front tire. Most models have security features as standard or optional. Here are the pros and cons of each style:

Hitch Mount Bike Rack Pros

• Loading/unloading bikes at a lower height than roof-mounted racks
• A trailer hitch may also be used for towing (trailer wiring is also required)
• Vehicles can still access low-clearance areas like garages and parkades
• Keep your roof rack free for cargo boxes, watersports, or ski racks

Hitch Mount Bike Rack Cons

• Access to the rear of the vehicle may be impeded
• Vehicle hitch required
• Bikes and/or racks may obstruct the rear of vehicle visibility
• Increased overall vehicle length

Hitch Mounted Rack Styles

 

Shop All Hanging Style Racks

 

Hanging Rack Pros

• Carry up to 5 bikes with appropriate hitch, provided the hitch and vehicle are rated for it
• Easily removed from trailer hitch and reasonably compact during storage
• Chest-level bike load height on most vehicles
• Some models tilt down or pivot away from the vehicle to allow access to the trunk or hatch
• Some models allow for ski carrier add-ons to be attached

 

Hanging Rack Cons

• Bikes might make contact with each other
• Some bike frames have unusual geometry and can be challenging to mount. However, top-tube adapters are available to alleviate the issue on most bikes
• Bikes on the back of a vehicle are susceptible to road grime
• On lower vehicles, bikes could possibly make contact with the ground, causing bike damage in extreme circumstances

 

Shop All Platform Style Racks

 

Platform Rack Pros

• Carry up to 4 bikes with appropriate hitch, provided the hitch and vehicle are rated for it
• Quick to load/unload bikes
• Accommodates virtually any bike, including downhill, kids, and some recumbents depending on wheelbase
• Platform protects bikes by keeping them better separated from each other and gives better protection from the ground compared to hanging racks
• Some models are generally heavier-duty compared to hanging racks

 

Platform Rack Cons

• Rack tends to be bulkier and heavier than hanging style
• Access to hatchbacks can be challenging; however, bikes can be quickly removed
• Two bikes maximum on light-duty hitches

Recommended Hitch Bike Racks

Not sure which hitch bike rack to get? Here are our top picks!

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Roof Mount Bike Racks

All Roof Mount Bike Racks will REQUIRE your car to have a Base Roof Rack, which can be factory installed or aftermarket.

Roof bike racks come in two styles: fork mount (front tire removed) or upright (front tire left on). There are several roof bike rack models available in each style, and almost all models have optional locks to keep your bike secure to the rack and the rack secure to the vehicle. Here are some pros and cons of each style:

Roof Mount Bike Rack Pros

• Bikes do not obstruct road visibility
• Bike roof racks can be swapped out seasonally with ski, watersports, or cargo racks
• Depending on the size of the vehicle, it may be possible to carry more bikes on the roof than on the rear of the vehicle
• Access to the trunk/hatchback is not compromised

Roof Mount Bike Rack Cons

• Additional noise & drag caused by the bikes on top of the vehicle
• Requires lifting the bike onto the top of vehicle
• Added height can cause conflict with garages, drive-throughs, tree branches, etc.

Roof Mounted Rack Styles

 

Shop All Fork-Mount Style Racks

 

Fork Mount Pros

• The bike's profile is lower with the front wheel removed, and the weight is lighter with the wheel off
• Locking forks into the rack is the most secure and stable option
• Fork mount racks tend to be less bulky than uprights and use less space on your crossbar

 

Fork Mount Cons

• You must put the front wheel in the vehicle or purchase a roof mount wheel holder
• It may not be compatible with some bike fenders
• It may not be compatible with some forks; however, axle adapters are available for many new mountain bikes

 

Shop All Upright Style Racks

 

Upright Mount Pros

• Compatible with almost any bicycle from 20" tire to 29" tire
• No need to remove the front wheel
• Some models can accommodate unusual frame geometry and full-suspensions

 

Upright Mount Cons

• The rack is bulkier than the fork mount and uses more crossbar space
• Must lift the entire weight of bike since front tire stays on
• Vehicle & load height is generally taller compared to using a fork mount

Recommended Rooftop Bike Racks

Our Gear Guide selection of best rooftop bike racks!

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Truck Bed Mount Bike Racks

The choice of trail-bombers and mountain climbers alike, sometimes all you need is to throw the bike in your truck and head off. Kick it up a notch and protect your expensive downhill bike and your truck with a tailgate pad or a fork mounting block before you head off!

Truck Bed Mount Bike Rack Pros

• No additional vehicle height or length
• Keep your racks and trailer hitch available for more gear
• Easy to use, lots of room to stand while you secure your gear

Truck Bed Mount Bike Rack Cons

• Truck bed space is taken up by bikes
• Existing tonneau covers may interfere with bike loading

Truck Bed Mounted Rack Styles

 

Shop All Truck tailgate Pads

 

Tailgate Pad Pros

• High capacity - up to six bikes generally
• Inexpensive
• Near universal fit - only a couple sizes to choose from

 

Tailgate Pad Cons

• No locking features
• Bikes can move around 
• Not suitable for Carbon bike frames

 

Shop All In-bed Mounts

 

Forkmount Pros

• Secure mounting
• Carbon bike compatible
• Locakable options available

 

Forkmount Cons

• Drilling is often required to mount carrier
• Front wheel must be stored separately
• Some models are specific to bike axle size

Recommended Truck Bed Mount Bike Racks

Our Gear Guide selection of best truck bed bike racks!

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Trunk Mounted Bike Racks

Trunk Mount Bike Racks are the most basic way to carry bikes on most vehicles. This type of rack clamps to the vehicle with 4-6 rubber-dipped metal hooks and has rubber or foam pads that press against the bumper, trunk, or rear window for support. These racks tend to be less expensive than the other options, but the user must be cautious so as not to scratch the vehicle's finish during installation/removal.

Trunk Mount Bike Rack Pros

• Inexpensive
• Easy to store when off the vehicle, and can even be stored in the trunk of many vehicles
• May be able to move from one vehicle to another with minimal adjustment
• A great option for rental cars

Trunk Mount Bike Rack Cons

• Many points of contact on the vehicle
• Least secure, though some models include passive security features
• Maximum of 2 or 3 bikes, depending on the vehicle
• It may not work if the vehicle has a spoiler at the top of the hatchback

Recommended Trunk Bike Racks

Here are a few options we'd pick!

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More burning questions? Give us a shout or come see us in person!

After researching some 220 bike racks and testing more than 75, we&#;ve found that the Küat Sherpa 2.0 offers the best combination of solid construction, ease of use, light weight, and a reasonable price.

When you need to carry your bike by car, you want to do it as easily and securely as possible. That&#;s why we recommend the Küat Sherpa 2.0 as the best option for carrying two bicycles, as long as your vehicle accommodates a hitch receiver.

The best choice for carrying one bike in the bed of a pickup, this well-priced carrier has a simple design and is very portable.

This one-bike roof rack is simple to install, allows easy access to your car, and holds a bike securely, with no frame contact. It&#;s harder to load bikes onto any roof rack, including this one, than onto our other picks.

This tray-style hitch rack is lighter than most similar models, easy to use, and reasonably priced for a four-bike rack. You&#;ll need a 2-inch hitch receiver, though.

This upgraded model offers sturdy construction and light weight at an affordable price, making it a great value if your car can't accommodate a hitch mount. You have to lift your bike up higher to load it than with our top pick.

This rack is great for carrying bikes weighing up to 65 pounds. It&#;s easy to install and load bikes onto, but it&#;s far more expensive than our top pick.

This hanging-style, two-bike hitch rack costs less than our top pick. It&#;s light and easy to install, and it folds flat for storage. But it&#;s not as easy to use overall.

Of the tray-style hitch racks we tested, this is one of the easiest to install and use. It&#;s lightweight, holds one or two bikes securely, and lets you access your vehicle even when the rack is loaded.

We surveyed the members of more than 20 bike clubs across the country to see what they wanted (and didn&#;t want) in a bike rack.

Your car might sit too low to fit a hitch mount, or your bike might be too heavy to lift onto a roof rack. You&#;ll need options !

Although we&#;ve found this tray-style hitch rack to be the most affordable one that&#;s easy to load and use overall, we have picks for cyclists with other needs.

These include the less expensive Küat Beta hanging hitch rack, the ebike-friendly Thule EasyFold XT 2, the Saris Bones EX 3-Bike trunk rack, the Saris SuperClamp EX 4-Bike tray rack, the Yakima HighRoad roof rack, and the Inno Velo Gripper pickup-bed carrier.

In performance and price, the Sherpa 2.0 stands out. Less effort is needed to mount this lightweight two-bike model on your car and to stow it away than with many other tray racks. This rack is also simpler than most to secure in the hitch, and its low height makes loading bikes easy. The Sherpa 2.0 holds most types of bikes (up to 40 pounds each). It tilts out of the way, even when fully loaded, letting you access your vehicle, and it folds up compactly.

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If you have budget or storage constraints, the two-bike, hanging-style Küat Beta is a good alternative to the Küat Sherpa 2.0. Because it&#;s a hanging rack, it isn&#;t as easy to load, and you have to unload your bikes to tilt the rack down. But the Beta is solidly constructed and holds bikes securely. At only 18 pounds, it&#;s also one of the lightest hitch racks we&#;ve tested, so it&#;s easy to install. And unlike most hitch racks, the Beta folds completely flat, making it simple to store&#;hang it on a garage wall hook or stash it in a closet.

Whether you need to transport heavier ebikes or you just want a rack that&#;s easy to load, the Thule EasyFold XT 2 is hard to beat. It&#;s expensive, but this rack can hold two bikes up to 65 pounds each, and its foldable ramp lets you roll bikes onto the rack instead of lifting them. This rack is lighter than competing models, and it folds up to the size of a large airline carry-on bag. The EasyFold is also quick to install and includes integrated cable locks. However, the EasyFold holds bikes by the frame, which some riders don&#;t prefer, and the clamps can be awkward to use.

The Saris Bones EX 3-Bike is solidly built yet lightweight, easy to mount and to store, and can fit almost any car. Made of molded plastic, the Bones EX is easier to lift onto the back of a vehicle and strap on than its competitors. It remained stable even at high speeds and with quick stops. The fully adjustable legs fit over even massive factory spoilers, and the whole contraption folds nearly flat for storage. In our survey of some 20 bike clubs, the Bones garnered one of the highest ratings. As with all trunk racks, loading your bike requires lifting it higher than you&#;d have to with a trunk rack. (The Bones 2-Bike model, which we tested previously, is still available and even cheaper. But the EX, which also comes in a two-bike version, is a significant upgrade, especially if your car has a large spoiler.)

If you need to carry four bikes, we recommend the Saris SuperClamp EX 4-Bike. The SuperClamp EX is one of the lightest four-bike tray-style hitch racks available, and it can accommodate two bikes weighing up to 60 pounds each, plus two others up to 35 pounds each. Using a handle at the rear, you can easily fold up the rack when it&#;s empty, or tilt it down when it&#;s loaded, to access the vehicle. This rack isn&#;t as simple to mount as the Küat Sherpa 2.0, and like all other four-bike racks, it&#;s available only for 2-inch hitch receivers.

Although they&#;re more expensive than trunk racks and not as easy to use as hitch racks, roof racks allow you unimpeded access to a vehicle&#;s cargo area, and they&#;re the only option for some car designs. (They can also dramatically reduce your car&#;s fuel economy.) Of the roof racks we tested, the Yakima HighRoad was the easiest to work with, both when mounting it and loading a bike. It holds your bike solidly by the front wheel, which we like better than fork-mount designs because the rack doesn&#;t contact your bike&#;s frame. Your vehicle does need roof rails to mount the rack onto (this is true of all roof racks).

Also great

Inno Velo Gripper

Best for pickup beds

The best choice for carrying one bike in the bed of a pickup, this well-priced carrier has a simple design and is very portable.

Buying Options

$116

from

Amazon

Trunk racks won&#;t work on a pickup, and you may want to keep the hitch free for towing. The Inno Velo Gripper secures a bike to the side of a pickup truck&#;s bed. This position keeps a bike out of the driver&#;s line of sight, something we didn&#;t find to be true with other pickup carriers we tested. The Velo Gripper&#;s clamps are also compact enough that you can toss them in a toolbox when you aren&#;t toting a bike. The Velo Gripper is available in two versions: The RT201 is designed to fit regular pickup-bed sides, and the RT202 is designed for use with C-channel bed-rail systems.

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