Guest poster Don Blount reviews a popular bike rack.
I recently traded in a 1988 Toyota Camry for a 2010 Mini Cooper.
The Camry had seen better days as it had more than 239,000 miles on it.
When I am asked why I selected this new car I respond one of two ways: 1) It is my mid-life crisis car or 2) It fits my bike rack. Click images to embiggen.
And in truth when I looked at the vehicle I took along a tape measure to check whether the width of the bumper would accommodate my Saris Bones 2 trunk mount bike rack.
I purchased this bike rack three years ago, after I joined a bike club. A number of the club rides began in the foothills, a good 40-minute drive from my home.
Quite frankly, I tired of taking both wheels off of my bike and then loading both the frame and the bike into the car.
I did not want to deal with a trunk hitch nor did I want to spend a ton of money on a rack. And when I began looking for a bike rack I discovered the Saris.
It was the look that initially caught my attention. I liked the arc shape of the injected molded, arms and how the bike is carried away from the car where it won’t scratch the paint. It also holds the bikes on two different levels so they do not bump into each other, damaging their finish.
Although it is categorized as a trunk-mounted bike rack, the rack actually rests on the vehicle’s bumper.
It took me some effort to set the rack up the first few times but I eventually was able to get it ready to go in about 10-15 minutes.
The rack has a 70-pound limit – 35 pounds per bike. I found that it holds my bike securely and the anti-sway bar prevents it from swinging while the car is in motion.
The rack’s rubberized feet and coated hooks are gentle enough to not mar the car’s paint.
I added to the rack a Yakima trunk mount security strap. The strap has some sort of cable in it for reinforcement. One end of the strap loops around the bike rack while the other end goes in the trunk.
The space between at the top of the hatch of the new vehicle was too narrow to secure the rack’s original hook; I had to replace those with hatch hugger straps. These go inside of the hatch instead of hook onto the edge of the hatch.
The Saris Bones 2 retails for about $140 but it can be purchased on sale for about $125, maybe even less at a good bargain. I paid $117 for mine and $17 for the strap in 2010. Prices have not moved a whole lot since then. The company also says the rack carries a lifetime warranty. It also folds for easy storage.
Nice job augmenting the Saris. I own and love a MINI Cooper. I have a similar bike mount by Thule what works well. I have seen one by Dell that I think would work also. BTW, I am actually on my fourth MINI, this time it is the Countryman model. Love it almost as much as my bike.
I always wanted the Saris Bones carrier since the mid 90’s, but never had a car that could accommodate it. Now that I have my Prius C, I looked into getting it, but again it’s not recommended for that car. Instead I got the Saris Fondo. It’s pricey but I absolutely love it. Carry two bikes, no touching either the car nor each other plus I can see clearly through the back window.
Based on my experience with the Bones 2, I would not hesitate to buy another Saris product. Performance and quality has been good.
I’ve got the Saris Bones 3, it has been used on a Mustang, Subaru Forester and Hyundai Sante Fe, very versatile rack.
My roommate has the same rack on her mini cooper. I think I get the most use out of it though.
Don, I think you need a “Car Rack for your Bike”. You have it backwards. Look at the “Global Economy” @ work. A automobile originally designed in the U.K., bought and redesigned by the Germans. A bike rack designed in France, built in Taiwan? Maybe. And of course the Italian Bike made in Taiwan? or China? Who knows? And they ALL WORK! And paid for with the Good Ol’ American Consumer Dollar.