Bike Carrier Recommendations

When all's said and done, which carriers do we rate as being not only "the Best" - best build quality, best engineered, best features, easiest to live with - but also the best value for money? Read on!

Roof mounting - budget

The CRUZ Bici-racks are excellent value for money; they're much better value than any other bike/cycle carriers in the £15 to £25 range. Look out for our package deals, where you get a huge saving if you buy bars at the same time. In the £25 to £45 bracket you should go for the Thule FreeRide 532.

CRUZ Bici-rack cycle carrierThule 532 roof mounted bike carrier

Roof mounting - top quality

Frame holders, fork holders, tyre holders. If in doubt, note that frame holders are far and away the most popular type of roof mounting carrier. Thule's ProRide 598 is the best frame holder carrier available; the Atera GIRO AF is a close second, and quite a bit cheaper.

Example of a top quality roof mounted bike carrier Example of a top quality roof mounted bike carrierExample of a top quality roof mounted bike carrier

Looking at fork holders, the Atera GIRO Speed is excellent value; the Whispbar WB200 fork holder carrier fits either 9mm or QR15, and looks great.

Tyre holders are increasingly popular, especially for use with carbon frames. The Yakima FrontLoader grabs the front tyre; the INNO Tyre Hold only touches the rubber, back wheels as well as front wheels, so there’s no risk of damage to frame or rims.

Rear door mounting - 'Hang On' type

We don't stock any of the really cheap strap on cycle carriers - they can easily damage paintwork, bend metal, and some of the strapping systems are unsafe if not used correctly. Thule's Clip On carriers are very easy to use, but note that even medium-length boxes and the ClipOn High will tend to meet when the tailgate is opened, so if you have a roof box you'll probably do better to go for a standard 3 bike ClipOn, or any of the excellent Saris Bones racks, and get a light socket wired into your boot.

Example of a Rear door mounting 'Hang On' bike carrier      Example of a Rear door mounting 'Hang On' bike carrier          Example of a Rear door mounting 'Hang On' bike carrier

Thule's RaceWay carriers (2 bike or 3 bike versions) are excellent, easy to use, with steel straps, and they even lock onto the car – but as with all rear door mounting carriers the list of new cars they can be fitted to is getting shorter, due mainly to plastic tailgates or rear spoilers.

Rear door mounting - 'Wheel Support' type

The only Atera LINEA rear door mounting wheel support rack we stock is for the VW T5, for up to 4 bikes. The BUZZ RACK Pilot takes up to 2 bikes; a lighting board may be required, depending on the vehicle and, as with all rear mounting racks, it only fits certain vehicles

Example of a Rear door mounting 'Wheel Support' bike carrier

Example of a Rear door mounting 'Wheel Support' bike carrier

Tow bar mounting - 'Wheel support' type

2 to 3 bikes: At the budget end, the BUZZ RACK BB2 (2 bikes) is the one to check out. At the top end, the Atera STRADA Sport (2 and 3 bike versions, with the option to fit an adapter and carry an extra bike) are entirely convincing. If you have an electric, heavy or fat bike, the Sport is approved but note that Atera STRADA E-bike gives you an extra 5cm between the bikes.

Example of a Tow bar mounting 'Wheel support' bike carrier

Example of a Tow bar mounting 'Wheel support' bike carrier

3 to 4 bikes: BUZZ RACK BB4 at the budget end, the tilting BUZZ RACK Quattro in the mid-market, and at the top end, nothing beats the Atera STRADA DL3 (4 bikes with optional adapter). Why so? The STRADA DL3 is much lighter than its competitors, its "slide away from the back of the car" system is much easier to use than any other system, it fits to all tow balls, it's easily placed into the boot of the car when not in use (which makes for easy parking), the frame shape allows easy access to the car boot, and with its offside fog light it's even UK legal.

Example of a Tow bar mounting 'Hang On' bike carrierExample of a Tow bar mounting 'Hang On' bike carrierExample of a Tow bar mounting 'Hang On' bike carrier

Tow bar mounting - 'Hang On' type

BUZZ RACK's Buffalo is a superb, tilting carrier, which includes a bike to rack locking system; frankly, anything made by BUZZ RACK is excellent.

If you want to tow at the same time as carrying bikes then you should look at the MAXXRAXX range – buy a Premier rack as standard, buy a Discovery rack if you have a vehicle with a vertical tailgate (e.g. VW T5 or T6), or a 4x4 rack if you have a spare wheel on the back door. MAXXRAXX, made in Great Britain, are an excellent choice in any event, easy to use, tiltable, with a strapping system that holds the bikes apart. They also have 5 bike options, but only for vehicles with a tow ball nose weight of at least 100kg.

Example of a Tow bar mounting 'Hang On' bike carrierExample of a Tow bar mounting 'Hang On' bike carrierExample of a Tow bar mounting 'Hang On' bike carrier

Generally, you should be cautious about buying Hang On tow bar carriers that have two support arms (two "horns"), because developments in bike frame technology (and bike frame fashion?) mean that you often can't fit one or more of your bikes, because the frame is just too small.

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