I am soon to be getting a new Elegance estate.

I need a high rear mounted bike rack to carry two bikes. I have found the Thule 9106 which looks good. Does anyone have any experience of this or others please?

Is it easy to fit/remove without damaging the paintwork?

Thanks!

Is a roof rack an option for you. Much less hassle

No

Roof mounted bars are too awkward to load and more difficult to put on and take off (don't want them on all the while)

Thanks

I've got one of these that I use with my Octavia Estate.

Halfords Advanced Rear High mount 3 Cycle Carrier from Halfords Was £139.99 Save £50.21 Price £89.78 Half Price Cycle Carrier Lock (item code 910752) When You Buy Any Cycle Carrier

It's actually made by Mont Blanc and is a good price at the moment. It uses rigid metal fixings so no straps to tighten up once you've adjusted it for your car. I haven't scratched the paint on moe but you do need to be careful mounting it and takign it off. One problem I found witht eh ones with straps is that there is nowhere under the bumper to hook the lower straps as it is all covered by a plastic undertray. The one I've got moutns directly to the rear hatch so it avoids that issue.

Any recommendations for the vRS hatch?

Not sure if spoiler will get in the way or anything?

Any recommendations for the vRS hatch?

Not sure if spoiler will get in the way or anything?

I'd also be interested in which rack would fit the VRS hatch as i have a Halfords high level type which was fitted on my Passat Estate. What a nightmare!!! tried all ways to fit it to my VRS and ended up sctratching the rear spoiler as it would not sit properly once adjusted past the spoiler and over or under the rear wiper. Hence it ended up in a heap on my front lawn:mad:

I did a load of looking into this for the vRS hatch about 2 years ago, there will be the threads around here somewhere!

However the only options I found at the time ('cos of the spoiler) were roof systems or ones to fit onto a fixed two bolt tow ball.

As I'd already got the Skoda demountable swan neck towball I didn't go down that route, so have stuck to the Skoda roof bars (care needed to follow the intructions exactly so as to avoid damage to the roof) and 3 x Mont Blanc Barracuda's.

It takes me about 20 minutes to put them on and 15 to take them off and because of the barracuda's design they are easy to use.

I'd be interested to know if anyone has come up with other options since then, but suspect that i'll stay with these for now as they are easy to fit to the roof bars on SWMBO's car too!

No

Roof mounted bars are too awkward to load and more difficult to put on and take off (don't want them on all the while)

Thanks

Thats interesting as when we had the superb we persevered with the boot mounted ones for a couple of years before going roof mounted, mainly due to the hassle of the rear mounted rack

When you come back from a cycle up here and its -5C can't be bothered securing back one, and chucking it on roof is easiest for me. Also gives access to boot for the dog and luggage

Got thule bars and atero (??) bike holders. One problem now is that my wife can't lift her bike onto the roof so that certainly one up for the rear mounted one, but then I did scratch the paint on the superb once which was the end of that rack.

We go cycling each weekend and now take the whole rack off on a sunday night just by loosening the cross bars and the so it comes off in a big square, so no hassle at all. less than 5 mins to get it out of garage and onto car and tighten up ends.

I have the Halfords cheapo one, similar to this - a bit fiddly to fit, but fine for occassional use. The only (minor) problem I have on the Otcy estate is finding somewhere to attach the lowest straps - you have to lie on the ground and look for somewhere.

This has previously been fitted to a Hyundai Accent and Vauxhall Astra, both with spoilers.

So the conclusion to the vRS Hatch rack is to get a roof mount?

No

Roof mounted bars are too awkward to load and more difficult to put on and take off (don't want them on all the while)

Thanks

I don't believe you!

I can take my Thule/Halfords roof bars on and off in minutes (they live in the boot when I'm not kayaking or biking to save on fuel) and the roof carriers fit to the bars within a minute due to their qr system.

Fitting and removing roof bars to an Estate with Rails is very straightforward. I agree that if you had a hatch and were screwing bolts into the roof/tensioning againt the door frame, etc then it can be awkward, not so with roof rails.

These are by far and away the best system for carrying bikes short of going down the towbar route (which I intend to do at some point) and I speak from experience with rear mounted racks too.

You can't beat coming back from a ride, lifting the bike on the roof, twisting the knob, lock the key and put the plastic straps over the wheels.

Meanwhile your pals are messsing about with front wheels and sheets to get the bike in the car without making a mess. Or cursing about saddle and handlebar heights when trying to fit more than one bike on a rear mounted rack (which also stops them having access to the boot). By this time you're changed and in the cafe getting the last slice of Fruit Flapjack......

Niall

What are the approx cost difference between towbar and roof rack with bike mount?

I was recently quoted £577 by a Skoda dealer for supplying and fitting a complete, removable swan neck, tow bar assembly. I declined. Towsure have got one in development for the face lift Octavia ,to the same specification, for a projected £300.

My cycle carrier clamps on to a tow hitch of any type and I also prefer to be able to remove the tow ball. Worked fine on my Hyundai Coupe and never budged even when I reversed into a tree.

I do not recommend tail gate mounted cycle racks as they cause damage to the car and can easily fall off in bumpy corners due to structural distortion, even when carefully tightened up. I wrote off two push bikes using a well known brand of rack.

I can't say enough good about the Thule rack linked above either. Definitely the best option for roof mounting (They do rub the paint off the bike frame where they clamp, but compared to the rest of what I do to mountain bikes this is a minor source of damage). A few friends of mine have been using them for years with no problems and the bike trailer the club I'm in had custom built uses them too (And they held the bikes without problems - We checked them most motorway stops just in case and needn't have bothered) for a 2000 miles round trip from Ireland to the French Alps.

The only problem with roof racks is that many car parks have height restricted entrances, so you have to take the bikes off the roof before you can get in. I just put the back seats down and throw bikes in the boot though, 3 people and 3 bikes or 2 people and 4 bikes can be carried easily.

I'm guessing the towing method is much more expensive than the roof rack as there's the towbar AND the trailer.

Anyone a rough idea on how much it woill be for everything you'll need to transport bikes on the roof.

Also, how the hell do you get them up there without something to stand on or battering the car with the bike?

What are the approx cost difference between towbar and roof rack with bike mount?

3 Bikes on Roof (all prices RoofRackShop)

Thule Footpack - £59.95

Square Bars (Aero are a waste of many unless looks really are that important...) - £26.95

3 no. Pro Ride Carrier @ £66.95 ea (Bulk Buy Discount) - £200.85

TOTAL - £287.75

3 Bikes on Towball

Thule 9503 3 Bike Carrier - £119.95

Towbar - At least £300 fitted if not more

TOTAL - £419.95 (at least)

Diff is at least £132 in favour of the roof.

Only thing to be aware that this is comparing Thules blingest roof carrier to their most basic towball carrier. Their top of the range towball carrier is £350 on it's own!

In my experience when comes to quality and ease of use of bike carrying systems you do get what you pay for!

Niall

I'm really happy with my roof rack - have a look at http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/cycle-carrier-roofrack-estate/143481/

The racks are easy to fit, and the bikes aren't difficult because the Atera frame clamp is spring loaded and designed to be operated with one hand.

I think these are a good and reasonable price solution.

Skoda rack and a pair of Thule 591's as pic above.

I have used "helicopter" tape (clear 3m tape) to protect the frame of my bike when clamped.

You can also change all locks so that one key fits all. this includes changing the skoda one for ones from the thule multipack.

I think it all comes down to conveniance, distances you travel to ride, and how often!

I race Downhill, and carry bikes up to 47lb in weight and £5k each.

I had a detachable swan neck tow bar fitted and use a custom pendle bike rack - Pendle Bike Racks, Bike Carriers, Cycle Carriers, Bike Trailers, Cycle Stands, Sheffield Stands and Tandem Racks1

They are seriously good racks - failing that option - go for one of these Strap on Wheel Support Rack

As noted earlier in the thread I've gone for the roof mounted option on the estate now. The aero bars are quite good as they look good and have a reverse T slot in them so your bike rack slides on from the side with a T shaped hook and a quiick release (lockable) into it. Therefore it can't go anywhere.

I'm 6'3 so have no probs lifting bike up, but if you are small you may need a small box to stand on.

In terms of cost, you also need to consider if you change cars with a roof mounted option all you may need to change are the feet, whereas with tow ball mounted you'll need a towball fitting again.

Was also quoted around the £300 mark for towbar fitting by local specialist a year or 2 ago.

2nd vote for roofbox.co.uk - their website is useful as you say what car you have and it sorts it out for you.

One issue not discussed here is fuel consumption. That is one reason I won't have a roof mounted system. Another is the sight of a pair of expensive bikes getting crunched when the driver forgot about them when driving too fast onto the Bro**** to Ardrossan ferry!

Regarding the cost of tow balls, the local independent trailer centre here in Carlisle quoted £217 including VAT a couple of months ago for a tow ball on my Octavia estate.

Regarding access to the boot on the estate, Thule sell a model which mounts on the tow ball and swivels downwards out of the way when you want to open the boot. Expensive, though. I've had lots of Thule roof bars and always been impressed; can anyone tell us how well these swivelling carriers work?

scandalxk

Edited 3 August, 200916 yr by scandalxk

One issue not discussed here is fuel consumption. That is one reason I won't have a roof mounted system. Another is the sight of a pair of expensive bikes getting crunched when the driver forgot about them when driving too fast onto the Bro**** to Ardrossan ferry!

Regarding the cost of tow balls, the local independent trailer centre here in Carlisle quoted £217 including VAT a couple of months ago for a tow ball on my Octavia estate.

Regarding access to the boot on the estate, Thule sell a model which mounts on the tow ball and swivels downwards out of the way when you want to open the boot. Expensive, though. I've had lots of Thule roof bars and always been impressed; can anyone tell us how well these swivelling carriers work?

scandalxk

That's "Bro**** to Ardrossan"...

Gosh, the thought police are touchy on this site, aren't they?

The port on Arran is called BRO****. However, the site won't let me write BRO****, so you have to take the first three letters BRO and add the shortened form of the name RICHARD to make the whole word!

For an estate with rails, the roof mounted Thule system is a no brainer. I have been doing this for the last 4years and it takes 30 seconds to load and secure the bike. The standard Thule foot pack and square bars the best option as everything fits the square bars from the off, no adapter kit needed.

However, I have just traded in for an LE hatch so I need a new roof mount. My mate has some Skoda (Thule) aero bars that fit the vRS and they are very good. I just need an adapter kit now for the bike carrier and its job done!

My rack which I refer to above is a different brand ,but the swiveling works superbly. The clear access to the boot is great and easy. Just remember to take the strain and allow the swivel/tilt to take place slowly.