Multiple posts here due to photo file size limit...

 

 

Finally decided to buy one of these, at £500 they aint cheap, but when folded it fits into the boot of the Yeti, which most other wouldn't. It also has a a higher max bike load limit of 30kg, where most have a 20kg limit, and my ebike is over 20kg. Nice and portable and easy to carry one handed.

 

Fits nicely into the boot when folded...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slots onto the towbar, pulling down a lever to clamp it into situ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rack folds out and bike sits onto the rack and secured with straps around each wheel..

 

 

 

 

The clamps don't suit a bike frame thats not tubular shape, the part of my bike frame which houses the battery isn't suitable for the clamps to fit. Thankfully the longer clamp will reach to my bikes crossbar, and the smaller clamp will fit the seat post part if I swivel the foldable lock holder away that I have fitted to the drinks bottle fixings. Though only one clamp is required per bike.

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 November, 20205 yr by Dale_Stevens

 

 

The longer clamp is actually for calming to the second bike, but I'll be using both when carrying just the one bike...

 

Overall a very impressive, but expensive bike carrier. Compact for storing in the cupboard under the stairs rather than in the garage. The adjustment of the clamps where they fit onto the rack itself is limited, so worth checking that they will fit your particular bikes. When driving I can't help but stare out the rear view mirror to ensure the bike is still there!!!

 

Now I can drive out to places to ride, or when cycling locally the wife can drive out and pick me up when I'm knackered 

 

Volvo sell the same item with their badges on, at around £100 cheaper if you can find one in stock (part number 31428156).

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 November, 20205 yr by Dale_Stevens

38 minutes ago, Dale_Stevens said:

When driving I can't help but stare out the rear view mirror to ensure the bike is still there!!!

 

I understand that clamp-on-the-towball devices work fine but they still feel as though they are violating natural laws without a top steady ...

 

Looks like an excellent piece of kit and great that it can canny an e-bike.  I'll be very interested to learn how you find it in use.

 

Looks pretty tidy.  Can I ask what the limit is on the wheelbase of the bike it can safely carry?  I ended up getting the non-folding Thule VeloSpace XT carrier - which is a bit of a beast, it must be said - because my e-MTB has a particularly 'lazy' geometry (quite the modern trend as I understand it).

 

The clamps on your carrier look the same as the ones on mine.  They aren't compatible with my downtube or my crossbar, but they fasten very securely around the seat tube.  As you say, the carrier is designed so as to have only one clamp per bike carried so I'm happy with that.  It helps that the frame they're attached to is higher and wider than the one on your carrier - obviously they had to compromise a bit to get the compactness on your model.  The frame on mine can at least be folded down, or even removed, which does help make it less awkward to store in the garage.

 

I can't imagine that they've found a solution to the thing getting covered in clart driving around on filthy/damp roads at this time of year, though!

Edited 20 November, 20205 yr by ejstubbs

StickMicky,

I shared your scepticism about the security of the clamp on towball type carrier until recently. I fitted a towball onto the drawbar jockey wheel mount of my caravan so I could use one of the cheaper Thule Express carriers to transport a bike on the front of the caravan. I used bracing bars from this to the front of the van handles and tried it out on a run from Liverpool to Conway earlier in the summer. It became obvious the bars offered nothing apart from my initial perceived piece of mind. Over August/September I did a 900 mile trip without the braces and confirmed my earlier observation that the extra bars were not needed.

The clamp on towball type carrier are an excellent bit of kit. This shows fitment on previous van.

 

Colin

Edited 20 November, 20205 yr by eribaMotters

11 minutes ago, eribaMotters said:

The clamp on towball type carrier are an excellent bit of kit.

 

Thanks for the update, Colin. 

 

Any ideas on how such behave in a crash? I'm thinking in particular about the inertia from a high-mount battery on an e-bike.

 

26 minutes ago, eribaMotters said:

 

 

A very neat job. I guess your caravan is lighter than most, meaning the weight of the bike doesn't exceed your vehicles towbar nose weight limit?

Don't think my towbar would allow it.

 

 

33 minutes ago, ejstubbs said:

Looks pretty tidy.  Can I ask what the limit is on the wheelbase of the bike it can safely carry?  

 

I'm not sure to be honest, hopefully Thule's website might specify it?

I would not worry about crash damage. If you are going to hit something that hard that the bike wants to move around you'll already have done major damage to the car. Also in design and manufacture the carrier will have met strict regulations and testing.

As regard van weight, current van shown was 830kg empty when new with max load of 1200kg. I usually run at about 1150kg when away for a 4-6 week European trip and typically 60kg noseweight. This gives a very stable tow.

The great surprise to me is how well my petrol A3 Yeti replacement tows. It has more go, a bigger boot and still returns up to 40mpg. If I'd not had the 110bhp tune of diesel I probably would still have had the Yeti.

Edited 20 November, 20205 yr by eribaMotters

18 minutes ago, eribaMotters said:

 

 

Nice caravan, what make/model it is please?

I think you can get a storage box to fit on that rack which is useful as the Yeti boot is somewhat lacking 

5 hours ago, StickyMicky said:

I'm thinking in particular about the inertia from a high-mount battery on an e-bike.

 

I carry the battery inside the car when I transport my e-bike.  (In fact pretty much the only time when the battery is on the bike is when I'm riding it.)

1 minute ago, ejstubbs said:

 

I carry the battery inside the car when I transport my e-bike.  (In fact pretty much the only time when the battery is on the bike is when I'm riding it.)

 

I'll probably do the same, but then theres the risk of rain getting onto the bikes battery connections when driving with the bike on the rack. I'm surprised bike manufacturers don't make a protective water tight cover for this

5 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

Can I ask what the limit is on the wheelbase of the bike it can safely carry?  

 

Just checked the specs on my ebike, the measurement from front hub to rear hub is 1157mm, and its on 29" wheels. Its a 23" frame size, so larger than most mountain bikes I'd guess.

Looking at the photos of my bike on my rack, I wouldn't say my bike wheels are at the limit of what the rack can take.

 

 

Edited 20 November, 20205 yr by Dale_Stevens

19 hours ago, Dale_Stevens said:

 

I'll probably do the same, but then theres the risk of rain getting onto the bikes battery connections when driving with the bike on the rack. I'm surprised bike manufacturers don't make a protective water tight cover for this

 

I reckon the battery connections on the bike are already pretty watertight - well , they are on mine (which uses the Bosch CX drive system).  Bikes, especially MTBs, are very likely to get wet while being ridden, and the seal between battery and the battery holder on my bike doesn't seem to be designed to keep water out to any great extent - at least going by how much water accumulates in there when I hose (not power wash) the bike down after a muddy ride with the battery still in place (because it's muddy too!)  The battery connections on my bike are protruding, so the "socket", which might otherwise be a moisture trap, is on the battery itself - which can be taken off and put in a warm place to dry out if really necessary (not easy with an entire bike!)

 

It probably wouldn't hurt to wrap a cloth or maybe even some plastic or a bit of clingfilm around the battery connection when transporting the bike sans battery but I've never bothered and mine's not died yet.  In fact I am repeatedly impressed by how resistant the drive system and its ancillaries are to the elements.  I've ridden through unexpectedly deep sumps where the (dirty) water has come up a fair way over the bottom bracket - which means that the motor has been providing drive while at least partially submerged (not to mention the wet shoes!) - and the thing has just kept going.  Which is as it should be, really - but it's nice that it is.

 

On the subject of dimension: Thule apparently suggest a maximum bike wheelbase of 122cm for the EasyFold XT, which is right on the limit for my bike (if anything it's actually a bit more than that).  I seem to recall now that I did consider the EasyFold when I was looking to get a towball bike carrier, but the higher cost vs the non-folding VeloSpace, plus the fact that the VeloSpace was specced up to 130cm wheelbase, swung it in the end.

2 hours ago, ejstubbs said:

 

I reckon the battery connections on the bike are already pretty watertight - well , they are on mine (which uses the Bosch CX drive system). 

 

I've derestricted my Cube which has the Bosch CX motor. I never did like the treacle effect of the motor cutting out at 15mph.

Thank you for the photos. Unfortunately, you missed out the most important question I have: Can you open the tailgate while the bike rack is folded down? I am considering purchasing one of these, and I can't tell from the photos on Thule's website whether there will be enough clearance. A photo would be great, but if you can just tell me whether it's possible, that would help me in my decision.

 

Cheers!

Dave

A Thule VeloSpace XT so not the folding version but i have used this on a Yeti and the rear hatch open just fine.

Edited 1 July, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

Thanks, that's good to know. Unfortunately, there are minor differences between models in terms of clearance. Which model is that? It looks like it might be the VeloSpace XT2.

 

It would be great to know specifically whether the EasyFold XT 3 gives enough clearance, as that's the model I'm leaning toward. This is helpful, though.

Ah, I just saw where you confirmed it's the VeloSpace XT 2. Sorry.