Quick question about roof bike racks

[cravin]

I have OEM BMW Roof Rails and am looking at a bike rack to keep a single bike on the roof. I have looked at all of the threads of people using different brands of bike racks and everything, but haven't been able to find an answer to this.

If I decide to buy a third party rack by someone like Thule, do they make racks that fit right on to the blade like rails or would I need an adapter of some sort? I'm assuming that the BMW racks fit right out of the box.

[JCL]

The Thule rack has load bars (also called cross bars) that come in rectangular and aero profiles. I use the rectangular ones, because I don't leave the rack on and I want the strongest/most versatile load bar. I then use Crossroad 450 (Thule) adaptor feet that slip on the load bars, and have a rubber strap that wraps around the BMW rail, cinches up, and is then locked so that the rack can't be removed without a key. Keys were an option when I purchased my rack.

Different load bars attach in different ways. There are flush rails, and rails that are spaced up from the roof, for example, depending on the model year.

For the actual bike holders, they attach to the load bars and tend to match well to the same brand (ie the same profile). Some bike holders don't work with all of the aero load bars due to the width of the bar.

So, if you get BMW load bars, make sure that the bike rack you choose (BMW or other) fits those load bars.

Suggest you go to thule.com, use the Fit Guide, and build a rack online. Then you can see how that one works, in all its permutations.

Jeff

[cravin]

I already have bmw cross bars that attach to roof rails. I would have to install another set of bars on top of my bars?

[cravin]

For some reason I can't post pics, but here's a link to what I have

http://images.craigslist.org/5Lf5F95...d11e871c04.jpg

[JCL]

I understood from your first post that you had rails only and not rails plus crossbars.

I wouldn't buy the BMW bike holder myself, unless they had a simple fork mount model. They promote a version that helps lift the bike up, but it seems silly.

Thule site says their bike holders don't fit the OE BMW crossbars. They might fit but you would have to check them physically.

Yakima list three bike holders that fit the OE BMW crossbars. Of the three, I would go with the Forklift as first pick then the Frontloader as second pick. The Raptor would not be on my list due to past experience with a similar design.

[cravin]

Okay, good. So I am right in that there are third party racks that will fit on. Thanks JCL!

[stimulate]

If you have a local Rack Attack store they are very helpful. They usually have lots of inventory and can help you install it.

[bren3085]

I have the same OEM racks and fitted Thule bike racks no issues directly to the bars.

[cravin]

I went with a Yakima frontloader. Was easy peasy lemon squeezey