Roadies/Cyclists
 

Roadies/Cyclists - Let me hear you rig with your X

I'm exploring new-old things...-- kinda like getting back on training wheels
Bikes won't fit on my XJ nor do I want to even try

Any my little one is on the edge of transition off his balance bike to the next step. I have not ridden in years....literally, but I dropped my Cervelo off at the local shop to have them do a tune/cable/tar, etc change...


Got a hitch on the X. Leaving on a hitch rack but......would love something that has the most minimal impact storagewise when it's off the car. What's out there that ya'll are using

UPS dropped off the Thule Ride Along I ordered. Man, I should have started getting back on the saddle earlier - lil one is stoked to be riding second to shotgun on it

I don't recommend the tow hitch mounted bike racks. I know the access is easier because of the height but they're more likely to damage your car contrary to popular belief. Everyone is afraid to ruin their roof when mounting stuff. The x5 has the roof rails already so a bar mount system from Thule isn't expensive because its universal. Thule makes the BMW branded racks and hardware. Also, tow hitch bike racks put stress on the bike frame because they don't mount by the wheels or the fork.

Not True!

I use a hitch rack and roof racks for the family bikes.

For the hitch rack, I have a Saris ride on rack. It holds two bikes and the great thing about it is that the bike is held onto the rack by the wheels, so if you have a Carbon frame you don't have to worry about any damages to the frame. I have a Cervelo and Felt road bike and a Motobecane Cyclocross bike.

https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...0f&oe=5885B4B9

https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...9e&oe=5877A1CA

For the roof racks I have Thule Bigmouth racks. They are used for my kids bikes since they are a lot smaller and easier to lift up. I still carry a stoop with me to get the bikes onto the roof.

I'm thinking of buying a small trailer and mounting either Yakima or Thule roof racks so I don't have to lift the bike onto the roof.

In my looking, tow hitch seems considerably easier to load, but then all the grime/kickback from those 315/s that seem to catch everything..

Rood being less ~friendly~

I don't have a tow hitch on my X5, but on my cars that do, I use a Yakima HitchFork. It is now old, and discontinued, but still awesome. It folds up/down and basically gives you a pair of Yakima round 1" bars to mount to. So you can use the exact same rack mounts on the hitch rack as you do on the round bars up top (if you have those ... I actually have aero-shaped Rola bars on my X5).

The interchangeability (e.g., moving mounts from the hitch rack to the roof rack as needed) was the main reason I went with the HitchFork solution. With a family and biking friends, I needed all the flexibility I could find.

So the HitchFork would allow you to mount fork-mounts, wheel mounts, whatever you want, as long as it would fit on a 1" Yakima bar. I don't know why they discontinued it.

Another reason for a hitch-rack - you might want a rocket box up top, especially with the limited interior space in the X5.

Wanted minimal storage space when not in use and opted for the lightweight Saris 3 bike aluminum tow hitch carrier. Only weights 14#'s... Other pics on how I've transported the bikes... :thumbup:

Thx all. Pics are really useful as it reminds me of some things I had on my radar but fell off

- Roof mount. possible issue if stopping by a parking structure ?

- Rear Tow mount - overall running width. Depending on what the day iten. is and where we we will be...granted, I don't think our day iten. if going biking, we will be driving through the city. But for those that drive in the city, there are times where the only way to get through is to auto-fold the mirrors and keep on driving...

I have been a professional bike mechanic for 25 years. I strongly recommend the hitch mount racks. I have and use the thule t2 pro.

https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/bike-...9034-_-1689769

I cannot tell you the number of insurance claim paperwork I have had to fill out over the years because people drive into structures with roof top racks. You want to talk about damage? Bikes = typically totaled. Rack system= typically totaled. Car roof = typically bent, dented, or otherwise not want you want.

2" hitch racks for the win. I can easily access the top hatch of my 2002 X5 when loaded.

Never ever ever go roof top. My professional .02.

This will probably be my next purchase.

http://www.rackattack.com/img/produc...78-trailer.jpg

Leaning on a Saris Superklamp 2 @ 30lbs .

Thule T2P got ruled out as many reports on it not being to hole 1 fatbike and anything else....not that I have any plans to buy new wheels soon, but you know how that goes. 1 Mod, and then it all goes downhill from there..