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Roof Racks
Hi All,
We are shopping around for a roof rack for our Honda Jazz. We are looking to get something before we head up to Barrington Tops this weekend. We are looking at the Thule system that has the bar that secures onto the bottom tube of the bike so that you don't have to take the wheels off. Does anyone have any experience with this system or have any other suggestions? Also, we live in Manly and see that there may be a dealer or two in Brookvale as well as the big one in Artarmon. If anyone has any good/bad experiences with any of these shops, any feedback would be appreciated as well.
Cheers,
Maria
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Hi Maria
Thule Artarmon is OK. They have the whole range there (but only Thule).
The prices are very similar (~ $ 230 for the model you described - I've got the same) one. If you have more than one rack they can match the keys, which is handy. Also the guys know what they are talking about across a whole rangoe of cars / racks- i.e. they are not just shop assistants.
I doubt that the smaller franchises can do the key matching. If you buy more than one haggle for a discount.
Rgds Hans
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Happiness is a warm shock.
...may be the same place. It's where I got mine and I'm very happy. They know their stuff and did key matching as well.
My bike racks (4 of them) were roughly half what Hans said, but they were runout models. The new ones are much less bulky and will be easier on the fuel economy - mine have an A-frame style downtube arm and create more drag than the new ones.
Bars N Racks at Brookvale sorted be me out. I use Rola roof racks and have had no problems.
The other comments about where to get racks are pretty much spot on. Roof Rack World in Artarmon have great service and Thule is a quality product - just remember this when you see the price!
I know a rear solution is more expensive but... for more than 2 bikes (you don't mention how many you want to carry) it can work out about the same. Rear racks will also save you $$$ in petrol costs going forward and they aren't that much of a pain.
Of course, roof racks are good for other things like surf boards, skis, kayaks, etc, etc. which might be a factor.
Rear racks also save you $$$ if you are forgetful and in the habit of using underground carparks.
You are going to barrington tops? to ride? hmm... Are you going to post it up as a nobmob ride?
I've always wanted to ride at Barrington Tops.
if you go rear, take care with the part where it grips the frame.
The cheapo A-frame towbar types only restrain at the top tube, and the bikes swing around in the slipstream wrecking the paint at the point of contact with the rack, and bang into each other. Uuuugly.
Get one with soft jaws that also secures the wheels so they don't move around.
Unfortunately that was never going to work for me as at the time I bought there was a max limit of 3 bikes without going an illegal distance behind the rear axle.
I got a good deal at Brookvale ( I think it was bars and racks... on Winbourne Rd.) The guys were very helpful and knew what they were doing. They had a special offer for a combination of Rola racks with Thule bike carriers ( the new type) The carriers and bikes can all be locked with the one key.
Some thoughts...
Roof mounts are pretty good to use but I have collected some leaves and things at various times. Haven't gone into the milti storey carpark yet but I have come close !
If you are lifting a lightweight cross country bike onto a small hatchback, everything is fine...... if you're trying to lift a heavy bike onto the roof of a 4wd, it's a diffferent proposition entirely!
Otherwise very happy with my setup.
CB
If you get a rear rack, try and get one with lights on it too. More than two bikes can totally obscure your indicators or brake lights. You also need to get a bike rack number plate
i finally got a rack the other week, and ended up putting on a tow bar, fully fitted with lighting for 290 on my mitsubishi verada sedan and got one of those 4 bike racks from torpedo 7 ..great stuff, load and go, good for shuttles, and ample for 2-3 big heavy DH bikes, totalling 370 for a very good system, and i was pleasantly surprised by the strength and construction of the rack for the money, good solid steel, big bolts, and when you strap the bikes on with the supplied straps, they dont move an inch, and big rubbery pads right accross the supporting arms ..all in all a top rack and smiles all round from me, fwiw, thats how i went, i barred the roof thing off for the forementioned problems associated...
We will be getting a roof rack for sure because we will also be taking road trips with the surfboards. I have had more than one crash into the garage with a roof rack before but I'd like to think I've learned my lesson(s)
I don't mean to change the subject but...........As for riding around Barrington Tops, we are planning to bring the bikes but we don't know where to ride. I haven't had a chance to investigate yet, but any suggestions?
Maria
Alex,
Where did you get the tow bar from? Currently looking to get one fitted to my liberty wagon.
Thanks
LTEC
had it done at a place on parramatta road called fast fit bullbars, cant remember the number but if you google them itll come up, was a good install, nice and strong, good electrical install and all brand new stuff, took an hour to install and was cheapest quote i could find, some guys were trying to charge that for 2nd hand ones..
Thanks, I'll look them up.
LTEC
I got mine there (the type you are looking at)
I hit them pretty hard for a discount, and got them for around $200 each.
They had some ex rental cross bars (that attach to the fore/aft roof rails on my subaru, and that saved about 40% on new price for them.
They did key matching too.
I'm really happy with them, so much easier than taking the front wheel off, and nowhere near the hassles of a rear mounted rack (when you have shocks getting in the way or really small frames).
Just out of curiosity - how much would a roof rack to hold 2 bikes to attach on the rails of a VW Golf (3rd generation) cost approx? I'm starting to get annoyed with all the dirt inside
I'm assuming Roofrack world cant fit on all major car make rails? Would it be around the $200 mark?
cheers,
Tom
I paid round $200 each for the bike racks + another $100 or so for the cross rails to attach to the car's existing fore/aft roof-rails.
The golf will probably need some sort of car-specific feet for the cross rails to attach to the roof (given they probably don't have existing fore/aft rails) adding some more $.
I'd anticipate you should get out of it for somewhere between $500-600 total.