I have an R53 Cooper and am wanting something a little bigger so I can fit my mountain bike in the back with the rear seats down. Is this possible at all in a Clubman? (average sized mountain bike)

I was looking that up myself the other day!

Dimensions in inches from northamericanmotoring.com....

With seats up in normal position (slightly leaned back) 17.5" front to back and 32" side to side.

With seats down 43" to 47" depending on front seat location front to back and 32" side to side

With seats in secondary up position (straight up) 22.5" front to back and 32" side to side.

(I'm not allowed to post direct links yet......tut)

Great thanks for that, I shall go measure my bike!

Get a fold up bike. Thats what we've done!

Not an option really haha, i'm really into mountain biking and have just spent £1300 on a new bike, and dont like it wobbling around on a roof rack.

Fair enough - our fold up bike is brilliant (not for mountain biking though! haha).

What about a roof rack? The MINI bike roof racks look very good. Saw a TT with a bike on its roof yesterday. Maybe an option than buying a whole new car to fit your £1300 bike in?

I have sucessfully fit a bike in the boot with the rear seats down. you need to get the angles right. back of the bike in first. and you might need to bring the front passenger seat as far forward as possible .

I use a thule roof rack at the moment, and just feel like I need a generally bigger car really, not just for my bike.

I can get it in my normal cooper at the moment but have the front seat as far forward as it'll go, I wanted to avoid this and be able to have 2 bikes stacked up in the boot, and 2 people in the front. They should go I think if I take the front wheels off which is not a problem.

Can you get bike-racks that fit across the back of the car?

We'll be taking it on hols and so the boot will be full with other kit, no room for the bikes.

Get a fold up bike. Thats what we've done!
Hey, a fellow Pompey bod!

Are there many of us on here?

Hello! Wow another from Pompey, I'm actually Gosport now but from Portsmouth really born and raised. Not too many but a few - Gristy is Loughborough/Portsmouth and theres a few others. Best bet to find us locals is the local club for South Coast Mini fans - see South Coast New MINI Club: News (http://www.SCNM.net) I'm just Laura on there! Welcome to MINI2. I'm always lurking around here! What MINI do you have and I promise to wave if I see you around.

Theres a MINI thing on at Goodwood this Sunday if your interested? Theres a thread about it in confirmed events I think?

Am awaiting documentation from the Dutch government for my registration and then I'll finally be able to take my Clubman S for many long journeys around the continent. The Nurburgring is already on the list.

I live full-time in The Hague but as I am bored with tram-train-train-wait around-plane-train-bus journey home, I'll be driving back a lot in the car instead.

Look for a RHD Dark Silver jobbie with Dutch plates and a Union Jack sticker in the rear window. I'll be the owner of the big grin in the driving seat playing with all the buttons.

Am in London this weekend but chuffed to hear there's regular events on!

Mine fits okay - I have a CUBE 125, though I do need to take off the seat and wheels to get it all in.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-clubman/158885-bike-back.html

I have a Specialized Roubaix and that goes in with the front wheel off and the seat removed so you shouldn't have any issue.

Andy

Can get my Son and his BMX in the back with one side of the back seat folded down.

I have sucessfully fit a bike in the boot with the rear seats down. you need to get the angles right. back of the bike in first. and you might need to bring the front passenger seat as far forward as possible .
Same here, just take the front wheel off and it goes in no problem, no need for a clubman:)

With the seats down I can fit my full suss bike.

You need to remove both wheels and push the front passenger seat all the way forward.

You can fit a towbar to a Clubman Cooper S as there is a rack that fits onto the towbar which allows you to open the rear doors when the bike is fitted.

Hey Rust bucket... i like the photo

i have a cooper s clubbie and didnt think they could have a towbar fited ....

is yours factory fitted or done since build ??

cheers

I fitted the towbar myself, they are not available from the factory as an option.

Hi

I'm a part time mountain bike guide so can possibly help,

Saris bones fits, I'd use heli tape on any rub points tho (my bikes don't fit very well on Saris racks due to sloping top tubes and rear shocks so I sold mine)
Saris RS rack looks a better option, again with heli tape (similar probs to above)
Fit a tow ball and then use a thule tow ball rack, bike is on its wheels and away from the car,
Use roof bars as per the pic of my car.
It is possible to put bikes inside with the wheels off, use a boot liner or ikea bags tho!

All have their plus and minus points, roof setup produces more windnoise and lowers fuel consumption, rear racks aren't as noisy but can make boot access harder or impossible, plus it's easy to reverse into your bikes!

If money was no object I'd go the towball rack mount method.


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