[SiBradbury]

Anyone had much experience with rear-mounted cycle carriers on their Mini?

I've just fitted a Thule one and it seems pretty sturdy and will carry three bikes. Most of the load is carried on the bumper and upper straps and I can still open the tailgate while it's fitted. Now I can go throwing myself off mountains a bit further afield!

Any other makes particularly well-fitting on the Mini?

[SiBradbury]

Nobody?

[Razzputin]

Quote: Originally Posted by sibradbury (original)

Nobody?

took the roof rack (Thule) off my wife's honda civic and with the fit kit mounted it on my MINI roof. Works super. Carry two mtn bikes (titus&klein) and wheels. Love it! Now I can keep an eye on them while we drive just by looking through the moon roof.

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by Razzputin (original)

took the roof rack (Thule) off my wife's honda civic and with the fit kit mounted it on my MINI roof. Works super. Carry two mtn bikes (titus&klein) and wheels. Love it! Now I can keep an eye on them while we drive just by looking through the moon roof.

Always been scared of forgetting the bikes on the roof! Thats why I went for the rear-mounted option!

[anthony.manders]

Can you post some pics and details of the cycle rack you have fitted? Especially where it holds onto the car and where you got it from and price.

Would like something to carry my mountain bike when on holiday, but want it to be easily removable which rules out the roof bar option, even ones which aren't fixed take a lot longer to remove and refit than a rear mounted rack.

My only concern is the stability of the rear rack, as i used one in the past on a seat ibiza and it gave me a few concerns.

cheers

[scooperman_uk]

tbh i tried a rear mounted bike carrier. firstly it was illegal as it covered the light clusters and number plate as i dont have a plug in trailer board with plate and extra light clusters. Secondly it pushed down on the rear bumper too much, which literally sits on some 90' metal arms which arent meant to be load bearing. Thirdly i didnt like how close the floor it was with wheels and no wheels. Finally it stuck out wider than the car too.

there was serious issues with stability too, with limited attachment areas i found the low clips unstable when attached to the bottom bumper edge. on one test run with no bike on the rack it came undone due to the flex in the bumper. the cooperS spoiler got in the way too..

i invested in a thule roof system and a mont blanc Barracuda 529 roof mounted carrier. im very pleased with it indeed. if u want to carry more than 2 bikes on the roof bars then you will probably have to turn the handlebars 90' for them to fit and you may be restricted on weight.

i spent about 6 months exploring all the options and this is the best i could find. short of the factory fit system.

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by anthony.manders (original)

Can you post some pics and details of the cycle rack you have fitted? Especially where it holds onto the car and where you got it from and price.

Would like something to carry my mountain bike when on holiday, but want it to be easily removable which rules out the roof bar option, even ones which aren't fixed take a lot longer to remove and refit than a rear mounted rack.

My only concern is the stability of the rear rack, as i used one in the past on a seat ibiza and it gave me a few concerns.

cheers

Have a look here for some more onfo Anthony:

http://www.thule.com/Thule/ProductDe...____33576.aspx

You can also click on 'additional info' and download a pdf of the fitting instructions etc.
The great thing about this rack is that it can be assembled in a number of different ways depending on which vehicle it's going to be fitted to. The instructions list the Mini specifically so you can put it together in a way that's best suited to your car.
It retails for about £60.

[scooperman_uk]

gonna need an additional light and number plate board tho.. stop fines are quite hefty if u dont..

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by scooperman_uk (original)

tbh i tried a rear mounted bike carrier. firstly it was illegal as it covered the light clusters and number plate as i dont have a plug in trailer board with plate and extra light clusters.

You'll find this with almost all rear-mounted racks. They always recommend in the instructions that you use a trailer board if the cycles cover the plate or rear lamps. I must admit, it's not something I've bothered with as the lights can be seen clearly through the spokes on my bikes.
Thule and Mont Blanc (and probably some others) make a 'high-mount' system which holds the bikes at rear-screen level away from the lights and number plate however none list the Mini specifically.

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by scooperman_uk (original)

gonna need an additional light and number plate board tho.. stop fines are quite hefty if u dont..

£30. Never been pulled in ten years of using bike racks tho. Touch wood
I guess it depends, if the bikes obscure the lamps and plate to a point when they are totally covered then you'd be daft to use it but if you're sensible you'll probably be ok.
You could always dust off your Highway Code and use hand-signals too if you wanted !

[scooperman_uk]

being an active club cyclist i could tell you of about 30 cases this year ive heard of. number plates and lights being covered by a bike rack. most have been warnings as opposed to fines.

[dannit]

Halfords bike rack fits my mini a treat, and doesnt rub anywhere, youre not far from me, so if you wanna come try it on, feel free

[SiBradbury]

I've used a Hollywood rack before and that was great, really sturdy.

[Razzputin]

Quote: Originally Posted by sibradbury (original)

Always been scared of forgetting the bikes on the roof! Thats why I went for the rear-mounted option!

rack just recently. While it worked just fine I like the roof rack better because:
1) it locks
2) doesn't get near as dirty from road grime(lots of small bugs end their lives on the bikes though)
3) it's easier to put the bikes on and take them off of the roof rack.
4) looks much cooler. ;-)

To avoid driving into the garage with them on I place an object just inside the garage door so that when I open it I have to get out and move it. It works.

[kooper trooper]

Sibrabury

Would you mind sending me or posting a photo of the rack fitted, can't get the Thule website to display pictures?

I bought a boot mounted rack from local bike shop and first time I used, it scuffed my bumper. I never used it after that.

I did look at getting one of these http://www.miniaturetrailer.com/ Brent said he’d do the postage for $175

Cheers

[SiBradbury]

Finally got around to sorting some pics out!

Here's the Thule 968 Freeway:








And here's a Hollywood somthing-or-other (its my 'spare'):





As you can see, the Thule one is a nice solid fit. It's not obvious from the pictures but it is also secured via straps at the base of the tailgate.

Hope this is useful!