Swagman Upright Roof Mount Bike Rack

I rarely write reviews but since I benefited from them for this purchase, here goes: Pros: - Very sturdy: I drove 300 miles thru mountains in ridiculous white out rain/wind and this brace did not budge. I was nervously looking thru the moonroof but my bike took a worse beating (luckily I had chain lube on hand). There was *some* movement when a hard gust hit but it was more of a squeaking sound and did not result in loosening at the attachment points [to the crossbars]. - Very budget friendly: My bike is not the most expensive but it was def an investment at 1500 and when I reviewed alternate rack options (Thule), it just didn't see the value add. - Low profile: be it laziness or a reluctance to re-attach the rack to my crossbars (see below), it's stayed on except when I wash my car (and then I remove the crossbars w/ rack still attached). - Relatively easy to assemble: just have the right tools and make sure you tighten bolts appropriately. The instructions could have been more thorough but the graphics were helpful supplement. Cons: - More difficult to install: I had some trouble with the upside down clamps attaching to the crossbars and I have smaller hands. On the flip side, since the bolts install below the bar it makes for good theft deterrence (since some folks commented on the lock mechanism) - I have a shorter SAV and I'm 6'-0" but on flat pavement, it can be a struggle to hoist the bike up. A chunky mountain bike probably requires 2 ppl Add'l Thoughts - I used a bungee to render the handlebars stiffer. Would definitely recommend something to limit movement. - Lock: I wouldnt consider the locking mechanism thorough by any stretch but it definitely makes it more difficult to steal. A thief would have to undo the crossbar attachments and walk off with the rack attached to the bike - it's not like they're just lifting a bike off and riding down into the sunset. If you're that concerned, secure the bike w a cable lock while away.

I'll start with the bad because you want to know that before anything else: -The "V" channel is rather flimsy, it can flex a bit side-to-side so keep the mounting points close to your racks. - The straps for the wheels DO NOT support the bike at all and are undersized. The cuts in the V channel are big enough for normal cinch straps, but the ones supplied are novelty sized (width.) They are meant for reinforcement only, the main A frame does all the heavy lifting... -The locking knob for the A frame feels cheap. It does the job, but I decided not to trust locking/unlocking it and added a cable lock to the rear wheel to my actual roof rack for security. I left the knob unlocked and intend to replace it with a wing nut of the appropriate thread pitch. The good (once you get over the "bad" annoyances here's where it shines.) -It's rather easy and intuitive to assembly (saw a review saying it was hard... not quite understanding that one.) Just don't fully lock anything down until you test fit on your racks, but it has so many options for where everything mounts that you can get it setup perfect to just about any setup. -Super easy to use in general. Run the bike into the V, pull up the A, and slightly tighten the knob. Done. It's in and you can worry with getting it secured at your leisure. Mind you I'm working from a truck bed so I could see a car rack taking more effort or two people. -It's secure. Despite the V being wobbly, as long as you put the front and rear mounts pretty close to the racks and bike wheels, it locks down great. Right foot down doing 80mph on the highway with crosswinds it didn't budge. -NO disassembly required (Johhny 5 approved.) Roll it up, lock it in, roll it off. No need to take off the front wheel etc. Store as ridden. Kind of dig that most of all. Final thought: it works fine for what you're paying for it. Not the highest quality and not the most secure for anti-theft, but it'll get you where you're going with minimal effort.

I bought two racks and made great use of them for just over a year, until I ran my car through a car wash and broke them. It was nobody’s fault other than my own, I know you’re not supposed to run your car through the wash with these racks up top but I was being lazy whatever lesson learned. These racks worked amazing for the year I had them, and for the price I paid the value can’t be beat. They’re relatively easy to assemble and set up, and they look pretty great sitting on top of the car without a bike. Once your bike is on and strapped in, the knob has a key hole so that your bike doesn’t come loose with wind, and so no one can unload your bike if you’re parked and not near your car. The material used began to degrade and the color did fade over some time. Then again, they’re entry level, I think some people in the reviews forget they get what they pay for. I had never had a problem with these racks driving up and down California and over mountainous roads with two bikes on the roof of my car. Your bike(s) is safe so long as you assemble the unit properly and lock your bike in as well. Now, you get what you pay for; on most drives, you will hear an unsettling creaking coming from the roof. That’s the most of your worries with these racks but for the price, it is what it is. I probably won’t order these models again now that I have a bit more experience with hauling my bikes, I’ll look into moving up the model line to see what would work better this second time around.

First and foremost the bike is secure and im confident with it up there. I only use this rack when we shuttle so its not used often, for that reason I was not going to drop big $ on a name brand. this thing rocks for what it is. ___ CONS: Bike has a very slight sway from side to side when you shake it by hand. I did not want to worry about that so i use a bungie from the handlegrip to the cross member- just to force the bike to stay swayed to one side. This actually stands up perfectly straight so no harm done (bungie not in the photos sorry) I'm on 29 2.3" tires and they are a bit too big to sit down inside the tray but the tray walls are high enough to where it doesn't really matter. side-note: wider tires probably got popular After this product was designed ___ PROS: Super easy to install and it holds the bike great. comes with 2 different types of U-bolts so hopefully it will fit everyone crossbar style. Dirt cheap ___ As with any rack, dont rely on the lock for security. if a Bike thief wants your bike he is going to get it. Be Smart about where you park and all that nonsense.

This bike rack works VERY well and is easy to use. Drove 12 hours on highway through mountains and all types of weather. Never needed an adjustment. HOWEVER.... There is one big problem. The "pads" on the mounting arm are nothing more than a different colored plastic. It WILL scratch up and wear the bike frame. Take this with a grain of salt, if it was MY bike I would not have been bothered. Unfortunately it was my wifes new town cruiser. I will be selling this rack, and purchasing the standard swagman rack which I use for my mountain bike. I absolutely recommend the standard front fork rack from this company over this stand up rack.

I researched lots of different makes and models before purchasing. I originally purchased one of these to transport my sons bike as a trial since it was so affordable and eventually purchased a 2nd one for myself. We do A LOT of camping/biking, so having something affordable but sturdy/safe to transport bike(s) was really important. I also found that many of the more expensive models did NOT get the kinds of ratings or comments that you'd expect for the money. Cons: * One drawback to this product is that it's not a quick lock system like some of the more expensive makes/models. (But once you have it setup, leave it and you'll be fine.) * The base doesn't feel to be the sturdiest (Although, once the bike is in place, it feels sturdy and safe) * Adjustments are VERY difficult, again, something the more expensive models offer. Not just on the bike setup but also if you use with different measured racks. ** Also, after a couple of uses the locking knob appears to works without the key. I've contacted the manufacture for a replacement, will update once I hear back. Pros: * The price, you can't beat it! 2X, 3X and even 4X less than some of the competitors that got bad ratings. * Overall quality and sturdiness (also see above cons). ** RECOMMENDATION: I would HIGHLY recommend that you buy one for each bike so you can measure once and not have to deal with adjustments. i.e. My son is younger and has a smaller bike, so he gets one rack to fit his bike and I have my rack to fit my bike. Tools needed.

I would not buy this rack again. It is the least viable solution for transporting a bicycle. The metal tray easily flexes and will bend. The tray is barely long enough for a modern mountain bike wheel base. The minimal wheel straps barely fit a moderate sized mountain bike tire (2.35). And the clamp, per the manufacturer, will not fit larger/odd shaped down tubes effectively. Add the very thin metal on the clamp arms and you get a flimsy hold. I used these for one camping trip mounted to my Space Trailer cross bars. (I had little confidence to mount them on my SUV crossbars) I watched with clenched teeth as my two bikes swayed and wobbled precariously in my rear view mirror on highway and secondary roads. These were paved roads. Per the manufacturer, the bolts did indeed need tightening. In comparison, my other bike in a Yakima Front Loader was stable the entire trip. While this is a budget option, it's not a long term, frequent use option in my opinion. I regret buying this product--I should have put my money towards a Yakima or Thule product. Even Malone has a better product for not much more.

This type of rack has been around a long time, and works well if you, like me, require a roof rack and prefer keeping the front wheel on the bike while it's being transported. The rack arm grips the bike's down-tube, holding it upright, and then a wheel strap in front and in back keeps everything in place. The knob for tightening the arm comes with a key lock, so the bike can be locked to the vehicle. Whether this is an adequate theft deterrent depends a lot on how long you leave the bike on top of the car, where you're parked, and if you can keep it in view. Remember, the rack itself does not lock to the roof, so a would-be thief just needs to remove the rack (five thumb screws) to make off with the rack and the bike. So I give the locking feature three stars. It's enough to deter an opportunist. Not enough to deter a determined thief. But on the other hand, most bike locks can be defeated in seconds or minutes with a battery powered grinder. So deterrence is probably about all you can hope for anyway. Carrying a bike: Set the bike on its wheels atop the rack's wheel tray. Then lift the arm up to the bike's down-tube, and tighten it around the down-tube. Finally, place a strap through the wheel tray in front and in back, securing each strap around the bike's wheel. It's pretty easy, and doesn't take long. Assembly: This step consists of six bolts with nuts and washers, two end caps, and a little measuring to make sure you're accommodating your car's rack correctly. It takes a half hour or so. Installation: This step consists of three U-bolts, six thumb screws with washers, and some more measuring and fiddling to get everything lined up right. This takes ten or fifteen minutes the first time. Subsequent installations should take around five to seven minutes. Comparison to "name brand" racks: This rack is sturdy enough. Maybe not quite as heavy a metal gauge as a high end rack, but strong enough and secure enough. Assembly is no fun. It's like the "ready to assemble furniture" experience but for bike racks. A name-brand rack would come further assembled, and with more refined parts. Additionally, installation takes longer than a name brand rack would since you have to screw on several U-bolts. Typically the name brand products have more convenient mounts. And of course they cost 2x to 3x as much as this rack does. One note about the rack's overall bike carrying strategy: This rack does require making contact with the bike's frame where it clamps around the down tube. For nice bikes, and particularly for carbon fiber bikes, you're probably better off with solutions that only make contact with the wheels (examples include the Yakima Front Loader and Top Loader). For steel or aluminum bikes, and bikes where you're less concerned with signs of having been rack-carried, this is fine. I have three racks on top of my car; two Front Loaders, for the nicer bikes, and this one which I use for the kid bike. You can mitigate the wear that the clamp will cause by putting a cloth around the down tube where contact is made. But I probably still wouldn't use this on a lightweight carbon fiber frame. Four stars: It is inexpensive, strong enough, and gets the job done without any fuss. It would be five if the mounting and assembly were easier.

Muy buena calidad para el precio Da miedo pero funciona bien Recomendado

While the rack works well, the provided nut isn’t secure and keeps falling off the bolt. I can hear it clattering while I drive. I already lost two. Replacing the bolt with zip ties seems to work quite well.

Very easy to set up but sadly it wasn't big enough for my Trek Roscoe MTB even though it has MTB on it in the pictures.

good quality and affordable... i will buy two more... hope the price remain the same...

Easy to install, and bikes stay secure. Have used them to bring the bikes up north for 3 years now and they work great. They don’t take up much space which is nice for storing.