Cycle rack for new VRS

Snapper · 29-05-2006, 19:03

Has anyone got or knows of a decent bike rack for the new Octy? I don't really want to use my old cheapo one on my new motor. Does the rear spoiler cause a problem? Would appreciate any advice.

uncle bulgaria · 30-05-2006, 11:57

Hi,

we use a Mont Blanc Barracuda cycle carrier, on the roof rack. I have never had any sucess with tail gate ones (they either cover the number plate, obscure rear vision or put stress on something and eventually damage the paintwork). This is usually why few dealer accessories list them. I know this might sound daft, but we bought ours from a Suzuki Car dealer! They are very good, as the wheel groves allow it to hold the cycle upright, so you can use both hands to lock the frame support. We saw some online test which rated it highly, but couldn't find a decent deal (as we wanted two), however it was listed in the Suzuki accessory guide for the old Grand Vitara, the price being better than our local stockists! On top of that they were more than happy to knock another 15% off! Havent fitted it yet to the Octavia, but have tried it on the bars as a "test run" on the garrage floor! Was very pleased as it will fit traditional roof racks (like on our fabia) as well as the alluminium groved type as on our VRS. Have just seen the same carrier advetised as a Honda FRV accessory. Worth a try as the retail price was £62 each & we got them both for under £100 by the time we had done! I know this adds to the cost (especialy if you have to buy the roof bars as well, but it is cheaper in the long run as even smart paint repairs add up!

Think I have managed to attach a photo! Sorry if this isn't what you were after! But over the years we have tried many different methods (still have some of the mangled bits of metal & straps in the shed) and this seems to work for us! Good job the car isn't too tall and the bikes are lightweight!

All the Best

**TaviaRS** · 30-05-2006, 11:59

I think he was thinking of the ones that go on the "boot". I have a Rhodes one IIRC. Never had any problems with my old RS

If it's roof mounted ones I use the Thule ones, similar to the MB ones IIRC

octaviarsman · 30-05-2006, 14:42

I would have anything which is roof or tow bar mounted. I managed to push in all the back of the car when we went to centre parcs carrying four bikes on the back with a rather expensive rear mounted rack. If you do get a rear mounted one, make sure most of the pressure is on the back window rather than the hatch........ mind you with the spoiler in the way this will be the case.

uncle bulgaria · 30-05-2006, 16:58

That is exactly the kind of problem I was concerned about! My mate used to be the bodyshop manager for our local Seat garage & said that wasn't unusual. He warned me off them saying they stressed the hatch or bumper and in his view that wasn't desireable as well as being potentially costly!

My neighbour also found this out to his cost. He's into road racing, and had his tailgate carrier loaded with 2 adult bikes and 2 kids bikes, when it shattered his rear screen

! Apparently there was sufficiant difference between his old & new Mondeo that his "universal" carrier put the load in "just the wrong place"!

Our 2 bikes weigh in at 50kgs then there is the weight of the rack, so as you can see it soon adds up! Wouldn't fancy that weight on my hatch IMHO!

Guess the main advice is don't buy anything until you have seen it on your car, and are happy with where it's catches/straps & mounts fit & that it will be able to take the weight/number of bikes you have in mind. Also check that "universal" does actually cover your exact model!

At the end of the day it's personal taste & costs that will dictate what any of us buy, and this is at best only my opinion!

All the best!

Snapper · 30-05-2006, 20:20

Thanks for the info guys. Not sure about a roof mounted carrier, i think the roof bars put me off, how much are they anyway and can they be easily removed if not using carrier?

uncle bulgaria · 31-05-2006, 09:32

Hi, I understand your concerns.

The bars are very easy to fit and remove, 5 minutes max, but you need to follow the instructions, when you have done it once, it all makes sense. I take them on & off about once a week, on for the weekend & off for the commute during the week!

The down side is the cost. They list at £120, however you can usually get 15% off that with no hassle, and if you have just bought the vRS, try and push for more! We did & got them at "trade" price, so this was about the same as the best boot mounted rack!

The other advantage is that they are very useful for those anoying trips to a well known swedish furnature store

!! Ho Hum!!

**TaviaRS** · 31-05-2006, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle bulgaria

That
Our 2 bikes weigh in at 50kgs

They are heavy bikes

Do they have engines?

wega3k · 31-05-2006, 17:09

Yeah 50kgs is insane! Do you mean 50lbs?

Snapper · 31-05-2006, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle bulgaria

Hi, I understand your concerns.

The bars are very easy to fit and remove, 5 minutes max, but you need to follow the instructions, when you have done it once, it all makes sense. I take them on & off about once a week, on for the weekend & off for the commute during the week!

The down side is the cost. They list at £120, however you can usually get 15% off that with no hassle, and if you have just bought the vRS, try and push for more! We did & got them at "trade" price, so this was about the same as the best boot mounted rack!

The other advantage is that they are very useful for those anoying trips to a well known swedish furnature store

!! Ho Hum!!

Thanks for that. Thats probably what i would want to do, on for the weekend etc., but that price is a little off-putting, especially if you include the price of the carrier as well.

I might have a look in Halfraud's this weekend to see what they have.

uncle bulgaria · 31-05-2006, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by wega3k

Yeah 50kgs is insane! Do you mean 50lbs?

Doh! There we go again; you try to use these modern new fangled measuring things and what happens

!!!

50+lbs for the two of course!

You see I have spent all week trying to convert Skoda technical data back from this modern metric rubbish into proper imperial stuff

Totally confused now!!!!

Will have to go back to the home for a rest!

Thanks for putting me straight again!

29-05-2006, 19:03	#1
Snapper Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 62 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cycle rack for new VRS Has anyone got or knows of a decent bike rack for the new Octy? I don't really want to use my old cheapo one on my new motor. Does the rear spoiler cause a problem? Would appreciate any advice.

30-05-2006, 11:59	#3
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,931 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Cycle rack for new VRS I think he was thinking of the ones that go on the "boot". I have a Rhodes one IIRC. Never had any problems with my old RS If it's roof mounted ones I use the Thule ones, similar to the MB ones IIRC __________________ A jolly sensible Mercedes E class saloon in a rather fetching bluey grey colour. No it isn't fast, no it isn't modded, and yes, it will still eat your Fabia for breakfast. Official mobile chicane for Briskoda trackdays Last edited by TaviaRS; 30-05-2006 at 12:01.

30-05-2006, 14:42	#4
octaviarsman Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: preston Posts: 215 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cycle rack for new VRS I would have anything which is roof or tow bar mounted. I managed to push in all the back of the car when we went to centre parcs carrying four bikes on the back with a rather expensive rear mounted rack. If you do get a rear mounted one, make sure most of the pressure is on the back window rather than the hatch........ mind you with the spoiler in the way this will be the case.

30-05-2006, 16:58	#5
uncle bulgaria Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: S Yorks Posts: 312 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Cycle rack for new VRS That is exactly the kind of problem I was concerned about! My mate used to be the bodyshop manager for our local Seat garage & said that wasn't unusual. He warned me off them saying they stressed the hatch or bumper and in his view that wasn't desireable as well as being potentially costly! My neighbour also found this out to his cost. He's into road racing, and had his tailgate carrier loaded with 2 adult bikes and 2 kids bikes, when it shattered his rear screen ! Apparently there was sufficiant difference between his old & new Mondeo that his "universal" carrier put the load in "just the wrong place"! Our 2 bikes weigh in at 50kgs then there is the weight of the rack, so as you can see it soon adds up! Wouldn't fancy that weight on my hatch IMHO! Guess the main advice is don't buy anything until you have seen it on your car, and are happy with where it's catches/straps & mounts fit & that it will be able to take the weight/number of bikes you have in mind. Also check that "universal" does actually cover your exact model! At the end of the day it's personal taste & costs that will dictate what any of us buy, and this is at best only my opinion! All the best!

30-05-2006, 20:20	#6
Snapper Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 62 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cycle rack for new VRS Thanks for the info guys. Not sure about a roof mounted carrier, i think the roof bars put me off, how much are they anyway and can they be easily removed if not using carrier?

31-05-2006, 09:32	#7
uncle bulgaria Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: S Yorks Posts: 312 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Cycle rack for new VRS Hi, I understand your concerns. The bars are very easy to fit and remove, 5 minutes max, but you need to follow the instructions, when you have done it once, it all makes sense. I take them on & off about once a week, on for the weekend & off for the commute during the week! The down side is the cost. They list at £120, however you can usually get 15% off that with no hassle, and if you have just bought the vRS, try and push for more! We did & got them at "trade" price, so this was about the same as the best boot mounted rack! The other advantage is that they are very useful for those anoying trips to a well known swedish furnature store !! Ho Hum!!

31-05-2006, 17:09	#9
wega3k Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 290 Thanks: 16 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Cycle rack for new VRS Yeah 50kgs is insane! Do you mean 50lbs?

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