The best bike racks to bring your bike with you everywhere you go

1. Roof racks

This type is pretty self-explanatory. Employing a roof rack means everything locking on the majority of options (bikes to rack, rack to roof), so there is no risk that your bike will be harmed if you are rear-ended on the highway. But be careful since it's possible that as you pull into the garage, you'll forget that your bike is up there.

2. Hitch racks

The hitch rack is the most practical of the three types. Nothing else needs to be done after installation, and loading bikes onto the trays is simpler than raising them above your head as you would with a roof rack. Most hitch racks are available for 1.25- and/or two-inch receivers, and they slip into your vehicle's receiver tube. 

The majority of more recent choices are hinged to fold up and out of the way when not in use, lock to your hitch, and feature a cam to firm up the rack inside the receiver tube for a connection that doesn't wiggle. Many now also use arms that extend up and over the front wheel and an integrated lock to secure bikes to the rack.

3. Trunk racks

Upper and lower feet on this style of rack balance it against the car, and straps and hooks secure it to your trunk. Generally speaking, it is the most portable and least expensive of the three options. The process of taking the rack off and putting it back on is made simpler once you understand how the straps and hooks connect to your automobile. Additionally, if you park in a location with a high crime rate, you should take it out and hide it in your house or vehicle. Other drawbacks include the possibility that a pedal or wheel will flop around and scratch the paint on your car, restrictions on where the hooks can be attached, and the possibility that it won't work with some bikes with unusual shapes because it holds them up by the top tube.

When buying a bike rack, consider these:

1. The number of bikes the rack has to support

Consider the maximum number of bikes you might be going with because bike racks can hold up to six bikes. Some two-bike hitch-mounted racks also allow you to install an additional rack to increase your carrying capacity without having to purchase an entirely new set of accessories, such as the Saris. 

2. Whether you’ll remove the wheels

Some racks require the removal of a tire to thread through the fork of the bike to secure the front of the bicycle. It improves the aerodynamics of the ride slightly for roof racks. Because the locking mechanism used with the bike's fork is so secure, racks with this function also often sway less than ones that do not require you to remove the front wheel. However, those models also entail dealing with the minor inconveniences of taking off and re-installing your wheels as well as the necessity for additional storage space (in your trunk, truck bed, or within the car) to carry the wheels.

3. Ease of setup

Because a web of straps must be secured to the vehicle for the rack to be secure, trunk-mounted models of the three types of racks are often the most difficult to set up. Hitch and roof racks can be mounted to the car rather quickly and have more user-friendly hardware and tool-free installation. Choose a rack with integrated locks if you intend to leave it in place (and, better still, those with cable locks for your bikes as well). However, if you want to take the rack down after use, think about lighter models that you can do when you reach home.

The Kupper Mount is the easiest choice here if you’re looking for a no-sweat option. The Thule ProRide can be a tad more difficult but convenient.

4. Ease of accessing the bike

Because you don't need to hoist the bike onto the hood of your car before positioning it on the rack, trunk and hitch-mounted bike racks are simpler to load and unload than roof racks. Otherwise, the methods for attaching the bike to the rack are simple, safe, and dependable. The Kuat and Kupper Mount are the most dependable here.

1. How do I choose the right bike rack for my car?

Start by limiting your choices by rack type. Consider a roof rack if your vehicle already has a sports rack with crossbars because those models are compatible with that hardware. Most roof racks are compatible with most third-party roof racks, so you are not required to match the brands of the two products if you don't want to. As long as you have a hitch installed, hitch racks are compatible with any type of car. Almost all makes and models of trunk racks can often be altered to fit them, but verify with the manufacturer to be sure it will fit your particular vehicle.

Then, choose a rack that can hold as many bikes as you're likely to transport, and confirm that it will work with the bikes' characteristics, including the maximum weight, wheel size, and frame dimensions that the rack can support. Additionally, if you decide on a roof rack or hitch, be sure it will fit your crossbar's diameter and hitch's dimensions.

2. How do I load my bike onto a rack?

Bikes attach to the rack in one of two ways: they either sit on the rack, secured up front by a wheel arm that wraps around your front tire, or locks to the front fork and uses a quick-release strap at the back. 

Or, they rest on bike arms, which have evenly-spaced channels that accommodate a variety of bike frame widths, and use elastic straps to secure the bike's frame to the rack itself. The latter system can occasionally require a bit of adjustment when hauling more than one bike because this model doesn't stop the front wheel and handlebars from moving. But if that's a concern, a bungee cord can help lock everything in place.

3. Do bike racks lock up my bikes?

Bikes can be secured to the rack in one of two ways: either they sit on it and are fastened at the front by a wheel arm that encircles your front tire, or they lock to the front fork and are fastened at the back using a quick-release strap.

Or, they can rest on bike arms with uniformly spaced channels that can handle a range of bike frame sizes, and then be fastened to the rack by elastic straps. Because the latter technique doesn't prohibit the front wheel and handlebars from moving, it may occasionally be necessary to make a little adjustment when towing more than one bike. A bungee cord, though, can assist secure things in place if that's a problem.

4. Is it okay for the rack to touch the bike’s frame?

The majority of bike owners have strong opinions on whether they feel comfortable having their bicycle's frame in contact with a car rack. We produce bike carriers to accommodate both viewpoints: those that transport bicycles by their wheels and those that hang bicycles by their frames (also known as hanging, or mast-style) on vehicle racks (aka: platform, or tray-style).

5. Does a bike rack require a trailer hitch?

A trailer hitch must be installed on your car to use a hitch mount bike rack; roof and trunk racks don't. A trailer hitch can be mounted on almost any car, including little hatchbacks, minivans, and large SUVs.

All in all, the Kupper Mount satisfies all of your needs. It’s more affordable than the other products, portable, lightweight yet sturdy, quick to mount, and can haul your bike on the roof or by the trunk. You can’t quite go wrong with such a versatile product. It really is the best bike rack out there. 

For more information about other products, check out our related articles below.