Car in bike - stealth mode

[theboymoon]

So running a clio 182 is fun but ultimately a little impractical for current lifestyle...

I was wondering what cars can you get a bike in the back, but a passer by would not know.

1 bike, wheels off, seat post out, little box of kit for 1 rider,

What I mean is seats up, luggage carrier/shelf pulled over so you wouldn't know its there.


Can you do this in an A4 Avant or Passat estate? I know you can in a mondeo hatch because I've seen it done.

Any thoughts?

• edit for a bit of clarity

Edited by theboymoon on Thursday 25th April 14:21

[Celtic Dragon]

I got the entire bike wheels attached in the boot of my Octavia, and its not an estate!

With wheels off, back seats up wouldn't have been a problem.

[bobbo89]

I'm yet to try this with the Civic (FN2) but might give it a go this weekend, although i'm pretty sure bars being just shy of 800mm might hamper me somewhat!

[AMG01]

bobbo89 said:

I'm yet to try this with the Civic (FN2) but might give it a go this weekend, although i'm pretty sure bars being just shy of 800mm might hamper me somewhat!

I have had mine in the back of my FN2 with the seats down with the front wheel off, havent tried to just get it into the boot, let me know how you go.

[Soop Dogg]

I can get my Cannondale CAAD8 (56cm) in the back of my C6 Corvette. Wheels off, but seatpost and saddle still in place - no need to remove them.

Luggage blind makes it all but invisible.

[theboymoon]

Corvette! Amazing.

I guess I should refine this a bit, I think I'd consider looking at the smaller end of stuff that can do this. I know a 5er estate will do it but can you in a 3er?

Civic you say? hmmm

[Truckosaurus]

Both wheels off to get a bike in a 3-series with the seats up.

On my old E46 estate you could only just get a MTB upright with the bike seat down and the front wheel off, a road bike might even not be able to do that.

[Usget]

Wheels-off, my Caad8 56cm goes in the boot of my DC2 no bother. It's a very shallow, very long boot, so well suited to bike-carrying.

[bert11]

Front wheel off stood upright in the back of a MK1 focus - not terribly surprising though

[944fan]

The A4 estate is surprisingly small. The A6 is massive. I used to have an A6 but I now have a Honda Accord gen 7 which has the same size boot as the A6. They are buttons cheap as well. Dull as st to drive. I could probably get my bike in the boot with both wheels on, may be one off.

[snotrag]

WIith enough effort my Cotic goes in the back of my MR2 - IE in the boot.

It just depends how bothered you are about undoing bits!

Most 'big' saloons should get a bike in the boot with wheels off, post out and bars turned

[shouldbworking]

Pretty much any panel van?

Now that I'm transporting bikes inside my car (puma) the only difference its made is that I'd quite like a bike with a through axle rear end so its even less faff than a quick release

[Fozziebear]

Both wheels off and it's in the boot of the forester, blanket on it to cover it. Windows are blacked out so its well hidden

[bakerstreet]

I put the seats down in my Saab 93SS and just remove the front wheel. Seat post stays in.

I've got a Halfords bike rack, but its a pain and not as secure as I would like. Just ordered myself a bike rail for my roof rack. Should make transporting a bike much easier

[theboymoon]

shouldbworking said:

Pretty much any panel van?

Now that I'm transporting bikes inside my car (puma) the only difference its made is that I'd quite like a bike with a through axle rear end so its even less faff than a quick release

Done the van thing. Was great. Saw a slightly pimped caddy in FOD carpark the otherday (silver, BBS type reps, slightly lowered) and it looked nice.

[clonmult]

Used to get a bike in the boot of the E36 coupe.

Seats folded down, both wheels off. But it fit in without any problems.

Currently running around with an A6 Avant, no need to put the seats down on that ....

[Vladimir]

Slide rear seat forwards, stick bike diagonally across the boot area, fix to headrest with a roof rack strap. Total time? About one minute. For two bikes, take the front wheels off. Bikes hidden thanks to privacy glass.

Get to ride area, ride like hell, come back, make coffee, stuck diesel heater on if cold, wash up, put bike back in, assume impossibly smug disposition. Yep, a VW California is a great riding "partner!"

[voicey]

My wife has a 5 door Civic (2006 onwards model) - the rear seats fold up and you can get a couple of bikes sat sideways behind the front two seats if you take the front wheels off. We have sun blinds on the rear windows so at a passing glance you wouldn't see them.

[mcelliott]

Medium sized Planet X with wheels off but no seat post adjustment - just about squeezes into the boot of my E46 M3.

[geordieracer]

I have a Passat estate; and my 18" mtb frame with wheels separately fits in no bother; with loads of stuff extra; with no mis-shaping of the luggage cover.