Suction cup bike rack

[jmilsom]

So I have seen the threads about the seasucker rack as well as the video testing it on a f-type.

But has anyone tried the treefrog pro 1 rack, its TUV approved and is slightly cheaper than the seasucker.

Has anyone on here had any failures with suction cup racks?

As far as I can tell it’s basically making sure your purchase area on the vehicle is clean and spotless as well as the suction cup being. Lean and you shouldn’t have a issue.

[klootzak]

I have the cheapie Sea Sucker "rack" (ie, two suction cups that clamp onto the handlebars).

It looks woefully unconvincing, but actually seems to work reasonably well.

Suckered onto the glass it holds firm and while my bike wobbles around perilously, it has never fallen off. Even on the bouncy gravel roads leading to our local MTB park.

Get used to people taking pics though. It looks like the bike is balanced on the back and people seem to find it immensely amusing.

k

[z4RRSchris]

that doesnt look in any way secure!

[murray]

I've got both single and twin bike sea sucker racks. Never had any issues apart from one of the three suckers, on the single mount, losing suction overnight. Still prefer the double sucker mount at the bike that holds the front wheel as wheel. Don't like the idea of single point of failure for rear of bike when using the single cup. But, never any failures so far. Very handy to keep the single one in the boot all the time as it takes up very little room.

[The_Jackal]

Why buy the "cheap" rack for a Porsche?
That looks well dodgy with just a bit of foam under the seat.

[klootzak]

The_Jackal said:

Why buy the "cheap" rack for a Porsche?
That looks well dodgy with just a bit of foam under the seat.

Haha ... maybe I should have said "minimal", which was what I had in mind when I bought it. It's a Seasucker Hornet and is definitely designed as a complete rack.

It does look dodgy, for sure, but it's actually quite secure.

The Hornet rack is designed primarily to be hung on a hatchback or SUV. Because these are usually close to vertical, the saddle would rest rather more lightly on the bumper.

With a Cayman it's more horizontal so the tip of the saddle has a lot more pressure on it, hence the foam (which I had kicking around and is a lot bigger than actually needed).

k

[klootzak]

BenjiS said:

Indeed. I’m not sure you’re supposed to use it like that. I thought the single strap suckers were supposed to be used to hold a wheel steady. Certainly that’s how I use mine, and it doesn’t wobble with the bike on.



Brilliant purchase, now use it on my XF which can’t take a ‘traditional’ rack, and a couple of direct adaptors mean it can take road or mountain bike.

It's a Seasucker Hornet and is definitely designed as a complete rack. Albeit a minimal one.

Reason for choosing it was that the version like yours can't fit unless the front mount is suckered to the roof , which I wasn't keen on (with the front wheel mount on the glass, the rear wheel mount sits where the rear spoiler and boot lid meet, so won't work).

It looks dodgy, but actually isn't.

k

[13aines]

There are some even cheaper alternatives. Look up Rockbros and Palfa.

Rockbros get some good reviews on bike forums if you search google, and a single bike one can be had for about £80. A short while ago they were about £70. I've been considering getting one for a while now, but not so keen now the prices have risen a little, i'm not in a rush.

[keith2.2]

Given the value of what it's holding, and the potential for harm / damage if it fails - it doesn't seem like something that's worth trying to save money on? The difference is half a tank of petrol or a most of a new tyre.

I was looking at ratchet straps to tie my S2000 to a trailer a few years back. Initially i baulked at the idea of spending 100 quid on straps when I could get them for 20 off ebay.

Then I took a moment to think about what I was strapping to what - and al of a sudden it stopped being 'how much?! for a ratchet strap?!' to the price of knowing the car was secure.

[Fastpedeller]

Is this for real? All it takes is an air leak and there could be carnage. Have these devices been approved in any way? Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned and belt&braces, but I wouldn't want to put the safety of my bike (and more importantly the lives of people following) on a few rubber suckers!

[whatleytom]

I've got a seasucker on an Ftype. Seems to work very well touch wood. It's a bit faffy to setup but not too bad. Had a few minor issues with the cups not quite sealing, but seems to be solved by ensuring the pumps and join to the cup are well greased up to stop air escaping.

Have taken it down some worryingly bumpy roads with no issue. The other annoyance is security, its not the sort of thing you want to leave unattended, as its exceptionally easy to undo the suckers and remove the whole bike.

Funnily enough the bike will go in the back of the car with rear derailleur and seatpost removed, so I just use the seasucker for trips less than an hour.

[henrycrun]

thread a continuous cam strap through the windows and bike just in case you loose suction and another at the back to the rear lashing eye

Edited by henrycrun on Saturday 25th May 16:50

[Scabutz]

I saw a Pinarello Dogma on the back of a Ferrari once using a suction pad rack. I was impressed by the amount of trust that person had.

[MarkJS]

I used to have a Seasucker (the proper one) and it was fine. A bit of a faff in comparison to something like a Thule bike carrier but did the job. Just remember to secure the pedals/crank to prevent rotation in transit as you can make a mess of your paintwork if you don’t.