Discussion
Some advice please!
I have an A4 estate but I'm becoming a little tired of playing tetris when it comes to transporting two bikes. It also won't help when we want to take our bikes to France as we won't have anywhere to keep anything else!
The convenient option seems to be the roof rack. the problem is I drive around 700 miles per week and I'm told roof racks can reduce MPG by a noticeable amount (and they can be noisey). Is this true? Is it just as inconvenient to take them on and off as putting the bike in the boot?
The only other option I see are the racks which attach to the boot. I've not used one of these before, are they convenient? Do they take long to fit when needed?
Cheers
I have an A4 estate but I'm becoming a little tired of playing tetris when it comes to transporting two bikes. It also won't help when we want to take our bikes to France as we won't have anywhere to keep anything else!
The convenient option seems to be the roof rack. the problem is I drive around 700 miles per week and I'm told roof racks can reduce MPG by a noticeable amount (and they can be noisey). Is this true? Is it just as inconvenient to take them on and off as putting the bike in the boot?
The only other option I see are the racks which attach to the boot. I've not used one of these before, are they convenient? Do they take long to fit when needed?
Cheers
FYI the rear mounted racks also reduce mpg. I’ve not bothered to take any accurate measurements but I have had bikes rear mounted on some older cars (Mini Cooper s, passat estate, e46 estate). A noticeable amount of extra throttle was required to maintain speed and extra fuel was no doubt used. I drove our golf estate with two bikes on the roof yesterday and noticed about 5mpg down approx. All I’m saying is I’d not buy one type over the other just because of fuel. I personally prefer rear as I can see the bikes but that’s my paranoia! Also rear mounted maybe cheaper for ferry/tunnel due to less height?!
I’ve just had Thule Wing Bars and a ProRide 598 fitted. Around £300 fitted.
It took the guy no more than 10 mins to fit the entire system. I intend on leaving it on the car pretty much 24/7 but at 700 miles a week I’m guessing it’s going to hit you in fuel costs if you don’t fancy taking it off.
I reckon I lost 5-10mpg on a 20 mile round trip last night while the bike was on, not sure what it’d be like when it’s just the rack.
Noise wise (without the bike) I heard nothing until I hit around 55mph, then got a little louder between 55-70 but not too disturbing. If I had music on in the car even quietly I wouldn’t have heard it.
When I had the bike on I didn’t get above about 40mph but didn’t notice any noise.
It took the guy no more than 10 mins to fit the entire system. I intend on leaving it on the car pretty much 24/7 but at 700 miles a week I’m guessing it’s going to hit you in fuel costs if you don’t fancy taking it off.
I reckon I lost 5-10mpg on a 20 mile round trip last night while the bike was on, not sure what it’d be like when it’s just the rack.
Noise wise (without the bike) I heard nothing until I hit around 55mph, then got a little louder between 55-70 but not too disturbing. If I had music on in the car even quietly I wouldn’t have heard it.
When I had the bike on I didn’t get above about 40mph but didn’t notice any noise.
RS4 - roof mounted bars and 4 bikes and a boot full of gear - Aberdeen to Middle England 24 mpg instead of 27 mpg so not a considerable loss
I run 3 seasons with bike racks on and then most of the winter with just rails on. I put the rubber strips back in the groove over the winter to make it quiet. It whistles if they are left out
I only leave the rails on because it took the black coating off a couple of wee bits years ago and managed to get the rails replaced under warranty ( wee bit of a battle)
I run 3 seasons with bike racks on and then most of the winter with just rails on. I put the rubber strips back in the groove over the winter to make it quiet. It whistles if they are left out
I only leave the rails on because it took the black coating off a couple of wee bits years ago and managed to get the rails replaced under warranty ( wee bit of a battle)
If you have an estate should be easy to get a tow bar fitted?
I use to have roof bars on my old 3 series, it was fine but cost £200, and loading/unloading even a sub 8kg road bike wasn't 100% easy. Cannot say I noticed much change in mpg though, probably because the car only did 25mpg most days anyways
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I now use a £40 removable tow bar carrier nearly every day. It's so much easier to load/unload the bike. It also takes about 5 seconds to detach from the car. Weekdays the carrier stays on the car as it's used for my commute. Weekends it comes off as we can than use the boot as normal. The tow bar I just leave on the car.
I use to have roof bars on my old 3 series, it was fine but cost £200, and loading/unloading even a sub 8kg road bike wasn't 100% easy. Cannot say I noticed much change in mpg though, probably because the car only did 25mpg most days anyways
.I now use a £40 removable tow bar carrier nearly every day. It's so much easier to load/unload the bike. It also takes about 5 seconds to detach from the car. Weekdays the carrier stays on the car as it's used for my commute. Weekends it comes off as we can than use the boot as normal. The tow bar I just leave on the car.
Thule 4 bike tow bar carrier here on an f31.
Yes you loose 4mpg but I can whizz along at speed.
I also don’t have to lift them up and mount them on the top, they are really easy to mount.
I’ve considered a roof version to stick on my 205GTI for spirited one man expeditions but the fear of my bike falling or dropping mud all over it puts me off......plus the forgetting about it and height restrictors!!
Yes you loose 4mpg but I can whizz along at speed.
I also don’t have to lift them up and mount them on the top, they are really easy to mount.
I’ve considered a roof version to stick on my 205GTI for spirited one man expeditions but the fear of my bike falling or dropping mud all over it puts me off......plus the forgetting about it and height restrictors!!
Edited by Simes205 on Thursday 4th June 08:04
I've got roof rails, bars and bike racks (INNO INA389s which a waaaaaaaaay better than the flimsy Thule offerings) and a towbar rack.
It's towbar mount all the way for me - roof mounting causes bother with ferries (over a certain height some (Brittany) charge quite a lot extra), buggers up mpg and curtails driving fun (we went to Bavaria - didn't want to push it over 80 and even at 80 the mpg effect was pretty drastic), the bars and the bikes to make a noise and there is the constant worry of them coming off whizzing round a bend (not such a problem with the INNO carriers) or going under a height restrictor.
Towbar rack will cost a lot more but is more than worth it.
It's towbar mount all the way for me - roof mounting causes bother with ferries (over a certain height some (Brittany) charge quite a lot extra), buggers up mpg and curtails driving fun (we went to Bavaria - didn't want to push it over 80 and even at 80 the mpg effect was pretty drastic), the bars and the bikes to make a noise and there is the constant worry of them coming off whizzing round a bend (not such a problem with the INNO carriers) or going under a height restrictor.
Towbar rack will cost a lot more but is more than worth it.
I've recently purchased the Thule Express 2 bike towbar rack and it takes just seconds to fit & remove the rack.Add a few more seconds on for hanging the bike, and the trailer board. Very light, quick and easy, and cost £55 from Decathlon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001N3L4D0/?coliid=I16...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001N3L4D0/?coliid=I16...
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