5 bikes on a roof?

[Harleyboy]

Evening,

I could use some help please?

Planning a boys cycle trip to Annecy in August. 5 of us are going and hoping to do so in one car. We had thought of renting bikes but its quite expensive and we fancy taking our own bikes anyway.

So, has anyone had 5 bikes on the roof? The car I’m taking doesn’t have a towbar, so we are in for a roof mounted option and with carbon bikes we’re looking at wheel clamping options, not frame.

If it’s relevant the car is a BMW with BMW OEM roof bars.

We could probably do 4 on top and one in the boot...

Thoughts welcomed!

[WestyCarl]

I regualrly take 4 mtb's on a roof with no issues, could probably get another one up there.

If you struggle for width, remove pedals and alternate which way the bikes are facing.

[leyorkie]

Road bikes, MTB’s or even 5 e-bikes?
Roof rack max load will be around 75kg including rack.
Check your handbook or it could be on your rack guess the weights and take it from there.
You could take wheels and pedals off to put in the boot.
You see them on the Tour de France team cars but they’re 7kg bikes

[Tony1963]

Which model of bmw?

Five people, five bikes, five lots of luggage. Some spares... I’m guessing/hoping it’s bigger than a 1 Series!

[bltamil1]

I’ve done it on a Navara no problem.

I had the Thule aero bars and five of their Pro-ride carriers. I had to assemble them so the bikes were alternately facing forward and backward to fit them across, but once they were on it was fine.

Bit of a long way up mind, so getting the one in the middle on involved some huffing and puffing!

[Harleyboy]

Hi,

Good questions - it’s not a 1 series! Either a 3 series touring or an X6. X6 is preferable as biggest inside. Good shout on removing pedals.

All are road bikes, ave 8-9kg each. Limited luggage which means should get a frame with wheels off in the boot. Seems 4 is comfortably manageable

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

The success of this comes down almost entirely to how much usable mounting width there is on the bars and how much width each bike carrier needs. Pretty hard to answer without knowing this.

Also need to know what age the 3 series touring and X6 are so the dynamic roof load can be looked up. The touring is likely to have a 75kg limit. The X6 might be 100kg. 5x 9kg bikes, plus carriers at 4kg a piece, plus the bars is getting on for 75kg.

[numtumfutunch]

Do it properly

Check out recent tweets from Barney

https://twitter.com/BarneyStorey/

[Harleyboy]

mstrbkr said:

The success of this comes down almost entirely to how much usable mounting width there is on the bars and how much width each bike carrier needs. Pretty hard to answer without knowing this.

Also need to know what age the 3 series touring and X6 are so the dynamic roof load can be looked up. The touring is likely to have a 75kg limit. The X6 might be 100kg. 5x 9kg bikes, plus carriers at 4kg a piece, plus the bars is getting on for 75kg.

Both cars are current models 2020 cars. The 3 series (G21) is mine, the X6 (G06) a colleagues who will lend it to me for the trip.

Thanks for your help/comments everyone

[Harleyboy]

numtumfutunch said:

Do it properly

Check out recent tweets from Barney

https://twitter.com/BarneyStorey/

That looks like a serious rack! Also looks a bit ‘scratchy’!

[anonymous-user]

Harleyboy said:

Both cars are current models 2020 cars. The 3 series (G21) is mine, the X6 (G06) a colleagues who will lend it to me for the trip.

Thanks for your help/comments everyone

The G21 roof load limit is 75kg and the G06 limit is 100kg. This includes the roof bar weight remember. I think width of the mounting points of the 5 racks will be your biggest obstacle though. As an example, a Thule 591 is 32cm wide. If you alternate the direction you might squeeze 5 into 120-130cm but that's a ridiculously wide bar!

[Harleyboy]

mstrbkr said:

The G21 roof load limit is 75kg and the G06 limit is 100kg. This includes the roof bar weight remember. I think width of the mounting points of the 5 racks will be your biggest obstacle though. As an example, a Thule 591 is 32cm wide. If you alternate the direction you might squeeze 5 into 120-130cm but that's a ridiculously wide bar!

Yep, the X6 is the best bet, especially for interior space for 5 blokes. I think we may need to go for 4 bikes on top and one in the boot. All the kit is quite pricey so we’re not saving anything compared to bike rental - but we do all then have a bike carrier each!

Really appreciate your help - we’re discussing the trip logistics later so at least I have something to contribute!

[anonymous-user]

Harleyboy said:

Yep, the X6 is the best bet, especially for interior space for 5 blokes. I think we may need to go for 4 bikes on top and one in the boot. All the kit is quite pricey so we’re not saving anything compared to bike rental - but we do all then have a bike carrier each!

Really appreciate your help - we’re discussing the trip logistics later so at least I have something to contribute!

Actually, what am I saying - 120-130cm is not ridiculously wide. But I don't think you'll get 5 on bars that size. It might be pushing 160cm which Thule do sell, but it comes down to what bars you guys already have.

[leyorkie]

I just bought a used Saris Bones rear rack for £40 for the one car I have without a tow bar.
You could buy one then sell it on when you return it will take two bikes easily. Only problem is that you can’t open the rear when its on.

[PHlL]

5 on the roof is absolutely fine, provided it fits.

You can normally get 4 up there which are in the upright position with both wheels. These have to be alternated to make space for the gigantic clamping arm.

Personally, I'd get 5 of the front fork clamped down bike racks and you'll fit 5 on the roof. Obviously you'll have to store the 5 wheels in the boot, which might be tight being 5 up. This is by far my preference. I know the clamp arms are safe, but I cannot stand having the front wheels wobble. You also far less wind noice with a fork clamp instead of clamp arm. And I get the peace of mind the bike isn't moving anywhere.


Edit: I've only had 4 on my car (C-Class Estate, but definitely room for a 5th with fork clamps. I've got a Thule Wing Bar 127cm - sticks out a bit, but these also fit the family GLE). I have Thule OutRide bike racks which are only 22cm wide. It's tight, but confident it'd fit.

Edited by PHlL on Saturday 27th June 09:53

[frisbee]

By the time you've bought 5 new roof bike holders, how close are you to a tow ball and a bike rack? Or just hiring the bikes down there...

[Harleyboy]

frisbee said:

By the time you've bought 5 new roof bike holders, how close are you to a tow ball and a bike rack? Or just hiring the bikes down there...

They are company cars so can’t go and fit a towbar sadly. I know what you mean about cost. The difference is that each person gets to keep their new bike carrier attachment this way rather than ‘losing’ it on rental. And we get to ride our own bikes.

[Harleyboy]

PHlL said:

5 on the roof is absolutely fine, provided it fits.

You can normally get 4 up there which are in the upright position with both wheels. These have to be alternated to make space for the gigantic clamping arm.

Personally, I'd get 5 of the front fork clamped down bike racks and you'll fit 5 on the roof. Obviously you'll have to store the 5 wheels in the boot, which might be tight being 5 up. This is by far my preference. I know the clamp arms are safe, but I cannot stand having the front wheels wobble. You also far less wind noice with a fork clamp instead of clamp arm. And I get the peace of mind the bike isn't moving anywhere.


Edit: I've only had 4 on my car (C-Class Estate, but definitely room for a 5th with fork clamps. I've got a Thule Wing Bar 127cm - sticks out a bit, but these also fit the family GLE). I have Thule OutRide bike racks which are only 22cm wide. It's tight, but confident it'd fit.

Edited by PHlL on Saturday 27th June 09:53

Thanks - I’ve seen that style of rack so will take another look.

[Pothole]

Left field idea:

Buy a crew cab van and sell it when you get back.

This kind of thing

[xcesx]

I had the Thule wing bars on my last car and I got 4 bikes on the roof. If i'm honest it was a faff, they had to alternate and go a certain way to fit them all on. I ended up putting 3 on the roof and one in the boot after that as it was way quicker.