Convince me Seasuckers are 100% reliable
Discussion
Evening all,
With a change of weekend cars, I ordered a Seasucker kit to transport the bike out to the hills, much more fun for than taking our boring estate car, two hobbies in one.
So kit arrived, set it up this evening and it does feel very solid, but can't even bring myself to leave the garage to test.
Tested vertically hanging the bike off the conservatory window for an hour and it held firm... but.....
Anyone got prior experience? Reviews are all great.
With a change of weekend cars, I ordered a Seasucker kit to transport the bike out to the hills, much more fun for than taking our boring estate car, two hobbies in one.
So kit arrived, set it up this evening and it does feel very solid, but can't even bring myself to leave the garage to test.
Tested vertically hanging the bike off the conservatory window for an hour and it held firm... but.....
Anyone got prior experience? Reviews are all great.
I've got the Rockbros suction bike rack which is a Chinese knock off, I was really nervous but so far it's been great and Ive had no problems. I left it suctioned to the glass on the patio doors for a couple of days before I used it and it didn't budge!
I've been upto 70mph, travelled in high winds, on tight twisty/uneven roads and it's stuck like a limpet.
The only thing that really concerns me is forgetting it's there and going under the height restriction barriers in car parks etc. I remember seeing a suspiciously cheap Systemsix for sale when someone went under a height restriction, it wrecked their bike and the roof of the car wasnt in a great way afterwards!
I've been upto 70mph, travelled in high winds, on tight twisty/uneven roads and it's stuck like a limpet.
The only thing that really concerns me is forgetting it's there and going under the height restriction barriers in car parks etc. I remember seeing a suspiciously cheap Systemsix for sale when someone went under a height restriction, it wrecked their bike and the roof of the car wasnt in a great way afterwards!
No paint damage to report from the rack, I just wipe the roof with a cloth to remove any grit etc. beforehand.
I did however scratch the roof with the forks as I used to put the rack on the roof first and then add the bike which was fiddly and I dropped the bike by mistake. I now connect the bike and rack first and then lift it was one complete unit to stick it to the roof.
I put my front mount on the very edge of the metal roof just before it meets the glass, the metal seems stiffer and reduces any flex. I wasn't sure about putting it on the glass as my windscreen is heated and I didn't want it to break as they're expensive.
I did however scratch the roof with the forks as I used to put the rack on the roof first and then add the bike which was fiddly and I dropped the bike by mistake. I now connect the bike and rack first and then lift it was one complete unit to stick it to the roof.
I put my front mount on the very edge of the metal roof just before it meets the glass, the metal seems stiffer and reduces any flex. I wasn't sure about putting it on the glass as my windscreen is heated and I didn't want it to break as they're expensive.
Random84 said:
No paint damage to report from the rack, I just wipe the roof with a cloth to remove any grit etc. beforehand.
I did however scratch the roof with the forks as I used to put the rack on the roof first and then add the bike which was fiddly and I dropped the bike by mistake. I now connect the bike and rack first and then lift it was one complete unit to stick it to the roof.
I put my front mount on the very edge of the metal roof just before it meets the glass, the metal seems stiffer and reduces any flex. I wasn't sure about putting it on the glass as my windscreen is heated and I didn't want it to break as they're expensive.
That's interesting, I did ponder about attaching it to the bike first. Assume you put the bike upside down first, fit the seasuckers then lift on? That would at least avoid the pads touching the ground and being "contaminated". I did however scratch the roof with the forks as I used to put the rack on the roof first and then add the bike which was fiddly and I dropped the bike by mistake. I now connect the bike and rack first and then lift it was one complete unit to stick it to the roof.
I put my front mount on the very edge of the metal roof just before it meets the glass, the metal seems stiffer and reduces any flex. I wasn't sure about putting it on the glass as my windscreen is heated and I didn't want it to break as they're expensive.
I use the knockoff Rock Bros one and have been all over the country with it and have had it holding everything from a 10kg XC bike, 15kg Enduro and 25kg E-Bike, it has been fine with all of them.
only thing i would say is that i've used it with a panoramic roof and a standard one and it definitely feels better attaching it to glass, when i do it to a metal roof you can sometimes hear / feel the metal flexing under the load which is disconcerting, the problem with the pano roof is that you spend most the drive looking through it to check the bike is still there rather than looking at the road
only thing i would say is that i've used it with a panoramic roof and a standard one and it definitely feels better attaching it to glass, when i do it to a metal roof you can sometimes hear / feel the metal flexing under the load which is disconcerting, the problem with the pano roof is that you spend most the drive looking through it to check the bike is still there rather than looking at the road
BRR said:
I use the knockoff Rock Bros one and have been all over the country with it and have had it holding everything from a 10kg XC bike, 15kg Enduro and 25kg E-Bike, it has been fine with all of them.
only thing i would say is that i've used it with a panoramic roof and a standard one and it definitely feels better attaching it to glass, when i do it to a metal roof you can sometimes hear / feel the metal flexing under the load which is disconcerting, the problem with the pano roof is that you spend most the drive looking through it to check the bike is still there rather than looking at the road
Think I'd be more concerned putting it on a panoramic roof as they are more expensive to insure due to them breaking, A metal roof won't break. only thing i would say is that i've used it with a panoramic roof and a standard one and it definitely feels better attaching it to glass, when i do it to a metal roof you can sometimes hear / feel the metal flexing under the load which is disconcerting, the problem with the pano roof is that you spend most the drive looking through it to check the bike is still there rather than looking at the road
Remember seeing this a few years using the sucker mount bike carriers.
https://blog.dupontregistry.com/news/635555/mclare...
https://blog.dupontregistry.com/news/635555/mclare...
Secure your cranks, they can spin round and the pedals hit your roof. Think about the flight deck mount for the rear as it gives you two suckers, otherwise single point of failure, and you can put your front wheel in it as well. And check your wiper blades don’t hit them.
Edited by murray on Thursday 1st June 21:20
I second the secure your cranks statements, there’s a mark on the roof of my 911 the 1 time I forgot.
Mine is the Seasucker bomber which takes 2 bikes with 4 suckers. Big speed with 1 bike, 75ish with 2 no problem, hooning all ok too. I tend to put it on the night before a long journey to check the suckers aren’t slowly loosing vacuum, as long as the roof is clean it is very rare for them too. Even fitting in heavy rain for a return journey didn’t cause any problems, with just a micro fibre to get rid of the worse of the water before fitting.
I put the rear sucker on the wheel before fitting to the car, then remove the the cover and lift on to avoid getting dirt from the tyres where the sucker needs to go.
Find a stiff bit of your roof to attach it, on the Passat there’s a section between the A & B pillars which deflects when there’s 2 bikes on. I tend to use it fully forward.
Mine is the Seasucker bomber which takes 2 bikes with 4 suckers. Big speed with 1 bike, 75ish with 2 no problem, hooning all ok too. I tend to put it on the night before a long journey to check the suckers aren’t slowly loosing vacuum, as long as the roof is clean it is very rare for them too. Even fitting in heavy rain for a return journey didn’t cause any problems, with just a micro fibre to get rid of the worse of the water before fitting.
I put the rear sucker on the wheel before fitting to the car, then remove the the cover and lift on to avoid getting dirt from the tyres where the sucker needs to go.
Find a stiff bit of your roof to attach it, on the Passat there’s a section between the A & B pillars which deflects when there’s 2 bikes on. I tend to use it fully forward.
murray said:
Secure your cranks, they can spin round and the pedals hit your roof. Think about the flight deck mount for the rear as it gives you two suckers, otherwise single point of failure, and you can put your front wheel in it as well. And check your wiper blades don’t hit them.
Two very good points, pedal contact would be a disaster, I know how much of a mess they make to my shin Edited by murray on Thursday 1st June 21:20
As for the wipers, hadn't crossed my mind and will definitely make contact since it's such a small windshield. Might need to put all contact pads on the roof.
Took a brave pill and did a 50 mile round trip to biking today. Must admit, I did stop every 5 miles or so to check it, but no issues. Solid setup.
Attaching the bike to the platform before putting it on the car is much easier and safer.
It just needs to earn my trust before I can fully relax!
Attaching the bike to the platform before putting it on the car is much easier and safer.
It just needs to earn my trust before I can fully relax!
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