Bike Rack for a Honda Civic?

Nuggs
Nuggs Posts: 1,804
edited March 2008 in Workshop
Hi Gang

I'm after a bike rack for my 2007 Honda Civic.

The slight wrinkle is that it has a glass roof, so unless I fork out the £300 which Honda are asking for, a roof rack's out of the question (I've spoken to Thule who tell me the roof's not strong enough for their products).

So - I was thinking of either a Saris Bones 3 or else an XRack3, but have no idea about whether either will fit.

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone else use these systems on their Civic, or could recommend another option?

Thanks in advance!:)

Comments

  • explosifpete
    explosifpete Posts: 1,327
    Have you looked at the tow bar racks? they are easyer to store, use and don't feel like your bike is gonna fall off mid corner
    http://www.iwaxstudio.co.uk/
  • Inverted8
    Inverted8 Posts: 48
    Whats wrong with bunging it in the back?

    I've got a 5 door 08 Civic. Loads of room with the back seats down. You can even get 2 bikes in and a passenger.

    The false floor compartment is good for stowing away your bags.
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    Inverted8 wrote:
    Whats wrong with bunging it in the back?

    I've got a 5 door 08 Civic. Loads of room with the back seats down. You can even get 2 bikes in and a passenger.

    The false floor compartment is good for stowing away your bags.
    Hello Inverted - if I can get them to fit snugly without risk of damage, inside would definitely be a winner.

    I had my and the wife's bike in the back last weekend (folded the 'cinema' seats up and put them in. Trouble is, it took a tiny bit of paint off my bike. Part of the problem is that my frame's huge!

    How do you store them?
  • marco67
    marco67 Posts: 91
    Hi Nuggs

    I have a new shaped civic and I use these bars

    http://www.roofbox.co.uk/MSC01/

    I don't have a glass roof but the sales guys at The Roofbox Co. were really helpful and will be able to help with the glass roof. I use Atera bike carriers aswell and have had no problem with this set up with either road or mountain bikes.
    Ciao Marco
  • SteveR_100Milers
    SteveR_100Milers Posts: 5,987
    Also the Civic has the persepx rear window, and extensive plastic rear tailagte so a conventional rear mounted rakc is not advisable (I was looking for one for my Accord - both sites I found recommended not fiiting that type to the Civic).

    I'd say your best bet is either a tow bar version, or play the £300 with Honda...
    http://www.pontypoolrcc.co.uk/
    www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44397853765
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    SteveR_100Milers wrote:
    Also the Civic has the persepx rear window, and extensive plastic rear tailagte so a conventional rear mounted rakc is not advisable (I was looking for one for my Accord - both sites I found recommended not fiiting that type to the Civic).

    I'd say your best bet is either a tow bar version, or play the £300 with Honda...
    Thanks Steve - I guessed as much.

    Marco - I called the roofbox company. It doesn't look like anything will be suitable. Thule are pretty clear in their 'you will break your car' advice, and I don't like the way the Atera (sp?) racks clamp the down tube (assuming they're suitable; we're awaiting a response from Atera).

    So, I guess it's back to looking at ways of storing the bikes inside the car.

    Any top tips/products to help?

    Cheers!
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Good thread.

    I was toying with the idea of a Type S turbo-diesel as being more interesting than a Focus/Astra/etc and less money than a Golf GTI and still practical enough to just chuck a bike in the boot without any disassembly.

    If it's the MTB though and it's filthy, it's on a hang-on-the back rack.
    Hadn't really thought that this won't fit on that plastic rear window.

    Oh well, will have to wait for the diesel Impreza...
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    andy_wrx wrote:
    Good thread.

    I was toying with the idea of a Type S turbo-diesel as being more interesting than a Focus/Astra/etc and less money than a Golf GTI and still practical enough to just chuck a bike in the boot without any disassembly.

    If it's the MTB though and it's filthy, it's on a hang-on-the back rack.
    Hadn't really thought that this won't fit on that plastic rear window.

    Oh well, will have to wait for the diesel Impreza...
    If you go for a Civic without the glass roof, you can use a roof rack (Thule make one). The Civic's great. It's my first sensible car in a good few years and it's a great drive. The diesel versions are supposed to be torquey as hell.
  • SteveR_100Milers
    SteveR_100Milers Posts: 5,987
    The diesel Civic uses the same 2.2 iCDTi engine as currenly lurking under the bonnet of the Accord (though not the new one about to go on sale), and its the 2nd fastest Civic after the Type R. I'd guess that the Type R driver though would have to be in the mood to lose one as well, since the diesel is sooo torquey. (and the R isnt )
    http://www.pontypoolrcc.co.uk/
    www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44397853765
  • Inverted8
    Inverted8 Posts: 48
    Hi Nuggs

    I guess my frame is quite small (15 inch). How about taking the front wheels off the bikes, are they quick release?
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    Inverted8 wrote:
    Hi Nuggs

    I guess my frame is quite small (15 inch). How about taking the front wheels off the bikes, are they quick release?
    They are QR but my frame's mahoosive. I'll just stick to putting the 'cinema' seats up and covering the bikes with a blanket. It's a bit of a pain as the passenger seat has to be way forward to fit my frame in at an angle. Still, as long as it's not me in the passenger seat:wink:

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