Roof carriers for AM/Full suspension bikes

h34e0f

So I'm looking into getting an AM over the coming months. Top targets so far include the Santa Cruz Blur LT and the upcoming Commencal Meta AM.

However, from what I've picked up from general readings, not all roof mount carriers fit these style bikes.

Has anyone got any experience as to good systems that can hold these, but can still hold a regular HT frame?

I'm looking for either wheel on / off design (although wheel on is preferred), however if I have to get a wheel off version, it needs to be available for all types of axles - as I'm not sure what I'll be getting yet!

weeksy59

Thule Outride, goes onto the fork legs, i use it for a Meta... superb

h34e0f

From what I can tell, a fork mount one is my only option? I guess it's the most diverse type of fixing. I guess I can put up with the annoyance of having to replace wheels & adjust brakes before a ride for the added compatibility...

Thanks for the info.

Eskimo427

I have a Lapierre Spicy, Scott Spark 20 and a GT Avalanche and they all fit into this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... e=shopping

Driven 1k's of miles on and off motorways (at speed) and they have and still are great.

From what I can gather they are the same as Thule ones just a little cheaper!

scale20

Just watch your warranty with the roof carriers where you take the front wheel off and QR the forks to the carrier. I know that DT swiss fork warraty would be void if you transported your bike this way and it damaged your dropouts.

I had the halfords ones linked above, although they were sturdy I didnt have much faith in them, they only clamped either side of the downtube unlike the Thule proride 591 which clamps onto your downtube on the top and bottom. They are bombproof.

h34e0f

scale20 wrote:

Just watch your warranty with the roof carriers where you take the front wheel off and QR the forks to the carrier. I know that DT swiss fork warraty would be void if you transported your bike this way and it damaged your dropouts.

I had the halfords ones linked above, although they were sturdy I didnt have much faith in them, they only clamped either side of the downtube unlike the Thule proride 591 which clamps onto your downtube on the top and bottom. They are bomproof.

How do they fair with external cable routing?

Eskimo427

scale20 wrote:

I had the halfords ones linked above, although they were sturdy I didnt have much faith in them, they only clamped either side of the downtube unlike the Thule proride 591 which clamps onto your downtube on the top and bottom. They are bomproof.

My mate did it the other way round, he had the ones which clamped on the top and bottom but didn't have any faith in them so swapped for ones like mine. I suppose it's what you comfortable with. My thinking is with them clamping the sides and the wheels being strapped down theres nowhere for the bike to go, even if the clamps aren't that tight.

It's all obviously personal preference and what you prefer.

lostboysaint

The Halfords ones linked are their version of the Thule 530 Freeride rack and are a good copy.

I have the Thule rack and use it for journeys up to an hour or so (if Im going further I use the towbar rack - 9503) and it's always performed flawlessly. The "side" clamping of the downtube is as safe as the "above and below" of the 591 simply because you've got the wheels clamped in so it's not going to roll back or forward out of the clamp. The 591 has been known to release and then the bike fall over sideways (there are threads on here about it!).

h34e0f

Extra straps will fix that

nicklouse

the thule 591 is fine as well.

mowflow

My boss's friend had his bike nicked off the roof of his car. It was locked into a Thule 591 at the time.

nicklouse

easy to do.

how long was it left out side his house/work etc...

h34e0f

I've never got the point in locking the bike to the rack, when someone can just pull the rack off, or the roof bars.

lostboysaint

h34e0f wrote:

I've never got the point in locking the bike to the rack, when someone can just pull the rack off, or the roof bars.

Depends how well secured they are.

Let's face it, if someone wants your bike then they'll find a way to get it. All the locks in the world aren't going to stop them but they may act as a deterrent.

mowflow

Everything apart from the bike was still present and intact. The car was only outside the house for 10 minutes (according to him) in a posh part of Glasgow in the middle of the afternoon.

scale20

h34e0f wrote:

scale20 wrote:

Just watch your warranty with the roof carriers where you take the front wheel off and QR the forks to the carrier. I know that DT swiss fork warraty would be void if you transported your bike this way and it damaged your dropouts.

I had the halfords ones linked above, although they were sturdy I didnt have much faith in them, they only clamped either side of the downtube unlike the Thule proride 591 which clamps onto your downtube on the top and bottom. They are bomproof.

How do they fair with external cable routing?

The bottom clamp jaw has a slight 'V' shape to it so your cables sit in that, that way it doesnt clamp down on the cables.

Your bikes are pretty safe on the thule stuff, I was happy to leave mine on there in the street, not over night though. The roof rack bolts and locks to the car, the bike carrier locks to the roofbar and bike carrier locks to the bike. Clamped down well you would have a battle getting it off.

nicklouse

mowflow wrote:

Everything apart from the bike was still present and intact. The car was only outside the house for 10 minutes (according to him) in a posh part of Glasgow in the middle of the afternoon.

do not believe that. if they could rip the frame out of the clamps then it would have fallen out on its own accord.

mowflow

To be fair the guy is a bit of a fuckwit so who knows.

meesterbond

mowflow wrote:

Everything apart from the bike was still present and intact. The car was only outside the house for 10 minutes (according to him) in a posh part of Glasgow in the middle of the afternoon.

A posh part of Glasgow??? Therein lies the problem.

To keep on track, I've used a Thule 951 for the last 2-3 years and it's been excellent, even clamping carbon downtubes without issue. The QR mounted ones always make me a little uneasy.

I wouldn't leave a bike on it, even locked, out of my sight for a second though!

leaflite

Ive got the halfords advanced one linked to earlier and have had no problems with it. Im told that it is made by thule in the thule factory and is identical to the freeride 530. Ive seen a bike fall out of the 591 thule whilst going round a roundabout, so I think that whilst it is a little more difficult to attach bikes to, the halfords advanced one is the better option for most bikes. Ive heard that some specialized bikes (such as the pitch) dont fit so I would check before you buy.

getonyourbike

On the bike front, look at the Yeti SB66 too

scratchy27

I've the Halfords Advanced racks too and can't fault them.....but for peace of mind i do wrap a bungee around the wheel straps just in case

tomtomthepipersson

I have the Thule version of the Halfords one above - works fine. The only slight negative is it does squeeze against the brake hose on my Trance. Have used it on 4 different bike so far and all are held pretty solidly.

I usually bung a cable lock on it as a deterrent and use a webbing strap wotsit if i'm going any distance (motorways etc).

BlueAdvocate

I have the Atera Giro AF and I have used them to clamp my Trek (FS) and Spesh (HT). Also clamped the family's bikes which have cable routing on the down tube, I tend to wrap a little cloth around here. No problems everything remains secure; used on long journeys.