I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, and am going to be taking a trip this summer on which I'd like to bring my bike. Does anyone have any recommendations on brands to check out / avoid?
(Not interested in roof racks.)
Thanks.
Saris Bone, installed properly with the wheels secured as well. Not much can beat this one with a car with a trunk. A poor install can be an issue but if you do it right you will be fine.
Just be aware that all of these racks will damage the paint.
I picked up a Thule raceway at rei last year for my Subaru hatch. Could not be happier with it. racheting straps mean not loosening straps enroute. Dial in fit does all the prep sizing for you. Very stable on turnpike the day of the big rain that lead to Wash Blvd flood. not cheap, but well worth the investment for me. (and, as an aside, check rei settlers ridge..they had a couple thules in their garage sale area (in store) this past weekend.
I have the 2-bike version of the Saris Bone. I like the concept, but I've had a couple issues with the execution:
- the arms rotate around a central tube for adjustability, however the lock is a relatively soft plastic bolt that screws into the aluminum... in my experience they are hard to get tight and tend not to stay put well, especially the one for the center (trunk-lid brace) arm.
- for obvious reasons, the hooks require a certain amount of gap between the trunk lid and the frame of the car; the trunk lid also has to be relatively flat or shallowly curved at the edges. My rack mounts fine to my '01 Honda Civic, but won't go on my partner's '03 Hyundai Elantra because of some weird scalloped edge they put around the trunk lid.
I'd still buy it again anyway (though I'd try to get it from somewhere with a good return policy).
My rack is about 3-5 years old--one thing I notice immediately is that this review says that "The instructions say not to exceed 60mph"; mine said 45mph. They may have redone certain aspects.
Are there really speed limits on racks?
Yikes...
