jefnvk

I've recently wound up with a new-to-me Fusion that came with an Inno square bar roof rack system. Looking around, I notice there are quite a few options on the actual carriers that go on the system, generally varying between front wheel on and front wheel off. I'm curious as to which people prefer more, and why. I do have multiple bikes, a mountain bike, a dirt rail trail setup road bike, and the actual road bike, if one system is easier to setup between different rides. Taking the front wheel off is no concern on any of them.

I am set on using the roof system. I'm coming from an old Blazer, where I just left the back seats down and loaded the bike in the back, so the slight fuel mileage hit is certainly not a concern over the 14MPG that thing got. I use a Saris trunk mounted racks on the girlfriend's car, and I've really never cared for the perceived lack of stability nor how well it actually holds the bikes on the rack itself. I've got no interest in adding a trailer hitch, and I've been rear ended enough to not like having bikes there for either of those options anyways.

FBinNY 

I've always preferred fork mount systems.

They lower the overall profile and might save on air drag somewhat, but my real reason is height.

I can easily lift and mount a bike using the fork blade and someplace on the frame, and the bike will stay put once the fork is on the mount's axle. The fork blade is a nice place to hold the frame because it gives me good control against the bike torquing out of my grip.

With both wheels on, the fork is now one foot higher, and out of my reach on many cars, so I find the wheels-on racks harder to use. But I'm sure that many others have equally valid reasons to go the other way.

Canker

I had a yakima front loader, wheel on, and a cheap thule fork mount I used the yakima for my bikes and the thule when I needed to carry two. If this is something you are going to use once a month then it isn't as big of a deal to take the wheel off but doing it twice a week sucks plus you still have to stick the wheel somewhere. The advantage of the fork mount is they seem more stable but in reality the little bit of moving the bikes do with the wheel on racks doesn't hurt anything, you just have to get over it. Besides not having the pull the front wheel off all the time the big advantage of the wheel on racks is they work with any axle standards without using funky adapters. Thru axles are pretty much the norm now on mtn bikes and are starting to show up on road bikes. Some wheel on racks will require some adjustments to switch from one wheel size to another, my yakima did, and some don't like a thule sidearm. I'd avoid the style that hold the bike by the frame. Besides there being some odd frames that might not fit they also rub the paint.

WizardOfBoz

I'm pretty sure that it will be useful for someone to know, and I hope it's appropriate, that I have two BMW fork-mount racing bike racks for sale on ebay.

StanSeven

I just left mine on my BMW when I traded it in. I didn't think there would be owners interested in buying mine. Hopefully you find someone and it's easier than I thought.

cale

I bought a Thule Criterion upright mount when I got a bike with a 15mm thru axle fork and wanted to retain the opposing QR tray-mount for a second bike. I was reluctant to put faith in the "brace-bar" but haven't had any issues as yet. (4 months)

mtnroads

I have always used fork mounts, for over 15 years now. Very solid, even at high speeds, driving long distances. For some reason it just bothers me to see bikes on a rack with front wheel on, sitting up so high, and often wiggling back and forth. That said, a couple of my mtb's now have the newer thru-axle that may require an adapter? Not sure how that works. Haven't needed to transport them as I've been living overseas.

fietsbob

I liked when cars had raingutters.. 1 low cost rack Had wheel trays the length..

X uprights, each wing nut tightened hooks grabbing down tubes ..

Wheels, with Mudguards, (This is Oregon after-all ) remain in place.. [And Touring Low Rider front Racks]


Without gutters there are so many adapters needed to use on each make and model of car
Leaving it on is probably a Good solution.. at least the cross bars

you have to buy something else to adapt to your next, And the bars with the next car anyhow . ..

WizardOfBoz

I hope so. They're good quality, but I'll probably use a trailer-hitch model on the back of my SUV, so I don't need them. If they don't sell I can give them to goodwill or something.

Looigi

The highest point on my bike is the saddle at 97cm. With the front wheel off and the forks in the holder the rear end of the saddle is 94 cm high. Not a huge diff.

jefnvk

Awesome, thanks for the replies! Seems like the fork mount is the slight favorite, especially as taking a wheel on and off isn't much of a concern to me. It'll give me something to look for deals on over the next couple months, as I have yet to try out this snow biking thing!

fietsbob

Just don't leave the front wheel leaning alongside the car and drive off without it !

indyfabz

Heh. Started to do that once after a hard event ride. Fortunately, someone alerted me to the mistake after only a few feet.

indyfabz

And the car/bike(s) combo with a fork mount system looks
the coolest.

mtnroads

Yes, but it's easy to drop the seatpost if you're going any distance at all. But mainly it's the more direct and solid connection to the rack obtained with the fork mount that is so appealing.

StanSeven

I've had both kind of roof racks. I drive fast plus have been in so every strong near hurricane type winds. The fork mount is substantially sturdier feeling.

Canker

Wheel on racks hold plenty strong as shown by my pic. That is what happens when your cable company are idiots that refuse to hang their lines high enough to keep them from being knocked loose by garbage trucks. That happened TWICE yes TWICE. It is also why I use a hitch rack now.