2018 Best Car for Bike Owners Megathread
02-01-18, 05:27 PM
#26
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Lexus GX/ Toyota 4Runner
02-01-18, 07:56 PM
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I have a Mazda 5. Underpowered, but still fun to drive. I can put 1 56>, maybe 2 in the back without folding seats or removing wheels. Fold the rear seats and maybe 5 laying them down. With seats folded it will carry 4×6 sheets of plywood. I also have a Chevy Express 3500 extended frame van. 12 feet between the back door and the front safety cage. Open the cage door and you can haul 16ft boards or siding. Only seats 2 though.
02-01-18, 09:29 PM
#29
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While I disagree on the hassle of removing a thru axle wheel (I find it nearly as fast as a quick release, other than needing to first locate an appropriate hex key for my flush thru axles), I am curious if you manage to fit an assembled bike in the back of a Forester with the seats up. This is a HUGE deal to me because kids = car seats in the back row so even if I am not hauling the kids I need to deal with those seats. Removing and reinstalling those is far more hassle than even taking both wheels off a bike.
Got the same problem myself.
Dave
02-01-18, 09:55 PM
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The best car for bike owners is not a car, but a small van.
Anything which requires pulling your bike apart is not ideal.
I know it only takes a moment to pull off a wheel or two, put in wheel bag etc, but this shouldn't be required for "the best car".
Laying a bike down is sort of ok if you only have one bike to carry, but two and you start looking for blankets, padding etc. Which also disqualifies it from "best car".
I have a Renault Kangoo which is extremely ugly and far from being the ultimate drive.
But because I can put my bike in complete and upright it is always my first choice (I have other cars and a stationwagon) for when I need to transport my bike.
Anything which requires pulling your bike apart is not ideal.
I know it only takes a moment to pull off a wheel or two, put in wheel bag etc, but this shouldn't be required for "the best car".
Laying a bike down is sort of ok if you only have one bike to carry, but two and you start looking for blankets, padding etc. Which also disqualifies it from "best car".
I have a Renault Kangoo which is extremely ugly and far from being the ultimate drive.
But because I can put my bike in complete and upright it is always my first choice (I have other cars and a stationwagon) for when I need to transport my bike.
02-01-18, 11:16 PM
#31
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While I disagree on the hassle of removing a thru axle wheel (I find it nearly as fast as a quick release, other than needing to first locate an appropriate hex key for my flush thru axles), I am curious if you manage to fit an assembled bike in the back of a Forester with the seats up. This is a HUGE deal to me because kids = car seats in the back row so even if I am not hauling the kids I need to deal with those seats. Removing and reinstalling those is far more hassle than even taking both wheels off a bike.
Understood and agree about car seats. I don't miss that, though having a daughter at a top 10 engineering school has its own set of challenges. It would be easier to bleed hydraulic brakes than deal with car seats.
For the record and just cause I love this pic... It is small compared to most SUV's.
Cohutta Mountains, North Georgia, on the way to ride gravel.
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 02-01-18 at 11:25 PM.
02-01-18, 11:36 PM
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Anything Subaru. I'm partial to the outback. So comfortable on long trips with great gas mileage. But also that thing will go off road like nobodys business. All wheel drive puts you at some places I like riding at but can't get to in 2 wheel drive.
02-02-18, 10:25 AM
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Full size pick up. Fits the bike without removing ANY thing from said bike plus all the camping gear for the trip if necessary.
Jon
Jon
02-02-18, 10:36 AM
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Agree on the pickups. Haul three car seats in the back of my F150, and all the cargo I need in the bed. I don't think you can beat that versatility, unless you are live in urban areas where driving a pickup is a hassle.
02-02-18, 10:59 AM
#35
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My 2002 Ford Escape - the smallest vehicle I could find that could hold the bike, inside, upright. I attached a fork mount to the spare wheel cover.
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02-02-18, 11:01 AM
#36
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In addition (only applies to some of us, but applies to me), a pickup is too big. Other places parking lots are created with girth for plus-sized pickups.
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02-02-18, 02:12 PM
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I'd still prefer a fork mount, and honestly when I was racing I didn't want my bicycle and other stuff on the outside of the vehicle.
In addition (only applies to some of us, but applies to me), a pickup is too big. Other places parking lots are created with girth for plus-sized pickups.
In addition (only applies to some of us, but applies to me), a pickup is too big. Other places parking lots are created with girth for plus-sized pickups.
Jon
02-02-18, 11:05 PM
#38
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I'll start. Honda Element. Hands down. Seats fold up to the side. French doors open wide. Fits a full size Thermarest sleeping pad for camping out at Gravel races. They are in high demand and price is commensurate. My neighbor refers to hers as "my not for sale Honda Element."
I'd rather go for a more upscale SUV ... I'd get both the utility for cycling and the comfort I want for day to day driving.
02-03-18, 03:27 PM
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Thumbs up for the Bigfoot- there's a guy who knows his fiberglass RVs!
02-03-18, 09:41 PM
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The best car for bike owners is not a car, but a small van.
Anything which requires pulling your bike apart is not ideal.
I know it only takes a moment to pull off a wheel or two, put in wheel bag etc, but this shouldn't be required for "the best car".
Laying a bike down is sort of ok if you only have one bike to carry, but two and you start looking for blankets, padding etc. Which also disqualifies it from "best car".
I have a Renault Kangoo which is extremely ugly and far from being the ultimate drive.
But because I can put my bike in complete and upright it is always my first choice (I have other cars and a stationwagon) for when I need to transport my bike.
Anything which requires pulling your bike apart is not ideal.
I know it only takes a moment to pull off a wheel or two, put in wheel bag etc, but this shouldn't be required for "the best car".
Laying a bike down is sort of ok if you only have one bike to carry, but two and you start looking for blankets, padding etc. Which also disqualifies it from "best car".
I have a Renault Kangoo which is extremely ugly and far from being the ultimate drive.
But because I can put my bike in complete and upright it is always my first choice (I have other cars and a stationwagon) for when I need to transport my bike.
You're assuming that the bike owner would be satisfied with something other than a car, or at least that bike owners would have more than one vehicle at their disposal to meet their varying needs.
Clearly the most convenient vehicle to transport a cyclist and bike(s) is a high-roof Sprinter or the like. But that's not a car, and it's far from an ideal vehicle for bike owners to be driving around pretty much any other time - i.e., most of the time, when they don't need to be accompanied by a ride-able bike.
For some - especially those with more than one vehicle at their disposal - taking wheels off is a "deal breaker." OK, but like you say, they can't have a car then.
For me, and I suspect for a lot of others who would own only one vehicle, namely a proper car, being ugly and generally oversized is the "deal breaker," and taking the wheels off the bike is the right thing to do.
