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Got an old Thule towbar mounted rack like this
Love it but 2 minor concerns,
1. It doesn't really go wide enough for the newer LLS type bikes, I'm at the max but both wheels are almost hanging off
2. Will it take the wife's Ebike along with the g160 and a t130, I guess that's coming in at the best part of 45kg even with battery out.
I've had it 10+ years so it owes me nothing as I only paid £100 anyway.
So, are the newer Thule's better at taking LLS, or, what's the best alternative rack?
I'm in the same position.
Two boost lls bikes and it's struggling.
How many bikes do you need to carry?
If it's 2 max, I can recommend the Buzzrack E-scorpion 2, my bike is an XXL with a 1270mm wheelbase and it's fine.
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We had the same problem and ended up buying the Velospace XT with the fourth bike attachment.
On the one time we used it two ebikes and two 29er boosts fitted with ease both for length and width.
Its sat at the back of the garage just in case we need it as a couple of weeks after buying it got a great deal on a Tourneo Custom.
It is a quality bit of kit but not cheap. I suppose with the value of bikes its still worth it
I looked at the Thule Velospace XT and eventually went for the Atera ebike ML as it has slightly wider between bike spacing and longer wheelbase. Was a bit less expensive too, and has advantage of fully enclosed frame top tube loops rather than torque clamps, which always worry me with carbon frames !
Needs to carry 3
Thanks for the info up to now
Biggest problem we've found with ours is boost.
We've a four bike rack ( it's a Thule three bike rack with the add on) and my wifes new ebike needs a space leaving next to it due to the wider hubs.
Fortunately I've got some bars for the roof so I'll pick up a roof mount at some point.
You want the Atera Strada Ebike ML - designed for long wheelbase/e-bikes, 2+1 format. We use it for a Bird Aeris 145 and a Turbo Levo and it's perfect.
https://www.atera.de/en/atera-strada-e-bike.html
That looks good but does it allow a large boot door to open i.e. Berlingo?
Under EU regs racks can only be so wide, the Velospace XT is as long as Thule can make it whilst staying inside the rules.
Hence why many of the massive american style racks cant be sold here.
I think Thule and Atera approach it differently. The Atera is a flatter and the Thule is more curved, so you strap the wheels more 'inside' than straight down.
Fallen out of love with My Atera Evo (bulbs need to be replaced / re-fitted too often) ratchets have worn etc. Would try Thule next...
Still looking and thinking on this.
Watched this video and LOVE the Thule Velospace XT3 now.
There's one on Ebay for £400
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THULE-939-VELOSPACE-XT-3-CYCLE-TOWBAR-MOUNTED-BIKE-RACK/392637158043?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
or one 'returned' for £434 on roofbox.co.uk
https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php?type=accgen&qty=1&query=46602&discountgroup=12399&Tyre=
But this Atera Sport M3 is available for £250
Which is a decent chunk of change less.... Just watched the video on that too and really like that one as well LOL... Both seem excellent.
Well i bought the Thule. Job done...
Anyone want an old Thule 9503 for £75 lol
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Biggest box EVER !!!!
Well that was as they say, an interesting game of JEnga...
The rack is beautifully built, strong, sturdy, secure, lovely...
But the routing of 3 full suss bikes, i'm simply not seeing it... I can't get all 3 to route nicely so it works and secures them all well.
Speaking of securing, does anyone else think the tightening mechanism is VERY tight on them ? Until the click, you turn, turn, crush, crush, click.... Eeeeek.
Basically at least one of the bikes is at the wrong angle, almost touching the frame, not quite right, whatever you want to call it... it's not really happening.
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Try moving one or more of the clamps to the vertical sections, then you can run the arm under the downtubes and clamp a downtube from below. The closest bike you can try clamping part of a seat tube. Finally, try the bikes all facing the same way, 1st bike rolled left a bit, last bike rolled right a bit so the bars are all offset.
Tried all of that buddy. Didn't get anything 'right'
It's back in the box and £48 later it's on its way back to retailer. Painful
holly thread resurrection.
Was just looking at 2-3bike rack for wide long bikes.
Noticed with the Thule VeloSpace XT's you might get better spacing between bikes by going for the 2 bike option with a 3rd bike adapter than going for the pucker XT 3 bike.
Spacing for the XT2 is 250mm for the two main spacers + the space to the adapter - less than 250, but still you get bigger spacing for two bike.
rather then he XT3 were the spacing is 190mm for all three bikes.
just an observation.
Pendle... Simple and effective. Buy a 4 bike one and only install 3 carriers. Really spacious
Fallen out of love with My Atera Evo (bulbs need to be replaced / re-fitted too often)
Not just me then, after two trips back to Roofbox over bulbs/holders and then the lock failing, mine went back and was swapped for a Whispbar one (no complaints about the service from Roofbox). It’s a shame that such a nice rack (loved the roll away, rather than tilt, action) was let down by a “commodity” part like the lamp units.
Whispbar rack is much easier to fit and secure to the car. Still use extra locks & chains if it is going to be parked with bikes on for anything more than a fuel stop. Fits my 2018 T130 lengthwise (medium - no idea if it’s Boost or not), but rarely have more than two bikes on a three bike rack.
It’s a shame that such a nice rack was let down by a “commodity” part like the lamp units.
This. Mine's well out of warranty now, but the bulbs have been an utter PITA. Wouldn't be so bad if getting to them wasn't such a faff, and for some reason, one of my lens covers no longer seats properly into the base making reassembly even more of a pain.