[Closed] Yakima Highroad vs Thule upride

I've got one of the highroads and really like it compared to the two thule 951s that I have for the other family bikes (the 951 was a lot cheaper that the highroad, and in stock, when I went shopping earlier in the year). Build quality and features/ease of use is ahead of the 951 in pretty much every way for me.

It fits my 29" XL Chameleon and Hightower (longest wheelbase somethign like 1215 mm according to the SC website) in OK but I think I have the back wheel bracket just about as far back as it will go. The only thing (apart from the cost) that makes it less than perfect for me is that it won't work with small wheels.

Cheers dude, really helpful feedback. Unfortunately worries me a bit as I think my Ripmo is something like 1235 :/

Oh bum, and another thought -am I going to go from having to take my bottle cage off all the time to having to take my RRP Proguard Max off?!

I run an RRP proguard max on my 650b trail bike and have a highroad carrier. The tyre loop bars sit comfortably either side of it (a relief as I did not realise this might be an issue prior to purchase!).

They are really nice units, very well built. The downsides I've found are that the tyre loop bars don't lock down when not in use which I find a bit unnerving but hasn't been problem really.

Excellent, sold! Thanks very much, mine of useful info here!

I’ve got a 591 and I’m so bored of taking the bottle cage off bikes to put them on the roof.

My solution to this was to switch to fidlock bottles. Might be a cheaper option and the fidlock system is ace.

That's a good shout re: Fidlock. I may have to do that, my new bike (Santa Cruz 5010) doesn't quite have enough space to clamp below the water bottle.

Re: racks though, there's a cheaper Yakima one, the Frontloader. Any reason not to go for that one?

I had the frontloader for around 5 years, left on the car almost all the time alongside 2 older thule prorides. I recently removed them all from the car and found that the yakima had completely rusted through under the main front clamp, the thules were both fine though. For that reason I'm planning to replace the frontloader with an upride.

I have a Highroad and it fits my Rallon XL 1253mm wheelbase it is close to the limit but strap holds it fine. It is very easy to fit and use.

I’m currently in the market for a bike rack that can hold a 1240mm (48.8”) 29er and the Highroad is looking good but I’m
A little hesitant with Yakima stating it can only take max 1220mm (48”) bikes.

Any feedback from owners managing to use this bike rack with longer wheelbases?

I had a highroad with a Privateer 161 P3. It just fit. The sliding rear wheel mount was close to the end stop. Also my full moxie 1250mm WB. High speed on road use with I30n through borders twisties no issues.

Is the moxie a 29er? I assume you don’t have the Highroad or the 161 anymore?

Yeah 29er. I got the rack still. Used a few times. Also the Tlock kit. Use a bikestow van rack now.

It must have literally been at its limit as I’ve seen 1220mm bikes on the rack sitting pretty far back.

1250mm Moxie FS 29er just fine. The slider is about half inch from the end cap.

By stop you mean the security cable housing?

Does the wheel rest on the security cable housing or still supported by the sliding tray?

Well mine arrived Thursday. Will hopefully put it together and try my 1237wb 29er in the next few days and report back.

That would be great, thanks.

The sliding rear wheel plate with the strap rests fully on the aluminium channel. The wheel is always on the locking strap plastic plate. Never off it to the rear or resting on the end cap.
I can muscle in my XL norco torrent and its maxed out with 1277 wb. So the rear wheel plate is then flush with the end cap. Like in the picture above. Would not go any longer than that. Not ideal but never ever came loose, even with hard pulls on a turbo hatch.

I have the Highroad. With a sized medium Santa Cruz Tallboy (2021 v4) mounted the rear sliding tray is all the way back against the stop (lock housing) and ideally it would move maybe 20mm further back  - so the plastic ratchet strap sits at say 25mins past rather than 30mins past the hour if that makes sense . This has no functional issue but mildly annoys me.

I think they need to release a v2 .

it holds the bike securely/firmly  but my feeling is aside from not holding the bike by the frame (crucial along with how firmly it held the bike) my old Thule ones that clamped the down tube were superior  (they sit a little lower making mounting the bike easier for shorter people , the clamp quick released and the attachment to the Thule roof bars quick release).

My frames are quite a bit longer than the tallboys 1187mm. Slider is not flush. I need to throw in a bike in it and get some pics.

That would be great, I know there’s always some flexibility in the official max wheelbase stated by manufacturers but it would be good to see what can still be used.

Any more comments about max length? I need it for an XL 5010 - which is long (1260mm) but depending on how it works I might get half an inch more clearance with only 27.5 (vs 29er) wheels?

There doesn't seem to be much in it price-wise between the Thule Upride and Yakima Highroad. Tempted to go Thule, my 591 has been impeccable for 7 years of almost daily* use.

*Yes, really. I used it as part of a commute as well as at weekends.

I’ve been looking at these for my ebike, has anyone run an ebike on one of these?

My ebike is under the 20kg limit when that battery is removed but the clamp on my current Thule can’t get around anywhere on the frame. I have no issues lifting my ebike up and down on my Polo and tow hitch etc isn’t an option.

As someone who has owned both carriers I would say that the thule is the better option.

It's lighter and has more fitment options. Most importantly, it's made of aluminium.

The Yakima, though simpler to use than the thule, rusted away faster than a lancia in a salt bath.

@jrdk15 Apologies for the delayy, finally got around to a test fit.

A ML Aeris 120 fits with no issues at all. However, 1237 WB Ripmo AF is a lot more borderline.

Currently wondering whether to send it back or not. Availability on the Thule is crap at a reasonable price at the moment, and I've had bikes on racks with similar fitment for years with no bother.

I have a Thule 561 and struggled to fit a large Bird AM9 (1265mm wheel base) onto it. But if you turn the handle bars 180 degrees and mount that way it fits a treat.
Handy little hack in the world of expanding wheelbases