I was honestly hesitant about buying this bike rack, particularly given the comparatively low price tag. But I couldn't justify spending hundreds on something I only needed a few times a year, especially for a bike that's old enough to vote. Since I drive a Prius hatchback, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find an affordable option that would work with my car – until I found this little gem!
PROS:
- STORAGE BAG: I love the fact that it comes with a storage bag, to keep it compact and organized when not in use. Without the bag, it would be more challenging to store and transport, particularly with all the straps involved.
- EASY TO ASSEMBLE: The instructions are remarkably clear and comprehensible, with options for multiple body types. It took a little bit of study the first time to get it assembled and attached to the car (mainly because I was paranoid about doing it wrong), but from then on, it's a piece of cake.
- SURPRISINGLY STURDY: I was wary about the stability of any folding/collapsible model, but when it's snapped into place and strapped to the car, it doesn't budge!
– UP TO 2 BIKES: There's room for 2 bikes on this rack, although I've only used it for 1 so far. But I like that I have the option for a second bike.
CONS: I only have 2 minor quibbles, but they're not big deals to me, particularly as the rack is so high quality yet affordable otherwise:
- STRAP FRICTION: This one is kind of unique to the design of my car than to the bike rack, but worth considering. The straps are your standard heavy-duty ribbed design, which makes them super strong, but it also means that the straps could damage the finish on your car if they're allowed to rest against the body at any points of tension/friction. The design of my car necessitates that they rest at the point where the hatch bends from a gentle slope to being perpendicular with the road, so to avoid wear or friction damage at that point, I simply wrapped that portion of the straps with electrical tape, which seems to have worked great.
- NOT AS STRAIGHTFORWARD FOR SLOPING CROSSBARS: If you're transporting a male bicycle with a [nearly] horizontal crossbar, you won't have any issues. But if you have a female bike or one with a heavily sloped crossbar, you're going to have to get creative to keep it from riding too high on the rack to be stable/secure or so low so that one side drags along the ground. There are adaptors you can buy separately to accommodate for this, although I haven't tried any of them personally.
CONCLUSION: Well worth the price, and I've actually gotten a lot more use out of it than I'd initially anticipated. Highly recommended!
| Color | Red/ Black |
|---|---|
| Brand | Allen |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | 17 x 6.5 x 4 inches |
| Load Capacity | 70 Pounds |
| Mounting Type | Strap |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00765271002107, 00765271002008 |
| Manufacturer | Allen Sports |
| UPC | 765271002107 765271002008 |
| Model | MT2-B |
| Item Weight | 7.26 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17 x 6.5 x 4 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | MT-2 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Manufacturer Part Number | MT2-B |
