Internal bike rack???

[tranzformer]

Anyone ever seen an internal bike rack for the p5? If you have one or have seen them could anyone post a site with them? Thanx

[Sain't]

ya me too

[yella]

.... whats with this internal rack thing?? I have to haul my BMX all over the place on a bike rack or in the hatch..... If there is a ninja style rack that goes inside I wanna know NOW!!

[bcubed]

.... whats with this internal rack thing?? I have to haul my BMX all over the place on a bike rack or in the hatch..... If there is a ninja style rack that goes inside I wanna know NOW!!

i'm guessing it would be a quick release style fork clamp. i know performance bike sells one for a truck bed. it would probably work for bmx bikes, but nothing bigger.

[Sain't]

Yeah, I would have take off the seat of my mt. bike if I was gonna use that.

[sylvanlights]

I have actually done this - but no, I don't have pictures, sorry!

All that I did was purchase 2 Yakima "Blockead" fork mounts (#01117 - $20USD) and mounted them to the top of my rear seat-backs. The back of the Protege5 is JUST long enough to allow a mountain bike or road bike. It would have TONS or room for BMX. If I ever manage to get some pictures, I will post them here.

PM if you have questions ...

-=D

[Dimitrios]

Blah...so you bolted them to the seats themselves?

I'd rather something much less intrusive on the interior..

[sylvanlights]

Well, the seat-backs are only fabric covered ... if/when these are ever removed, there would be very little evidence of them ever being there. The bolts I used were fairly small, sorry, I can't remember the size. By "massaging" the fabric after removal it would be very difficult to tell.

-=D

[Dimitrios]

So it's 'bolted" to the fabric? Is there anything solid behind it?

[sylvanlights]

It is bolted through the fabric to the sheet-metal frame of the seat-back. Give your seat-back a good knock, and you will see what I mean. The frame is made easily accessible by the convenient zippers that Mazda installed. Zip open, drill holes, zip shut, bolt fork-mount, enjoy. Super-simple, and it looks nice and clean!

-=D

[Dimitrios]

Beautiful..I'll take a gander....pics if you can too :)

[yella]

.... im going down to my local bike shop this weekend...... good old jonny will hook me up with a couple of them dealio's and the rest will be history!! Why wasn't I intelligient enough to consider doing that.....

sweet!

[Dimitrios]

I'm still going to keep my roof mounts - for a road bike, that's cool.

Unless I had some sort of a washable interior where I can hose it down, my mountain bike goes on the roof. It's usually muddy as all hell when the ride is done.

[sylvanlights]

Yella - let us know how it works out for you. It's pretty straight forward, but let me know if you've got any questions.

The best part is that you will now be able to load the back with two bikes - and because they are standing up, there will be TONS of room left over for your other gear.

-=D

[Dimitrios]

Quick question. Can you fit two bikes in there comfortably? I'd love to see pics of the bikes inside.

[Sain't]

Here's how I usually roll. You can see what a tight fit it is anyway you cut it. I guess if I can cram it in without taking anything apart, that trumps getting an internal rack.

[sylvanlights]

No problem getting two bikes in there - you could probably manage 3 if the handlebars sat at different heights.

Sorry, I do not have a digital camera, but I will try to get a few images scanned in and posted up!

-=D

[BeNegative]

can fit 2 full sized mountain bikes and a small trick bike in mine w/ a lil manipulation (no need 4 taking the front tires off...and i never tried putting 3 full sized mountain bikes in); however, u have 2 take the wheels off 4 the sedan and only a mountain bike and a trick bike can fit (barely). we have a nice paved bike trail here so no worries about mud on this side. if it's a prob; y not cover the backs of your seats w/ plastic trash bags or something. it's quick, fast, and u can trash it after each use.

[xis]

Pix would be really great, thanks for going through all the hassle! I would really like to try your method. Nicer to have the bikes IN the car; can't trust people these days sadly.


No problem getting two bikes in there - you could probably manage 3 if the handlebars sat at different heights.

Sorry, I do not have a digital camera, but I will try to get a few images scanned in and posted up!

-=D

[Johndg]

I welded one for my pocket blike. It fits two. I sold ot though. I will look for old picks.

[esracer]

No problem getting two bikes in there - you could probably manage 3 if the handlebars sat at different heights.

Sorry, I do not have a digital camera, but I will try to get a few images scanned in and posted up!

-=D

Just wanted to mention that the whole idea of getting the bike on a fork mount is to stablelize the bike when your driving to and from the trail. This means it won't move around (damaging your interior)when your railing around turns. But, Also for security reasons as well.

I've been considering something like this for awhile only cause i have trails near work, and I park in an underground parking structure, so naturally I can't make use of my rockymounts bike rack at work. So it would be nice to roll with my bike in my car, securely mounted.

My only question is in regards to clearance, I have a 5 inch travel fork, (Adjustable to 4) and WIDE handlebars on my mtnbike. I have a dual suspension bike and its kinda long. So I'm not sure if I can get it to fit. I'd be happy just putting one bike in. Although, I'm not down with the idea of drilling those fork mounts into my seats. I would think that the handle bars would have more room near the hatch? and rear tire near the front seats. And of course, removing my seat post. Ok..I'm done rambling.

Thanks,

[Dimitrios]

esracer.

Those are my concerns as well. Mud can be dealt with by putting a tarp down or something. Having to push the seat post down isn't a huge deal either.

I ride a hardtail myself now, but those of you that ride something huge like a dualie will need make sure it'll fit.

Good stuff in this thread though.

[sylvanlights]

Admittedly, I ride a true XC hard-tail. It fits without any issues - enough length, height, and width. This solution may not be for everyone, but it has worked for every bike that I have tried to fit. I have a friend who rides a huge frame (23" maybe) and it fit. I have had dual suspension frames back there as well, a bit tight, but they fit. So far, road, XC, DH, and BMX have all been fine. Extremely long-travel forks that are super tall might be an issue. Crazy-wide handlebars may also prove a pain. Length would be an issue too, but I haven't found a bike that was too long yet (A friend and his wife ride a tandem ... but ... no!).

I had originally planned to mount the forks toward the hatch. But there is not nearly enough clearance. A bikes front fork is nearly vertical when mounted to a surface, and the hatch angles surprisingly sharply toward the front of the car. This forces the fork-mount towards the front of the car (into the middle of the trunk-floor) and doesn't leave enough length to fit the bike. Tried it - it doesn't work.

It's pretty easy to test-fit your bikes guys! Just pop your front wheels off and stand your bikes up in the back. Slide your forks to where the fabric of your seat-back meets to upholstery and try to shut the hatch. If you've got the clearance, you're set. If it's a bit tight, swing the rear of the bike towards the middle of the car (it's a bit longer there) and it might fit. If you're still short, this won't work for you.

I also have a full Yakima rack system as well as a 4-bike hitch rack - for the bikes that REALLY won't fit. Or for the days that I'm riding with four other guys. But it sure is nice to cruise around apres riding knowing that the bikes are safely secured inside the car!

I am trying to borrow a friends camera tomorrow, and I will have pics up. Wish me luck!

-=D

[Dimitrios]

good luck..

[esracer]

Admittedly, I ride a true XC hard-tail. It fits without any issues - enough length, height, and width. This solution may not be for everyone, but it has worked for every bike that I have tried to fit. I have a friend who rides a huge frame (23" maybe) and it fit. I have had dual suspension frames back there as well, a bit tight, but they fit. So far, road, XC, DH, and BMX have all been fine. Extremely long-travel forks that are super tall might be an issue. Crazy-wide handlebars may also prove a pain. Length would be an issue too, but I haven't found a bike that was too long yet (A friend and his wife ride a tandem ... but ... no!).

I had originally planned to mount the forks toward the hatch. But there is not nearly enough clearance. A bikes front fork is nearly vertical when mounted to a surface, and the hatch angles surprisingly sharply toward the front of the car. This forces the fork-mount towards the front of the car (into the middle of the trunk-floor) and doesn't leave enough length to fit the bike. Tried it - it doesn't work.

It's pretty easy to test-fit your bikes guys! Just pop your front wheels off and stand your bikes up in the back. Slide your forks to where the fabric of your seat-back meets to upholstery and try to shut the hatch. If you've got the clearance, you're set. If it's a bit tight, swing the rear of the bike towards the middle of the car (it's a bit longer there) and it might fit. If you're still short, this won't work for you.

I also have a full Yakima rack system as well as a 4-bike hitch rack - for the bikes that REALLY won't fit. Or for the days that I'm riding with four other guys. But it sure is nice to cruise around apres riding knowing that the bikes are safely secured inside the car!

I am trying to borrow a friends camera tomorrow, and I will have pics up. Wish me luck!

-=D

Thanks for the Feedback, I see what your staying with the handlebars closest to the hatch. It does angle sharply. I give it a try, and see if I can't jimmy rig something together.

[jonlong]

What about a hidden hitch and hitch rack? Anyone do this?

[sylvanlights]

Jonlong - I've done it as well ... let's keep this on topic though. I will start another thread tomorrow when I have images. Have the camera to do so, and will add images of the internal rack here as well.

-=D