Finally got a bike rack

[Rotus]

http://www.showyourmedia.com/files/1241795867.jpg

[GoFast]

very nice. i wonder if there is any loss in mpg's with something like this?

[Rotus]

very nice. i wonder if there is any loss in mpg's with something like this?

I'm sure there is, but I'm rarely on the highway now that I've moved closer to work.

[Hank3]

Looks great! When I had my Yakima gear on my Subaru, I noticed 1-2 mpg less driving in town. Highway may be a little more?

[buttdart]

what did that run? i am looking into one.

[mazdaspeedster3]

I have a Thule on my car and dont notice much loss at all unless the bike or ski box is on top. Just the rack though I can get my ussual 300 miles out of a tank with 50/50 driving.

Looks nice man! I like the look with the rack on top.

[fithos]

The foot pack is not Yakima, is it?

[Rotus]

what did that run? i am looking into one.

Got the control towers, cross bars, fairing and one Steelhead tray with all the locks and a key for $180 from CL. The Landing pads (part that bolts to your car) were not the ones I needed, so I picked those up from REI on sale and used my divident ($50). So $230 total for a setup that normally runs over $500.

FWIW, Yakima has redone their fitment utility and now gives you the option of either landing pads+control towers OR Q-clips+Q-towers. The Q's are the ones that clip to your car. I prefer the LP+CT, but it means you have to drill your rain gutter trim pieces or get the Canadian piece with the cutouts.

[Rotus]

The foot pack is not Yakima, is it?

Yes, Yakima LP11. They just redid their fitment software to give you the option of either LP or q-clip.

[squidmotion]

looking at this as well.. looks high enough for a surfboard to clear the wing....

and no, i don't want to hear, 'you shoulda bought a truck'... i have one of those as well. what if wife needs the truck? not gonna stop me. :)

[Rotus]

yup, should work with a board. Yakima makes some crossbar pads and straps specifically for surfboards.

http://www.rackattack.com/dynamicimages/productimages/yakima-crossbar-pads.jpg

[Hyun]

damn looks nice.

[shaftwagon]

anyone know if a hanging style bike rack will work on the MS3? I'm solely a biker and want get at least 2-3 on the car while saving some cash. These are the style that hang off the back over the hatch area.

[mazdaspeedster3]

They will, I have put a two bike on the rear when I first got the car and didnt have the rack on yet.

$230 is super cheap. I am not a fan of Yakima though and prefer Thule. The Yakima seems to sit lower than the Thule. I have the towers on the Mazda 5. They are nice but I am not drilling into my roof on the speed.

[shaftwagon]

The hanging rack seems like the way to go to save $$$ and requires minimal install. Is there a disadvantage to it?

For the past 5 years I've always put my bikes in the cabin but would like the option of not having to take the wheel off every time and taking more than 2 bikes/passengers.

[Rotus]

The hanging rack seems like the way to go to save $$$ and requires minimal install. Is there a disadvantage to it?

For the past 5 years I've always put my bikes in the cabin but would like the option of not having to take the wheel off every time and taking more than 2 bikes/passengers.

only thing I can think of is scratching where the rack rest on the car and the clips/straps if they touch the paint.

[Kain]

Nice rack!

http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/Oktoberfest.jpg

[Oneurt]

The hanging rack seems like the way to go to save $$$ and requires minimal install. Is there a disadvantage to it?

For the past 5 years I've always put my bikes in the cabin but would like the option of not having to take the wheel off every time and taking more than 2 bikes/passengers.

I have a hanging bike rack right now, and if you attach everything carefully you won't hurt the paint, but I just dont like the idea of having no access to the hatch once its on. I did notice that the bottom part where the rack sits on the bumper forms a small indent. Its not permanent just seems like there's too much weight on that point which is really strange.

Currently I'm looking at other options like a roof or possibly a hitch so I can transport my bike.

[eg6motion]

only thing I can think of is scratching where the rack rest on the car and the clips/straps if they touch the paint.

I had my tint guy put on some clear 3m on the top and bottom for where the clips attach. Works well so far. But I never trust these type of racks for long distances...roof or hitch is best.

[ottawaP5]

I just installed a fairing on mine last week, and I highly recommend it. It really cuts down on the wind noise.

[pointysticks]

you do have a bike right?

[jeffdevo]

my thule bike rack and bikemounts do no need you take wheel off works great, especially with those light weight bikes!

[BadBandar]

Looks good. I jsut installed a yakima rack on my ride too. Im not using mine for bikes im going to strap my snowboards up there.

[Rotus]

you do have a bike right?

Lol, yus.

MTB = Old School Ibis Mojo (sebastopol frame), Easton carbon bar and seat post, flight saddle and HED hedlight/taillight wheels.

Road = box stock Schwinn Circuit

Fun = 50's era Columbia cruiser (I don't think I'll be putting this up on the rack.)

[madvillian]

thinking about getting one of these as well, i just picked up a cervelo for super cheap. approximately how much does the whole rack combo weigh would you say?

[Rotus]

thinking about getting one of these as well, i just picked up a cervelo for super cheap. approximately how much does the whole rack combo weigh would you say?

I think around 40 lbs (load bars are 8lbs x 2, 4 landing pads are 3.4lbs, the four control towers are 4.1lbs, the fairing is 3.2 lbs and the bike racks are around 5 each depending on which you choose.)

[Max Freed]

Having had both styles of racks (roof and hitch) I have come to the conclusion that the hitch rack works best for me. Try driving into a low overhang with a $3000 mountain bike on the roof and you'll see what I mean.

I recently installed a hitch rack on my MS3, and I couldn't be happier. The install went smoothly, and the bike carrier can be installed or uninstalled in less than a minute.

[nullmod]

http://www.showyourmedia.com/files/1241795867.jpg

Looks great! Can you post some close up photos of the landing pads (where they meet the roof)?

Thanks!

[shaftwagon]

Having had both styles of racks (roof and hitch) I have come to the conclusion that the hitch rack works best for me. Try driving into a low overhang with a $3000 mountain bike on the roof and you'll see what I mean.

I recently installed a hitch rack on my MS3, and I couldn't be happier. The install went smoothly, and the bike carrier can be installed or uninstalled in less than a minute.

which hitch rack do you have on your MS3? I am also leaning on going this route to forgo stuffing bikes into the cabin. I'm a road and mtn biker as well.

[Max Freed]

I'm using a Bauer revolution - it's pretty old, but works well for carrying a single bike. Wouldn't recommend it for more than one though, it's difficult securing two bikes properly and they will get scratched from being so close to each other.