Strap-on Bike Racks and SUV Spoilers

seannami on 13/04/2023 - 17:11
Last edited 13/04/2023 - 20:51

Does anyone happen to have experience with strap-on bike racks on hatches or SUVs with spoilers? I just received the rack, but no car yet (soon soon).

This is the rack: https://www.abcbikes.com.au/products/buzzrack-colibri-1-bike…

This is the bike: https://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/wisp-lite-womens-herita…

This is the back of the car: https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/800/533/app/uploads/202…

It won't be used enough to justify a towbar and hitch for one bike, just the odd trip to the bike shop or picking up the bike from work, maybe occasional drives to regional areas to ride around.

If you've used something similar, did you do anything special to protect/avoid the spoiler? Or recommendations if you know this kind of rack/car bodyframe? Car will be NVL so not really willing to test on the real thing without some idea of suitability. Rack listing didn't indicate anything about no spoiler until it arrived and I saw the "no spoilers" image on the box (though the image has a more prominent one than the car and the compatible SUV picture seems to have a teeny lip above the rear windscreen). Fitting list only includes a very limited list and none are recent small SUVs. 30 day return if it won't work (though it's interstate, so not sure about return postage).

ETA: Return post will be $40 (assuming they listed the right package weight), shipping wouldn't be included in the refund, so would lose $20 for initial shipping, before shipping the rack only cost $80 anyway so… even if it's not going to work well, is it really worth bothering returning considering the cost to return?

Poll Options expired

  • 12
    Return it- not worth the risk/ learn from my mistakes
  • 2
    Looks like it should be fine, give it a go
  • 0
    Worked for me, will be fine
  • 1
    Let it gather dust or pass it on- not worth returning, not worth risking the spoiler
Automotive

Comments

  • Drakesy on 13/04/2023 - 17:35
    +1

    I have one on a 2011 kia sportage (found the rack on the side of the road). Rack works fine. Although i'm not sure if mine has a spoiler, likely would put a fair amount of spot pressure on it.

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 17:42

      Thank you! Looks like a sportage has a thinner spoiler than the ZSEV as well, so I feel a bit more confident trying it when the car shows up!

  • iampoor on 13/04/2023 - 17:38
    +2

    Used one many years ago, the main pressure points are against the back of the car.

    the spoiler will likely make contact with the straps to the top, if you are concerned just use two pieces of foam as a barrier between the two and you will be fine.

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 17:43

      Thanks! I have some spare furniture scuff prevention things lying around, so might try those when the car gets here

  • Muzeeb on 13/04/2023 - 18:15
    +4

    Strap-on Bike Rack

    Sounds uncomfortable but a little kinky at the same time.

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 18:17

      Should have seen that one coming :p

      • deme on 13/04/2023 - 18:18

        Not if she take you from behind

      • Muzeeb on 13/04/2023 - 18:18

        I found the appropriate sub Reddit. Definitely looks uncomfortable.

        • deme on 13/04/2023 - 18:26

          Are you subscribing ᕕ╏ ͜ಠ ‸ ͜ಠ

    • spackbace on 13/04/2023 - 18:26
      +1

      Getting tyred of your jokes Muzeeb!

  • nizzkid on 13/04/2023 - 18:52
    -2

    Good idea to carry a bike for the inevitable moment when your poorly built car brakes down!

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 19:04

      Do you have lived experience with recent MGs, particularly electric? If so please share your issues, it would be good to hear from an owner, well-researched commentator or mechanic or whatever your perspective may be.

  • bargaino on 13/04/2023 - 19:15

    I gave up and just throw my bike in the back of the car, with rear seats down.

    But will your basket and mudguards make that tricky? You may need to remove the front wheel, but it has a quick-release.

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 19:19

      The basket is long gone, mangled when the bike fell down an embankment (blew over in the wind). Mud guards haven't been a problem with loading it into my current car. My current car is, however, much longer, not sure how easily it will fit in the MG. I haven't actually tried to quick-release the wheel. I will admit partly to going for the rack to avoid bike dirt in the new car.

      • bargaino on 13/04/2023 - 19:21

        You'll need to choose between dirt in the boot, and scratches on the outside.
        or avoid both by getting a towbar rack, but $$$.

        BTW, when did hatchbacks start getting called SUVs? A real SUV will fit a couple of trail-bikes in the back :-)

        • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 19:25

          Yeah, hesitant to get a towbar and hitch ($$$) for only occasional bike transporting, especially on a car that won't be towing- it has a 500kg capacity, but not sure that's worth it once you add trailor weight.

          Others have suggested adding extra foam around the straps/hooks, and I think the rack is about the right size that the majority of it will rest on glass rather than paint. You do raise a good point though, cheers.

          As for the hatch/SUV thing, I'm with you on that one- I think they do it cause SUV sounds "cooler" than hatch or something. Now it seems to be down to bonnet length and seating height and that's about it- a hatchback sized car cover is actually larger by measurement than this car needs (wider, anyway).

  • FoxJump on 13/04/2023 - 19:48
    +1

    we carried three adult bikes in a vw golf convertible from Sydney to Melbourne and back using a similar mount

    was fine except for two small ding on the boot. you wouldn't see them unless you were looking for them in the exact location

    you'll be fine

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 19:50

      Were they where the hooks went into the boot seams, or where the rack itself rested on it? (to see where extra padding may be in order)

      • FoxJump on 13/04/2023 - 21:22

        it was where the rack rubber feet rest upon the vertical part of the boot near the numberplate

        also, dont forget your aux number plates if it covers the normal ones, and lights if it covers the lights at the back

        • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 21:25

          good point- I found a picture of it on a CX3 and it was up on the back window, but will see how it sits. May also need an adaptor bar for the bike…

          Bitten off more than I can chew :p.

  • rumblytangara on 13/04/2023 - 20:13

    Crikey, that link to the bike could have done with a 'this will make your eyes bleed' warning :)

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 20:17

      Yeah, mine is blue, not bright pink!

  • sumyungguy on 13/04/2023 - 21:17

    SeaSucker suction mounts, no paint damage, pricey but worth a look

  • Brian McGee on 13/04/2023 - 22:01
    +1

    I had a friend with a craptiva that bought a rhino rack version and it tore the spoiler off. Return it and get some roof racks or a tow bar.

    • seannami on 13/04/2023 - 22:07

      Thanks for the information! Do you know if they had hooked it to the spoiler, or was it just the downward pressure from the straps and it was hooked to the boot seam? After a proper look, a few big SUVs with similar little lip things are listed on the fit guide, and the Captiva's seems to stick up a bit more.

  • lordra on 13/04/2023 - 23:15

    I read it as strap on racks and clicked on it.
    Disappointed.

  • ESEMCE on 14/04/2023 - 07:41
    +1

    No way that can work IMHO.
    There's very few cars that rack could work with, looks like you'd need to be driving one of those cube cars or a commercial van with a vertical rear.

    You need a strap on that has long arms to hold the bike away from the vehicle, even then you need to mount the rack high to span over the stupid spoiler.

    The final issue you'll come across is that the side supports need to cling on to some metal, not the back window which is the most convenient and by design location. SUV rear windows are full with with no frame, so you have to jerry rig the side supports lower than they should be.

    yes I'm aware that there's a bunch of innuendo riddled throughout my comment

    • seannami on 14/04/2023 - 07:52

      Thank you, definitely useful to consider

      The MG seems to have a framed back window more like a hatch than a normal SUV, and it's pretty cubey. If the car arrives within the return window I might chuck a blanket over the back and see if I can sit it on the car in the right spot without the straps before I even consider the spoiler. Thanks!

      • ESEMCE on 14/04/2023 - 08:23

        If you're desperate, I've seen pool noodle around the frame to stop bikes knocking against each other, could also help reduce impact against the car body, but pedals are going to be the biggest issue with that rack design, can't really see how it handles them even on a cube style rear end.

  • ESEMCE on 14/04/2023 - 08:28
    +1

    Looking again, maybe try mounting the carrier upside down?

    That bend in the "vertical" could fold up and over the spoiler and might even bring the bike out from the rear end enough to prevent it hitting the bodywork.
    Might then need to hack on some additional straps to maintain stability.

    If that works, try to rotate the top bar grips so that the frame is sitting on the solid part rather than dangling from the flexible rubber straps.

    • seannami on 14/04/2023 - 09:54
      +1

      Oh, actually that sounds like an idea, semi-roof mounting it over the back and maybe hook it on a seam further forward (if there is one), also on the try list thanks!

  • Euphemistic on 15/04/2023 - 12:56

    Most of those sorts of spoilers or lips are plastic. They won’t hold a lot of weight before becoming deformed. The straps are likely to put pressure on them in points that aren’t designed for it.

    It’s an unfortunate feature that aids aerodynamics allowing the air to separate off the back of the vehicle more cleanly.

    • seannami on 15/04/2023 - 13:13

      Yeah, I think the plan is see if I can mount it higher so there isn't much downward pull (depending how things are attached) and if not, gumtree.

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