Is it a Good Idea to Mount the ForkLift Roof Bike Rack so the Bike Faces the Rear on a 2011 Outback

Question:

I just mounted the rack on Subaru Outback 2011, factory bars. As mounted, bike front axle rests only slightly forward from the middle line between doors lotsa unused space to the front of the vehicle!, and the rear wheel is all the way to the back of the car. With bike mounted, rear door of the vehicle touches bikes rear wheel. Large frame, 21, with 700 mm wheels. Would it be an extremely bad idea to mount bike in reverse, such that the front fork looks to the back of the vehicle and the rear wheel is toward the front? I know they normally do not do that. But what is wrong with that, if anything?

asked by: Kirill

Expert Reply:

I spoke with my contact at Yakima to be sure and before I could even ask he suggested mounting the ForkLift bike rack, item # Y02098, in the opposite direction on your 2011 Subaru Outback. He said that since the factory cross bars cannot be moved this is the best option for your vehicle when using the ForkLift bike carrier.

expert reply by: Robert G