Bike Adapter Bar with the Highest Weight Capacity Rating for 2 Cruiser Bikes

Question:

Hi, I am trying to get the right combination of products that will allow me to take at least 1 and hopefully 2 cruiser style bicycles on hitch mounted rack Kuat Beta. Given that cruiser bikes have an alternative frame style, I was looking at the Thule adapter bar TH982XT. However, it has a 35 lb weight capacity and most cruiser bikes seem to be 40-ish lbs. Do I need to settle for the the fairly ugly Yakima adapter bar Y02531 since it has a 45 lb weight capacity or are there other strength factors that I should consider, especially given that the Thule bar is 25 more expensive for a lower weight capacity.

asked by: Ben M

Expert Reply:

I wouldn't say black and red on the Yakima adapter bar # Y02531 is ugly but then again beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But yes, it is the only bike adapter bar that will have the capacity for a 40 pound bike. There are a lot of bike adapter bars and they are all pretty much the same.

Capacities given usually match the per-bike capacity of the racks from the same manufacturer. Yakima is the oddball but it works out. At least the adapter bars will only be on the bikes when they are loaded on the bike rack. You wouldn't ride around with them on so how they look is not as important as how they function and they function fantastic.

expert reply by: Michael H