Bike Rack Options for a 45 lb Electric Bike

Question:

HI, I have decided to get a hitch put on my car for this bike which weighs 45 pounds with the battery can be detached. Which rack do you recommend? I am a smallish woman and wanted something easy to use. I looked at the Thule platform models but they weigh almost as much as the bike and I wonder if the advantage of the low platform is pardon the pun outweighed by the weight of the rack itself? I am quite confused and would like your recommendation. Though I would prefer to spend less than more, I am open to spending what it takes to get something that works well and is easy to use. I do take a long trip once a month from the Los Angeles area to Santa Cruz so I want something super reliable. Thanks!

asked by: Sarina

Expert Reply:

I do have some bike rack options that will allow you to carry a 45 lb bike. Unfortunately the vast majority of hanging style bike racks (which tend to be lighter than platform style) cannot support the weight of a 45 lb bike.

Saris has their Freedom # SA4412B 2 bike platform rack which is only 22.5 lbs and can support two 60 lb bikes. Since this is a platform style rack, I believe that it is a good lightweight alternative to the Beta. The only problem with this one that I foresee, yet again, might be loading the bike. Since the center mast doesn't quite lay down so that it is flush with the crossbar, it could prove to be fairly difficult to load a bike onto.

The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE # HLY84FR would be the next step up from the Freedom. The SE does weigh 54 lbs but it has a weight capacity right at 80 lbs per bike. The advantage with this rack is that the arms fold completely down so you won't have to lift your bike over any obstacles just to load it. Even though it is a heavier rack, you can fold it up while it is still in your trailer hitch receiver so that you can have better clearance at the rear of your vehicle.

The bike rack that will offer you the easiest way to load your electric bike is the Thule EasyFold XT # TH903202. This bike rack weighs in at 45 lbs and can carry two 65 lb bikes. Even though this bike rack is by far the priciest, is can fold in half for easy storage. This also makes it easier to move around, even when loading it. The EasyFold is the only bike rack that we offer which comes with a ramp that makes loading heavy bikes extremely easy. You also don't have to be worried about going over the bike rack's load capacity if you end up needing to haul a second bike.

All of these bike racks have one con to a couple of good pros according to what you are looking to get out of a bike rack. Ultimately it will be up to you to decide which con you would rather deal with. My advise to you is that if you are planning on continuing to make those long trips, I would go with the EasyFold XT. Even though it is the one with the highest price, if you can swing the price, I think that it has more of the features that you are looking for to help you easily load your bike, and it is also heavy duty. It will be up to the task of hauling a heavy bike on a long road trip time after time.