Best Electric Bike Rack For a 2016 Honda Civic

Question:

I am having trouble finding a bike rack that fits my car and bike. My car has a class 1, 1.25inch hitch. My bike is an ebike with fenders weighing 63 lbs. So far I have not found anything that matches up. The Saris Freedom 2 Bike Platform Rack looks like it might work but it says class 2 only. Since I thought the only difference between class 1 and 2 was the weight 200 vs 350 that it could support I would think a class 1 hitch would work. Anyways, I would appreciate your recommendation.

asked by: Ralph Y

Expert Reply:

The Thule EasyFold XT 2 E-Bike Platform Rack # TH903202 is a great option. It is compatible with Class 1 hitches and has a good capacity of 65 lbs per bike. You can save weight by removing the battery during transport which is advised and that also takes the stress off of your battery during transport. This bike rack is very easy to use. The included ramp makes loading and unloading your bike easier. The tilt feature is made easier because the lever is at the back of the rack. I attached a video on the bike rack below.

Some class 1 hitches have a weld stop in the receiver tube to prevent class 2 accessories from being installed. The reason for this is so the user does not overload their hitch. We have found that not all class 1 hitches have this and the 1-1/4" class 2 accessory sometimes fit. It is still advised to follow your hitch's weight capacity and never exceed 2 bikes on a class 1 hitch. The Saris Freedom 2 will fit if you don't have a weld stop in place.

expert reply by: Zach D