Best Affordable E-Bike Rack for 2018 Mini Countryman

Question:

Have a 2018 Mini Countryman and an ebike that weighs 65 lbs with battery. I’m in Sarasota FL Considering Swagman Current and Saris Freedom. Like the Thule easy fold XT but it’s too$$$. Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks

asked by: Steve L

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Swagman Current Bike Rack # S64678 and the Saris Freedom Bike Rack # SA4412B are both great and economical electric bike racks. Before choosing which one you prefer though, my advice is to take of your battery and carry it in the car while the bike is mounted on the bike rack. First, this makes the bike lighter. Second, there's extra road vibration on the bike rack that isn't good for electric bike battery life.

The Swagman Current # S64678 is good especially if you have fat tire bikes with its wheel width capacity of up to 5" inches. This comes with a tilt away and a folding feature, but what I noticed it that it doesn't have much clearance when folded up. It has a 5-3/4" clearance from the hitch pin hole to the closest point of rack when folded up. So check the distance from the hitch pin hole on your hitch to the end of your bumper to verify it will fit.

The Saris Freedom Bike Rack # SA4412B is ideal if your ebike has a step-through frame. Notice how the frame mounts are rotating clamps on this bike? This allows it to clamp onto frames that might be too low for the hook-style mount that the Swagman Current has. This also has a shank rise of 8" which gives you some extra ground clearance on your car. The main downside is that it fits tire width of up to 3" inches only.

If your e-bike has fat tires, get the Swagman Current Bike Rack # S64678. If your e-bike has a low or step-through frame, then get Saris Freedom Bike Rack # SA4412B. If it has neither, then Saris Freedom is still my best pick for the extra ground clearance and it's half the weight of the other rack which makes it easier to carry and install.

It does not come with a cable lock or a hitch pin lock so you may need to get those separately: Saris Cable Lock # SA981 and Anti-Rattle Bolt with Lock # SA3022. The Swagman Current has its own frame and hitch locks.