Recommended 2 Bike Rack to Carry Both Standard and Recumbent Bike

Question:

Hello, my wife may need to switch to a recumbent type bike. Will I be able to carry this type of bike on the SARIS rack I am looking to purchase. It appears to fit our needs. I currently have a very old hanging rack for three bikes. Last question, how many of the pieces are plastic and how often do they need to be replaced Considering the Saris SuperClamp EX 2 Thank you

asked by: David M

Expert Reply:

I have a solution for you, but the Saris SuperClamp EX 2 # SA4025F is not compatible with bikes that have wheelbases longer than 48", so it may not work for a lot of recumbent bikes. With that said, Saris does make some of the most well made racks in the industry and none of the parts should need any regular replacement; if anything were to break on you the rack does have a lifetime limited warranty that would cover just about anything. The only plastic parts on the rack are the wheel holders and the mast hooks, but they're made from a durable solid plastic that holds up really well to wear and tear, so they shouldn't need to be replaced with normal use.

For a bike rack that would work to carry both a regular bike with a standard wheelbase and a recumbent bike with a wheelbase longer than 48" I recommend the Swagman XC-Extended Bike Rack for 2 Recumbent Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Frame Mount # S64650-EXT. The Swagman XC-Extended comes with 2 sets of wheel hoops to allow you to carry bikes of different lengths, and the center mast can fold down to allow you to fold the rack up towards the vehicle for storage when it's not in use. This rack will fit on both 1-1/4" and 2" hitches.

Since this rack does not come with locks I do recommend also adding the Anti-Rattle Hitch Lock and Cable for Swagman Bike Racks w/ 1-1/4" & Combo Shanks - 7' # S64031 to give you some added security for the rack and the bikes.

I've linked some review videos of these parts for you to check out.

expert reply by: Erik B