Yakima HoldUp or Swagman Current for My 2 E-Bikes?

Question:

I am looking to purchase a bike rack to haul two ebikes. Im considering the Yakima YO2443 but am not sure if the wheel mount will work with the front fender on my wifes bike. Im also considering the Swagman S64678 but am not sure if the frame mount will work on my wifes step-through bike. The top of the frame is 17inch above the bottom of the tire. Any insights? Thanks,

asked by: Bryan C

Expert Reply:

I have a great solution for you. Here at etrailer, we do not recommend using wheel-mount style bike racks like the Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount # Y02443 with bikes with fenders. This is because we have seen horror stories of bikes that have broken or cracked fenders on bikes when using wheel mounts.

With that being said, I recommend the Swagman Current Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches # S64678. Not only does it accommodate wider tires up to 5 inches wide (if you have fat-tire bikes), it also completely avoids any potential to damage or cracking to your fenders. Since your wife has a step-thru bike, a simple solution is to use the Swagman Deluxe Bike Frame Adapter Bar # 64005. The bike frame adapter bar provides a straight, horizontal plane to attach your wife's bike to the hooks of the Current. I went ahead and attached a video that shows how the bike frame adapter bar works.

If you need a hitch receiver on your vehicle, feel free to respond with your year/make/model, and I will be happy to recommend the best hitch that works for your needs.

expert reply by: Bob C