Roof racks are a great option for people who don’t have the luxury of a truck or hitch receiver in their car. They are particularly great for cars with a low profile and sedans. If you’re in the market for roof racks, you might have asked yourself, are they safe? Do bike racks damage your car? And what about their price?
With so many options available, let’s break down the different types of roof racks.
Types of Roof Racks
Roof racks are a no-brainer. You can tell by the name, the bikes go on the roof of your car. But, how these bikes are secured on the rack is what separates the different types of roof racks.
Fork Mounted Roof Rack
Fork-mounted roof racks are the most reliable and safest option on any day. These racks require you to take the front wheel off and mount the bike using the front forks and a through axle. The front fork stays secure and tight in the mount and the rear wheel is held using a rubber or nylon strap. Plus, the lowered profile gives you better clearance when passing through tunnels or any underground parking lots.
You would normally see fork-mounted roof racks in tour de France races, as the bikes have expensive carbon frames that need to be protected. So, if you own an expensive Trek bike or a carbon frame, a fork-mounted rack should be your choice.
Pros
- Keeps the bike sturdy and removes wiggling
- The bikes have a low profile because the front wheel is removed
- Can be used on different vehicles
- Frame shape and size do not limit the rack’s use
- Great for carbon frames and expensive track bikes
Cons
- Through axles need to be changed for different bikes
- Harder to put bikes on
- Bikes are in open view and can be stolen easily
Frame Mounted Roof Rack
A frame-mounted roof rack holds your bike from the downtube of your bike’s frame. The rack has a single cantilever arm that clamps down onto the frame. The front and rear wheels are secured using straps and a good frame-mounted roof rack will often have a ratcheting arm and strap system for a tighter grip.
It isn’t the best roof-mounted bike rack, mainly because there’s a lot of wiggle room even though the bikes are safe and secure on the rack. The only thing protecting your bike from thieves is the clamp’s locking mechanism and if you have a tight budget, opting out of this option risks your bike being stolen.
Pros
- Easy to install
- No disassembly needed
- Can be used interchangeably on different vehicles
Cons
- Frame geometry limits the use of the clamp. It isn’t ideal for kids’ bikes or women’s bikes
- Risk of bikes getting stolen
- Bikes are high up and it can be a concern when parking underground
- Frame-mounted racks can damage expensive frames from scuffles
Upright Roof Rack / Wheel Mounted Roof Rack
Wheel-mounted roof racks are the most convenient to use and for this reason alone they can be the best roof-mounted bike rack for some people. The bikes go over the roof of your car onto two cradles for the two wheels. The front wheel is held by a fixed clamp and another U-tube clamp that ratchets down to squeeze onto the tire and secure the bike completely. The rear wheel is held by a tight strap and the bike doesn’t go anywhere.
Pros
- Wheel mounted roof rack make no contact with the frame
- There’s no disassembly required
- The bikes are held secure and the rack feels sturdy
- Great for carbon and lightweight frames
- Because it doesn’t hold the frame, frame geometry doesn’t restrict its use on other bikes
Cons
- Height restrictions can limit the functionality and clearance
- Some racks can’t fit a fat tire bike
- Usually more expensive than other roof racks
Additional Considerations:
Which is the best roof-mounted bike rack for you, largely depends on your budget as well. Roof racks are some of the more expensive racks when it comes to bike racks. In the types of roof racks, frame-mounted roof racks are relatively cheaper than fork mounts and wheel mounts. So, how much do roof racks cost?
A good quality frame-mounted rood rack is priced around $200 and its counterpart, the fork mount, and wheel mount can cost an additional $50 – $100.