Belt length
The following applies to the load straps: They must be long enough to form a sufficiently large loop on bikes with a long wheelbase, offset mounting of two wheels or high profile rims so that they engage securely. For racing bikes or gravel bikes with a wheelbase of around one metre, the straps are usually long enough. Things can get tight if your fleet includes downhill bikes with a wheelbase ten centimetres longer. Some manufacturers offer long versions of their straps; as a guide, we recommend around 40 centimetres.
Clamping and padding
The carbon frame material is particularly sensitive, which is why it is important to ensure that the holding arms grip gently and evenly. Padded loops are generally more suitable than angular claws. To grip sensitive frame tubes gently, we also recommend using tube insulators from the DIY store; they are also well suited as pads for securing wheels.
Crank position
If you want to piggyback two or more bikes onto the car, you need to align them alternately so that the handlebars do not get in each other's way. This also prevents other protruding components, such as the cranks, from colliding. Accordingly, the wheel facing the rear of the car should always be positioned with the handlebars facing the driver's side and the second wheel facing the opposite direction.
Holding arm
If you want to attach two bikes, you should make sure that the longer of the two holding arms is positioned accordingly when placing the first one so that it can be threaded through the frame triangle so that its loop or gripper can find a suitable clamping point on the second bike. If the two wheels are different sizes, the wheel with the larger frame triangle should be placed on the carrier first to give the holding arm as much room to manoeuvre as possible.
Licence plate security
As standard, the licence plates are simply attached to the wheel carriers with a clip. This is quick and tool-free. Either the rear licence plate with registration and HU sticker or a simple repeat licence plate without a stamp, which can be purchased for a few euros from a sign maker or online shop, are permitted here. If you use the rear licence plate, it is essential that you screw it down tightly to protect it from quick access. Stolen vehicle licence plates with stamps must be reported to the police and new licence plates must then be applied for at the registration office. This means a lot of hassle, time plus administrative and licence plate costs.
Wheel lock
Piggybacking with the rolling stock, a quick stop at the motorway service area for an espresso, taking your eyes off the vehicle for a moment and it's already happened: The bikes have fallen prey to brazen thieves. If you have insured your bikes through your household contents insurance or a special theft insurance policy, you have a good chance of being reimbursed for the damage. However, anyone who has neglected to secure their bicycles with locked holding arms and/or a lock on the carrier has acted with gross negligence and must pay for the damage themselves.
Key fuse
As described above, locking the bikes on the carrier, as well as locking the carrier on the coupling itself, is a must. For this reason, the keys of the bike carrier and the bike lock should ideally be located directly on the car key. Otherwise, you may not be able to get your bikes off the carrier at your destination because the keys have been misplaced somewhere else. It is also advisable to have enough duplicate keys made, or at least to make a note of the key number, which can be used to order suitable duplicate keys from the manufacturer.
Spare parts fuse
Although modern LED rear lights on bike racks are stylish, bright and durable, they also have disadvantages: If the light breaks in the event of a manoeuvring bump, the entire component usually has to be replaced instead of just the housing. Classic bulbs with filaments may not last as long as modern LEDs, but they can be replaced anywhere in the world at a favourable price. Note: In some European countries, such as France or Croatia, a replacement bulb set must be carried. Vehicles and carriers with xenon or LED headlights may be exempt from this requirement.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
