Roof mount bike rack
 

I did search our Genpoo forum for any thing related to this and only came up with a WTB ad.

Anywho, getting back into MTBing and need to get a rack, want roof mounted. What racks are you guys using? Can you post pics of them mounted?


Thanks.

Yak racks are good.

M3F has a bunch of threads about racks...google search will bring them up.

i saw a mz3 hatch with a rack on the side of the street so i stopped and got out for a look. the towers mount into those four recesses pretty nicely. i know mazda has a roof rack accessory listed on teh website, and there's a couple places online that have comprehensive shopping tools that help you put together a package.

brandwise all feedback i've heard is based on ski racks, but the consensus was that you cant go wrong with yak or thule.

GL, report back with pics of rack/pics of gfs rack

Another option is a tow hitch and receiver rack. That's what I have on my Pu. Roof racks kill your mileage, are noisy, and in my area, a target for thieves.
Yakima and Thule are the way to go if you do get a roof rack, I've had both on other cars.

Rola makes a slick looking rack that's not supposed to make noise. But it doesn't work for the long trays. You know the ones where you don't have to remove the front wheel.

I want a quiet roof rack, but also want mah cake with not having to remove the front wheel. Don't want my dirty ass mtb wheels in the car after a long ride.

Prolly have to got with Yak or Thule.

Yakima or Thule. They make 2 style mounts- one that bolts to the threaded holes in the rain gutters- they have plastic covers that slide back & off to expose them. These mounts are pretty big, not my personal favorite. The other style are clips & clamshell halves that clamp to the door frame. Pretty pricey. I had an older Yakima rack system off a Ford Escape- making my own flat mounting pads to bolt to the threaded holes so that the mounts are not as big.

I have a Yakima on mine. Will try to post a pic for you tonight.

In for the pics, would like to put a rack on mine, but idk about looks too.

Pics anyone?

Have a yakima rack gen1 though
http://tapatalk.com/mu/45700e60-d7ad-6f05.jpg

I have the Yakima rack with the control towers and copperhead bike mounts

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...ction/work.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/IMG_3783.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/IMG_3755.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/IMG_3946.jpg

Car looks badass man.. good job!

Shit, forgot about this thread. Thanks for the pics. @Creatve I like alot. want similar but with flush mount sides. Looks good none the less. :bigok:

Unfortunately, that's the best you'll get without doing something "custom"

I had a roof rack, then didn't like looks or lost mileage, got a hitch. IF all you do is MTB, go hitch.

I am now working on doing a custom fit for the same yakima rack as above, just using different "landing pads" to make it sit lower down and flush... As a person who sells these racks and installs them professionally, I can't encourage that :nono: but I'm hoping it will get everything to sit a little lower..

If you're going to do roof, do the setup like above posted - Control Towers (Yakima) - because when you're not using the rack, you can pop it off in about 2 minutes and just leave the 4 feet there.. looks a little silly but helps the mileage a lot.

I have used yakima on both of my mazdas

Anyone who has a black gen2 with a rack. . .would love to see it. I'm still breaking my bike down and laying down the seats whenever I go to rides.

You could also do a hitch and hitch mount rack.
That would be my personal preference. Less wind resistance when not using it, as you just remove it.

I made my own rack mounts- they bolt to the bolt holes under the plastic covers in the drain rails. I used some 1/8 inch steel plates, drilled and tapped holes to fit some Yakima Tower bases I just happen to have. The rack itself is Yakima. I will be able to put the rack on and take it off in about 1 minute using my quick mounts. I'm painting the mounts now, will post pic's when I am done.

Rola cross bars with Thule bike racks.

I have the thule mount, which I made a thread about in the gen2 general discussion. I went with the ones that bolt into the roof mounting points. it works flawlessly. and I would recommend it.

The hitch mount really is the way to go. I had a nice Yakima set up (5 bikes, 4 wheel forks on the third bar) on my old Volvo wagon. It's loud, target for thieves (someone tried to steal it at least once that I know of), kills your gas mileage, and it's a PITA putting bikes on the roof sometimes.

If you only need to carry 2-4 bikes, I'd definitely go with the hitch mount. That's what I did on my Speed. Nice Hidden Hitch rack from online, simple install, plus $250 for a Yakima 2 bike Stickup. If you don't have really expensive bikes and don't mind a little sway, you could also try the hanging style hitch, but FS mountain bikes don't always fit, although road bikes do.

When you're not using it you have little extra weight, and no wind resistance. Only takes a minute to install, and you leave it in the garage so it can't get stolen when you're not using it.

I am thinking of getting a rack, so that I don't loose access to my hatch when I have bikes with me. What size crossbars are you guys running? Also, does anyone know if Yakima carriers will work with Thule bars or vice versa? Also, with the carriers that let you keep your front wheel on, any issues with bikes clearing the spoiler when the hatch is open? I have a large 29 inch wheel mtb and don't want the spoiler to hit the bike/carrier when the hatch is open.

I don't think the bars are interchangable, however I found my original thread, if you want to go with the thule set up.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...stalled-87970/

I meant the actual bike carriers, that would attach to the bars, EG: can you put a Thule sidearm on a Yakima round crossbar? or something like that. I am leaning towards Thule, just because I like the looks of the sidearm bike carrier, but I shall see. The Yakima stuff seems more reasonably priced.

oh, yeah I know my kayak carriers have the ability to mount on either the square or aero bars, so I'm sure it will work on either. I understand what you're asking now.

Just ordered a thule rack for my gen 1 today :arms:

480R Rapid Traverse Foot Pack
RB53 Rapid Aero Load Bars
38in Fairing

Will post pics when it comes in

@Creatve

Does anyone know how much clearance I would have with the spoiler and the back of the rack/bike with the hatch open? Does anyone have any pics? Even better would be a bike carrier that allows you to leave the front wheel on the bike.

I'm interested in this too, particularly the carrier where I don't have to remove my wheel. it's hard to find mounts that will hold a 20mm thru axle.

I can fit the flat palm of my hand between the gap of the opened hatch and the rear of the tire.

I can't answer for the racks that leave the front tire intact but you can check out this website on a 1st gen ms3 with the Yakima High Roller racks. He answers some good questions. Judging from the picture, the front fork spidle is an inch or two in front of the front crossbar. Where as my front fork spindle is aligned to the front crossbar.

mazdaspeed3 + yakima high roller installed! - Mountain Bike Review

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...2/dc4227af.jpg
My wife is getting me a bike for Christmas, so I'm also looking into options to hauling my bike around.

Being how I work for Uhaul, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a hitch and install it myself. I get 20% off hitches, and it'll also enable me to tow other shit too. I feel that a hitch rack would best suit me, plus it'll save me some money.

my black speed with a yak

You can still run Rola rack but just get the wheel accessory mount so interior doesn't get dirty:veryhappy:

Yakima Control with two Yakima Forklift racks.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...7-img-1054.jpg

not to thread jack here but @Creatve what are you droped on? your car looks very good and sitting perfectly. and i dont know what it is but i love roof racks like yours on are cars. i just cant justify me spending the money on a set since i dont ride bikes, lol, but they give the car a real nice look. imo

Thanks! I have the Tein SuperStreet Coilovers w/EDFC to remotely adjust the stiffness. Before with the stock wheels I was using a 5mm spacer to make it perfectly flush.
Also have the KSport rear camber kit to fix the rear negative camber when I dropped it.