Transporting Bicycles

DavidKlyne replied on 21/07/2020 14:27

DavidKlyne

Posted on 21/07/2020 14:27

Our last motorhome had a Fiamma Pro bike rack which was not too high but still required quite a lift to get bikes on the rack. Our new Bailey has the fixing for the same rack but unfortunately they are even higher up and therefore impractical for us. I have been looking at chassis mounted racks which are probably the easiest to load but come with quite a hefty price tag. I have been quoted £1600. One alternative is to have a tow bar fitted and use a detachable towball mounted rack. Another choice which gets over the height of the loading position is to have a lifting rack. These range from an electric version which cost around £1000 without fitting to the Fiamma Bike Lift at about half that price but has manual operation, less to go wrong I imagine? I just wondered if any of our motorhome owners have used any of these alternatives to the Fiamma Pro?

David

23 replies

allanandjean replied on 22/07/2020 11:23

Member

allanandjean

Caravanner

Posted on 22/07/2020 11:10 by allanandjean

Hi David, quick update re racks.

Spoke to my friend who tells me it was not chassis mounted.He had a flange tow bar fitted, its an Autotrail, and then got a rack that bolted to the flange.

Was substantial and took weight of a scooter.

Posted on 22/07/2020 11:23

Hi David, friends just come back to me. he thinks it was one of these;

https://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/motorbike_scooter_carrier.html

Metheven replied on 22/07/2020 11:34

Member

Metheven

Caravanner

Posted on 22/07/2020 11:17 by allanandjean

We use our towball mounted carrier for both our Ebikes when not caravanning.

Hi Metheven, yes we also have a Thule tow ball mounted rack but its the problem of carrying bikes, other than on the roof, that we have.

Each potential solution then throws up more issues and at the moment waiting to try a Thule Outride in the hope that with the battery and front wheel removed I can safely lift the bike to roof level to load it.

If not its then either a Maxx Raxx, if I can get the bracket attached to the detachable bar-previously discounted as I had a fold away bar-or carrying in the car which requires the handle bars to be removed, the hatch wont close otherwise, and is no use if taking more than one person in the rear.

Posted on 22/07/2020 11:34

Hi 'allanandjean', yes my reply was specifically for a towball carrier for Motorhome/Car use.

As for our bikes when caravanning, they get put into the caravan. We have a two single bed layout and the bikes lean against each bed in a 'V' shape with the front wheels against the bathroom door, and the rear wheels 'chocked' so no fore and aft movement. We also have been uprated to just over 300kg payload.

Tammygirl replied on 30/07/2020 19:59

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer

Posted on 22/07/2020 09:25 by Metheven

We use our towball mounted carrier for both our Ebikes when not caravanning.

It's a Thule Velocompact 2 cycle carrier that can carry a total load of 46kg, very solid clamp and key locking onto the towball and rock steady.

Our Ebikes (22kg each without battery) have no crossbar but the Thule clamp system allows positioning by moving the clamps horizontal or vertical along with a swiveling system, this allows it to clamp the seat post tube or the front angled tube no matter its shape (ours is oval/rectangular shaped) as in photo. Also the Thule base that the bikes sit on is adjustable to cater for different front to back wheel distances on your bikes, and the individual bike clamps also has a locking key.

All in all it's a very well thought out system that looks to be very well designed for a multitude of different sized, shaped bikes.

Posted on 30/07/2020 19:59

That's very similar to the one we have bought.

Ours is the Thule Euroway G2 921 Towbar 2 bike carrier.

DK worth having a look at on Ebay.

DavidKlyne replied on 30/07/2020 20:41

Moderator

DavidKlyne

Motorhomer

Posted on 30/07/2020 20:41

Thanks again everyone for your comments. I think I am probably moving towards the idea of having a towbar fitted. The probable choice then will be one of those suggest here.

TG a question if I may, I seem to recall you initially had Pro Rider Wayfarers but I think you may have changed recently. Would you mind sharing what you now have. Having failed to find a new battery for one of our Pro Riders that actually fits and am now considering buying at least one new bike but don't want to spend a fortune as we don't use them a lot.

David

Tammygirl replied on 30/07/2020 22:43

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer

Posted on 30/07/2020 20:41 by DavidKlyne

Thanks again everyone for your comments. I think I am probably moving towards the idea of having a towbar fitted. The probable choice then will be one of those suggest here.

TG a question if I may, I seem to recall you initially had Pro Rider Wayfarers but I think you may have changed recently. Would you mind sharing what you now have. Having failed to find a new battery for one of our Pro Riders that actually fits and am now considering buying at least one new bike but don't want to spend a fortune as we don't use them a lot.

David

Posted on 30/07/2020 22:43

No problem sharing David, we recently (under lockdown) bought a couple of AS Mk 3 Electro bikes.

They are the same size as the Pro Rider bikes. Very pleased with them.

DavidKlyne replied on 31/07/2020 10:15

Moderator

DavidKlyne

Motorhomer

Posted on 30/07/2020 22:43 by Tammygirl

No problem sharing David, we recently (under lockdown) bought a couple of AS Mk 3 Electro bikes.

They are the same size as the Pro Rider bikes. Very pleased with them.

Posted on 31/07/2020 10:15

Thanks TG

I had been looking at those, quite tempted by the larger wheeled one but that worried a bit about the size ,and extra weight, when being transported. The Pro Riders we have are in excellent condition but I don't feel I want to risk buying yet another battery which looks correct but turns out not to be if you see what I mean?

David

Takethedogalong replied on 31/07/2020 14:32

Member

Takethedogalong

Posted on 31/07/2020 14:32

We have a Thule tow bar carrier for our ebikes. Sounds like the one TG has bought. Very good piece of kit, easy to use and secure. We always add our own locks around bikes as well. Be aware that you might need a plug in electrics adapter, depending on your vehicle’s towing electrics. The bike carrier has a seven pin system. We only use Thule with our cars, MH has a Fiamma rack fitted, and we can still get our bikes up onto it, if working together.

Tammygirl replied on 07/08/2020 22:40

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer

Posted on 31/07/2020 10:15 by DavidKlyne

Thanks TG

I had been looking at those, quite tempted by the larger wheeled one but that worried a bit about the size ,and extra weight, when being transported. The Pro Riders we have are in excellent condition but I don't feel I want to risk buying yet another battery which looks correct but turns out not to be if you see what I mean?

David

Posted on 07/08/2020 22:40

David, just came across this again.

The battery that Phil got for his Pro Rider bike looked the same, as you say but he had to change the plate that the battery sits on, it came with the battery and was a simple job to swap over.

Worked fine from then on, in fact the folk who bought both of them from us sent us photos recently of them still using them (Bailey owners)

peedee replied on 09/08/2020 14:11

Member

peedee

Motorhomer

Posted on 09/08/2020 14:11

You might like to consider something like this which I have had a great many years. It is a plate which bolts behind the tow ball using the tow ball bolts into which you slot a couple of metal posts. These form a "V" on which you hang a bike. I have used this towing as well because it does not interfer with hitching up.

peedee.