Currently looking to purchase a SeaSucker Talon mount for use on my Fiesta ST and occasional use on a Hyundai Elantra GT (with the glass roof) and I have a few questions.
How does it hold up over longer drives (in the 4-6 hr range)?
Any issues with damage to the paint/ roof panel?
I noticed they have a one year warranty, is it worth the extra ~$50 to buy direct from them or should I go the Ebay route and save the money?
Thanks in advance!
I’ve used mine a few times. I had 2 bikes on mine from SoCal to Tempe and experienced no problems at all. Drove mostly 70-80. I just made sure I checked suction/vacuum cups every hour of so when I pulled over to stretch or take a break. If you get one, make sure to secure your crank to the chain stay. If not, your pedal might put a small divot in your roof.
I bought an early one (when they first started shipping)
One day when it was hotter than hell the suction cups melted flat.
They didnt damage the paint… but they didnt work anymore.
I called them and they replaced them for me… and they replaced them with a reformulated compound.
I would not want one of the racks without the new compound suction cups.
In general they seem fine. If the surface of the car isnt clean or the suction cup is dirty they dont hold very well… bottom line is you need to keep both clean. I keep a paper towel in the trunk to wipe off the spot… which works fine.
All in all I like it a lot. It rides around in my trunk and is very handy to not leave a bike rack on the car all of the time.
You do need to remember… there are two kinds of people with roof racks. Ones that have wrecked their rooftop bike into something… and ones that are going to.
Alan
I previously drove a 911 convertible that also had a removable hardtop. I used the SeaSucker on that hardtop from time to time – and never had problems, even on longer drives (albeit, like others, I would check that suction was maintained from time to time). It never permanently marked the paint, but it always left a visible outline (the cups have to be moist to seal properly and the marks were probably a result of that moisture). Those marks would be visible until the car was next washed.
It’s fine for longer drives, no issues, never bothered to check, all the suction cups were still holding fine when I got home. (2 bikes and at times 100+mph)
No issues with damage.
The one thing to be careful of when putting the rack on your car is putting a suction cup on the gap between the glass of your sunroof and the metal of the car. Doesn’t work so well and with my previous car there wasn’t a lot of room.
I’ve had mine for over 2 yrs now iirc. No issues with the cups or parts.