I have a 2013 Honda Civic that is a 4 door car with a sunroof. I’ve racked my brain over the last several months trying to decide how I want to haul my bike on it. I am not willing to use any type of rack that will touch the frame of my bikes, so I am looking at a hitch platform rack or a roof rack. I really like the seasucker bike rack because it comes on and off pretty easy, but the price is just too steep in my opinion. I’ve considered a Yakima roof rack too, but don’t know if I want it on my car all the time and those seem like they would be a little more involved taking them off. The platform hitch rack would be the easiest I think, only problem I see with those is if someone rear ends me with my bike on the rack, well, that would not be good. I’m also not sure I like the thought of putting a trailer hitch on my car. I am just curious to see if anyone else has a car like this and would love to see pictures of your solutions. Thanks
I have used a hitch rack on my civic for years and it works great. The hitch receiver was easy to install and isn’t very noticeable when the rack is not installed. I have never really considered a roof rack because it seems to be far more common to run into something overhead than it is to get rear-ended with a hitch rack. The civic is a small enough car that overhead obstacles aren’t as much of a concern as they would be with a SUV, but I would still prefer to have the bike somewhere that I can see it. I tend to drive more cautiously in traffic when I’m hauling a bike so that if someone comes up behind me quickly, I’m not putting them in a place of hitting the brakes hard and risking a rear-end collision.
The only thing I don’t like about the hitch rack is that the bike is sitting perpendicular to the air flow which seems like it would put more stress on the rack and possibly the bike than a roof rack where the bike would be facing forward. Although it seems like I have heard more stories of bikes flying off the top of cars than off the back of hitch racks, so maybe that isn’t such a concern either. I would think lifting the bike up on top of the car would be much more of a hassle with a roof rack as well. There are tradeoffs with either option, but I like my hitch rack.
I’ve got a 09 civic and use a Thule speedway (trunk/bumper) rack, works good. But holds bike by top tube, so that part doesn’t meet your requirements.
only problem I see with those is if someone rear ends me with my bike on the rack
This could be good, if your insurance would cover the cost of a replacement bike.
Im using the Yakima Roof Rack on my 2012 Civic without issues - that being said, they nickel and dime you until the whole system is quite expensive! Taking it off and on takes about 30 seconds after initial setup, not a problem there.
My vote is for the trailer hitch rack. It’s a little expensive up front, but so worth it. Bike is on the car and ready to go in under a minute, no heavy lifting required.
Thanks for all the input. I used to have a yakima rack on top of my expedition, so putting a bike on the roof of a civic will be easy. My insurance says they won’t cover my bike in a collision unless I put insurance on the bike itself, which I’m considering doing. Only problem is I have 4 bikes that S-Works on the frames and Zipp on the wheels, so insuring them may be pointless. My only other fear on a roof rack setup is how well my sunroof will work with it on there. Of course, I think the sunroof is a bonus too when it comes to putting it on the roof. When I did the Branson 70.3 last year we drove my wife’s Honda Odyssey and I borrowed my buddies Seasucker rack. I was terrified carrying my bike the entire time and decided to leave the sunroof shade open all the way there so I could constantly keep a watch on it. I’m not sure how a Thule or Yakima rack would effect my sunroof when a bike is not on the roof. Plus, like it has already been said, I got on Thule’s website and looked at the kit they offer for my car, the kit with two bike trays is over $800. I think I could piece a Yakima together off of ebay for a reasonable price though.
I mean to mention too that I already have a Saris Thelma two bike hitch rack that would easily work on my Civic with a trailer hitch. The bummer there is that it won’t work on my Shiv because there isn’t enough clearance between the front tire and down tube. I’ve considered trying to modify the Saris to work and then I’d only be out a $100 for a hitch. Anyone have this rack and had the same problem as me?
I’d add my voice to those recommending a hitch rack. You can see the bike, and personally I’ve never liked the lateral forces being put on the fork during cornering for a fork-mount bike setup. Plus I’m one of the folks dumb enough to have driven under a tree trying to leave a triathlon and ripping my bike off the rack (ruined fork, lucky me! I was exhausted though, that’s my excuse)
It gets fewer bugs on it that way too, and you can always see it in the rear view mirror. Plus roof racks whistle a lot, unless you get the fairing - which reduces it a little. Maybe the new aero-bar systems are better, but they cost even more.
I drive an '09 Civic and have a Thule Doubletrack hitch rack. Very happy with it but if I were buying again, I would at least consider the 1upUSA Rack. If money were no object, I’d have both. I like the locking capabilities of the Doubletrack but I like the light weight, simplicity, and ease of use of the 1upUsa
I have a Saris Thelma as well and have the same fit problem with my P5 that you have with the Shiv due to the lack of clearance between the front wheel and frame. All of the other bikes I have used have fit just fine, but I have considered modifying or replacing it as well. I just got the P5 a few months ago so I have only had to haul it a few times so I have just put it in the trunk. I have used a Thule doubletrack a few times with the P5 and I would think a Shiv would fit on it just fine, although I haven’t tried one. It does contact the frame in that one point on the top tube, but the hook is well padded and hasn’t been an issue for me. If I were looking for a new rack though, I would probably try to avoid that contact.
It seems like everyone is leaning towards the hitch rack. I wish my Thelma was a little more versatile and it would be an easier decision. My Thelma won’t accept my 29er tires either, which sort of rules it out. Thanks for all the input, definitely great points!
I drive an '09 Civic and have a Thule Doubletrack hitch rack. Very happy with it but if I were buying again, I would at least consider the 1upUSA Rack. If money were no object, I’d have both. I like the locking capabilities of the Doubletrack but I like the light weight, simplicity, and ease of use of the 1upUsa
http://www.1upusa.com/…-quikracksilver.html
This one looks good. I currently just throw my bike in the car but I might get a hitch and buy this one. Can be upgraded to 3-4 bikes too.
I have the 1upUSA single bike rack on my Honda Fit.
The thing is SOLID. Worth every penny. You can get a hitch installed at most main U-Haul locations (what we did). The rack has worked flawlessly for my carbon road bike with 23c tires, my tri bike with 23c tires, my husbands Surly Long Haul Trucker (heavy ass bike) with fenders and without (fatter tires). Easily locked to the rack with a U-lock and chain if needed. Even easier if you have locking hubs.
I especially like how easy it is to take on and off. I like how well it folds up for storage and when there is no bike on the back. I also like that you can add additional racks if needed in the future.
Denise
OP, email me if you are interested in a Sea Sucker. I can part with mine as I want a different rack. I’ve used it, the Sea Sucker, and it works great. I just want something more permanent.
By the time you add up the cost of putting a hitch on your car and a good tray rack you’ve probably eclipsed the price of a SeaSucker. Both are great options, with the hitch mounted tray having the advantage of being faster & easier to get the bike(s) on/off, (somewhat) lockable, and safe from drive-thrus and garages; while the SeaSucker is safer from the guy driving behind you and is portable to nearly any vehicle.
I have the 1 UPUSA rack on my 2006 Honda Accord. Great product. Well made, secures the bike well and super easy to use.
I have the 1upUSA single bike rack on my Honda Fit. …The thing is SOLID. Worth every penny. … I especially like how easy it is to take on and off. I like how well it folds up for storage and when there is no bike on the back. I also like that you can add additional racks if needed in the future.
Denise
+1. Also nice that it doesn’t touch the bike frame, it tilts away from the trunk for access, and it’s mostly made of jewel-like CNC’ed aluminum.
Alex
Chris, did you get my reply?
I’ll X2 the SeaSucker rack. I’ve got the 5 suction rack (bomber iirc) that can hold 3 bikes.
I’ve had mine up to 110mph with 2 bikes on the roof with disc wheels on the back and it worked perfectly.
I’ve also put mine horizontally across my back glass so if someone smashed me from behind they’d have to have a pretty damn big car to ding the bikes. When you do this almost every will point at your bikes as you leave the race.
The only issue is that the cups don’t adhere on the border between the sun roof and the roof of the car. You either need them solely on the roof or solely on the sunroof glass. Or some on the glass some on the roof roof.