For years I’ve used a hitch mounted bike rack. Problem is, can only take my car then as I don’t want to pay for a hitch for two cars (have new car and at a decision point). I’m actually thinking about the Saris Bones RS trunk mount since it will fit both my Wife’s Subaru Imprezza and my VW Jetta.
Any recent reviews? Still liking it if you have one? Does it, or has it, messed up your car finish at all?
I’ve already done a search and most of the information was at least a year old.
BTW, I’ll be carring my Cannondale Slice and my road bike, plus on occasion my single speed along with my Wife’s hybrid. Will any of these bikes be a problem? Specifically the Slice. Will there be enough clearance at the junction of the top and down tubes?
I don’t have a new one, but regardless would have the same outcome. I haven’t had any issues, however, I will admit that I cut some small pieces of cloth and tucked it in between the hooks.
It’s probably overkill, but I’m a tad weird about scratching the wifes vehicle if it’s unnecessary.
I’ve had the Bones Rack for about 3 years. It goes on the back of my Passat. Will it mess up your car? A qualified no.
It worked fine until I used it to go to Muncie in 2011. I drove from Long Island to Indiana on a day when the temps were near 100 in the shade. I left the rack on the car for a week and it was that kind of hot the entire time. When I took the rack off my car I had a square dull area on my trunk lid that would not buff out. The black rubber foot, combined with the jet black car and very hot temperatures, destroyed the clear coat in the area under the rubber foot.
I got the car fixed and now I have an old running sock over the foot. Seems to have solved the problem, but I haven’t subjected it to the same pain that I did in 2011.
On my car it sits perfectly on the back bumper, which is where all the weight goes. The straps have held up just fine and the clamping system is still tight. The little hooks on the straps that grab the trunk are rubber coated and have never marked my car.
The 1 issue is the rack will not grab a modern TT bike as designed. The plastic strap designed to go around the seat tube is nowhere near where it needs to be to grab my Transition. A bungie cord is needed. It works perfectly for a stardard bike.
And yes, I would buy another one. It has far more miles on it than any previous rack and it still works (and looks) more or less like it did when I bought it.
I have an old Toyota Avalon, so I wasn’t too worried when I saw it rubbing the paint off. If you have a newer car, I’d buffer the attachments in some fashion, such as with thin rubber. (maybe an old tube?)
I had a bones on the back of a Subaru imprezza wagon and accidentally tightened it a bit too much and it put a small dent in the panel. Just be careful and make sure the feet/car is clean on installation and you should be set. good rack otherwise.
Bones RS works fine with my wife’s Honda Accord sedan that we take on the rare occasions travels to a race with me. I like that it has solid hooks at the bottom of the trunk, and the thick cable straps on top that secure it well to the car. The only glitch is I have to be a little careful as the Accord trunk has a center-mounted stop light that the top suction cups straddle. I have not had any problem wit the straps on my P3C.
I have the Bones 2 bike rack. Does it hold my Cervelo P2C? Perfectly fine. Does it scratch my gray car? Yes. It has left a dull spot from day 1 right where the rubber feet sit on the car. I have not tried buffing it out since I continue to use the rack.
If your worried about your paint you may want to look into something else. If not, it’s a great bike rack, easy to use and decently priced!