VW OEM Bike rack question

[stefan]

Does anyone use the current OEM 'Barracuda' bike rack from VW (made by Mont Blanc)? I need one more bike rack for the Passat. I want one that will fit the grooves in the OEM rack, and that you don't have to take the front wheel off. This OEM one, and a few Thule make look decent, but the OEM one is a little cheaper than Thule. Right now my only argument to go Thule is so I can match locks to the box I have and the other Thule bike rack I have. But that really isn't a big deal.

I was just wondering if anyone has an opinion for or against the OEM one.

Thanks.

[ryukin2000]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

i'm for it. easy to remove or put on. not sure if passat roof rack is the same as the Jettas though.

[Silverstoned]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

I wouldn't trust it if your bike is very heavy. I'd go with the Thule sidearm rack. Nice and solid, dead easy to put on and off the car.

probably won't find it cheaper than here... and they get it to you without any crazy brokerage fees:

http://www.backcountry.com/store/sea...=thule+sidearm

they have them at MEC too, but they aren't listed on the website so I can't check their price.

[stefan]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

Rack setup is a little different, but the rails are the same design on the Jetta and Passat.

The complaint that I got from Racks Unlimited about that Thule one, as opposed to the ones that grip the frame is that you can just undo the quick release on the front wheel and steal the bike fairly effortlessly. Not sure I'd ever leave it alone for very long though. Price is good on that site for sure.

The Mont Blanc one is good for 33lbs.

I'm sort of thinking about the Thule Big Mouth too. It should be solid. The rack I have now is an older version of the same thing, and it seems to do a good job with very little movement.

[Turkey]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

I have the barracuda and the older (mk3?) one. My only complaint is that I have fairly wide tires on my bike and they're pretty tight in the barracuda. It's a real pain in the ass when your trying to force it out of that front tire well. This may or may not be an issue for you. Normal tires should be fine. I usually just put my bike in the older one and put the girlfriends bike in the barracuda.

[Silverstoned]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

What kind of a bike do you have? Depending on the size of the downtube you might have issues with the bigmouth too. My friend lost his Giant NRS off the top of his car on the way out to Bragg Creek a few years back with one of those. Make sure if you get one you can fully seat the downtube in the jaws of the rack. As far as taking off the Q/R and stealing the bike??? just throw a cable around the frame and cross bar... but really shouldn't leave your bikes on a rack and think that it's secure.

I'm not so sure about being able to get it out either. If it's tight enough against the front bridge of a suspension fork you won't be able to pop the wheel out of the dropouts. Sorry, I've never seen a rack I like even close to as much as my sidearms... with the exception of my buddies north shore rack he uses on his Landcruzer.

[stefan]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

That would suck to loose a bike of the roof! The older oem bigmouth has a smaller grip. I wouldn't use it with my bike but it seems to hold my wifes well. I see what you mean though. The one I looked at today had a grip that was a lot bigger than the one I have though. I know none are very secure. Fork mount ones are probably the most secure.

[Silverstoned]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

As long as your fork has the 'lawyer tabs' fork mount is probably the most solid. The sidearm however is about 90% as solid as a fork mount. I was forced to go to sidearm with my 20mm front axle and I think the bike is as solid or even more solid than when I used one of those aluminum blocks on the axle and had it on the fork mount. The tray is large enough to accommodate 2.5" tires too.

[stefan]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

I'm looking it to the side arm. There is an XT version of the sidearm that seems to have just come out too, don't know what the difference is. Just a new years model i think.

220$ish seems to be the price locally, plus another 25$ to fit it to the grooves as opposed to clamping around the whole bar. I was going to see what that site could get it to me for today.

[stefan]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

that backcountry site can't ship Thule to Canada. They can ship a lot of their other stuff, but not Thule.

[Khyron]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

I might be willing to sell one of my OEM big mouth racks (I have two). I use a hitch rack now.

Can't steal it cause the mouth locks with the key. Dead solid too.

http://www.nexus-point.net/vehicles/...imera-bike.jpg

http://www.nexus-point.net/chimera/chimera-camping1.jpg

[RobG]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

I prefer the fork mount, dealing with the tire sucks, but there is no arms rubbing the mud into your frame scratching it to hell. Also, if you have a Sunroof, the more complex the rack, the noisier it is. just my 2c

[stefan]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

I prefer the fork mount, dealing with the tire sucks, but there is no arms rubbing the mud into your frame scratching it to hell. Also, if you have a Sunroof, the more complex the rack, the noisier it is. just my 2c

i agree, but I'm needing the extra in the car space now.

[RobG]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

They make a attachment to carry the tire on the rack as well, but at an added cost.

[stefan]

Re: VW OEM Bike rack question

They make a attachment to carry the tire on the rack as well, but at an added cost.

Its all a dream anyway.. lol The last decent ride I did was that one in Kananaskis, and I'm probably in even worse shape now (hard to believe.. cause that nearly killed me) One day I'll hit up that trail again and keep up with y'all!

*Actually, I don't think I'd have room on the roof for the extra attachment. With 2 bikes and a box up there, she's pretty fully.