Image of a very racked up Chevy Suburban roof and hitch mount bike rack system using the Thule 450 Crossroad base rack system with 5 Thule 594XT Sidearm bike racks and the Thule 916XTR T2 hitch bike rack with the Thule 918XTR T2 2 bike add-on.

There’s a lot going on with this rack star’s ridiculously racked up rig. This Chevy Suburban roof bike rack system and rear mount hitch bike rack system is using the Thule 450 Crossroad base rack mounted to the factory side rails with 5 Thule 594XT SideArm upright style bike racks. Mounted to the 2″ receiver hitch are the Thule 916XTR T2 platform style hitch mounted bike rack with the Thule 918XTR T2 2-bike add-on. If my math is correct, this rig can hold 9 bikes! And in addition, there is a ladder attached using the Thule 503 Load Stops.

Picture of the INA388 Inno Tire Hold bike rack, featuring an industry first dual ratcheting arms to stabilize both the front and rear bike wheels.

Up until now, roof mount upright bicycle carriers have advanced forward with front wheel ratcheting arm technology. However, with the recent release of the Inno INA388 Tire Hold bike rack the bar has been raised, as this innovative model features dual ratcheting arms that completely secure and stabilize both the front AND rear wheels. Industry reviews are labelling it the most stable bike rack in the industry for transporting all kinds of bicycles on a vehicle rooftop. By simply opening up both arms from their lowered and stored positions on the bike tray, the bike can be loaded onto the bike tray (no hands needed for holding the bike in place either because of the unique Inno Racks ‘Self-Standing Auto System’ that holds the bike in place for you). Then just ratchet tighten each arm onto the bike wheels. For complete security, a cable lock and lock lever mechanism is included for anti-theft protection. And the universal mounting clamps allow the INA 388 Inno Tire Hold bike rack to attach to factory roofrack crossbars and any aftermarket roof rack cross bars from Inno, Whispbar, Yakima, Thule and more. Compatible with wheel sizes from 20 inches up to 29 inch wheels (ideal for the full range of bicycles – from bmx and kid bikes on up to road bikes and all styles of mountain bikes including 29ers.) Any tire width up to 2.7″  is compatible. Suitable for disc wheels and carbon fiber rims as well.

Picture of the all-new INA387 Inno Slim Fork bike rack, featuring many Inno Racks technological advancements. Specifically made for carrying carrying road bikes (tire width range of 18c - 35c, wheel diameter does not matter).

Inno Racks has been busily working away at a new generation of roof mount bike racks, and the latest model to be released to dealers across Canada and the United States is the INA387 Inno Slim Fork bike rack. The Inno Racks IN 387 Slim Fork roof mount bike rack is designed specifically for use with road bicycles, fitting tire widths from 18c to 35c (tire diameter doesn’t matter). This is the ideal fork mount bicycle carrier for transporting road bikes, time-trial bikes, triathalon bikes, even bicycles with rear full disc wheels or any style of deep dish carbon rims. Combines ultra-lightweight and super-strong, highest quality aluminum construction with a premium finish that looks superb mounted to any vehicle and carrying any road machine. Sleek, low-profile and modern design styling. Includes quick mounting universal hardware for connecting directly to any factory racks as well as any multi-purpose base rack cross bars from Inno, Whispbar, Yakima, Thule etc. Features an industry-first fork mount head with oversize quick lever to attach the bike fork fast and hassle-free (built-in ‘memory adjustment’ so you only have to adjust the skewer to fit the bike fork the first time only). Once bike is loaded onto the inno Racks INA387 Slim Fork bike rack, simply close the cover and use the included key to lock the lock core (also included), which simultaneously secures the bicycle the carrier and the entire Slim Fork itself to the vehicle. Incredible rear wheel holder technology secures and stabilizes rear wheel better than any other design available on the market today.

Image of a 2011 Toyota Prius roof bike rack system using the Thule 480 Traverse base rack with Fit Kit 1566 and 2 Thule 599XTR Big Mouth upright bike racks with a Thule 872XT wind fairing.

You can’t very easily fit two bikes inside a Prius, but as you can see here, a Toyota Prius roof bike rack system for two bikes is no problem.  This particular 2011 Toyota Prius bike rack rooftop system is using the Thule 480 Traverse base rack with Fit Kit 1566 and LB50 50″ load bars and two Thule 599 XTR Big Mouth bike racks.  Wind noise is eliminated with the Thule 872XT wind fairing/noise deflector and theft of the rack and bicycles is prevented with the Thule 596 6 pack of locks.

See complete details for 2 bike rack system for 2011 Toyota Prius.

Here's a shiny Toyota Prius roof bike rack system for two bikes using the Yakima Q Tower base rack with Q5 and Q124 Q-clips and two Yakima Raptor upright mount bike trays. An SKS 6 Lockpack secures both the rack towers and the bikes from theft with one key.

This Toyota Prius roof bike rack system is using the Yakima Q-Tower base rack with Q5 and Q124 Q-clips and 58″ Round bars.  With this fine base rack system in place, two Yakima Raptor bike carriers are attached and ready to transport two bicycles.  For security, the SKS 6 Lockpack puts a lock core into each of the four Q-Towers and a lock core in each of the bike trays, thereby protecting both the rack system and the bikes from theft with one key.

Complete installation details and more info for Toyota Prius roof bike rack system for two bikes.

Q: I’m interested in buying a Yakima ForkLift roof bike rack. It looks like there is a lock that
comes with the base price which I am assuming locks the bike front forks
to the rack. Is this correct?

It also suggests buying an additional lock that also locks the rack and
bike to the vehicle. Can I just buy 1 of these locks?

A: The Yakima Forklift is a super nice fork mount bike carrier, and if the Skewer is locked then the Forklift is indeed locked to the bars. If not, then it can be removed. And I’m not sure what base rack you are looking at, but all of our Yakima base racks will require purchase of locks to secure them, so plan ahead and buy as many as you’ll need to lock all components down.

If you need to buy a single lock core to match what you may already have, then that is possible.

Q:  I’m a bit confused as to what to buy  for my 2011 VW GTI 2 Door. In the summer, I need to hold two bikes. In the winter, I need it to hold a snowboard/ski’s (not sure if this is a separate part). I also would like a wind fairing deflector. Are there other parts necessary to prevent paint scratching and door leaks?

A: Unfortunately your particular vehicle (2011 VW GTI 2 door) is prone to leakage when using some top of car racks. Due to this, we highly recommend you use the Yakima Q Tower System with two Copperhead bike carriers on the new GTI, as the thinner Yakima Q clips have less deformation to your rubber door gasket than other vendors systems.    In the winter, just add a Yakima ski carrier (see Big Powderhound) and you have a system for all your needs.  As for a Fairing you will need the 44” size.

Picture of the locking Rocky Mounts DriveShaft 15mm / 20mm thru-axle fork adapter. Fits any RockyMounts, Thule, Yakima, Whispbar, Inno fork mount bike racks and more.

Picture of the locking RockyMounts DriveShaft SD 20mm / 15mm thru-axle fork adapter for mounting to Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Titan, Nissan Frontier, Chevy, GMC pickup truck bed channels.

Behold what could very well be the coolest new bike rack products for 2011, the all-new Rocky Mounts DriveShaft 15mm / 20mm thru-axle fork adapter (works on any fork mount bike racks from RockyMounts, Whispbar, Yakima, Thule, Inno, SportRack and more) and the category crushing Rocky Mounts DriveShaft SD that is actually a pickup truck bike rack and 15mm / 20mm thru-axle fork adapter combined into one great product and installs on any pickup truck bed track systems and channel systems located on the Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan and certain model pick-up trucks from GMC and Chevrolet etc. Both the Rocky Mounts DriveShaft and the RockyMounts DriveShaft SD include a lock to secure the bike to the adapter. And of course they also have the unique ability to universally work with both 20mm and 15mm t-axles. Beautiful black powder coated finish as well.

Photo of the Rocky Mounts PitchFork Stretch recumbent bike rack for any aftermarket roof rack round and square cross bars from Yakima, Thule, Inno etc. Also works as an XtraCycle bike rack and ElliptiGo carrier.

Picture of the Rocky Mounts TieRod Stretch recumbent bike rack for all factory rack crossbars. Also works as an ElliptiGo rack and XtraCycle bike carrier.

More great news from the RockyMounts Bike RackCompany, they now have two new recumbent bike racks that work with any recumbent bicycles, XtraCycle bikes and ElliptiGo scooters with a wheel base of up to 62 inches (for recumbents longer than 62″ look to the RockyMounts tandem bike rack, which also serves nicely as a recumbent bike rack). The first model, the RockyMounts TieRod Stretch recumbent bike rack, is compatible with all factory racks and includes all the same great features found on the regular Rocky Mounts TieRod bike rack. The other model is the RockyMounts PitchFork Stretch recumbent bike rack, and it works on any round and square cross bars found on multi-purpose base rack systems from Inno, Yakima, Thule and more. The Rocky Mounts Tie Rod Stretch and Rocky Mounts Pitch Fotk Stretch are both offered in a super nice silver color finish. Both are fork mount bike racks with an ultra low-profile design that looks super sleek and sweet (translate that to fast looking). Optionally lockable. Perhaps the best feature is the low price , making these perhaps the best cheap recumbent bike racks on the market today.

Picture of the all-new Rocky Mounts Euro PitchFork bicycle carrier, a fork mounted roof bike rack for use on votex rack cross bars - OEM roof racks for Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mini Cooper, VW, Volvo etc., Whispbar roof racks, Thule Rapid Aero load bars, Thule Xsporter truck rack etc.

Following on the heels of the wildly-popular Rocky Mounts Pitchfork bike rack is the uber-cool RockyMounts Euro PitchFork bike rack. While the standard PitchFork model fits any roof rack square and round cross bars from Thule Racks, Inno Racks, Yakima Racks etc., it falls short when it comes to working with any oval, aerodynamic style cross bars with t-slot channels such as votex roof rack cross bars, which are available as OEM roof racks on Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mini Cooper, Volkswagen, Volvo etc., Whispbar roof rack crossbars, Thule Rapid Aero load bars, Thule Xsporter truck rack and more. The Rocky Mounts Euro Pitch Fork bicycle carrier has all the same premium features included on the normal RockyMount PitchFork, as well as the specific installation hardware for the slotted channel cross bars. And as with all other RockyMount bike rack products, this carrier delivers all the same high-end features, design styling and ease of use found on Yakima and Thule roof bike racks yet is available at a cheaper price. Works with most styles of bicycles, from road to mountain and anything in-between. Optionally locks the bicycle to the rack and the bike rack itself to the roof rack (RockyMounts locks sold separately).