On the roof: fork mount is more rigid + aerodynamic but wheels take trunk space. If you get a mount that holds the bike up there with both wheels on, get a good one. The cheaper ones work but are more flimsy. I'd suggest the Thule Swingarm or Yakima Highroller. Not cheap, but there are deals around + people sell them used also. Those types will handle a greater range of bike frame types. On the back: we have a yakima hilite hitch mount off the back of our sedan. It's not bad - carries 3 bikes and only weighs 20 lbs, so less dead weight on a lever arm affecting the weak rear suspension in these cars. That said, on a sedan, there is significant drag. I haven't quantified it well enough though. On a wagon the extra drag may be negligible. It's all about the aerodynamic flow over the chassis + the bikes sticking up above the trunk of a sedan really must break the flow pretty badly. to open the trunk with the hitch on, I have to lower the hitch, which is not ideal with bikes on it (though I can open the trunk a little to grab somthing but if I wasn't careful I'd ding the trunk)... odd frame types are no big deal because there are bars you can mount from seatpost to stem to deal with that. I have a friend with an ibis mojo + that's what he does. I can actually mount kids bikes (16" wheel frame size + up anyway) on the hilite just fine, but not on all hitch racks. play around before buying + bring along your most messed up bike! If you plan to put 3 really heavy DH rigs on the hilite on the 9-5, you might run into issues with the rack or suspension, but for 3 x-country/free ride bikes, it's been just fine. see link below for reviews of bike rack systems... good luck!
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(# 686)
, Sun, 6 May 2012 16:35:21
