18 replies to this topic

[w.murfitt]

has this been done before i was thinking having it hooked over the gutter then suction pads above the boot n under the window and then maybe hooked over the rear bumper is this poss??? or will it be a modified roof rack???


if anybody has done this please upload photos thanks a bunch ...

[LukeH]

My brother had a modded roof rack with bike attachments on it for his mini. He used this method for many years when travelling to bike races. I don't have any pictures but I seem to recall that they were Halfords roof bars. The front wheel of the bike was removed and was secured to the car using a skewer attachment and the rear wheel sat in a kind of cup with a toe-strap holding it in place.

Luke.

[E.L.M.O]

Hello mate.

I have had a rear carrier and a roof bike carrier on my SPI mini. Both worked fine. However The rear carrier didnt fit well on the misses mini. It sits on the numberplate light housing, and if this is loose, then the whole rack falls off. Luckily. The 3 times this happened, the bikes or the rack never hit the ground. they just dangled from the top straps, but if they came loose on the motorway and the bikes and rack came off it wouldnt be pretty! There isnt much of a gutter for the hooks to hang on to.

I personally wont ever use the rear carrier on any mini anymore. Roof rack with cycle carrier all the way! This is me entering IMM this year with mine and the misses bikes. (my mate brought his aswell but he just had a standard roof rack and bike tied down to it and pedals removed so they dont hit the roof)

[stuwhitfield]

Hello mate.

I have had a rear carrier and a roof bike carrier on my SPI mini. Both worked fine. However The rear carrier didnt fit well on the misses mini. It sits on the numberplate light housing, and if this is loose, then the whole rack falls off. Luckily. The 3 times this happened, the bikes or the rack never hit the ground. they just dangled from the top straps, but if they came loose on the motorway and the bikes and rack came off it wouldnt be pretty! There isnt much of a gutter for the hooks to hang on to.

I personally wont ever use the rear carrier on any mini anymore. Roof rack with cycle carrier all the way! This is me entering IMM this year with mine and the misses bikes. (my mate brought his aswell but he just had a standard roof rack and bike tied down to it and pedals removed so they dont hit the roof)

I use a set of roof bars and cycle racks although I was tinking about one of the towbar mounted ones for this summer. I very nearly drove into a height restriction when entering a car park last time I use the set up and it sort of put me off a bit!

[Burnard]

im bored, so ill fit mine to my car and see what happens, will take pictures and let you know how it goes

[E.L.M.O]

I very nearly drove into a height restriction when entering a car park last time I use the set up and it sort of put me off a bit!

thats why I am driving through the Mud at IMM! They had a cable going across the entrance so rather than take it down for a few seconds (quick 2 second job to do) they made me drive throught the mud. Idiots.

Just remember they are there! Out of all the racks I have used, this is my fav. I am not to keen on the ones on the back. but i havent ever tries a tow hitch mounted carrier. I would be interested to know how good they are. Still, I dont have the problem anymore. I should have a mini pick up soon so just chuck the bikes in the back! lol. What i will prob end up doing with the pick up is still using the carrier I have on the SPI in the picture, but turining the clams round so they clamp onto the sides of the pick ups load bay. thay way I can still have stuff in the load bay (bags, tent etc) and the bikes ontop. The benefit will be they wont sit so high up, only half the bike would be visible over the roof line of the pick up. Better for less wind resistance, and less chance of taking out anything hanging low!

[Burnard]

Well attempt one was a little on the low side (about 4 inches of ground clearence)




Take 2 Much better




It does over hang the sides a bit




OK, it over hangs allot!

To be honest, its not great, but would be ok to get the bike to repairs if needed, Wouldnt like to take it on the motorway.
This is a halfords value rear mount by the way, which is about ten years old haha

Roof mount here i comeeee

Edited by Burnard, 25 March 2010 - 04:47 PM.

[E.L.M.O]

It might not stay on that numberplate light very long! It was fine on my SPI but on the misses car it came off. Its exactly the same rack that I used. It puts to much weight on the numberplate light housing. One speed hump or bump and you might find your bike trailing behind you. Its the whole reason I bought the roof carrier, because that rear one just isnt designed for a mini and just doesnt work right.

[Burnard]

I have a thule roof carrier, just no bars for the mini (you can see the bars for the honda in the last picture) Which works very very well.

Staff discount should see me a set of bars for about £30

[E.L.M.O]

thats a good buy. I got the Halfrauds budget set for about £35 years ago

[Burnard]

still is £35.

Just so you know guys, there is no point in thule bars on a mini, the bars can handle 70kg, but the mini's roof can only take 40kg, the budget bars are also rated at 40kg (could be 50), so no point in anything 'better'



Chris

[minibazzer]

Take 2 Much better




To be honest, its not great, but would be ok to get the bike to repairs if needed, Wouldnt like to take it on the motorway.
This is a halfords value rear mount by the way, which is about ten years old haha

Roof mount here i comeeee

This is exactly how I have done it. Rests on the boot lid light and against the window. Hooks onto the gutter. I have plastic "dumbells" with mine, so put them in the boot before mounting the rack. Number plate and lights are clearly visable with my bike. I also bought a small bike rack from Halfords about 10 years ago! At the time it was the smallest one they did and cost £20.

I have travelled around with my bike on the back on motorways, a roads and backroads with no problems. Never once fallen off or clipped a hedge, wall, car etc!

[E.L.M.O]

Thats good. It never fell off my SPI. But did off the misses. And I think It would have eventually as it puts so much weight on the number plate light it just cant take it. Its not just the weight of the bikes, but the straps that are pulling against the number plate light case. The screws just cant handle that much pressure for to long

[w.murfitt]

nice looking bike there chris want to sell it?


and i think i may have to take a look at both as there is always going to be me and one other riding... one on the back one on the roof.


would be easier to get the estate back on the road front wheel off and bike in the back. which is what i have done for my escort but not a good idea when coming to clean it at the end of the day.

[Burnard]

not for sale no
Best bie ive ever owned.