Best Bike Rack for FJ 60

[DocuDude]

Hi,

Just bought 2 new beach cruisers for me and the wife to go with my new 1987 cruiser.

They are two large to fit in the back- even with seat down- so I am looking at other options.

what has worked best for you?

 

[V-DAWG]

I would suggest a receiver hitch bike rack. You won't want to lift those beach cruisers onto the roof......

 

[euclid]

I would suggest a receiver hitch bike rack. You won't want to lift those beach cruisers onto the roof......

X2 from a 6 year bike mechanic/ cruiserhead. The only way to go.

Yakima Options

 

[High Desert]

Yakima, I have some 15 year old towers and bars Use the most basic bike attachment. Front wheel has to come off so if you do not have quick releases on the hubs that's a hassel factor.

I also use a Yakima reciever Hitch 4 bike rack. You bascialy just hang your bikes by the top tube and strap them on with the supplied rubber deals.

aIf there is a resale "gear" shop in your town check it out for bike racks, watch out somtimes sthe stuff is priced as high as new. The new stuff is reguarliy on salae for 20% off new...at all retail outlests, even REI

Tule is just as good they have square tubes..I started with Yakima so I stuck withit.

I use the hitch rack when doing bike only trips. I go up top with the bikes when doing mixed use outings so the tailgate is clear with out folding the rack outta the way.

I carry one on top when I go out desert cruising alone, fust as a back up..

With the new OME lift that roof rack is a long ways off the ground...

 

[Tinker]

Ditto the receiver model - my wife couldn't get her bike off the Thule roof rack.

Performance Bicycle has some great deals - I looked them over online & went to the store to get my receiver rack. Made sure I could get the hatch open with the bikes on the rack before I bought it.

 

[mikruiser]

The Thule T2 receiver bike rack is a great one. I have had a lot of different racks and this one is the most versatile, although maybe a little spendy.

 

[LongIsland60]

Receiver is prolly a good idea, but I am a BIG fan of Saris roof racks. They are far easier to put on/take off and change accessories than the other two "big" name brands - thule and yakima. I have ski, bike and kayak mounts that I can change out in under a minute. I don't think the other brands can do that. So, if you are looking for roof systems not just for a bike - go with Saris. If you are only doing bikes, check out the rear hitch.

Saris' customer service is great too.

 

[DocuDude]

I aint got no stinkin hitch on my cruiser

Hmm, you all make good points. But there is no hitch on my cruiser, and I kinda like it that way.

So other than having to lift two heavy beach cruisers onto some type of roof rack, is there any other option that doesnt involve a hitch?

thanks

 

[jb welda]

well you could bungi cord them to the hood.

or maybe not.

my suggestion would be to get the hitch and then the rack for it...

can you get them in the back without their front wheels on?

one love
jah bill

 

[DocuDude]

bike rack

no, these front bike tires are not easy to take off.

i do have my brushbar on the front bumper...maybe i can attach to the bullbar somehow...any suggestions?

i just want something that is useful on a 20 minute ride to the beach to use our bikes...and also something if i was out camping on a 1500 mile cross country journey for a month with our bikes....

just wish i didnt have to pay for the hitch, and then a bike receiver on top of that

no other option other than roof or hitch?

 

[RIQUE]

Hi, I am also conisdering adding a rear hitch. Anybody have a picture of one installed with bikes on? Thanks, Rique
​

k

 

[dverts]

Another reason not to put them on the roof: I've almost had my bikes peeled off the roof by low branches when driving fireroads

 

[chitown40]

If you decide to put then on the roof, I figured out a simple low-cost solution. I put somre Thule bars and towers on the cruiser to start. Rather than pay $100 apiece for the Thule bike mounts, I chose to make my own. First I bought two fork mounts from Performance Bikes for $7.99 on sale. Then I took some square tubing, drilled out a couple holes and mounted the fork mounts to the square stock. I then drilled and tapped two holes on the bottom side of the tubing. You basically slide the tubing on the load bar and thread two bolts into the holes you tapped and tighten the bolts down until it snugs up on the Thule load bar. Pop off the front wheel, throw it in the back, and put the bike on top. Adjust the position of the rear Thule bar to where the rear wheel sits on top of it and take a $.99 bungee and cinch it down. Total cost, about $25 for two bike mounts.

Its not a close-up, but they look like this:

 

[pvidrummer]

THere are bike racks that strap on to the rear tail gate of your lc. I am not shure who or where you can find them, I just have seen them on the road.

 

[lovetoski]

i do have my brushbar on the front bumper...maybe i can attach to the bullbar somehow...any suggestions?

i

Since you have a bush bar (assuming it's strong enough) you could probably figure out how to mount a hatch-back style bike rack to it. You'd have to futz around a bit, but I'm sure it could be made to work for pretty cheap - and you won't have to lift them very high.

Here's the kind of rack I'm thinking about...

http://www.yakima.com/ProductCategory.aspx?id=8

 

[monton]

I have a BVG reseiver rack. Yakima and Thule have the same concept. It is higed on a swing arm and can swing away from the back of the rig if you need to access the back. Great for road trips etc... The BVG is considerably cheaper.

 

[LongIsland60]

If you can get the front wheels off (usually quick release) and also lower the seat (carry an allen key to loosen the seat tube) you can put them in the back of the cruiser no problem. I have done this many times as well. If you really want to get fancy you can get the mounts that pickup owners have in their beds to mount/lock the front fork to the bed.

Do the bikes have QR wheels? If not, get those and learn how to lower the seat. (mtn bikes have QR set posts as well)

EDIT - sorry - just read the post about the front wheels.
Your cheapest bet and simplest is still to buy two new front wheels for the bikes and shove them in the rear.

 

[crawlin60]

I've got the King Joe 3, a Yakima rack and like it a lot. Mine goes between the cruiser (with the rubber rollers in the top strap inside the gate) and my Honda Accord wagon (with the std wide hook on the top of the gate). I carry three bikes, typically my wife's fs cruiser and my mtb plus a kids bike. I think it's plenty stout and the bikes are well secured. Paid 130 for it, IIRC...

 

[Pluton]

WARNING: even the fanciest, most swanky-expensive fork-mount type bike racks may not be strong enough for the weight of a "beach cruiser"...I was carrying one of those 40+ pound wonders on a early '90's vintage Yakima(on a Honda car), turned a corner fast, drove the remaining 3 blocks home, and found the bike leaned-over sideways in the bent fork mount...I like the idea of fastening them to the brushgaurd thing. Just my 2 cents.

 

[cruzerfetish]

I have an 87 and we have two mountain bikes we always throw in the back. Never take the wheels off. Maybe you could take the bike down to the bike shop and have them throw a quick release axle in your bikes and two quick release seat posts. Between the two you should have enough room to clear them and this would probably be the cheapest solution.