[mobilejo]

I need to carry 4 bikes to Wales next weekend. I currently don't have any roof bars but understand that a roof mounted system would be best for my 2012 F10 saloon.

I understand I need the roof bars, then the system for carrying the bikes is separate. Is this correct?

What do people recommend? I hear Thule are good.

We have 1 large adult bike, 1 ladies bike, 1 big girls bike and 1 small boy's bike, so my worry is the varying lengths of the bikes. Will this be an issue?

Thanks

[gibbonm]

Do not buy the BMW roof bars, you will not fit 4 bikes on, unless you get very narrow carriers. you need about 110mm of full bar width

Here is what i have, not saying its the best or cheapest, but you need the width for the carriers.

http://http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/thule_rapid_system_fixpoint_xt_low_feet_4_no_753/Qx%40w%2C6M4gNax5vN1Yv0vegd3uH%40ild.%7Dhy%40RiLaR HD2D_QLnVl%40ehqNofUEziA6%7D

Make sure you get the AERO Bars.



As for Bike carriers, again its personal but i prefer these.

http://http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/thule_598_proride_bike_carrier_silver/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B~cC4urewxvE2%40.SBVA

Mine are the older 591 type, they are 10 years old now and still going strong.

To mount them on the car, just alternate, each carrier, so one facing forward and one facing backwards and so on.

Varying length of the bike isnt a problem unless its a really tiny bike, my son was on a 16" wheel and it fine at the time. i would put the kids bikes in the middle, (lighter!!)

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by gibbonm

Do not buy the BMW roof bars, you will not fit 4 bikes on, unless you get very narrow carriers. you need about 110mm of full bar width

Here is what i have, not saying its the best or cheapest, but you need the width for the carriers.

http://http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/thule_rapid_system_fixpoint_xt_low_feet_4_no_753/Qx%40w%2C6M4gNax5vN1Yv0vegd3uH%40ild.%7Dhy%40RiLaR HD2D_QLnVl%40ehqNofUEziA6%7D

Make sure you get the AERO Bars.



As for Bike carriers, again its personal but i prefer these.

http://http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/thule_598_proride_bike_carrier_silver/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B~cC4urewxvE2%40.SBVA

Mine are the older 591 type, they are 10 years old now and still going strong.

To mount them on the car, just alternate, each carrier, so one facing forward and one facing backwards and so on.

Varying length of the bike isnt a problem unless its a really tiny bike, my son was on a 16" wheel and it fine at the time. i would put the kids bikes in the middle, (lighter!!)

Thank you very much, excellent advice. I will be ordering in the next few days, I will let you know how it works out when I test fit it all.

[spirocheter]

I have always used Thule systems, but I have the bike carriers like you would see on the Tour de France, where the forks bolt directly to the carrier (front wheel going either on a separate stand or in the boot). This method is a bit more stable apparently, though I can say I've ever tried the ones as illustrated that hold the down tube.

You do need an adapted however to mount bolt through front axles, so it does get a bit more costly.

A tip I've learn over the time, is once you've got the rack assembled with four bike carriers on (staggered as previous poster mentions), I just take off the whole thing and store in the garage. Saves a huge amount of time, rather than having to add on each bike carrier every time I take the rack on and off (I take it off most of the time to save fuel economy but the horrid whistling you get with them mounted).

[shiner]

How does this work with Carbon Fibre bike frames?

I'm thinking of a Thule System for my F11. Any recommendations please?

[mobilejo]

Thanks to all for the advice, I went in search of the Thule bars and bike racks, and ended up with Cruz aero bars and Cruz bici-rack bike racks, as the price difference was around 70% (less) and I only need the equipment for one trip.

Quality is more than acceptable, but they look nowhere near as good as the Thule systems and they probably take longer to assemble but none of those things were an issue for me. They hold the 4 bikes solid including mine which is an XXL size frame; my brother in law drove behind me and he said even at 75mph there was no movement or wobbling at all. After arriving 4 hours later all 4 bikes still felt incredibly secure on the racks.

Overall I'm very pleased purely on a value for money/quality basis.

Few pics:

[spirocheter]

Looking good Mobilejo, family trip accomplished

I'll post a pic up when I use my Thule system for the first time, the Santa Cruz I have is carbon fibre and works fine, Forkup for front wheel bolt through axle and rear wheel held by strap, so no contact with the frame.

[Martin2C]

I've got the BMW bars and carriers (3 sets). I'm impressed with the quality and how quickly they can be set up and removed as I'd hate driving around with just the bars on. They probably wouldn't be wide enough for 4 bikes though, but I do prefer the look of the bars that don't overhang.

[spirocheter]

I know off topic, though it looks like you're selling up Martin? Just seen your ad on Autotrader

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...?atmobcid=soc3

Nice spec, wish I'd seen this a couple of weeks ago!

[Martin2C]

The house does look very similar, but it's not my car, will be keeping it for a while longer.