The MINI Bike Rack Question

Sections: Ask MotoringFile Mar 24th, 2005 65 Comments

Here’s a great question we get every year when the weather starts to turn a bit warmer (from Greg):

As it is now into the very first few days of Spring, I am now looking forward to the wonderful weather Chicago brings us in the coming months. That said, I am looking forward to bike rides in and around Chicago. I am however looking forward to bike rides elsewhere as well.

This brings me to bike racks for the MINI… There are many different models out there and I was hoping others in the MINI community that have done the “field research” could chime in with their thoughts on the different bike racks they recommend and why.

I don’t plan on any extremely long rides, but a good 100 mile drive (each way) with two bikes strapped to the back of my ’05 CR/W MCS is certainly within the realm of possibility.

I also don’t want to have to curb my driving style much, if at all, if I can avoid it with the bikes strapped on. I’d love to attach the bikes and still take extremely spirited drives, let alone go twisty hunting.

Thanks to all that respond and thanks for posting this as I hope it is a helpful post for many others besides myself.

Greg

Written By: MF Reader

Dan

Follow up to my earlier post Nov 26 2005: I did what I said I thought was needed, and bought a Thule Hitching Post Pro dual bike carrier. I brought it to a welder along with the Mini Sportlink. After a little creative surgery, I now have my Mini SportlinkThule Franken-rack.

I must say it is absolutely perfect.

I removed the P.O.S. Sportlink round rack off at the Sportlink attachment bar, then had the welder cut the Thule rack off at the point where that rack attached to the hitch, and then had him weld them together. Voila, a perfect Mini 2 bike rack that actually hold bikes (and folds down)!

Total cost as follows:

Mini Sportlink (installed): ~$800 Thule Top Tube adapter (x2): ~$60 Rebuilt rear bike wheel (after falling off Sportlink rack and dragging on Rt80 at 75mph): ~$400 Thule Hitching Post Pro rack: ~$140 Welder labor: ~$85 Total Cost to carry 2 bikes on a Mini properly: ~$1,485 Smile on my face every time I look at my Franken-Rack: priceless…
Bryan

Is there an option available for carrying a tandem bike on a convertible?
Steve

I am looking at buying the Thule or Yakima after market roof rack for my mini. On the websites for both of these it says it is only for the sport model. Is this true? We have a 2005 MC. Will they still fit?
trio25

I’m a bit confused. I have dealer fitted roof bars can anyone tell me if I can now fit thule bike carriers? Has anyone done this?
emmi

Well, it looks like this subject has been thoroughly covered, but I’ll throw something out there anyway. I have a convertible, so no roof rack for me! Does anyone have any knowledge/experience/input regarding this trailer receiver hitch from miniature trailer: http://www.miniaturetrailer.com/hitch.php It’s $325 (with shipping), and then you can add a hitch rack (or anything else) to it (and not be tied to the sportlink system). Any thoughts?
bdog1

Miniature trailer’s hiddeen hitch is a versitile option. http://www.miniaturetrailer.com Installed with out incident, allow 2 hrs. (additional for wiring) Any number of 1″ hitch accesories can be used from that point. When not in use, hitch is completly hidden behind the “blank plug” where the rear fog lamp would be. I pull a small utility trailer. (4X6) I am going to add a rear bike rack. But there’s the kayak issue!!!! PS. putting the reciever pin in and out with a hot exhaust is a challenge, best to do that chore when cold.
mightyangelo

Have always preferred yakima racks, but its a tough call on the mini cooper. The clips sporadically interfere with with windows, and you cant use the sunroof due to lack of clearance. the yakima racks are hard to get to stay in place on amorphous shaped roofs, especially for long high speed trips-it pushes back over time and if you have extra wheels in fork carriers they push back in the wind and rotate the bars in the tower clamps causing all kinds of fitting troubles mid trip, not to mention striping the protective plastic from the cross bars. Does anyone have any info on the new mini brand racks as seen on the mini web site? dealer doesnt know squat.
JZ

Hi all…I followed the tip of roof rack whistling and pulled the rubber strip and replaced it with black hose. PURRRFECT!! No irritating whistle!! But…now I realize I do not like the rack on top, preferring instead to have a cleaner look. I want to remove the rack and perhaps put a dab of silicone in the holes in the roof. Anyone have other ideas of how to cover the drilled holes…I purchased this car just last weekend. It’s a 2006 Cooper S with just 3200 miles on it. I LOVE the way the car drives and handles, but I wish it didn’t have the roof rack.
Duncan Chapman

I have a factory MINI roof rack on my 2006 Cooper, and I need to buy fork-mount bike trays for it. It came with the type that has an “arm” that clamps onto the frame, but it’s ugly and very difficult to use. I’ve ordered a fork-mount type from the local MINI dealership, but they have no idea how long it might take to come in. Does Thule make a fork-mount tray or an adapter that will work on the MINI rack? If so, where can I purchase them? Help!
kelly

Any suggestions for those with convertibles?
Cheryl

I have a ’06 MCS and found all of your comments extremely helpful while making the decision on my recent bike rack purchase. I ended up with the rear mount Sari Bones 3 bike rack – had to hold 3 – am very happy. It’s good looking and very sturdy.
Rocky

I have been using the Saris Bones RS for about a year now. The ratcheting mechanism with steel belt straps is far superior to any of the pull strap types I have used.The cups conform to rear without scratching and the rack is very solid even with three downhill bikes (100+ pounds) on it.Definately takes a little fitting get all three on but with my normal one or two it is perfect. I particularly like the fact that we do not remove wheels as our bikes all have 20 mm thru axles. It is all aluminum also with a very easy setup and locks on to the car. The link is http://www.saris.com/

Dana Vanier

This was from a while ago, were talking about the saris bones RS for a mini Convertible (cooper S)???Â

thanks

Sean

Just to add to the conversation. I recently purchased an 08 MCS and purchased a Thule aftermarket roof rack. After years of using a hitch mounted tray rack on my truck which worked beautifully I thought I had no options but the roof. I’ve used the roof rack a few times and it definetly makes a lot of noise with our without a bike. Now I see that you can get the mini sportlink and then buy a hitch mount which attaches to the sportlink and use an aftermarket tray mount bike rack just like what I have. They make it in both an 1 1/4 receiver and a 2 inch. I wouldn’t go towing anything with the mini but a hitch mounted bike rack seems to be the most solid option which doesn’t affect the aero dynamics of the car and doesn’t make noise. Although I already have the money invested in the roof rack, I’m going to go for the sportlink set up to provide more options to carry gear and bikes.
http://510bike.shop.no-ip.co.uk Travis Slaton

thanks for the post, helped me settle a dispute with a friend.

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