Comments on: The MINI Bike Rack Question

By: Dana Vanier

Dana Vanier — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:18:00 +0000

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

thanks

By: Travis Slaton

Travis Slaton — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:14:53 +0000

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

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:59:05 +0000

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.

By: Rocky

Rocky — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:25:51 +0000

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/

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:35:35 +0000

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.

By: kelly

kelly — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:42:54 +0000

Any suggestions for those with convertibles?

By: Duncan Chapman

Duncan Chapman — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:13:05 +0000

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!

By: JZ

JZ — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:14:59 +0000

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.

By: mightyangelo

mightyangelo — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:36:56 +0000

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.

By: bdog1

bdog1 — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:15:37 +0000

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.

By: emmi

emmi — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 04:31:15 +0000

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?

By: trio25

trio25 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:24:11 +0000

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?

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 13 May 2006 03:18:08 +0000

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?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 04:10:56 +0000

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

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:44:49 +0000

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...

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 00:57:55 +0000

I used the Yakima Mighty Joe for about 6 months now, and unfortunately it's just not a good solution for the mini. First, it's a pain to get on and off. (you have to go under the spoiler, and to do that you need tiny hands. Second, the hooks grip on the side of the trunk, adn they never seem very secure. No matter how tight I get the straps when I leave, they are loose and flapping in the wind when I arrive at my destination... yikes

By: tommy dean

tommy dean — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 04:07:00 +0000

Just purchased a Mini Cooper S. Don’t want the roof rack for a number of reasons. Anybody used the Yakima Mighty Joe Rear Rack? Good, bad, ugly?

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 13:25:16 +0000

I have had the sportlink rack installed on my Mini S COnvertable since March. The good news is that the attachment to the car is great. The bad news is that the rack itself is a total POS.

The bike cradles will only accept very traditional style frames. Forget getting a montain bike with full suspension on it. The cradles are also hard on newer frame components, like carbon. They are a pain to use, as you need to fully unscrew to mount a bike (even if you get one that fits and you don't care about top tube damage). otal I "solved" these issues by buying two frame adapters at a cost of roughly $30 each, and leaving them in the cradles. That worked OK for a while, until one day when one of the frame adapters got some play in the side that goes around the headset. Not good when you are dragging your bike behind you at 70 mph. One $400 wheel set later and I am back in business...

Now one of the screws that tightens the cradle to the main tube just broke, again dropping my bike in the road (luckly at a slow speed, so no real damage).

My plan is to buy another properly designed rack that has two arms instad of the single one of the Mini rack, and bring it to a welder to get it grafted on to the Mini rack.

Like I said, a total POS. No wonder it is not being sold anymore...

By: John P.

John P. — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 17:36:52 +0000

Oh, and I NEED TO ADD TO THE ABOVE that I bought all the SportLink parts from Classic MINI in Ohio. I got a % discount for being a NAM member.

By: John P.

John P. — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 17:29:11 +0000

I just had the SportLink installed (yeah, I know, it’s no longer being sold). With everything (installation done by Detroit Tuned) including the bike rack and SportLink, the total was around 550.00. Yes, it cost more than my bike. But, I now have both a bike rack and hitch (which adds a bit more $$$). It’s an amazing piece of engineering, and for just a bike rack, it’s over-engineered, which gives one a sense of calm about the safety of the bikes on back.