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Numerous budget bike racks are available for all types of cycling needs. If you want to transport your bike or even multiple bikes with your car, there’s no need to spend a lot of money. The key is to look for the maximum versatility, safety, and durability within your budget. Even affordable bike racks can meet these standards. Budget bike racks are similar to regular alternatives. They can be mounted on the roof, on the trunk, or they can even be hitch-mounted. Here are some affordable bike racks to consider.
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1. Editor's Pick: Allen Sports Deluxe 3
The three-bike edition of the Allen Sports Deluxe is a popular choice among the budget-orientated cyclists. This simple and efficient design is highly affordable as well. There are a few good reasons to consider it yourself. One of them includes its versatility. The bike rack can be fitted on most sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs. Even with a compact design, the carrier comes with 15” arms which hold and lock the bikes with the help of the individual tie-downs.
With a practical design, bike rack is easy to install. Made with padded legs, it also keeps scratches away from your car. But no bike rack is perfect and this is why you need to consider its drawbacks as well. One of them comes with the conveyance of bike for women. You will need to purchase an additional bar to install on these types of bikes.
2. Tyger Auto Deluxe Bike Rack
If you only need to carry a single bike, this affordable option from Tyger Auto comes fully assembled and is a trunk-mounted rack. Designed to fit most sedans, hatchbacks, minivans, and SUVs without a rear spoiler, it’s an easy-to-install and easy-to-use option. Sporting a padded lower frame, this product keeps your bike away from your vehicle to prevent scratches, while individual soft cradles protects your bike frame itself and secures the bike to the rack.
This product has an overwhelming number of positive reviews from its users, noting that it’s solidly built and easy to mount. Like other trunk-mounted options however, this rack could block the rear license plate or your tail lights once installed. Some users did note that the included instructions are poorly written.
3. Allen Sports Easy Load Deluxe 2
The hitch-mounted bike rack is a practical solution when you don’t want to lift your bikes too far. Mounted on the rear of your car and away from its body panels, it is one of the racks which can keep your car scratch-free for longer. Enthusiast cyclists enjoy the tray-like design of the rack, which makes loading and unloading the bikes a simple task, even multiple times per day.
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Made to be mounted on all types of hitch receivers, the bike rack comes with a 35lbs weight capacity for each bike. But many people worry about the functionality of these affordable designs. The good news is that even in this class of budget products, it manages to come with a tilt-away design which gives you instant access to the trunk. Together with the foldable design, this even allows you to park the car in a garage while the rack is mounted. Made to fit bikes between 20” and 29”, the rack uses a padded strap frame connector to secure a large number of bikes.
4. Rola TX Hitch Mount 2
Made with anti-sway rollers, the bike rack is among the options you can consider for longer drives. As it prevents bike movement during transport, the rack can be one of the options for more expensive bikes which need improved protection. While there are versions for 3 bikes or 4 bikes, the rack is enough if you are cycling by yourself or with your partner.
With an integrated cable lock, the affordable bike rack is among the options which come with anti-theft protection. But in case you don’t want to leave your bikes on the rack overnight, you can tilt-down the rack for better car maneuverability. In terms of mount versatility, the rack works in most cars. The smaller 1-1.4” hitch system works with hatchbacks or sedans while the larger 2” option works great for SUVs with standard receivers.
5. Allen Sports Premier 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack
The off-road driver and cyclist often have a difficult time with transportation. But the Allen Sports Premier 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack is the best option when it comes to a rack which, as the name suggests, mounts on the back spare tire. The patented design works for most rear-mounted spare tires. This makes it a great solution for mountain-bike transportation on 4X4 vehicles.
To secure your bikes, you will use the rubber straps on the arms. Each strap comes with UV protection which ensures good durability. They are also made with soft materials which mean you won’t have to worry about scratches on your expensive paintwork. There’s one more positive characteristic you need to know. While many other similar racks mount on the rim, making all types of noises while driving, the Premier 2 mounts on the tire. This ensures that you will not have to deal with strange noises, even on bumpy roads. In terms of drawbacks, the bike rack comes with no lateral straps. But this should not be a concern at lower driving speeds.
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