Just want to know which system is the best for this. Isn't there a factory roof rack that takes a mount for a mountain bike carrier?

Thanks!

 

I carry two mountain bikes on my MINI roof racks with great success..I have roof rails and the non fork-mount racks..

 

The factory roof rails are quite nice, at least for the R56.

 

Cool. Can you guys provide a link to the factory rails?
Thanks.

 

Go to MINIUSA.com then get yourself to the 'build your own' and then go to accessories, you will find everything there.

 

Several options and variations you can go with. After exploration and being corrected on the MINI rack, I'm going with the MINI base system then adding Rocky Mounts trays appropriate for the base (Euro Pitchfork). Front wheel off. FWIW, my son has an '07 S and has a complete Thule setup that he hauls 2 bikes on the roof all over the state of Texas. Different attachments allow you to fix the removed front wheel on the roof as well. Thule may be the best source for this part. Sewellparts.com is a good source for the rack, think they were running a special on them not long ago. ~$200.

 

I was hoping to do it with both wheels mounted on the bike, that way I don't have to find room in the car for it.
http://www.rei.com/product/738322/yakima-highroller-bike-mount?preferredSku=7383220014&cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-pla-_-product-_-7383220014&mr:trackingCode=637D4FFE-FB85-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&{copy: s_kwcid}=&gclid=CPvw2YTTvbMCFcKPPAodHzMArw

 

And I think that is perfectly fine. I'll use the rack mounted wheel carrier on top of the car. The only benefit that may be available from taking the front wheel off is lowering the top clearance height a touch and possibly provide a bit or aerodymanic with the bike front down. In reality at 70 mph going down the highway, eh....

http://www.thule.com/en-US/US/Produc...s/593-Wheel-On

Also, if you go with the MINI base rack, I don't think Yakima has anything that will straight-away mount on the MINI cross bar. They are probably working on something since Thule has an aero style cross bar.

 

I've used full bike mounts before but was less than impressed with the way the bike mount flexes going around corners. The bike (DH and/or my all mountain rig) could sway over a foot each way depending on the circumstances. This was the Yakima King Cobra mount on my previous Honda so I can't speak to other types of mounts.

With the Mini being the nimble corner cutter it is I went with a fork mount option. I have the Mont Blanc MB 3000 and a Thule fork mount bike pod. It wiggles very little and not nearly as much as the full bike pod. As stated above, you could also buy a wheel mount for the rack. It just sucks shelling out the extra dough.

 

Taking the front wheel off a mountain bike sometimes results in the need to re-center the caliper on the disc brake rotor. My opinion a rack that does not require removing a wheel is best. I like the hitch racks for this reason. Something like the MINI Fini sport link and a Kuat NV hitch rack is great. Rack clamps wheels in place, no touching of the frame to rack and. O wheel removal required.

 

Hey Gigantor,

We would love to send some business your way. We do have a bike holder and base support system that will fit your car. Here are the direct links:

http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2012/4799.html -Touring Bike Holder
http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2012/5172.html -Countryman Base Support
http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2011/4797.html -Clubman/Hardtop Base Support

We do have these items in stock and ready to ship to you as soon as you place an order. Let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you for pointing http://sewellparts.com/ out, Mike!

-Sewell Parts Team

 

-Sewell Parts Team

http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2011/4797.html -Clubman/Hardtop Base Support

Would this be able to handle 3 Yakima racks ? I am a bike rep and am looking at getting a Clubman or Countryman and need to carry 3-5 bikes ,

 

-Wabiker3576

You can definately fit 3 Yakima racks on this base support. Only thing is, it will depend on how you place the bikes with the pedals and handle bars. I have personally never seen it done. The space for putting the racks is in the base support is right at 32 inches.

I would recommend going with the Countryman if you are going to carry 3-5 bikes. You can purchase the base support system along with the rear mounted bike rack to ensure 4 bikes safely (2 on top, 2 on the rear)

Here are the direct links for both of those for the Countryman:

http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2011/4848.html
http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2011/5172.html

They are both one very durable and accessable when carrying bikes around.

-Sewell Parts Team

 

I'm not sure where to insert my question here people, so bear with me. I just got my Cooper Hardtop and bought the Mini roof rack base. I'm pretty handy but the instructions are vague at best when it comes to step 1; locating the 4 secure fittings and 'pre-punched' gutter for removal before install. Can anyone help me with that?

The rest, that is the mechanical part, is very well illustrated and described. I'm just stuck at the start.

 

-Sockbunny

The "pre-punched" gutter is dificult to find. I would suggest getting a flash light out to spot them. They have a dotted line on the molding between the door and the roof. You can find the front one about 12-14" from the A-Pillar and the back one about 24-28" behind that one.

-Sewell Parts Team

 

I've had 4 bikes on my mini, I have a Yakima w 2 cobras and 2 high rollers

 

Copperhead not cobras

 

Thank you. I used the tool and slid it between the flexible molding and the hardtop & so eventually found where the secure footings are and, therefore, where the pre-punches should be. It was in broad daylight and my vision is good and I still didn't see any perfs. I can & will carefully make the cut if, for some reason, the perforation is non-existent. I'm going to take your suggestion and also a magnifying glass. Ridiculous.

 

Sorry Sewell, forgot to ask if the perforations are supposed to be on the short side too, perpendicular to the molding? That's what the instructions show.

 

-Sockbunny

You will be able to spot the perforation that is parallel to the molding. The perforation that is perpendicular is very small and can be very hard to find.

-Sewell Parts Team

 

does anyone have a picture of how it looks once the bike rack is off (after making the cuts) ?

 

Here's a link to another bike rack thread, showing my wife's Clubman with three road bikes on top. I have the standard MINI crossbars and three Euro Pitchforks. Fitting wasn't difficult, once I found the punch-outs in the plastic by the gutter. They were there, but were difficult to see. We put the wheels inside, with the Clubman raised floor lifted there's enough height to get the wheels in without them even showing over the top of the back seat.

 

so the mini base rack is compatible with yakima attachments? what about thule? I have a whole pile of each, but the thule stuff I have is newer and nicer, so would rather use it.

 

Thule or RockyMounts for trays. Yakima is only starting to come out with attachments for aero or ovalized base bars at last check. You may be able to get creative. There are a few MINI racked configuration pictures to see on rackoutfitters.com if you dig around.

 

Another option...factory rack with Thule Criterium trays. This rack set up allows me to keep the front wheel on the bike and enough adjustability to carry kid bikes when occasion arises.