Hello all,

Please advise me on a bike rack for my 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible. Sportlink vs Trailer Hithc w/ bike rack??? I have some nice bikes & want to
haul them without causing damage.

Here is a link to the hitch, I would be installing myself.

http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NM.../InvDetail.cfm

Thanks,

Geo

 

Check out this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=104718

Dixon's comparison of the minifini and the MiniDoMore (that's the one you show on the minimania link) should be especially helpful.

To add to the points on that thread, I love my MiniDoMore:


And if you want to install yourself - it's the one to go with.

 

I have the Sportlink. It's great. Easy to install and remove. The feature where you can unlock it and bend it down (even with the bikes still on it!) to gain access to the trunk is nice; I have used that a couple times. Plus it's damn solid, when it's installed I drive just like I normally do without hesitation.

Negatives - You are stuck with those two metal posts sticking out of the back, but that can be a plus or a minus depending on your own personal taste. It is damn expensive. And the dealer can never cut a nice clean whole in that plastic that surrounds the posts so it'll always look a bit unprofessional if you take a close look.

The one above looks a lot nicer installed, and is cheaper. Probably a good choice. I might worry if such a little thing could take the stress of some bikes mounted in the back - it seems like it'd be more prone to bending or breaking while the combination of the two posts for the Sportlink would make bending almost impossible. I know most regular cars with a typical hitch have no problem, but this hitch looks a lot smaller. But I'm sure lots of people will reply who have this and say they've never had a problem.

 

The MiniDoMore hitch receiver accepts any 1 1/4" bike carrier - many bike carriers are 2" but all major companies including Yakima and Thule either offer 1 1/4" carriers or adapters to convert from one to the other. I haven't heard of people ever having problems with that (although a single mount like mine is more prone to slight swaying than a dual mount like the Sportlink).
By the way, because you can buy any bike carrier - you can shop around for the features you want . . . for example mine also swibles down for access to the boot -- or you can save money and not get that feature.

 

Not a bad looking bike rack, but it's a damn shame about the license plate frame in the picture..........

 

^ 'cause it's patially blocked by the rack, right?

 

Does your Mini have the rear fog light opt? Thanks for responding to my??

 

I have the MiniDoMore hitch AND the rear fog light. You remove the light to use the hitch. If you have no drawbar or rack installed, you plug the light back in and no worries.

The ONLY downside I know of to the MiniDoMore is the need to get under the rear bumper to fit and remove accessories (drawbar, bike rack, etc.) - if I were taking things off and putting things on regularly, I might opt for the MiniFini rack - no crawling required. But I only use mine occasionally, so I prefer the pure stock "stealth" look of the MiniDoMore.

 

mine does not, but as Blimey pointed out, it makes no difference.
Just be sure to order the right model hitch if you decide on MiniDoMore -- the hitch receivers vary slightly for cars with or without the rear fog (it's just a minor difference in the length of the receiver to accomodate the light, but you want to get the right one)

 

If I do a hitch in the future, it will be the mini fini due to the lack of crawling, plus I plan to label the 2 holes in the plastic grills 'oil slick' and 'smoke screen'.

 

Thanks all. I ordered a Mini do More hitch.

 

I called my MINI dealer to ask what he would recommend for a bike rack. He recommended the MINI Sport Link and quoted me a price of $694.73 Link with installation and then another $325.50 for the rack itself! Ouch! Is this an installation easily done by myself, I mean my husband?

 

I went with the Sport Link and rack and had them installed at the dealer (yea, I know, expensive, but less expensive than my bike falling off the back). Anyway, I did not like the clamp the rack used to hold my bike frame, so I bought two Saris frame adapters from my LBS and clamped them down permanently to the rack. Now I just un-clamp the frame adapter ends, put my bikes on, and clamp the adapter ends shut. Strapping the down tube to the racks stabilizer bar reduces any sway of the bikes while traveling. It held up nicely for a recent trip from OKC to South Jersey.

As a note, if you have an MC pay attention to the location of your bike wheels when using a frame adapter... the exhaust will easily burn a hole trough a tire...

 

bobhume, I had the dealer install mine too, right before I first picked up the car. Expensive yes but so convenient.

Great tip on using a frame adapter. I'll have to try that! Getting my two bikes on the sportlinc has often been a little of a challenge... the adapter may make things much simpler.

 

Sam Bird from Bird Automotive used my Mini cabrio as a prototype. I think it does a great job and is much less expensive than Mini's Sportlink. I also use it as a ski rack. Check out link below.

http://birdautomotive.com/Bike%20Rac...Cooper%20S.htm

 

Here's a link to the curt 1 1/4" hitch.
http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...n/CT11176.html

Is this as good as minidomore hitch? It looks the same and is much cheeper. I want to use any standard hithc bike rack.
Thanks for feed back

 

I'm not quite sure that that mounts to... but it looks fine for the Coopers. The big deal about the minidomore hitch is that it works with the MCS (which isn't a concern for you), and that it's "hidden" when not in use. It appears this hitch receiver will be below the bumper. Not a problem if you don't mind that look, and easier to get accessories in and out of than the hidden minidomore. Will it hang down enough to create clearance issues? I don't know about that...

 

Yes your right. I don't want it to show and as for clearance, in the mini it's always an issue.

 

i have the mini sportlink that i've never used. i ordered my car, but the dealer decided to add the sportlink+bike rack. PM me if you're interested.

 

Thanks for the offer. I bought a Mini Do More hitch. Need to now find the time to install it.

 

sorry for the bump on old thread..i just got the MINI convertibel bike rack made by MINI .. BUT does antyone knwo where i can find installation instructions..

 

I use the mini-do-more with a short extension and a 4 bike rack. No issues ever. The install on the MDM with the wiring harness is about a 5/10 difficulty wise but well worth it. I tow my motorcycle on a small trailer and carry bikes on the bike rack. I may buy a cheap small trailer from Harbor Freight and put a clamshell luggage carrier on it (and may paint it hot orange to match!!). Love it, love it, love it!

 

do u need special tools? is it easy to cut out 2 holes?

 

I don't recall and drilling. I think there was some minor trimming of the brake light hole in the rear bumper and some bending of the exhaust shield. It stays hidden by the brake light when not in use. I like the short extension that enables you to attatch and detach stuff easier. It reduces the tongue. Weight but I don't carry anything heavy. Go mini do more. Curt copied their hitch (allegedly) so they get none of my $$

 

Attempting to work it out with dealer....