I'm looking for a bike rack for the Mini Cooper S I'm waiting for. I am considering both roof or rear racks, but I would probably tend towards rear-mounted racks. My requirements are:

1. Holds two bikes
2. Won't damage the car
3. I would prefer something easy to remove, especially if it's a rear rack.
4. I would like to keep it under $300 (under $200 would even be better)

Can anyone make suggestions, either for or against a particular model?

Thanks!

 

Don't have an answer for you, but I'm keenly interested in the other responses you might get. There's been a thread or two about the MINI rooftop system (factory) & how challenging it is to install. Sounds like one it's on, people are not too eager to take it off. You might try a search on that. I'm leaning towards a Thule system myself - roof w/ the generic Q-towers.

 

I have a Yakima rack, works perfectly and does not make alot of noise, got it for 250$ with 1 bike carrier. The clips did leave small impressions on the back rubber lip above the windows. I should have put something there like foam, but it is only visible if you looking for them. Live and learn.

 

I'm also interested in understanding the rear-mounted rack better.

Does it mount to a hitch located under the bumper?

If not a hitch, then how does it mount to the car, and is it easy to take on/off?

Also, do the MINI racks have a lock mechanism, like Thule and Yakima have?

 

on an 06 MCS, just went with the fctory racks, shop around for install as there was about $300 variance in instal labor in DC area!!! Very easy to take on and off on 2006. 3-5 minutes tops.
If you get the whistle at 45MPH, remove the black strip from the aero bar!
Using a thule sidearm for one Mbike, they are reversable so you could use two. No adaptor needed if you get one extra bottom bracket from Thule...there is a link by rack attack or some other pro installer

 

I have a Saris "Bones" rack that I use on my current car and plan to use on the MINI when she comes in. I checked on their site and they list the MINI but note the rear bumper is narrow. It looks about the same size as the foot on the "Bones" so it ought to work just fine. But I haven't tried it yet.

It is a trunk mount and well within your price objective. It pops on and off in about 2 minutes with practice but they do have some disadvantages too. No way to lock it to the car.

I can recommend the rack itself with no reservations. Although, give some thought to the 3 place rack for extra spacing between bikes if you carry large MT bikes. Two road bikes are not a problem.

Tip, cut a 2" section of inner tube to set under the frame to give it some cush and prevent marring.

 

I have the Saris Thelma w/a mindomore hitch. It's worked fantastic and I've used the rack on other cars too. It's really light, holds two bikes securely (last weekend was really windy/rough and the bikes never moved) and with the hitch it leaves the car pretty clean for day-to-day driving.

My only knock is that you can't open the trunk to the mini without taking off the bikes; you can reach in for stuff, but the trunk won't clear the crank on the front bike.

As well, I was concerned about reaching around the exhaust to hook/unhook the rack from the hitch, but that's proved to be a 3 minute job now and I've never had any heat issues.

Finally, as I mentioned, the beauty of a hitch rack is that I can move it to any vehicle with a hitch and IMO it really is a cleaner/easier approach than physically strapping something to the car. FYI: I'm riding FSR's so I have no idea how the fit would be with road gear.

 

I'm in the same perdicament. I already have a hitch rack for two bikes but i can't seem to decide on adding a $300 hitch plus labor or go for a roof rack for $400 and no labor.

My main concern is the sturdiness of the bike while in transport on the roof. Especially with those tight turns.

 

I've been using Yakima roof racks on my bimmers for 18 years for mountain bikes (30 lbs or so). Never a problem for sturdiness, even when drifting the car around corners! There's a thread on MINI roof racks somewhere, but hopefully they're as sturdy as Yakima or Thule. Bummer the MINI rack doesn't lock though.

My old cars looked okay with roof racks, but if I buy a new MINI, I'd hate to mess up the lines. They look so good without racks.

 

i'm very curious about a rear bike rack too. it won't get used much so inexpensive is good, and a little clunky is fine. has anyone tried anything like a universal rear rack?

http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...40&SortOrder=1

 

I also have this bike rack. I don't yet have my Mini, but the pictures of the install show that it can infact fit a hatchback as long as the bumper is think enough for the little rubber feet. It's a great bike rack, and cast me about $150 I believe.

 

I love my bikes too much to leave them dangling from a trunk/hatch mount rack, just never seemed that secure to me. Hitchmounts work good although you probably can't open the hatch with bikes mounted as noted previously. For me, I've grown used to the ease of using roofracks. They are a bit noisier, you gotta remember your extra height when loaded, etc. but they also make loading/unloading a snap and I personally think they make the car look kinda sporty. I'm a Thule fan, I think the square bars make less wind noise than Yak's round bars, even without a fairing. Thule base rack with fit kit will run about $275ish, then there are options on the bike trays. I used RockyMount colored trays on my previous MINI, this one's getting the Thule ones I've had for a while. Once you set up the rack on the car, it can be removed/reinstalled pretty easily but I will probably just leave it on most of the time.