I'm putting on a class 1 curt hitch that weighs 27 lbs and a bike rack that is also 27 lbs plus my bike thats 22 lbs. so thats 76 lbs total on the rear of the car. do you think its going to screw up the handling and balance much?

 

Nope! You will get more sag with a person or two in the back seat.

 

"Screw up" in every day driving? No, not a ton. But to wonder if adding weight off behind the rear axle would adversely affect handling shouldn't need to be asked....

 

Probably should try to keep it on all 4 tires in the curves.

 

Get a SeaSucker Talon bike mount and you'll negate the 27lbs from a conventional bike rack.

 

I considered that but theres too many cons for me. have to take front wheel off. bike gets dirt on roof. can't keep the seasucker on all the time, which will be a pain cause I ride 4 times a week. suction cups go bad, (friend is having issues after 6 months of ownership).

I dont think its a good option of you ride as much as I do, but if you ride like once a week or every few weeks its nice cause its not permanent and won't mess up your car like a rack that has straps.

 

Ah, gotcha. That's too bad it doesn't last as long and wouldn't fit your requirements.

 

A full tank of fuel weighs nearly 100 lbs in a MINI. So if that does not "mess up" your handling vs a near empty tank, then neither will your 30 lb rack + bike.

 

I've got a '06 S Convertible, keep my Saris Freedom bike rack on the car almost all summer, since I also ride frequently. No difference handling with 2 bikes on it that I can feel - but I'm also not racing! Love this bike rack - only negative is no way to turn off the backup sensor alarm, but on the good side every time I'm in reverse I'm reminded there is a rack back there!

 

I would say not at all. I can look at my car and see it is lower in the rear but nothing to change the handling of the car, plus with my wife in the car and our bikes on the back...I'm not driving like the car is capable of