I decided to install a roof/bike rack after a year of carrying my bike inside the car. I was hesitant in installing the roof rack because our mini look so much cleaner without it but it does look pretty awesome with the bike on top. Did the installation solo which was pretty easy.

 

The bike matches the car perfectly, why not put it on top?

 

The 3rd picture with the bike on top is the most recent.

 

I did the same on my 06. I needed a good rack to haul my bikes around and the trunk rack was scratching things up, so I installed a Thule roof rack system and love it. The MINI looks pretty good with it as well!

 

I use a roof mounted bike rack when hauling two bikes. When hauling one bike, I take the wheels off and put in the back. I have noticed a significant drop in gas mileage when the bikes are mounted on a rack.

 

You're right, it actually tells you in the installation manual to remove the bike rack when not in use or it will reduce gas mileage.

 

It looks great, I am thinking of this for my MCS. How loud is the wind howl with the roof open without the bike mounted?
Thanks!

 

What ever it takes to get those miles in. Ride safe.

 

Thank you. It's actually not that loud, don't even think I noticed a big difference. I used to hear it whistle when I go 40+ mph but I think I'm use to it by now

Thank you.

 

Looks great on the S. What model rack is that ? And I guess I'm an old school cyclist...about fainted when I saw that was a Bianchi and it wasn't celeste green. Looks like a nice ride..the one with two wheels and the one with four.

 

Time to put my hitch bike rack back on. I have a rag top, love my Saris Freedom rack in the trailer hitch. I keep the rack on pretty much all summer! Maybe looks goofy to some, but gets a lot of use. Just wish it was easier to install/remove without crawling underneath, squeezing a hand up under the bumper and removing the hitch bolt. Oh well - can't find an extension that sticks out enough to clear the opening in the bumper.

 

I have the oem Mini bike rack which is called "Racing Bike Rack". There's one that is completely straight and then there's this one with a curve. I actually wanted the celeste colored Bianchi but it would have cost $$$ me more. Only issue I have is that you won't be able to fully open up the hatch. I will probably end up cutting the end when I have time. Thank you

 

Just want to update you guys on what I did. I bought this buck bros mitre box and saw for about $3 from home depot and manually sawed it off. The whole process took about 1 hour but only because I kept cutting it to the right length. It will probably only take me less than 30 minutes on my 2nd bike rack. I can now fully open my trunk and I'm really happy with the end results because it came out perfectly the way I wanted it.

 

Nice work. I see there are precut spots in the roof trim, but couldn't you have moved the whole rack forward a little? Either way, looks great.

 

The mounting slots in the rain gutters are fixed, so the base rack has to mount in specific spots. As far as the bike trays go, they also use fixed mounting points. The only options are to mount facing forward (the proper way) or backward (which looks goofy IMO).

 

Thank you zrickety and thank you ASKtheteach perfect answer

 

sorry to dig up a bit of an old thread, but what size if your bike? I ride a 56cm and would love to be able to keep my bike IN my MINI if I get one... (MINI, already have the bikes)

It looks like you have your bike there with the passenger seat in the normal position, I can't tell if the bars are sticking forward between the seats though...

 

I use the rear hitch rack and love it. I was always on the fence about the roof racks, but I'm glad I went w/ the hitch because 1) wind resistance isn't nearly as bad 2) clean roof 3) was slightly cheaper 4) can swap out bike rack w/ trays/trailers.

 

Love the ease and the way the mini Fini works for 2 bikes, picture hopefully attached. was very daunting and pretty costly to have it installed lot of major surgery for the the 2011 Convertible justa.

 

my concern about a top or rear rack is leaving a couple thousand dollar bike on the car when I'm parking in downtown Norfolk... I'd feel safer with it inside the car...

 

Yah, I agree. Only load a bike for rides... I never park it and leave it w/ the bike on it.

 

I used a mitre box for cutting my Rockymounts pitchforks, too, when I fit them to the GP. Worked great.

Nothing wrong with a roof rack on a Mini.

 

I recently put a Thule Aero rack on my MINI with a fairing. I don't notice anything on the freeway when it's empty... little bit of wind noise with the bike up there.

 

We put three RockyMounts on our Clubman on the MINI roof crossbars. We don't have the roof rails so it's the same setup as the OP. We put two the usual way round and one backwards to allow for the bikes to "interlock" otherwise there isn't enough width for three handlebars side by side. We leave it on all year, and use it fairly regularly for the Christmas tree, wheelbarrows, etc. with some bungee cords and straps. Don't notice any significant noise. We don't have a fairing or anything like that.