Ok, well I am finally approaching the time when I go to one car. Wow, I feel like I'm in college :smile: Anyhoo...

I am a semi-regular mountain biker. I was able to fit my bike inside the Mini, but it's a major pain and TIGHT (have to take off both wheels and little room to spare). Plus, the thought of getting my interior dirty after mountain biking
I ride about two or three times a month, and road bike around my place regularly (which doesn't require I load my bike into the car, or at least not often)


At the moment, the options I've determined are-
*Roof mount (any suggestions on make???)
*Mini-Fini system (skeptical about drilling and my oh my $$$)
*A tempoary hatchback mount.

Any suggestions (w/pics???)...

DID, whats your setup

 

The Yakima setup is a very popular one. Do a search for Yakima on the Interior & Exterior Mods forum, and you'll find quite a bit of information.

I have the Yakima setup, but I would recommend the OEM roof rack. Don't worry about the drilling. You will see from the rest of the threads that it's really no big deal.

 

zfxr --

I went with the MINI roof rack and am amazed by its strength and stability. I do a lot of kayaking and was hesitent to go with a clip-on system because of the size and weight I carry. However, if you're talking a single bike, the clip-on issue may be moot.

That being said, I have recently seen a removable, clip-on hatch-rack on a MINI (not MCS) in a parking lot that looked quite sturdy. The contact points for the rack's pads were the top of the rear window and either side of the licence plate. The person appeared to have the pads resting on some squares of closed-cell foam. The top straps attached to the top edge of the hatch and the bottom straps to the bottom edge. My guess is that the hatch could be opened with the rack attached.

Note that this was and MC. I'm not sure about how well/easy the upper straps would connect through the opening in the spoiler of the MCS. Sorry I didn't get the brand name of the rack but you can probably google it easily.

Theo

 

I talked to my dealer about the MiniFini system, and although it's still
not available yet, they quoted $250 for the sportlink, $310 for the
bikerack, and 2 1/2 to 3 hrs labor at $95/hr (they haven't done one yet,
so they said this was a total guess). They have to remove the rear bumper,
and cut two holes in it for the tubes to exit, but I don't think they have to
drill any holes in metal (fits to 8 existing bolts on the body). Looks nice, but
too pricey, and I don't want a strap on or roof mount or conventional hitch
mount, so it looks like my wife's VW Cabrio will be the bike car. Got a
Bird Automotive Peashooter bike rack rack for that.

 

Hi,

I use the Saris rear hatch bike rack Bones 2 (http://www.sarisproducts.com/products/bones2.htm) - there is also a Bones 3 for 3 bikes.

I have used other hatch racks and both Yakima and Thule roof racks and have to say the Saris is among the best I have ever used. It is easy to set up, very secure, safe on the bodywork. Importantly, it is really kind to the bikes and keeps them well up and balanced at all speeds. And the rack is easy to adapt to other vehicles.

And, no, I don't work for Saris!

Cheers

 

I am really happy with the Yakima.

 

I have the mini rack and bike attachment and really like it. This is my first bike rack so I'm not an expert but at the same time if I can mount and use it anyone can. Drilling the holes didn't bother me much since I have a black roof and the plugs actually don't look that noticable. I actually like the look of the rack and people comment on it all the time. It is a little noisy but about what I would expect.

 

Check-out the Sport-Link & bike rack. Besides the bike rack
there will be other accessories that will plug into the same
receptical.

 

Check-out the Sport-Link & bike rack. Besides the bike rack
there will be other accessories that will plug into the same
receptical.

 

I just got my sport link/bike rack... very well built.. very trick...

a little pricey... but plan to get trailer hitch for race parts trailer..
the two ports on the back make for interesting conversations...