Tenatively (get it?) looking at getting a Cooper-S, but I am an avid cyclist (road and dirt), and want to get input from anybody else in a similar situation. I take trips with my bike 5-10 miles at least 4-5 times per week, and once every few months I try to go at least 4-500 miles. IOW, both long and short trips.

I currently drive a full size Ford Pickup, which I love, but the bug has got me for a Cooper. The pickup makes sense, but I wanna Cooper.

Thanks for any help.....

 

I,ve got a Yakima on my Cooper and love it. About $400 from Racksdirect. I use the Viper fork mount for my FS mountain bike. Very stable and easy to use and lock. The Mini rack is nice but requires 8 holes to be drilled in the roof !! Feel free to PM me with any questions...Mike

 

I got the Yak also.

 

thanks

 

the minifini bike rack is a popular option now that it's available:


http://www.minifini.com/shopdetail.aspx?id=8


I'm looking forward to the cargo platform attachment.

Good luck.

 

Hey BuckeyeMCS, our cars are identical, except I have a SantaCruz Superlight on mine !!

 

hey tentative,
I also have the yakima setup on my mcs, but if I were to do it over, i would go with the factory rack.

the yakima is nice and all, but leaves impressions in the weather stripping around the car. it also doesn't look as "clean" as the factory rack.

the factory rack (correct me if I'm wrong) can take about 100 more lbs that the Yakima. That's not really an issue though, coz even if you have two heavy mountain bikes, you'd still be at around 60lbs.

the verdict... do it right, get the factory rack, then put whatever bike mount you want to on it, e.g the Yakima Viper.

watch out for dealers trying to rip you off on installation though

 

That is a great bike!
The only thing I don't like about the Yak is the front tire carrier. In fact, the day that pic was taken I was heading to some great trails in South Eastern Ohio, At one point I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a Camry swerving to miss my front tire I keep the front tire in the car now
I have not had the weather strip mark issue. If I were to do it again, I would put the Sport Works tray on my Yak.

 

Thanks, my buddy and I usually take our FS bikes (mine is a Jamis Dakar XC Comp - a shade under 30lbs I think), and his should be about the same. If I'm on a trip and by myself then it's the road bike or single speed (both under 20lbs) with the FS bike.

I guess my big sticking point is that my pickup carries all my bikes, can carry my wife and 3 kids, has plenty of room, is within a year of being paid off, and has a V-6 and 5 speed which gets good milage (all very logical reasons).

I WANT a Cooper cuz I just turned 40, always wanted a fast fun sports car, a sun roof, and I figure this would be cheaper than a 'vette or an affair for my mid-age crazy (not logical reasons).

 

I have a mini fini rack on my Cooper S..


It only holds 2 bikes.. but it works pretty well..

a:smile:

 

Funny,
I had a Durango R/T. I was about to turn 40 also.
My wife drives an Expedition. Whoever has the kids (4) takes the Expy and whoever does not, takes the Mini.

 

The wife has a Suburban. I figure if I get a Mini, we will average out to only be mildly insensitive to the enviroment.