Hello!

I'm new to the MINI community. I ordered my Roadster S back in February and it's FINALLY arriving in 2 weeks! I was wondering if anyone has found a good option for a bike rack on the Roadster. I don't want to make any holes in the car to put in a hitch. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

I don't have any personal experience with these, but take a look at this site:http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...ttachment.html It would require the Mini do more hitch. Contact dealer about that.

-Steven

 

Thanks Steven

 

I haven't done it yet, but I'm planning to see if my old boot-mounted rack that I have used on MINI hardtop and my old Lancer Sportback would be usable on the Roadster in a pinch. I'll put the spoiler up and see if I can get it to sit over it. I'm hopeful that it will be OK, but if it isn't we can use my wife's Clubman that we managed to put fork mounts for three road bikes on the factory roof bars (we don't have the roof rails). I'll post here when I've tried it.

 

Spiney, were you able to test out your boot-mounted rack? Any luck?

 

Not yet, stay tuned... I should probably be able to try it again this coming weekend.

 

spiney.. i would love to hear about it too with your test and if the bike rack worked as i'm trying to save $2700 for the bumper mounted bike rack from Mini. :P

 

Is there a way to turn OFF the spoiler from popping up?

 

So I struck out. I'd forgotten about the stupid SIRIUS antenna, which is right where the top arm wants to land. There is room forward of that, towards the front of the car (see picture) for the arm to land, but if it goes there the arm isn't long enough to span the boot lid.

Plan B is the Saris Bones 3-bike: http://www.saris.com/en/bike-racks/v...&category_id=7 available at your local bike shop or on Amazon here http://www.amazon.com/Saris-Bones-80...5183505&sr=8-2

The 2-bike version won't work as it only has a single upper foot which will no doubt land right on the satellite antenna. I'm planning to go to a local bike shop that has a three bike version in stock and ask them to let me try it before I buy.

 

hey spiney, thanks for the update on the bike rack. let me know how it goes with the the Saris Bones rack. I'm in europe so i don't get to TEST these racks out. if yours works, then i'll order one from the States or pick one up when i fly back next trip. You think the Roadster bumper can hold the weight of 2 bikes? :P lol i'm worried about that. Also... so that is what that silver thing is.. the Sirius antenna. but we don't have Sirius here in Europe.. so it's a waste of place for us :(

 

spiney... one more concern... the spoiler??? will the bike rack clear it when the spoiler comes up and down? your thoughts?

 

Thanks, Spiney. I was looking at the Saris Bones models as well. I need to figure out how to lock the bike to something so that it doesn't get stolen when I go running after biking.

 

On the Saris website they have a nice video that shows the rack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKi7urto4ag) , and talks about how it is designed to fit over spoilers. I'll hopefully find out for sure when I find one to try.

 

Well, I went to one of the local bike shops tonight, they had the Saris in stock and hanging on the wall, but he wouldn't let me try it "just in case it gets damaged". Bit of a lame excuse, but there it is.

He said "it won't fit" but it looked to me like it would. I'll try another shop...

 

thanks for the update spiney.. let me know still. that was a stupid excuse and loss of sales from that bike shop. :P

 

I have an older Saris rack (maybe 10 years old) and decided to give it a try. Looks like it can be made to fit; see the pictures below.

One note of caution. Even though it has rubber feet, on the Audi where I previously used this rack, it did leave a noticeable scuffing or marring of the trunk lid.

--Alan
(P.S. Although I know it is standard practice to blot out license plate numbers in photos published on the web, I just had to leave this one in!)

 

Cool! That's exactly how I thought it would be. The current rack looks pretty much exactly like yours. I'll still try to find another shop that has the current version in stock and repeat your experiment.

For the scuffing, maybe we could put cell phone screen protectors at the contact points? They are tough, and come off cleanly for replacement.

 

Nice!! (and I love the license plate )

 

spiney.. nice idea with the cellphone screen protectors to help scuffing!!!

 

colea.. thanks for the pics and the test. especially the spoiler one

 

Pepper or Spiney--did you ever find a bike rack that you were happy with?

I'm about to take a substantial trip with a bike, and my alternatives are:

1) Chrysler Pacifica with an industrial-strength rack

2) MINI Roadster with a Saris rack

Clearly, option (2) would be a whole lot more fun. But I'm curious if anyone has used the Saris (or other) rack on the Roadster, and, if so, what your experience has been.

Thanks,
Alan

 

Colea,

I haven't tried the Saris rack. A friend of mine has it and it works well on his car but there is no way to lock the bike to the car which is my biggest concern. I usually go biking and then running. I'm afraid to leave the bike on the Saris rack because someone could easily loosen the straps and that the bike with the rack in one swoop. lol

 

Sorry, been on vacation and just got back. I'll think a bit more this week...

 

Colea,

Have you tested the Saris on your Roadster with some bikes on it? Have you had any issues? I bought the Saris this weekend but was informed that it wasn't an approved fit for the Roadster. I called Saris this morning and they couldn't tell me why is wasn't approved. They just had a note about the wing.

 

Not sure if it will fit, but I have the Kuat bike rack. They are very light and easy to operate. You should check them out.

I have a Clubman and have the Minidomore trailer hidden hitch.

If Minidomore has a hidden hitch to fit your car (cost about 200.00), then you could use any bike rack without having to have the bike rack sitting on the bumper, rear panel or deck of your car. I think this would me more preferable in the long run, much easier to remove when not using.