Are there any other cyclists out there who have ideas on how to carry a couple bikes on the Insight? I know that Yakima and Thule don't make parts for the Insight. The bike shop suggested maybe getting a hitch mounted. Has anyone had any experience with this??? Please help...
Bikes and the Insight??
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Someone else has started a thread about this...
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=1584
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=1584
I read that thread and it is about installing a hitch. That's a thought, but my man's bike is a tri-bike and doesn't have a crossbar for those kind of bike racks. Anyone mounted a rack to the roof? i know that is a big no no in the world or wind tunnels, but he is insistent that we try to go that route...
Thanks again...
Thanks again...
Welcome ... look at Yves' modification page. He fitted a tow hitch, which will give you more rack options. I carried my road bike in the back, no problem, but it requires leaning the passenger seat up. Works for one bike, and no passengers.
How's life up in the hills?
How's life up in the hills?
If I was in your shoes,
I would look into a hatchback rack but I would add some support for the rear bumper.
These racks usually put the weigh on the rear bumper but for the Insight, the real bumper is 13 inch below what you see. So if you have something that puts weigh on the plastic bumper cover, there is really nothing under to support it.
See picts at: http://www.md92raid.100freemb.com/pages/bumper.htm
Some aluminium braket pop-riveted to the top 'real'bumper would be perfect to me.
I would look into a hatchback rack but I would add some support for the rear bumper.
These racks usually put the weigh on the rear bumper but for the Insight, the real bumper is 13 inch below what you see. So if you have something that puts weigh on the plastic bumper cover, there is really nothing under to support it.
See picts at: http://www.md92raid.100freemb.com/pages/bumper.htm
Some aluminium braket pop-riveted to the top 'real'bumper would be perfect to me.
The car loves hills!
Thanks y'all for all the suggestions. We'll be looking more into these Saturday.
As for these hills, they're treating my "lil blue" just fine. It has enough power to go up and down and I've discovered the "L" to get me up my gravel driveway (it spun out in regular drive). Where exactly is Payne, NC?
cheerio :wink:
Thanks y'all for all the suggestions. We'll be looking more into these Saturday.
As for these hills, they're treating my "lil blue" just fine. It has enough power to go up and down and I've discovered the "L" to get me up my gravel driveway (it spun out in regular drive). Where exactly is Payne, NC?
cheerio :wink:
Oquirrh Mountains in Tooele, UT
I used my Insight to drive myself and a friend up to the top of the Oquirrh Overlook in Tooele, Utah a few months ago. Handled it just fine, on the stock tires, but had to use the L setting to get over the glacier in the way
We fit two mountain bikes in the back. Admittedly, that left the hatch open, and we had to tie it down, but no damage to the vehicle and it wasn't as if we were driving along a 70MPH road or anything. The Insight can go places that other cars dread... so narrow, I started calling it my "aluminum ATV" that day
I used my Insight to drive myself and a friend up to the top of the Oquirrh Overlook in Tooele, Utah a few months ago. Handled it just fine, on the stock tires, but had to use the L setting to get over the glacier in the way
We fit two mountain bikes in the back. Admittedly, that left the hatch open, and we had to tie it down, but no damage to the vehicle and it wasn't as if we were driving along a 70MPH road or anything. The Insight can go places that other cars dread... so narrow, I started calling it my "aluminum ATV" that day
that's good news
Thank you so much for your account of going up the mountain! And that is funny that you carried TWO bikes in the hatch. What was your mpg going up that mountain?? And did it still drain the battery pack even in "L"?
Thank you so much for your account of going up the mountain! And that is funny that you carried TWO bikes in the hatch. What was your mpg going up that mountain?? And did it still drain the battery pack even in "L"?
Saris makes a roof rack for the Insight.
And bike racks that fit their roof racks.
http://www.sarisracks.com
And bike racks that fit their roof racks.
http://www.sarisracks.com
I think I posted this somewhere else.
Here it is again.
I am waiting for the Saris 3 bike rack which has 2 feet on the hatch and 2 on the bumper area. I'll use some home brewed 'hatch hugger' type strapping to keep the rack on safer and less scratching to the hatch.
I was going to do the Saris roof rack, as that seemed like what people liked most - but then I tried a friend's Saris 2 bike hatch back rack and it was nice. So I read reviews and found that lots and lots of people buy the 3 bike Saris hatch rack for 1 or 2 bikes at most because it has the extra foot and is super stable.
After testing the 2 bike rack, I am near certain that the 3 bike rack will be great. To minimize wear and tear and maximize safety, I may drive with one or more wheels off. I can't imagine that there would be any issues (short of mpg reduction) with a bike frame only on the back and the wheels inside.
The only thing I don't like is having the wheels inside when they might chop my head off in a collision. Nicer to have it all outside.
I'll post when I get the 3 bike rack and use it.
Here it is again.
I am waiting for the Saris 3 bike rack which has 2 feet on the hatch and 2 on the bumper area. I'll use some home brewed 'hatch hugger' type strapping to keep the rack on safer and less scratching to the hatch.
I was going to do the Saris roof rack, as that seemed like what people liked most - but then I tried a friend's Saris 2 bike hatch back rack and it was nice. So I read reviews and found that lots and lots of people buy the 3 bike Saris hatch rack for 1 or 2 bikes at most because it has the extra foot and is super stable.
After testing the 2 bike rack, I am near certain that the 3 bike rack will be great. To minimize wear and tear and maximize safety, I may drive with one or more wheels off. I can't imagine that there would be any issues (short of mpg reduction) with a bike frame only on the back and the wheels inside.
The only thing I don't like is having the wheels inside when they might chop my head off in a collision. Nicer to have it all outside.
I'll post when I get the 3 bike rack and use it.
Joined
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5 Posts
I have the Saris Bones 3 bike rack for use on my Insight. It works great. The feet are totally adjustable which makes them work well on the Insight. I agree that the bumper needs some internal support. It might be fine without the internal support (mine was). But if it will be getting a lot of use, I think the internal support would be a good idea because the bumper gives a little with the weight. As with most bike racks, access to the rear is limited. But the rack is easy to take off and on once you get used to it, so that really isn't too big of an issue. Check out their website.
http://www.saris.com/products/bones3.htm#
http://www.saris.com/products/bones3.htm#
The easiest way to carry a couple of bikes would be the SportFlite rack. check them out at:
http://www.draftmaster.com/sf.html
A hitch would be the best. Much harder to do but if you will be transporting the bikes often the hitch rack is the way to go.
The Sportsworks Transport rack is the best hitch rack I've seen and will work on any shape of bike because it contacts the bike only at the tires and the load/unload process is under ten seconds. Check it out here
http://www.bicycleracks.com/sttra.asp
To get an idea of how to install a hitch check here.
http://yves.fungiart.com/
http://www.draftmaster.com/sf.html
A hitch would be the best. Much harder to do but if you will be transporting the bikes often the hitch rack is the way to go.
The Sportsworks Transport rack is the best hitch rack I've seen and will work on any shape of bike because it contacts the bike only at the tires and the load/unload process is under ten seconds. Check it out here
http://www.bicycleracks.com/sttra.asp
To get an idea of how to install a hitch check here.
http://yves.fungiart.com/
Joined
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5 Posts
I have had 3 bikes on it, but usually just carry 2.
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