hppy4u

Hello all,
I just took delivery of my RX-8 last week (yellow, base 6MT) and have been enjoying the break-in miles along with the nice weather here in Chicago.

My question is: has anybody had any experience with bike racks for a car like the RX-8. I want to avoid roof mounted options because of potential damage to the paint so have been cosidering using a rear mounted rack. If anybody has had any experiences with one (good or bad) please feel free to respond.

Thank you in advance.

Dan

mamccubbin

I just happen to work at a bike shop, so I should be able to help you out. If you are looking for a good trunk mounted rack, I'd go with the Saris Bones Rack. It comes in a two or three bike version. They are pretty inexpensive ($100-$140), easy to put on and take off, and kind to the car and bike. The biggest precaution to take is make sure the car's surface is clean any place that the rack will make contact. Saris does not have there fit guide out for 2004 yet, but I would think this rack would work. I'll see if I can find out for sure. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Mitch Strickler

If you carry more than one bike, you need a rack. I only carry one, and it fits when I quick-release not only the front wheel, as I did in my Acura GS-R with fold-down rear seat, but the rear wheel as well. Sure, it's a nuisance, but far preferable IMO to exposing the bike to the elements and ruining the lines of my beautiful car -- plus messing up the aerodynamics.
Mitch

Speed Racer

I've never had good luck with trunk mounted racks. Even though I'm very careful I always seem to damage the paint on my car.

I'm planning on adding a trailer hitch to my car (currently working with DeLan) so that I can tow a track trailer and also use my Sportworks bike rack. In my opinion they make the best bike rack in the business. It attaches to the car in seconds (hitch mount), will not damage the finish of your car or bike, takes only a couple of seconds to load your bikes, works well with full suspension bikes (odd frame shapes), and it is very rugged. I can't say enough about it.

Wing

Keep us updated on the hitch, I would love a trailer hitch that easily removed or hid under the bumper.

Speed Racer

I was given the phone number to one of the engineers at DeLan and I offered to bring my car in so that they could design a hitch. He said that he would need to get approval from management before he would be able to do anything and warned that it may be a week or two. When I find out more info I'll keep you posted.

Mitch Strickler

I'm probably being over-cautious (and I'm not an engineer), but I would want to hear from Mazda about anything attached to the structure which essentially suspends a weight at the end of a long lever, subject to sharp motions when the firm suspension hits rough patches, all of which will exert a twisting force. Before I decided to go with inside storage, I was planning to ask Mazda to design attachments, probably a top rack that could support carriers for skis, bikes, surfboards, etc. Still sounds like a good idea for such a sporty vehicle, and a factory job would protect both finish and aero as much as possible.
Mitch

astrlsrfr

Avid mountain biker here. I have had experience with all sorts of bike racks, so I'll chime in.

The one kind I would definitely avoid is the trunk-mount kind. I used to have this type for my 87 Accord. No matter what you do or how clean you keep the car - if you use this type of rack much at all, you will develop some level of scratches on the deck lid paint; its a cumulative effect, that will eventually **** you off. Also, there's the hassle of putting it on / taking it off.

Next in line is the hitch-mount variety. I had a bolt-on hitch receiver on my 97 Prelude. This setup can work well &, in theory you would be able to minimize paint damage. However, I found a few drawbacks with this system. Now, its dependent on the type of rack you hook up to the receiver, but the one I had (Thule): put the bike really high up - so it caught a lot of wind, causing it waver in sometimes scary manners, and also work itself loose. Also, the rack's base stuck out far enough to bottom out on quick road angle changes, like steep drives. Also, you typically have to take it on and off. Lastly, I couldn't carry my surfboard on it!

My second favorite setup is the roof rack. I also had this on my old Prelude. Its very stable & solid & always on. No need to take it to a shop for drilling in the frame, as with hitch mount. You can carry lots of different types of stuff up there. Paint damage is not an issue - believe it or not - as long as you can put your gear up and take it off without botching it. Roof racks have rubber feet. A few good coats of wax under there each year & not so much as a mark, in my experience.

The best solution? Get a beater pickup to use when you go biking, or whenever you are going to need to park in precarious situations.

As you might expect, the cost rises proportional with the quality of the solution. You have to decide whats practical for your needs. Hopefully though, I have helped you make a more informed decision.

OmegaBob

Better solution: get a folding bike!

Montague folding bikes

kadunkadunk

What Mitch said.

Speed Racer

I'm not too worried about adding a trailer hitch because it is offered as a factory option in other parts of the world.

roachman

Speed Racer. PLEASE keep me informed on the hitch. I have been asking anyone I can find about one.

I Mountain bike ride. I do NOT want to put a MUD dripping bike on top of my RX-8. I do NOT want to scratch up the back with a trunk mounted rack. I NEED A hitch. I will PM you to make sure you let me know! I will pay big bucks!

Any chance we can just order the ones from overseas?

Thanks!
roachman

TomsterRX8

Wow! That trailer hitch reminds me of........well........ME!

I never had luck keeping from scratching the paint with trunk mounted hitches. That's another reason I never sold the old pickup truck.......let IT get beat up.

Mitch Strickler

I love this forum.

After I expressed doubts about attaching something to the frame, someone came along with a much better explanation of why it's worrisome -- you have to drill into the metal that was carefully specified to give a rock-solid base for the rear suspension, undrilled. Then someone else comes along to trump that, and answer my original suggestion about getting in touch with Mazda -- proof that Mazda has already come up with a solution.
Still a bit of a mystery here, though. Mazda must know that there are lots of RX8 buyers in the US who would be interested in bike racks. It offers a list of options for the car. Why wasn't that hitch setup offered here? Again taking the most cautious view, I would ask for an explanation from Mazda. You would want to talk to them anyway, to find out how to get the parts.
Come to think of it, the picture shows that a hitch has been attached to an RX8. I'm not getting into conspiracy theories here, which would suggest that anything's possible with digital photography. Still, the picture doesn't prove that it's a Mazda-approved part.
Mitch

bugbear

Mitch - the picture comes from the offical Mazda Accessories brochure from the UK. We haven't got the car yet but we all want a bunch of the accessories.

Thread here:
http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...6&pagenumber=1

Note also that the tow bar/hitch is detachable so it doesnt spoil the line of the car when not required.

Mitch Strickler

Thanks for the information, bugbear, and the fascinating brochure,. Clearly, accessories are sourced differently for different markets. I couldn't resist the U.S. version of those aluminum pedal covers, but the footrest that costs 59.95 pounds for you only cost me $25 US. It doesn't have RX8 inscribed on it (and I am glad; it looks better without it, IMO), but is otherwise similar. My accelerator pedal cost $109.95, though. It has a few more dots than yours. To my taste, the passenger side dressup is pushing things, but I'm throwing stones from a glass house; I stuck trim plates on top of stock pedals because they look like racing car pedals drilled for the ultimate in weight saving.
Some of the other pictures were interesting too -- but where is the picture of the tow bar? The top line says "All of the pictures of the accessories."
Mitch

bugbear

Mitch - i think it depends on how many posts per page you've set. I've got 40 per page and so the towbar is on page 1. It maybe on page 3 for you.

Prices in the UK are not confirmed however it looks, as usual, as if we will be at least paying pounds for dollars - not good. A lot of people here will probably even source their equipment from the states.

jfeingold

Here's a photo of my bike rack that attaches to a receiver hitch located behind the triangular thing in the bumper. The receiver was custom welded. COst about $200 and did not involve removing the muffler.

Mitch Strickler

It looks like a neat installation.
I'm still taking off both wheels and stowing the bike inside, although my time for reinstalling the rear wheel varies widely from one try to the next.
Mitch