I am a cyclist so I have to transport my bikes quite often. While a road bike fits in the back of an RX-8 with the front wheel off, a mountain bike does not. I've tried using Saris Bones carrier that attaches to the trunk but the sheet metal on RX-8 is too thin, it was flexing like crazy as I was tightening the carrier.

So after some research I found this link:

http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/201691.aspx

I've contacted the original author of the design. He didn't have any blueprints but provided me with this gallery:

http://vorshlag.smugmug.com/gallery/...52717298_v3sYU

Finally I found a local guy to manufacture and install this on my RX-8. He altered the design a bit to make it even stronger. Here's the final product:





I am a Yakima Holdup bike carrier to transport my bikes.

If anyone is interested, this receiver can be manufactured and shipped to you. Send me a PM and I will provide you with the manufacturer's contact details.

 

I would have to give up riding before doing that to my baby

 

Why don't you just get a roof mount type or even a trunk mount?

 

get another vehicle to transport bikes?

 

Eh, not my taste. But I guess do what you gotta do.

 

Actually, I like it! Practical, but discreet. It's always a snap to load the rack, too!

 

Hmmm I was going to start a new thread but I guess I'll hijack yours instead. I'm looking for a receiver for the same reason, a bike rack. I've seen several on the internet for $200, but they all list they are for 04 to 08 only. What about 09? (or 10 for that matter, but the 8 I might buy tomorrow is an 09). Same deal, you can't put a mountain bike on a truck rack. I used to do that with my old 8. Besides scraping a **** load of paint off the decklid, I used to have to pull over on the highway all the time from the bike slipping off. Most mountain bikes these days have Y style frames, or a shock located inside the front triangle. A traditional old school bike rack, where you hang the top tube on two bars sticking out, just doesn't work anymore.

I don't plan on pulling any trailers with my RX8, but if i was going to, I'd make a trailer out of the rear half of an RX-8 cut in half. That would be sick, in a belongs-in-the-circus kind of way. So, anyone know where I can find a receiver, ideally a bolt on style I can install myself. Even more ideally, it would stick out through the rotor like the pics above, so I could get some kind of rotary receiver cover to stick on, and no one would ever see it unless I had the bike rack attached.

 

I had this receiver on my car for over 6 months now and I absolutely love it. I use it with a Yakima bike carrier to carry mountain and road bikes. The carrier takes less than 5 minutes to install or remove. Here are some shots with the carrier on:





If anyone is interested, please PM me and I will give you the contact information for the guy who built it for me. He still has the blueprints for it.

 

I'd be more inclined to fabricate something from the screw-in eye hook used to tow the car.

 

^ yeah that would look cleaner plus when you dont need it it would disappear!

 

Throw a rotary logo receiver cover over the empty receiver and no one would ever notice.

 

I'm looking for a hitch for my new 2009 RX-8 as well. Same reason: to transport my bike(s). Most of the hitches out there are only for the 2004-8 cars. If anyone can help point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

In the meantime, I purchased a bike wheel bag and a bike travel bag to put my dirty bike and wheels in to keep the interior from getting dirty; haven't received the bags yet but hopefully it works....

 

That's pretty neat.

I remember a post here a couple of years ago from a guy who had just bought a used 8, and it had something like that on it. He didn't know what it was, and was seeking help in figuring that out and how to get rid of it. I think it turned out to be an option avialable in Europe.

Ken

 

Not too bad, I have the saris bones and it does bend the rear bumper !! Anyone looking for a rack...get the 3 bike bones rack because the 2 bike doesn't really clear the trunk/spoiler that well, however you can only fit 2 bikes but it really deforms the bumper under the weight!! I put it on the rear window (saves sheet metal) and rear bumper, however I have only done this maybe 4 or 5 times. I applaud your idea/finished product but could never do that to my car.

I usually put it in the car (with many many blankets protecting everything even the bike is wrapped in one to keep dirt out), it is truly amazing what you can fit in the back of our cars.

I have seen this before for people to transport track wheels/supplies.

 

quote:
({ usually put it in the car (with many many blankets protecting everything even the bike is wrapped in one to keep dirt out), it is truly amazing what you can fit in the back of our cars.}



So with the two wheels removed, I can easily put the rest of the bike in the back seat? Or is it a tight fit back there? (I'm trying to fit a mountain bike with 6 inches travel....)

 

When I first got my 2004 RX-8, i took a road trip to maryland. I didn't want the rack hanging off my trunk for hundreds of miles. So I fit it in the trunk, but I had to take the stem off, then take the fork off, and lay it all down on top of itself. But this was a hardtail with i think a 3.5" fork. My current rig is 6.5" front and rear, but I never tried to squeeze IT in the trunk

 

nice

 

I like it!

 

How much did it cost?
It would not be viable for us that have that fog light in that rear place.
Someone in the Houston Area had one built but a bit higher. Cost was $225

 

I'm planning on getting the Yakima roof rack for my MY09. But I do like the idea behind your hitch mount.

I didn't know that a road bike would fit in the trunk with the front wheel removed; I'll have to try this sometime.

 

This would be nice paired with a custom made aluminum tire rack to carry sticky tires to an auto-x event.

 

i would never

 

I have a cheap car trunk carrier I use for my bikes. The trunk sheet metal it rests on does flex some. It almost looks like it will leave a dent. But it does'nt. looks normal after i remove the carrier. No damage, so that is what i use to haul my 26" bikes.

 

Most mountain bikes these days have Y frame designs, and can't easily be carried by a two-bar frame support that traditional racks have. Thats why the hitch racks are so great, the hold the bike by the tires, something all bikes have :D

 

Here's the info of the guy who made this happen:

patrick rathburn
rathburnp@yahoo.com
305-797-9923

From what I was told there was no welding necessary to install the hitch but the rear bumper needed to be taken off and two rather large holes were drilled in the frame part that's behind the bumper. Additionally the rotor logo was cut out of the bumper with a dremel.

I absolutely love this hitch. Seriously this is by far the best "mod" I did to my car. I've carried two downhill (40 lbs+) MTB over 600 miles with this setup.

Here's a view that shows how much clearance you get with this setup: