Okay my husband and I are "novice" mtn and trail bike riders....one reason for purchasing a small SUV was to make it easier for us to haul our bikes and gear to the trails and parks.......we bought our E almost two weeks ago, but are now in a bit of a quandry.

We like that you can get the bike kit for inside of the E....very easy to put in and out....but if we are going camping we will have a bunch of gear....does anyone have this kit? Have you used this? How much room is left for gear? Pros, cons, comments???

Also....we like the roof top bike rack, but how practical is this for us....I am 5'5 and my husband is 5'6....is it easy to get the bikes on the rack and secured? Pros, cons, comments.

Thanks!
Diane :)

I'm also interested in peoples experiences with the bike rack. I am deciding wether I should get the roof rack with bike carrier OR put on the hitch and buy a hitch-mounted bike carrier.

Personally, I don't recommend the internal bike mount because you can fit 2 full-size mountain bikes inside without them. My wife and I (she's 5'8 and I'm 5'11) take our mountain bikes with us quite often. We just fold up the seats, put both bikes in, and then bungee them to the sides. We usually have to turn our front wheels just a little, but both fit fine and sway very little if bungeed/strapped well. Also, this allows us to not have to take the front wheels off (and bungee them) since that's what you'd have to do with the internal mount. We can literally have get our bikes in or out in about one minute. While I'm sure the internal mounts might be more stable, we just didn't see the need to spend all that money for something that we didn't need and that would be more cumbersome.

Regarding space, two bikes in the back (whether bungeed or mounted) leaves little room for anything else. We can get a bag, our helmets, and a few other things, but there's really not a lot of room for camping gear if you're planning on taking a tent, sleeping bags, a cooler, etc. If you can afford it, the hitch and a rear-mount rack is the way to go. Not only are the roof-top racks difficult to load (unless you're 7' tall), people tend to scratch up their paint a bit more when loading on the roof and your bikes will get pelted with all sorts of stuff while driving. Plus, you always have to be mindful of low overhangs when your bikes are on top, unless you're hoping to make it on America's Funniest Home Videos. The rear racks are a lot easier to load, will protect your bikes better (assuming you have the splash guards), can hold up to 4 bikes instead of just two on the roof mount (which is nice if you want to ride with friends but just take one car), and some of them can even tilt down or swing away so that you can easily open your back doors. REI (www.rei.com) has some of the 4-bike Thule racks for around $150, but there are all sorts of brands out there.

So, if you're just going for a local ride then toss them in the back and go. Otherwise, use the money you'd spend on the internal mounts and go for the hitch and rear-mount rack. Hope that help!

HondaHappy
Green 4WD EX

But to install a hitch-mounted bike rack, you would have to have the hitch, right? As far as I can see, it's somewhere about $500 USD installed.

Iskie

someone here suggested a small step ladder for the roof rack. Not a bad idea makes it easier to get the bikes on and off and takes up all most no space in the back.

I would prefer a hitch mount, and may go that way but the costs is high. A honda rack and thule bike mounts will set me back about 600.00 cdn. The hitch and rack would be over 800.00cdn

If you don't plan to pull a trailer, you can get the hitch for just over $200 without the wiring kit. The hitch racks are great - I had one on my old SUV. I plan to get the hitch for my E.

A buddy of mine used to just carry around one of those 2-3 foot step ladders and when he wanted to put a bike up or get it down, grabbed the ladder and did it. Seemed like an affordable, easy solution to utilitizing a roof-mounted bike rack. Just a thought.

Good luck...

at 6' i have no problem with our roof mount, but at 5'5", my girlfriend uses the kitchen step stool when she rides alone... just a little awkward... :mrgreen:
cheers

I had a hitch put on yesterday at a local dealer of hitches (not Hondas), $240 installed with wiring, and already had the bike rack (old Performance unit). The hitch was $160 and $80 for installation with wiring. I don't understand the other prices quoted here. Maybe I got a light hitch (@,000 lb capacity, I think). My local Honda dealer actually told me it was cheaper to go that route.

With the rack loaded in the middle of three spots, I could still open the back lift gate, an impossibility with my old Explorer.

But like others, if I have the room, I love just rolling the bike (54 cm frame) in without removing a wheel and clipping the bungee.

I am still looking into a roof rack for more carrying capacity. So far, that is a murky inknown.

Love your bikes. Keep them inside. You wouldn't put your kids, or your dog up there would you? I keep mine in the back, but I am not sure what I am going to do with our tandem since we sold the minivan.

You can check my post below titled "Bike Rack Question" were I added some findings, but you can easily get roof mounted racks that do not require you to take off the front tire. They are completly lockable and don't interfere in any way with the hatch or tailgate.

I am 6'3" so the height is not really an issue, but it seems that others have solved that by using a stepstool. I also am somewhat of a novice, but my biking enthusiast friends like roof racks for security and ease of keeping the total functionality of the vehicle.

Hope this helps!

I just put a "Hidden Hitch" on mine with a Hollywood three bike rack. The hitch should cost about 1/2 the dealer price of $300 (150) and you can do it yourself if you have a socket and wrench set. Simple install. The rack retails for about $150 also. Go to http://www.hidden-hitches.com/ I just went there and there online price is $100. I work in a bike shop and waited till they came out after seeing how simple the Honda rack was and the ripoff price. Forget the wiring, you shouldn't be towing with the Element anyhow (MHO). Hope this helps and saves you all a bundle.

One of the other things you might want to consider about a roof rack is that many people "forget" about the bikes being up there and drive into the garage, thru a drive-thru--much damage to the bikes. I have used a hitch mount in the past with my 4x4 pick-up truck and loved it. Will soon be using one with my E once I install a hitch. And like is stated previously, if you are only going to haul bikes and not tow there is no need to hook a wiring harness.

I tried the bikes inside the E method exactly once, before deciding that I wanted a better solution. To me, the idea of hoisting the bikes to the roof was never a serioous consideration. So, I went the better route of the receiver hitch and am very glad I did.

I got my reciever hitch from :

http://www.hitchesonline.com/honda_cl1_element_03.htm

With shipping it came to just a bit over $110US. It installs very easily in about 20 minutes with just a couple wrenches. No drilling. No hassle.

Then I got a fantastic deal on a 1 1/4" , (2) bike carrier from:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/cboProfile.cfm?SKU=5176

Again, it bolts to it's foot with just a wrench and you just use a wrench to secure the foot to the receiver hitch mount. The model I got swings down for easy access to the rear hatch, or comes off entirely with a few turns of the wrench. I got it on sale for under $100 for all necessary parts for the rack. It looks like it's off sale, but the price is still right, even with shipping. So, for a total of just over $200, I've got a very versitle class I receiver hitch and a dual bike rack that is much easier on the back and E's paint than the silly roof rack. The bikes can be locked to the rack, and are so easy to load/unload that either of us can do it, even when exhausted from a long trail ride. The hitch is also going to get dual (or even triple ) use, since I plan on getting a canoe loader extension for it as well. This will enable carrying of a longer canoe or kayak or lumber in conjunction with the existing roof racks.

Just picked up my Thule bike rack today. Thank god I have side steps on my E. I am 5'9 and it is a bit of a stretch I think it could be a little tricky if you don't have the arm strangth to lift the bike up or bringing it down.

As for the inside mount it's not worth the money. I lift one seat up and I can roll two bikes in with out taking off the tires. I then bungee them to the side.

I think if you don't have the side steps then the roof rack may not be the best idea

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and opinions....as stated before my hubbie and I are both 5'5.....so the bike roof rack was really out.....We then thought about the hitch mount and the interior mounts.....we wound up simply hanging one of the back seats, drive our two mtn bikes right in....7 bungees later they don't budge....and we are off.

The best part about this method is that we still have plenty of room in the E for cargo (very important for camping trips with the bikes) and the second best thing is that I can personally put my bike in by myself, strap it in, etc. and it is quick and easy...1....2....3.....done and I am off!

I think that if we start seriously road tripping with the bikes than we will go with the hitch mount.....but for now this works like magic!

Just left a note in DIY forum on how to build an inside bike rack.

Simple, easy, costs $23. Hope it helps.
Bikes don't slide, scratch. Also becomes bike stand when picnicing.

:)

mac-

did you have the factory rack installed? If so, what thule bike rack did you get? are you happy with it

thanks
Nicole
GG EX 4WD

Dreamscape,

I have a factory roof rack and then purchased the rack set up below. This only comes with one bike gutter so I purchased another one.

The only problem I have is that the front load bar is only 31 inches long. This means that the bikes are not out as far out as I would like. It might be a problem if you are not tall and don't have the side steps. I will take some pics this weekend if you would like.
Send me your email address and I will send the pics to you.

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=889

I have been riding bike for years. I used to put my bikes on the top of the car and have the Yakima bike rack system. I now putmy bikes inside for these reasons:
1) It is difficult to put bikes on the roof top and not some time or another have one slip and scratch the roof. Even for taller guys like me.

2) If you drive through rain it is not the best to have your bike get wet - it is hard on the gears and and the axles.

3) It is nearly impossible to drive anywhere in the summer months and not get your bikes just coated with bugs.

4) It is quite fuel inefficient - I found that it decreased my gas mileage on my minivan about 10% for each bike I had on the top

5) I like the sense of security I get by keeping my bike inside.

6) If I did for some reason need the room for passengers or supplies I would invest in a hitch system. It would help with the mounting and would not cut down on the gas mileage as much.

Does anyone have pics of how they used bungees to secure a bike inside the E without removing the front wheel? Thanks!

tig-

I have pics....if you want me to email them....let me know or PM me.

No pics but I put the back end in first and angle the front wheel and bungee the bike to the hanging seat.

I bought the Honda Bike Racks (I think they are actually made by Thule) and the Honda Roof Racks. The Roof Racks and Honda Bike Racks were pretty competitievely priced and I paid about $120 more for installation over the cost of the compnents from some of the Honda Sites. It was worth $120 to me to have someone do all the work, measuring, etc to install the roof rack rails and fittings and center the Bike Racks.

I then went to ehitchesonline and bought a HiddenHitch trailer hitch, a 1-1/4" to 2" converter (my hitch mount bike racks are 2") and a locking hitch pin. The dealer wanted $549 to install hitch and wiring. I do not need wiring for bike racks and I haul nothing. They then wanted $499 to install hitch w/o wiring. I said, "No, Thanks". I got the hitch, converter, locking hitch pin and UPS for $165.00. I installed the hitch in under 10 minutes, there are just four bolts and all the holes are already there, there is NO drilling required.

While I was picking up my Element, my bike dealer called to tell me that the work was done on my Mountain bike, so I went there to pick it up.

I used the overhead racks (hadn't installed the hitch yet) and decided they work fine, although road bikes, being lighter, are easier to handle than a MTB on and off roof racks. The step stool idea was tried when I got home and makes a huge difference - the stool makes it very much easier!

IMPORTANT NOTE: For some reason (I suspect laziness) my dealer never installed the rubber mouldings back into the slots of the roof rack channels afer installing the bike rack trays. The racks whistled at any speeds over 40 mph. This morning, I cut the mouldings to fit, leaving space where the channel blocked by the bike rack, (the mouldings just push easily into the channel with your thumb and I cut them to snugly fit) SUDDENLY, there is no more whistling.

So here is the tip, if you are paying your dealer to install racks and trays on your E, make them put the rubber mouldings in the exposed channels not covered by the bike trays. Otherwise, the whistling will drive you nuts. I cannot believe this is all it took. I must say that the Element is actually a fairly quiet SUV.

CAMGEM
EX, 4WB, SMM, and now with quiet bike racks. :D :D :D

There will be a 2" class II (that’s right class II) it will have the load rating of a class II hitch with a 2" opening. It will be for bike racks and cargo carriers. You will be able to purchase this from Sports Rack www.sportsrack.com at the end of June 03'. You can email your questions at coreyh@sportsrack.com. I do not have a price at this time.

It will be nice to have a rack off the back. We sell a rack that has a barbeque built into it for camping and tailgating. I can provide more information about racks and outfitting your vehicle to anyone who is interested.

Want to add that you want to think things through about what you'll do and where you'll go with your E. I log 40,000 miles a year with bikes and kayaks and if you want to do BOTH go the hitch route for bikes. Make SURE the rack will tilt down to allow the rear window to open for access. The drawback is that bikes get filthy in rainy weather on the back. And some moron can gently nudge your bikes in the parking lot and do a lot of damage and drive off. I used the short ladder on a huge van I had and you can get hurt if not REAL careful and setting up on level ground but it does the trick and I still use it for getting gear out of my Thule roof box located dead center on my E. The Thule TK 6 kit and the 430 foot allows me to pop my roof rack on/off in seconds and save gas and make adjustments on the ground instead of up on top of the car since I change over from kayaks to bikes to skis all the time. The Thule fairing is remarkably quiet for having all that "plumbin" up on top. Finally, if you have a high buck bike the guy was right about carrrying it INSIDE if possible. I do this all the time and put my other gear INSIDE the locked roof box. The tinted windows do a good job of hiding my bike but I also lock it to the floor seat brackets. Slick. With the Thule Expressway hitch rack loaded with four bikes, the Thule roof rack loaded with two kayaks and a box I look like I'm going on a real expedition headed down the road. Now if only I can find the time to actually USE all of them!

I too wanted a hitch rack for my bike but $$$$.....

Had a "hook on" that I used for my VW and Explorer...so what the heck..tried it on the Element...

Works just fine...

And the gate opens just fine (without the bike on the rack of course :) )

http://www.angelfire.com/blog/dirkfour4/images/bike_on_element.jpg

I'm 6'2.....but putting a bike on the roof of the E is still fairly impractical. We get two full sized bikes in the cargo area (with seats OUT) bungeed to the side walls/ plenty of gear storage too.

Below should be a few pictures of my rack system on my E. I went with Yakima because they offer a greater selection of racks than any other. Take a look at the pictures and if you have any questions please ask.http://www.elementownersclub.com/images/corey1.jpghttp://www.elementownersclub.com/images/corey2.jpghttp://www.elementownersclub.com/images/corey3.jpg