I have a 2004 Element Ex Sunset Orange Pearl/AWD. I had the internal bike rack installed in the back. To use this rack, you either have to fold up the seats and hand them on the hand rails with the caribeaners, or you have to remove the rear seats. I find the Element is unsafe to drive when you have the seats clip up against the rear/side windows. It blocks your view! I am afraid of scratching the roof with a roof rack, plus in NY some of the overpasses are low. Not to mention garages! I thought of getting the dealer to install a "hitch" and then I could buy a hitch rack. The only two drawbacks I see with this, are the cost $$$ and the fact that you probably can't open the reat hatch with the bike rack on the vechicle. Which solution do you guys feel is best?

Thanks for the Advice!

Darrin

I am afraid to drive my Element with the seats in the clip up positon!

I put my Mountain Bike inside my Element. I didn't go with the Honda internal rack, I went with a Delta, doesn't get screwed down at all. I will post pics when I get my bike back from the LBS... tune-up and having the wheels trued...

I plan on getting a road bike in a few weeks and will be carrying both bikes inside the Element.

Why do you think it is unsafe to have the seats folded up? Vans and trucks don't have windows... use the side mirrors... or remove the seats, they come out in a few seconds and go in just as easily.

I just installed the U-Haul hitch yesterday myself, took about half an hour, but I will be towing my WaveRunner... not carrying my bike on the back. I did that with my truck and a Yakima GetAway 2 bike rack; which I am selling. :) It allows you to tip the rack out of the way with the bikes still on it. But then again, many rear mounted racks allow that.

If you want to hang your bike off the back of the E, you need to make certain that your Mountain Bike can go onto the rack that interests you. My Yeti can only go on certain types of racks... either fork mount or the kind that lock the wheels down. The frame style don't work with my bike.

As for roof mounted... I think it would be a royal pain, the need to carry either a step ladder, milk crate... or stand on the door sills... just to get your bike down. Not my idea of fun.

[quote:286836223c=" "]I have a 2004 Element Ex Sunset Orange Pearl/AWD. I had the internal bike rack installed in the back. To use this rack, you either have to fold up the seats and hand them on the hand rails with the caribeaners, or you have to remove the rear seats. I find the Element is unsafe to drive when you have the seats clip up against the rear/side windows. It blocks your view! I am afraid of scratching the roof with a roof rack, plus in NY some of the overpasses are low. Not to mention garages! I thought of getting the dealer to install a "hitch" and then I could buy a hitch rack. The only two drawbacks I see with this, are the cost $$$ and the fact that you probably can't open the reat hatch with the bike rack on the vechicle. Which solution do you guys feel is best?

Thanks for the Advice!

Darrin

I am afraid to drive my Element with the seats in the clip up positon![/quote:286836223c]

I carry one bike using the internal bike attachment, mounted on the left side. I only have to hang the left seat. That doesn't block my view at all, plus I'm used to using the side mirrors anyway. It works out great. When I go to out of town rallies, I sleep on the bed on the passenger side and my bike is safely stowed on the driver's side.

I got the softride 2" receiver hitch-mount 4-bike rack. It tilts away from the E, even when bikes are on it. In the fully tilted out position, both the rear liftgate and the tailgate can open all the way.

-brendan

i too use the side mirrors, just set them 'wide' so you can see a car that is on your rear bumper.

i fold up the seat behind the driver and just bungee my mtn bike onto the same handle that the biner for the seat is on. you can pretty easily fit two there with one seat down. more, and you have to fold up the other (three or four tightly).

its great not having to take off the wheel, but just roll it out. bungee is better than a fork mount on the floor!

i feel this is much safer for my bike! not only do i not worry about things hitting it if it was on top or behind, it is theft resistant (also, the tinted windows hide it).

when i have lots of passengers and bikes, i use the yakima on top to hold four bikes, but the wind resistance drops the mpg by five-plus.

use round blindspot mirrors from walmart on the side mirrors and you will never feel unsafe driving with the seats flipped up. I do it 3 times a week for training rides and going to triathlons. use 2 bungees per bike and them won't move even on twisty roads! :D

Thanks for all of your advice! I think for now I will carry my bike inside, I may go with the Delta internal rack, or the Softride 2" receiver hitch mount 4 bike rack. I like being able to see out of all the windows all the time. I ready had a woman try to pass me on the right with the seats up, and I didn,t see her right away.

Darrin

There is a great thread on this site with a link to the proper way to set your mirrors for a vehicle like the E. Its commonly referred to as the "Click & Clack" method. You need to learn to trust your mirrors as the folks who drive cargo vans do, but I've found that it works great. I got used to it in a couple days, and there are truly no blind spots.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2002/November/07.html

Lots of folks have also added the convex mirrors and there are also lots of threads discussing the various types.

Hi: I carrry my bike safe and sound inside. I have seen a car roof peeled back when the bike on the roof hit a low hotel overhang.
Normally I use one cord through the back wheel to each side at the back and one to the seat hanger. I have carried three bikes inside and three guys no problem. If you have the left side seat up or removed visibility is no problem.

When I have four in the E (my family) I take the wheels off my bike and put the frame sideways across the back. This still leaves loads of room for all our stuff.

Even though I have a roof rack with all the attachments, normally I find it easier to just keep the seat behind the driver folded up. Gives me plenty of room to toss the bike in and lean it on the other rear seat. If the bike goes in rear tire first, the drive train is away from the seat it is leaned against. No wheel removal needed. I guess I am just lazy. :)

[quote:7b75ae4026=" "]Even though I have a roof rack with all the attachments, normally I find it easier to just keep the seat behind the driver folded up. Gives me plenty of room to toss the bike in and lean it on the other rear seat. If the bike goes in rear tire first, the drive train is away from the seat it is leaned against. No wheel removal needed. I guess I am just lazy. :)[/quote:7b75ae4026]

I do the same but I put the bike front-first, tilt the wheel 90 degrees and tie it with two bungees from the two hooks on the bottom toward the grab rail; another short bungee ties up the handbar to the seat so it doesn't swivels.

http://homepage.mac.com/amtoro/bikeinside.jpg