Carrying electric bike on a car

[IzzyB]

Hi

I wonder if any of you have any suggestions about the best way of transporting an electric bike by car (either inside the car or on a rack). I currently have a Giant Lafree Twist, but may change to an Ezee Quando as I don't have a lot of leg power.

I'm looking for something which is very easy to handle with minimal palaver for relatively short frequent journeys such as taking my bike to the park - easy to lift on and off. I currently have an oldish Nissan Micra, but maybe buying a newer car soon. Which racks do you recommend?

Someone told me that they'd seen a car advertised which has an integral bike carrier system where you just press a button and a rack pops out but can't remember what it was. Sounds too good to be true - any ideas?

best wishes,
Isobel

 

[flecc]

Of course the Quando folds in the middle in a matter of seconds and will just fit in the boot of your Micra, so no need for a rack then Isobel.

The new Vauxhall Corsa has a pop out bike rack in the rear of the car at bumper level, just as described, and that's the same class of car as your present one. You'll need to check with a Vauxhall dealer on the loading limits, but it should be ok for the Giant. You also need a full piggy bank too.
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[fishingpaul]

I think the bike carrier on the corsa is only on better equiped models,and is not standard across the range,maybe available as an extra though.

 

[essexman]

as i recall it was a £900 extra! Plus it halved your boot space (which isnt a lot on a corsa)

You can buy a lot of bike rack for that money! If i knew the one to buy i;d buy it...

 

[bogmonster]

I'm probably not the best person to input as I am not an electric bike owner, however the folding route sounds the easiest by quite some way. Given the extra weight of an electric bike, getting it safely onto a roof carrier sounds way too energetic

Otherwise you are stuck with a rear carrier which are a pain as well. The best ones are the ones that attach to the towbar but these are going to be expensive if you don't have a towbar already fitted. Also, rear carriers should really have a light board although most people don't bother. Some of the high level rear carriers lift the bikes above the lights so maybe one of these if you go down this route?

I would rather get a folder myself but due to the distances I want to do I'm not sure how practical it is?

 

[stokepa31_mk2]

I looked at this issue (i need to carry two leccy bikes) and ended up going for a thule tow bar mounted system. I got the three berth version which will take the weight of two electric bikes. you have to assemble it out of the box but once this is done its a doddle to use and is really secure. It comes with integrated lighting rack and number plate space too. The boot mounted jobs will not take the weight.

 

[bogmonster]

I'm probably not the best person to input as I am not an electric bike owner, however the folding route sounds the easiest by quite some way. Given the extra weight of an electric bike, getting it safely onto a roof carrier sounds way too energetic

Otherwise you are stuck with a rear carrier which are a pain as well. The best ones are the ones that attach to the towbar but these are going to be expensive if you don't have a towbar already fitted. Also, rear carriers should really have a light board although most people don't bother. Some of the high level rear carriers lift the bikes above the lights so maybe one of these if you go down this route?

I would rather get a folder myself but due to the distances I want to do I'm not sure how practical it is?

Thule 9502 Ride-On Bike Carrier - Roof Rack Shop UK

This is the one I am thinking of getting - not a bad price but I already have a towbar on one of my cars. Depending on your car a towbar will be from 200 pounds to maybe 600+. The bar on my Subaru Impreza was 260. A towbar on my Skoda Octavia would have been 600 (due to reversing sensors and the need for a proprietary VW system)

Cheers, BM.

 

[Conal]

electric bike carrier

I now carry my bike in the back of my estate but for many years carried a aprilia and then powabyke on a foldable paddy hopkirk ball (towbar) mounted single bike carrier. This cost 15 pounds reduced from 30! The weight of an electric bike without battery is little more than a normal one.. The bike carrier comes with a number plate holder and I bought a spare number plate from my garage for 11 pounds. The only other issue is if the rear light clusters are obscured. You can by a light board but you need at least one socket with your tow bar to power the lights. I didn't bother as you could just about see the lights through my wheels. I was only stopped once in many years and that was at night and even then the police admitted that they could see my lights clusters!

 

[IzzyB]

Thanks for all your informative replies - plenty to ponder on.

Regarding the folding option in the boot (e.g Quando), I'm a bit concerned about lifting the weight up into the boot - I wonder if you can get a ramp for bikes? I suffer from ME and if I use up too much energy getting the bike into and out of the boot I won't have any left for the cycling!

best wishes,
Isobel

 

[IzzyB]

Thule 9502 Ride-On Bike Carrier - Roof Rack Shop UK

This is the one I am thinking of getting - not a bad price but I already have a towbar on one of my cars. Depending on your car a towbar will be from 200 pounds to maybe 600+. The bar on my Subaru Impreza was 260. A towbar on my Skoda Octavia would have been 600 (due to reversing sensors and the need for a proprietary VW system)

Cheers, BM.

I'd be really interested to here how you get on with it. Will have to look out for whether a towbar is included when I get a new car.

Isobel

 

[flecc]

Regarding the folding option in the boot (e.g Quando), I'm a bit concerned about lifting the weight up into the boot - I wonder if you can get a ramp for bikes? I suffer from ME and if I use up too much energy getting the bike into and out of the boot I won't have any left for the cycling!

best wishes,
Isobel

It's not easy to lift the Quando into a smaller car, I'm used to heavy weights but still struggled with it and a Skoda Fabia, as it's still quite wide when folded in half, as well as being fairly heavy. I always took the over 4 kilo battery out first, but the bike then still weighs over 20 kilos.
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[burncycle]

For a long term solution if you are thinking of getting a new car.
I have a Citroen Berlingo Multispace (not the new one though).
I can fit my Pro-Connect very easy in the back. I could probably get 2 bikes in without any trouble.
If you get a new one, make sure you get the new "Citroen Berlingo first" and not the other one as the backs not as spacious.

 

[Broadbeans]

Hi, Izzy! I used to carry my quite hefty NSU Quickly petrol moped on the back of a Micra. I bought one of those carriers that sits on a towbar and made it a little stronger by adding an angled girder for the wheels to rest in. It worked fine, but I think you must add an extra security webbing-strap round and through the hatchback door as a precaution to catch the bike if everything works loose! I've never seen another Micra with a towbar! Good luck!

Johnny I don't think I've ever seen a Rolls-Royce with a towbar, either. Or L-plates!

 

[flecc]

Johnny I don't think I've ever seen a Rolls-Royce with a towbar, either. Or L-plates!

There was an owner who converted his Rolls Royce into having a van back body years ago. Rolls Royce were infuriated when they found out and stupidly took legal action against him, only to learn that they couldn't dictate to an owner what he could do with his own property.

They went broke not long afterwards, and the two new Rolls Royce companies were formed, Rolls Royce Aero Engines and for the cars, Rolls Royce (1971) Ltd. Now of course the latter is German owned, by BMW.
.

 

[Broadbeans]

That's very interesting, Fleccers! That's why I haven't bought a Roller, because they're not English anymore! LOL. I suppose you've heard the broken backaxle story? Also, an aged pal of mine said he saw George Formby in his heyday near Mere, Cheshire, in a Roller with a towed trailer carrying two trailie bikes. Just been looking at your innovative bike trailers! I reckon you could do local house removals in low gear! And, can you tell me, Flecc, please, why the titles of postings go from normal type into bold? Best wishes, Johnny

 

[flecc]

I haven't a clue on the "type in bold" question Johnny, just the way the site host software is arranged I suppose, one of life's mysteries.
.

 

[IzzyB]

For a long term solution if you are thinking of getting a new car.
I have a Citroen Berlingo Multispace (not the new one though).
I can fit my Pro-Connect very easy in the back. I could probably get 2 bikes in without any trouble.
If you get a new one, make sure you get the new "Citroen Berlingo first" and not the other one as the backs not as spacious.

Hi,

Yes I have also thought of a bigger car, and wondering whether I could get my bike (all in one piece!) into the back of a Nissan Note, maybe using a ramp up or something like that. I don't want to go too big as I just don't need a big car and want to be reasonably green.

Iz

 

[flecc]

The Note is surprisingly roomy for it's class and I think it might just make the almost 6 foot length with the front passenger seat forward. However, hardly any cars will allow a bike to be wheeled in upright through the hatch, and it's normally necessary to lift them in on their side which is far from easy, especially given the ME problem you mentioned.

I've checked out this hatch height factor extensively and even such a high roof car as the Zafira can't accept the average bike upright. It's a design oddity that the ones with the high roofs also usually have a high floor, keeping the opening height the same.

Would you consider the FIAT Doblo, odd looking but takes a bike in upright with ease. The 1.3 litre multijet diesel is a brilliant engine used by several other manufacturers including Vauxhall in their diesel Corsa. I was considering the Doblo which has a nice low flat entry floor as well but then decided I wouldn't be carrying bikes any more, but member AlanTerrill has one and carries two bikes in his.

FIAT dealer group Thames offer high discounts and that 1.3 model is only £8995 currently online:

Thames online discounts
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[burncycle]

Hi,

Yes I have also thought of a bigger car, and wondering whether I could get my bike (all in one piece!) into the back of a Nissan Note, maybe using a ramp up or something like that. I don't want to go too big as I just don't need a big car and want to be reasonably green.

Iz

Also Have you considered the vauxall Corsa, I think.
Hasnt it got the pull out Bike rack from under the rear bumper?

 

[burncycle]

found it.......

YouTube - Vauxhall Corsa Bike Rack Demo