Electric bikes (also called ebikes or e-bikes) became extremely popular these days and this sector continues to grow. When it comes to transporting your electric bicycles things are getting a bit complicated, but not by much .  Transporting your ebike doesn’t need to be a burden. You will want to make sure the carrier can support the weight of your bicycle and it’s safe enough to protect it. Compared to standard bike carriers, ebike racks have a higher maximum weight capacity (some models can hold up to 80 lbs per bike). The materials used are more durable, the protection is increased, tire width are up to 5-inches and some carriers even include a loading ramp. We are here to help you find the right carrier for your electric bicycles!

Buying guide: How to Choose an eBike Rack

Everything you need to know before buying your electric bike rack

We’re sure you’re looking forward to traveling more this year, and as social distancing is still mandatory in most countries – the best options remain local travels or car trips. Therefore, if you’re thinking about purchasing your first SUV bike rack for future trips or simply want to upgrade the old one, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve done our research and put together a guide that will help you make the right decision, based on your goals.

Let’s start with the basics: your type of e-bike.

Electric bikes are modern, fast and very easy to use by yourself and your family, which is why we’re thinking these are here to stay for a while. E-bikes are great for mountain trips, bumpy roads and adventures in any weather as the effort is minimal and you get to enjoy the view without breaking a sweat. The only challenge when it comes to carrying an e-bike to your destination is loading, unloading and transporting it with your car – that’s why we’re here, to offer the best advice for your future purchase.

There are multiple types of e-bikes on the market, starting with the most popular pedal assist reaching a maximum of 20mph and available for anyone without the requirement of a specific age or driver’s license. Secondly, there is the throttle only e-bike equipped with a motor and much easier to use than the previous one. Lastly, there is the fast pedal assist e-bike – reaching up to 28mph and requiring a helmet and the user must have at least 17 years old. The usual wheel size of an e-bike is 26” and the bike is weighing up to 70 lbs.

Whatever e-bike you choose for your specific goals, we’ve got a few steps to consider in order to carry it safely and securely to your destination. Here is a quick guide on how to choose a suitable carrier for ebikes.

Research

In order to get the most out of your new SUV e-bike rack and to be sure it fits securely onto your car, you’ll need to do some research. Firstly, search for opinions and reviews coming from different users and see which model sounds good for your specific goals. This initial research should help you decide on the brand or the features. It’s important to hear the opinion of other people just like you, their pros and cons, their choices and advices.

When it comes to research, look for reviews on major retailers’ website, blogs or even social media on specific topics. We do also offer bicycle carrier reviews and definitely can help you with buying process.

Consider your budget

After you’ve made your research on the brand or features you are looking for in a new e-bike rack, it’s important to have a budget and make your decision on how much you can afford to spend on it. There are plenty of options to choose from, depending on the weight and features or your e-bike you have, its weight or tire size.

What to look for when you’re purchasing an e-bike rack

When it comes to choosing the best rack for your electric bicycle, it’s important to consider your lifestyle, how often you travel and how heavy is the bike you carry. We chose our favorite options based on the weight of the rack, the capacity it can carry at once and how easy it is to install, load and unload the e-bike without breaking a sweat. There are many options you can choose from, as the T2 Pro XT and EasyFold XT from Thule, RockyMounts Backstage, Saris Superclamp EX, Hollywood Racks Sport Rider, KAC Sports and many more.

What you should avoid

As a final point on our guide, we’ll talk about a few ‘flaws’ that should be considered and preferably avoided when you’re shopping for a new ebike carrier. Firstly, when it comes to electric bikes, you must consider the weight and how you’re going to load it to your rack without damaging the car or the bike. Don’t forget to double check the maximum weight your rack supports and to always take out the bikes’ battery – to save space and to respect the weight it supports. The most popular types of racks remain the hitch racks, as the examples listed above, but there are also roof racks that could represent a good option, depending on your needs. We stand for a premium hitch rack as it comes fully equipped with all the items you need for transportation, has easy access to your trunk, easy loading and unloading process and lastly – most hitch racks come with a very simple installation process. However, if you still want to explore roof racks we recommend to have a look at Thule UpRide and Thule Proride XT, RockyMounts Tomahawk and RockyMounts Brassknuckles.

As a conclusion for our ebike rack buying guide, it is important to always consider your goals, lifestyle and how many e-bikes you’ll be planning to carry on your trips. The electric bikes are usually heavier than standard ones or even than fat bikes, which is why only a heavy duty rack will securely support it, without any damages or potential scratches. As a final advice, consider the options we’ve listed, take notes of the steps we put up and make sure you’re always double checking the specs and features of your rack, before making the purchase.

Safety and precautions

Do not use 1.25-inch to 2-inch hitch receiver with an adapter (and vice versa). Always check weight capacity. If you use 1 bicycle on your 2-bike rack always place the bicycle closer to your SUV or car. Keep the rack keys safe. Batteries on electric bikes must be removed before mounting and transportation. Try to use a hitch mounting option instead of a roof or trunk.