3 Premium Bike Carriers That Will Fit Your Electric Mountain Bikes like a Glove

Find out which are the best racks for electric mountain bikes in 2023. 

Electric bikes are starting to get popular all around the world, due to the peace of mind and comfort it offers when you’re on the road, especially on a difficult one. An e-MTB is an electric mountain bike that comes fully equipped with a motor and a battery that will assist you when pedaling. Briefly, this type of e-bike will make your life more comfortable, especially when you’re conquering a difficult road or even a certain type of mountain.

Before we’re getting into the fun part, let’s take a moment to clarify the look, feel and specifications of an electric mountain bike, and why it could be life changing, compared to a regular MTB. Firstly, the advantages of an e-MTB are solid and we could start with the fact that you’ll cover more ground on your trip, explore more and save a lot of time without breaking a sweat. You can travel anywhere all year long and also an e-MTB will double downhill time while breaking in half the uphill time – in other words climbing or descending a rough road has never been easier or more comfortable.

With the plus size tires, that are wider than the regular mountain bike, and reaching up to 29”, the e-bike ensures stability and durability like no other. Having in mind the plus size tire dimensions and the other additions to the bike, it weighs significantly more than a regular MTB, and can reach up to 84lbs., compared to a regular MTB, which has a maximum of 30lbs.

The electric mountain bike is obviously more comfortable, stable and significantly better than the regular MTB – but if you’re the nostalgic type and still loving the satisfaction and endorphins you get after a hard climb or conquering a bumpy road with your regular MTB, we salute you.

There is always something fun about each destination, but how about the logistics and the transportation alternatives? Here are our top 3 favorite bike racks for electric mountain bikes:

  1. RockyMounts Backstage
  2. Saris Super Clamp EX
  3. Hollywood Racks Sport Rider


RockyMounts Backstage
Pros (+)
Durable, swing-away feature, folds flat and tilts down 30 degrees.
Cons (-)
Heavy, limited tray clearance.
Style:
Hitch (platform)
2" hitch size
Bike capacity:
2-bike
Load capacity:
120 lbs
Bike and tire fit:
20"-29" wheels; up to 5" tires
Rack weight:
59 lbs

Saris Super Clamp EX
Pros (+)
Lightweight, can carry a variety of bikes. not only electric ones, tilting feature, compact.
Cons (-)
Distance between bikes not enough.
Style:
Hitch (platform)
1.25" and 2" hitch size
Bike capacity:
2-4 bikes
Load capacity:
190 lbs
Bike and tire fit:
20"-29" wheels; up to 4" tires
Rack weight:
35 lb (for 2-bike); 63 lb (for 4-bike)

HR Sport Rider
Pros (+)
Fits up to 5″ tires, sturdy, tilts down for cargo access.
Cons (-)
Heavy, the lock fits loosely on the pin.
Style:
Hitch (platform)
2" hitch size
Bike capacity:
2-bike
Load capacity:
160 lb
Bike and tire fit:
max 36" wheels; up to 5" tires
Rack weight:
58 lbs

1. RockyMounts Backstage

Rating: Exceptional
Style: Hitch (platform)
Hitch receiver size: 2-inches only
Nr. of bikes: 2 (120 lbs total). Not compatible with add-on
What we like: Durable, swing-away feature, folds flat and tilts down 30 degrees.
What we don’t: Heavy, limited tray clearance.

The best thing about RockyMounts Backstage ebike rack is that it can fit up to 2 electric mountain bikes, has the easiest cargo access of all the other two examples and is the only swing-away hitch tack that swings out to 180 degrees, making it super easy to access your luggage or anything else needed from the trunk, during your trip. Its versatile design will fit e-bikes with massive wheel diameters, from 20” up to 29” and secure them tightly with the ratcheting hooks, making it one of the most notorious bike racks for electric bikes. The only thing you should consider before making the purchase is the weight of the rack, which is 60lbs.

2. Saris Super Clamp EX

Rating: Good performance
Style: Hitch (platform)
Hitch receiver size: 1.25-inches for 2-bike version, 2-inches only for 4-bike version
Nr. of bikes: 2-4 (190 lbs total)
What we like: Lightweight, can carry a variety of bikes. not only electric ones, tilting feature, compact.
What we don’t: Distance between bikes is not long enough.

Saris SuperClamp EX can fit up to 4 e-bikes and has the highest bike capacity out of the other two example we gave you. This bike rack is suitable for a family or a large group of people who are usually traveling around, as it can fit a numerous type of e-bikes, without needing an adapter. Its weight reaches up to 63lbs and will only support 2” hitch. SuperClamp EX has been rated as one of the best ebike racks for mountain bikes in our 2023 list.

3. Hollywood Racks Sport Rider

Rating: Exceptional
Style: Hitch (platform)
Hitch receiver size: 2-inches only
Nr. of bikes: 2 (160 lbs total)
What we like: Fits up to 5″ tires, sturdy, tilts down for cargo access.
What we don’t: Heavy, the lock fits loosely on the pin.

The last example on our list is the Hollywood Racks heavy duty ebike hitch rack, suitable for two massive electric mountain bikes, supporting a weight of 80 lbs. per bike. This is our favorite example out of the three, due to the power it comes with and the high quality look and feel. If you decide to go for this rack, you must know it weights 50lbs, allows access to your trunk and comes equipped with the latest features, but it lacks a loading ramp for your heavy e-bikes. If you want to get more insights about this product feel free to read our Sport Rider for Electric Bikes Review.

We strongly recommend you to research and find the best option for your needs, but these three examples we presented you are by far our top choices and believe these could suit most of the e-bikes out there, safely and securely so you can enjoy each trip with your dear ones. As a last comment, please don’t forget to always take out your e-bike battery before loading it to your hitch bike rack, as a safety precaution. 

You Should Consider as Alternatives:

KAC Overdrive Sports K4

A versatile rear-mounted bike rack designed for a 2 inch hitch receiver, the K4 supports standard, fat-tire, or ebikes up to 60 lbs. each.

Thule T2 Pro XTR

A versatile design that fits 20 – 29″ wheels and up to 5″ tires making it ideal for carbon frames, mountain, downhill, fat bikes, kids bikes, and more.

Hollywood Racks Destination

With a max wheelbase of 48″ and max tire width of 3″, this lightweight ebike carrier accommodates most hybrids, road, electric and mountain bikes.

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