Review: Rad Racks Rad4 Double-Folding Bike Rack

Jul 4, 2023
by Matt Beer  
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Transporting mountain bikes never seems to be as easy as it should be. Various frame shapes and wheel sizes have caused many headaches and scratched paint throughout design iterations, but mounting the bike vertically eliminates a few of those concerns.

Rad Racks adds a twist to the growing popularity of basket-style racks that only contact the bike’s tires. Two hinges fold the mast in half and also rotate the basket to tuck well out of the way. Building a rack that folded out of the way to access truck beds and hatchbacks prompted the design. When fully lowered, the rack also doubles as a workstation too. Replaceable strap systems lock bikes with 20-29” wheels (up to 3.5” tires) into place to ensure no components are damaged.

Rad 4 Details

• Articulating basket and mast pivot points
• Frame-contactless loading
• Carries 20-29" x 3" tires
• 2" hitch insert
• Anti-rattle hitch pin
• Max bike weight: 23 kg (50 lb) per basket
• Weight: 33 kg (73 lb)
• Price: $1,149.00 CAD
radracks.ca

The Canadian-built Rad 4 retails for $1,149 CAD and comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, plus a 1-year warranty. The price includes all the necessary straps and an anti-rattle hitch pin. Shipping is available within North America for just under $100 or you can pick it up yourself from their office.

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ASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION

Our test rack was handed off pre-assembled, but bolting it together doesn’t seem over-complicated. All of the bolts use Teflon-coated nuts for added security and the metal is finished with a 3-stage powder coat. A ratchet set, or better yet, an impact wrench would save you time and straining your wrist, though. Rad Racks will assemble the product for $25 if you wish to pick it up locally.

The Rad4 offers three setback angles; vertical, reclined, and one that is slightly forward to give the most ground clearance. There is only one height option for the main mast but there are multiple bolt holes to set the length away from the vehicle hitch mount.

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LOADING & UNLOADING

Watching riders try to figure out how to load their bikes on a foreign rack for the first time is always entertaining. The same rings true for the strap system of the Rad4. Luckily, placing the front wheel in the basket is an obvious first move on the Rad4.

First, you’ll want to load the bikes from left to right, starting with the shorter bikes to reduce any handlebar interference. I never experience any issues, even with road and BMX bikes in combination with MTBs.

If you only have one or two bikes, keeping the weight centered will reduce the strain on the rack and the movement of the bikes. Likewise, e-bikes should be placed in the center positions, remembering that each basket has a load limit of 23 kg (50lb).

I found the fastest method always started with leaving the straps in their dummy position. Next, I’d release the ski strap in the basket, add some slack to the tie-down, unhook the fabric eyelet and let it hang. This way, you have two hands free to feed the strap through the spokes. Then, load the bike in the basket, loop the straps through each wheel, rotate the cranks to the two o’clock position, and finish by tightening down the hook on the pedals.

Cinching down a bike without pedals or a chain (make sure to clock the cranks in the six o’clock position) isn’t an issue.

All of the rules and loading instructions can be found in their online user guide.

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BIKE RETENTION

Wheel baskets are an excellent solution for carrying a bike without damaging any precious surfaces. The ones on the Rad Rack are angled, which I believe adds some stability to the handlebars rocking back and forth in the basket versus some homemade versions I’ve seen that keep the wheel vertical.

However, the bikes still wiggle side to side through huge potholes and water bars. Thankfully, the straps and spacing on the Rad4 lock the bikes in without ever contacting each other.

SECURITY

No bike is ever totally safe, even with heavy-duty locks and the same goes for a bike rack itself. Even though you can get a locking hitch pin, the Rad4 could be removed from the square receiver bar if you removed two bolts. Although it’s not a common occurrence, I have heard of this happening before (on another similar style rack).

As far as locking the bike to the rack itself, there is an eyelet cut into the steel frame near the middle of the mast (next to the bottle opener).

DURABILITY

During the review, none of the straps showed any signs of wear and all of the bolts stayed tight. Despite all of the pivot points and plenty of rough roads, none of the pivot points produced any play or creaks.

The paint has also held up to a decent amount of wet weather, cringeworthy salted roads, and lots of bushwhacking.

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COMPARISON

We’d be foolish not to compare the Rad Racks Rad4 to another locally made product, the classic North Shore Racks 4-bike carrier. The two racks go about transporting bikes in a similar orientation, but use different capturing points. Both racks fold in half when not in use and lower to allow access to the trunk/bed space.

As quick and convenient as the NSR-4 is, there are a few downsides I’ve experienced versus the Rad4. First, is the wear that the fork cradle can induce over time, or unexpectedly. Secondly, depending on the fork lengths and head tube widths, sometimes a brake caliper can contact the adjacent fork lower. The NSR-4 also requires a separate adaptor to carry a road bike due to the fork cradle design.

The most detrimental downside to the NSR-4 is that the bike can be pushed out of the cradle if the rear wheel contacts the ground (yes, I know it’s not advised to drive off-road with either rack, but we are talking about “mountain” biking). Adding a ski strap to the cradle can reduce this, but the Rad4 does offer two points to capture the bike, the front wheel and the pedal. No bikes were lost or ever damaged with the Rad4.

I won’t get into ground clearance because that totally depends on the geometry of each individual bike and where you have the rack positioned in the hitch.

The Rad4 is heavier than the NSR-4 (23 kg) and bulkier, even when folded twice. The tie-down straps are also specifically made for Rad Racks, and although you can purchase replacements, you won’t find one in a hardware store.

It’s also a few hundred bucks more than the NSR-4. For the price of the Rad2 two-bike carrier, you could purchase an NSR-4.

If you compare apples to apples, the VelociRAX 412 is over $100 CAD more costly though. The only added benefit to that non-folding rack is the hydraulic strut to ease the lowering process.




Pros

+ Bike cannot be pushed out of rack if rear wheel contacts the ground
+ Rack does not contact frame or fork (no bike-on-bike contact either)
+ Folds out of the way when not in use
+ Fits 20-29” wheels, including road bikes


Cons

- Straps to secure rear wheel are not intuitive
- Bulky and heavy to install and remove
- Custom straps might leave you in a pinch if lost







Pinkbike's Take
bigquotesThere are plenty of options out there for bike racks these days, but having one more that brings versatility and security at no detriment to your bike's paint is welcomed. The Rad4 is a bit more complicated due to the abundance of straps, but when the loading process is learned they add peace of mind, even through the bumpiest of roads.
Matt Beer








Author Info:
mattbeer avatar

Member since Mar 16, 2001
360 articles

143 Comments
  • 48 1
 Not going to like, a 1 year warranty is a deal breaker. If i'm paying over $1000 for a rack, to carry bikes worth several times that, I need to know that this thing is going to last for more than a year. Velocirax and North Shore are at least two years, which is better, but still... 1Up has a lifetime warranty on the Recon which is of this style, and Thule, Swagman and others have lifetime on non vertical hitch racks.
  • 40 3
 Yup, 1Up remains the leader in simplicity and durability. I’ve never regretted my purchase for a second.
  • 5 4
 Swagman is an underrated rack
  • 2 1
 An overly priced bike rack with only 1-year of warranty is a joke! The Yakima Hold-up I bought for $300 still has a Lifetime no-questions-asked Warranty. I had pretty much had both of the ratchet platforms replaced after the ratchet arms failed and a spare one that I can put on later if needed. I think Thule got the same warranty policy for their racks as well.
  • 20 35
flag onawalk (Jul 4, 2023 at 10:24) (Below Threshold)
 NOt gonna lie,
the need to have everything purchased come with a lifetime warranty leaves me very conflicted.
Its a bunch of welded tubing, and a basket to hold a wheel, what here cant be fixed or repaired for fairly cheap if required.
Add to that, most companies will look after you if you have an issue.

I'm constantly blown away that this is such an issue for people on products like this.....

You're prolly the guy who "warrantied" a couple pairs of Darn Tough socks after 5 years of use....
  • 17 0
 @onawalk: Can't say I've ever had to use any warranties. That being said, theres a big difference between some socks and a bike rack. If my bike rack fails (potentially with several multi thousand dollar bikes on it) after a year... they can just walk away and say its not their problem. Thats absolutely inexcusable in my books. And, as you put it, its just some welded tubing and basked - if you can't guarantee that some welds and tubes will hold for a few years, then I don't trust their quality and manufacturing, when its something that simple.
  • 9 12
 @ratedgg13: Oh my,
What makes you think that anyones rack failing is going to cover the cost of your bikes on it? Most manufactures warranties only cover their product, not damage that might occur from their product failing.

inspect your rack regularly, whether it has a warranty or not, just like our bike, and your car, etc.

a warranty is not a direct reflection of a companies faith in a product. If the rack doesnt fail in the first couple months of use, its not likely to fail. However you want this company to honour a warranty for 3 years that it'll be on the back of someones tacoma through the winter? I wouldnt, especially seeing how people treat things.
  • 1 2
 @sngltrkmnd: Simplicity?
pretty well all vertical hanging racks are simpler to use dont you think?
I dont doubt their quality, but their inability to carry more than 2 bikes on their standard tray racks limits their appeal for me.
  • 4 1
 This is a redesign of the 2nd Gen Recon Rack. So going 1up for a Recon is the only way
  • 1 1
 @zalgrath: anyone ever try the Yakima vertical rack?
  • 4 0
 @onawalk: I'm not expecting to pay for the costs of bikes - but if they aren't willing to guarantee their rack for more than one year, I'm not willing to trust thousands of dollars of bikes on their product. Its that simple.
  • 5 0
 I saw a Rocky Mounts 1Up impersonator at the LBS yesterday and I was surprised at how refined and solid it felt. Not sure about the warranty, but my comment to the employee was, “If my 1Up ever dies, I might consider alternatives.” But it likely won’t and I probably won’t. It’s truly one of the only “buy for life” products I’ve purchased in the last 25+ years. The other seemingly being my Dewalt impact driver and drill combo.
  • 4 0
 @onawalk: It’s more about a brand’s confidence in their products. If a brand can only offer a one-year warranty on a hard good product with zero electronics involved, I’m more than a little skeptical.
  • 2 8
flag onawalk (Jul 4, 2023 at 13:08) (Below Threshold)
 @gnarlysipes: Thats the kind of stuff that makes you skeptical eh, well far be it from me to advise you against that....
  • 2 0
 @gnarlysipes: RockyMounts also has a lifetime warranty FWIW.
  • 1 0
 @ratedgg13: Good to know. I have a feeling my 1Up will last another decade with ease but I’m interested in other rack tech, even so. Just won’t buy another til I need it.
  • 1 0
 @wolftwenty1: its not good.
  • 2 0
 @gnarlysipes: that dewalt impact you speak of truly is incredible. When the bike shop I am a mechanic at burnt down a few years ago one of those impacts was uncovered in the debris and incredibly, despite the back having melted and bubbled from the heat, it still worked, and continues to be used and work like new
  • 2 2
 @onawalk: You know that 1up’s are modular right? You can expand to a third or fourth tray if you have the 2” receiver model.
  • 4 2
 @sngltrkmnd: you ever see a 4 tray rack on a BC forest service road?
No chance that’s gonna last.
  • 1 0
 Khyber Racks Lifetime warranty - they are a pretty penny but worth every dime knowing that they will stand the test of time. I had a gen2 recon rack which baskets starting cracking on, and the best i was offered was buying replacement baskets that were not the same style.
  • 1 0
 I'm surprised no one ever mentions Alta Racks. They are based out of Utah. They also have a lifetime warranty, and the company sells them as the last rack you will ever buy. They aren't cheap, but mine is three years old and looks and works just as well as the day I bought it.
  • 1 1
 @Jz12b: Can confirm,
Mines 3 seasons old, its on my truck 200+ a year, and gets heavily used.
rock solid, use it on the back of my travel trailer as well.

Best money I've spent on a rack
  • 1 0
 @onawalk: I usually do not like bullshit onawalk posts here but I have to agree on this one Big Grin
  • 2 0
 As a welder and a Recon rack owner, this rack will have the basket welds fail. It needs to have the second side supported like the Kyber racks. Ever since I welded supports on the second side of my Recon rack the baskets stopped cracking at the welds.
  • 1 0
 After about a year my 1up tray rack developed an insane up/down sway in it that has made it borderline unusable. 1up had no interest in warrantying it so the lifetime warranty seems worthless to me.
  • 1 0
 @totalbrody: Here's your fix if this is a hitch-tongue issue:

www.homedepot.com/p/Superstrut-Channel-to-Beam-Strut-Clamp-with-U-Bolt-Silver-Galvanized-ZU501EG-10/202077398

I use one that fits my 1-1/4" hitch for my rack and it's great to prevent vertical movements of the hitch bar. I put lock nuts on top of the nuts on either side to prevent the beam from loosening over time.

If it's a joint on the 1Up rack, maybe take it back to the store you bought it from and see if they can warranty the issue for you.
  • 1 0
 @valrock: that’s fair,
I’m not for everyone
  • 1 0
 @anotherstoneinthewoods: internet welders, do they ever fail to mention that their welders?
  • 15 0
 A 1-year warranty, huh? Is that how little faith they have in their products?
  • 15 0
 Side note when it is down it double as a Wheelie bar for your truck
  • 1 0
 lol
  • 18 6
 PB/Outside, please fire your entire design & development team... it took over two decades to change the props buttons from the 90's gradient style - and they still look like shit.
  • 32 1
 Honestly it's time to burn the place down and start again. How are we supposed to trust their reviews and laugh at their jokes with prop buttons like these. Fucking inexcusable.
  • 8 0
 My rack was stolen off my car while I was at work. Locked in a parking garage with a security attendant on site. Rack was locked on with a large padlock through the retainer pin. It would have needed power tools to cut off and would have had to be walked out of the garage and taken away via vehicle. The security guard 50 feet away didn't see anything. Cameras were not working. It wouldn't be too hard for theives to steal my rack I'd it still had bikes on it. If you think your bikes are secured to your rack well enough that you can leave them unattended, you are wrong. Don't leave your bikes on your rack for any reason.
  • 16 0
 Sounds like the security guard was an accomplice.
  • 15 0
 Anyone that thinks you can leave 3K to 10K bikes unattended, anywhere, attached to anything... is wrong.
  • 1 0
 @islandforlife: I may be wrong but I thought they stole the *rack*, with no bikes on it.
  • 1 0
 @barp: They did... but he also said this - "It wouldn't be too hard for theives to steal my rack I'd it still had bikes on it. If you think your bikes are secured to your rack well enough that you can leave them unattended, you are wrong."

So I was just commenting that you shouldn't leave bike unattended anywhere.
  • 1 0
 @islandforlife: yes mainly a comment about how it's not hard to steal a rack that you can lock your bike to.
  • 5 1
 I recently got a Velocirax 5X and am in love with it. Super easy to load (I rarely lower it, just lift the bikes up, but at the end of a long day it's a nice feature when you get home). I also like that I can use it for bike storage at home in the garage when it's not on the car. My friend has the 6 with regular spacing and although it fits another bike (you can also get a 7), the wider spacing is worth it for easier loading and unloading, especially if you are trading shuttle drivers and the bikes are being rearranged. It also fits curly bar bikes well, although I had to replace my cousin's bar tape when it rubbed on my MTB fork and I didn't notice when loading. More strategic placement would have fixed that.
  • 1 0
 I've been looking at that one. What made you choose it over other vertical-style racks?

Has pinkbike done a vertical rack comparison? I feel like they have, but they maybe left out the Velocirax, or a couple other contenders.

We've got almost 4 riders (One still on a balance bike, but he *can* pedal now, just prefers not to. More of a cautious type than his brother was.) in our family, so once we figure out or next vehicle we'll probably be in the market for at least a 5, if not 6 bike rack. My requirements are enough bike carrying capacity for our whole family, plus one or two extra riders (assuming our next vehicle is a mini-van or 3-row SUV that will allow us to transport a couple extra passengers), able to accommodate 20" - 29" bikes, and able to easily swing clear of a hatch or tailgate. Also not super keen on the styles that hang the bike by the handlebars or fork crown, so that rules out a couple options.
  • 1 0
 @SoCalTrev: I have a 5 bike Velocirax on the back of a Nissan Rogue/X-TRail. Love it. The hydraulic lowering is great and I can open the hatch with it lowered and my short wife can roll her bike on just fine. That rack also lowers ALL the way and it ends up looking like a bike rack you'd see outside a store. Is heavy, but I think they all are. I've used other vertical bike racks like Shingleback and some other monster and I'm happy I have the Velocirax.

I would prefer that it had, say, two holes in the main tube that slides inside the hitch so I had an option of getting it closer to the car, but that's my only gripe and it isn't a big one.
  • 1 0
 @SoCalTrev: Check out Alta Racks, theyre great.
  • 1 0
 @SoCalTrev: not all types of bikes fit. I have the 5x. Most bmx bikes fork will rub. Forget road bikes and even some beach cruisers with curved forks will rub on the fork. Even on the 5x when loading only mtbs, brake levers can rub on the top tube of the bike next to it. I had shoulder surgery, I was able to load bike fine with 1 arm on my tray racks and even remove tray racks with a single arm. I could not rerack my 5x and 3 bikes when I was still recovering. It's seriously heavy, a pain for 1 person to up right the rack when fully loaded and kills mpg
  • 1 0
 @ProChargedZ28: Good points. I've never put a 20" wheel in it. I suspect other racks won't be compatible either though.
  • 1 0
 @SoCalTrev: I wanted it to hang by the wheels and I've talked with lots of other people at races with them who liked them. I like that it's reasonably easy to also use for storage. The red also looks cool in my opinion.

I got a ridiculous Audi Q7 3 row SUV in anticipation of kids, which I'm a bit embarrassed by, although I love shuttling with the bros in it.
  • 2 0
 @mtb-thetown: I would certainly rock an Audi if I could afford it. Alas, we're looking more in the direction of something like used Toyota Sienna (The hybrid gets amazing MPG for a vehicle that can carry 7 or 8 passengers). We test-drove a Kia Telluride, and my wife loved it, but even though they were *initially* somewhat reasonably priced, the demand is through the roof. If you can even get your hands on one it's probably going for $10k over sticker. At that point you might as well just buy the Audi 'cause you'll be paying just as much.
  • 1 0
 @SoCalTrev: we got a 2018 at CarMax for like $45k, brand new it's like twice that. We looked at some similar age, mileage, size etc. Toyotas and Subarus and they were basically the same price.

I wanted a truck, but for a $45k truck is gonna be super uncomfortable and my wife said we should test drive the Audi. It was so comfortable and fun to drive I was instantly sold. Makes long drives to the mountains much less tiring.

The mileage is pretty embarrassing though, like 20mpg and it runs on premium. Fortunately I work from home so it's strictly the adventure vehicle.
  • 7 1
 We need vertical bike racks available to buy on Europe, I don’t understand why no company makes them/imports them…
  • 18 4
 Because in Europe there are EHS regulations which may not allow such things. For example you need to see the back lights, indicator and number plate...

I get 4 bikes on my Mazda 3... so really don't know why you need this type of rack. Just because it is "biker style"....

Seeing the truck and immediately thinking about the CO2 discussion between Alu and Carbonn bikes some months ago...
  • 6 1
 For all our trucks?
  • 5 0
 @stax81: Back lights are not a problem, bike racks for hanging bikes also obscure lights and plates and there are solutions for this. Towbar mount is an issue here, we have 75kg max towbar capacity in normal cars (more in trucks). I think that companies think that there is not enough market and too much to be spent for certifications etc.
  • 1 1
 I don't understand, why USA/CA aren't concerned about unreadable number plates.
  • 5 0
 @FloImSchnee: recent news article here. Someone got 230.00 ticket for bike rack obscuring license plate.
  • 3 0
 @FloImSchnee: They do. WHen my 1up is folded up it covers my plate. I have just been lucky. I also think police have bigger issues to deal with and mountian bikers typically are not your criminal element.
  • 14 2
 @bok-CZ: there’s a cool thing installed on your truck called a bed. It’s really nice in that you can store your bikes without a rack.
  • 3 2
 @nickfranko: I have never had a car. Trucks ftw! I fit 3 in my bed and have a single 1up for my bike Smile

All the camping gear.
  • 2 0
 @stax81: most racks here can’t even facilitate longer wheelbase bikes… and frame clamping is eeeh. I just throw them in the van for now. But if there was a rack I could get a few more mates with me
  • 1 0
 @kobold: I leave mine folded to 45 degrees (where it locks in place) to allow for plate visibility. If I fold it right up, the plate is completely obscured. This also allows me to open the trunk on my Outback so, win/win.
  • 2 0
 @FloImSchnee: Oh yes the cops here do stop you and give you a ticket. I got one and a few of my friends and their friends got one. Just depends on their mood. I had cops behind me when I had both platforms up blocking my license plate before. Then, one day, driving to work without the bike on the rack, I got stopped by a cop out of nowhere. I was puzzled at first since I was driving slow in heavy traffic. The cop raced to pull me over and said the upper platform on the rack is blocking the license plate and then asked where my bike was. I told the cop I was dressed up for an interview and she clearly saw that but gave me a ticket for over $200! I told the cop that I can put the rack down so it wouldn't obscure the plate. She said I shouldn't have it down as cars in the back can't judge the distance between the end of the rack (which has a red bottle cap opener) and the bumper. I put it down anyways and the cop followed me for like 10 blocks.

Now, I just have one platform on the rack so it doesn't really block the license plate. The cops now leave me alone. I'll put the second platform back on if I need to carry 2 bikes. I also have another 2 roof racks, which I haven't put on my car yet. I think the cops here will crack down on vehicles with racks if the police services are not making enough money for their police services. Otherwise, tons of bikes in my province and in BC will get ticketed, which will end up in courts.
  • 4 0
 @FloImSchnee: meh. They SHOULD have better things to worry about. However it’s something they can use as probable cause to pull you over. ‘Dude looks sketch or drunk but I chat justify pulling him over..oh…license plate blocked’ on the same level as third brake light out. They don’t care until they need a reason to pull you over.
  • 3 1
 @FloImSchnee: Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.

Happy 4th!
  • 1 0
 @FloImSchnee: That’s how we roll. But seriously, you can get pulled over and cited but I think in most cases, unless you are committing traffic violations that could harm yourself or others, I think the police/HWP have bigger issues to worry about.
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard: We got a $500 ticket here (335 USD, 310 Euro) for obscuring the numberplate. Ouch.
  • 3 0
 @nickfranko: Yep, the point was we don't drive trucks as much here. You probably meet more bikers with vans, you can put the bikes in and sleep inside as well
  • 2 0
 Ok, thanks for the answers. Ver weird then, that companies sell racks that essentially are not legal to use...
  • 1 0
 @FloImSchnee: They would be legal in Poland, because:
- you can legally get 3rd number plate (note: you cannot move number plate from your car)
- you can buy adapters for a plate with lights which can be simply strapped to a bike
  • 1 0
 @FloImSchnee: yea it’s funny. When I cross the border in my truck license is covered and the guy has to get out cause the camera chat take a photo of it. Never had any issues.
  • 1 0
 @FloImSchnee: They aren't illegal to sell and not illegal to use. I think it's really up to the officers' discretion to stop you and give you a ticket when they feel like it. Same thing with doing stuff to your license plates. I've seen license plates that are totally cracked up and you can hardly read the plates; people purposely pressure wash their plates until the paint fades out of the characters to blend in with the background; and people putting on plastic tinted reflector covers - those are all illegal just to hopefully thwart photo radars and this is on purpose. Having a bike rack in the back of the vehicle is not for that purpose. But cops shot do like to make a bit of extra donut funds.
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: If US law enforcement was even paying attention, we would usually just get a 'fix-it' ticket that any other cop would sign off on if you show them you moved your plate to a visible spot. My front plate isn't even the correct color for my state and they don't care (made in Germany, purchased from eBay).
  • 4 0
 @FloImSchnee: Because we're American and we're free to do whatever we feel entitled to do. Even if that entitlement breaks a law or two. Especially if that entitlement breaks a law or two.
  • 1 0
 @CSharp: Have you checked the regulations for cargo overhang on drivesmartbc.ca? "A vehicle's load must not project more than 1m (3' 3") ahead of the front bumper, 1.85m (6') behind the back of the vehicle or 4.5m (14' 9") behind the center of the last axle."

www.drivesmartbc.ca/miscellaneous/how-wide-how-long-how-high#:~:text=A%20vehicle's%20load%20must%20not,center%20of%20the%20last%20axle.
  • 2 0
 @handmedowncountry:

We're all Americans from the Canadian Arctic to Tierra Del Fuego, but there is only one 'Murica.
  • 1 0
 @mattbeer: My Yakima Rack, when lowered behind my rear bumper isn't even 1 meters long (I measured it from tip of red bottle cap remover to hitch tongue is around 24". Add in around another 10" for the hitch tongue and it's shy of 3 feet from the bumper). Hence that woman cop following me after giving me a ticket was trying to be a dick (or a c*nt) about the whole situation. Also, the red bottle cap removal end cap on the center rail of the rack can be visibly seen. I think Yakima had thought this through and implemented a pretty elegant rack. I like it and still have the rack. It just gets the job done without much hassle. I just can't believe most other racks cost from $800-$1500 in the past few years! And then, you'll have to pay for nonsense traffic violations afterwards!
  • 2 0
 Good looking rack! I’d like to see one is person. I’ve owned two NSR racks. First was a 6-bike and second was a 4-bike. They’re sturdy and work well but rub frames and forks in all the wrong places. Good to see alternatives on the market.
  • 1 0
 I have a North Shore NS-4 rack that I used to use, and this Rad4 rack has the same issue that NS-4 has - clearance for my rear tailgate.

I drive a Jeep Wrangler, and the hinge point on the rack where the mast attaches is too high. I can't open my rear door much at all, and the only solution I found was to add a drop adapter to lower the hitch receiver. This unfortunately cuts into ground clearance once the bike are on, even on my un-lifted Jeep. I rarely use my rack for this reason.

This Rad4 rack has the same issue - does that joint really have to come above the level of the hitch receiver? Is there a design reason for it?
  • 3 0
 Really depends on your vehicle and hitch receiver location. On my SUV, when no bikes are mounted, folder or unfolded, with the lower pin in the middle position, I can open my rear hatch with a couple inches of clearance. Works great for me.

But I also don't often leave my rack on my car. The NSR rack is so light, easy to move and attach/unattach, I generally remove it after most rides. Which makes using my SUV for family and work stuff during the week so much easier and totally removes the issue or "rack rot" or rust. Mine is almost 5 years old and looks brand new!
  • 2 0
 Same with a a taco. I’ve got it hanging so far out so I can open the tailgate. No great solution for carrying 4+ bikes sadly.
  • 1 0
 A Kuat Pivot fixed that issue for my Wrangler but it gets a little bouncy with four bikes on it, let alone six.
  • 1 0
 @husstler: quad kuat…lol. Say it 10 times fast. Sticks out way too far IMO.

Anyone ever try the Yakima vertical rack?
  • 1 0
 @wolftwenty1: Yes, you're right. The Pivot does stick out too far, so I bought a piece of 0.250 wall square steel tube and made a shorter base for my rack. Now it fits like 3/4" away from my spare tire. I also drilled the tube so the rack is canted toward the front a little to keep the weight even closer to being over the hitch pin and lower the leverage a bit more.

If I am shuttling, I swap back to the original rack base and leave the Pivot at home.
Camping with the family I use the stubby base tube and the Pivot.

Not saying anyone needs to use something like a Pivot, but being able to open the tailgate fully is pretty awesome.
  • 1 0
 @wolftwenty1: Ridgeline tailgate opens fully with the 1Up tilted at 45 deg.
  • 1 0
 Look into the Lolo maybe?

They have multiple positions for the standard rack to allow it to tilt and still open the tailgate (even goes low enough to swing out my ridgeline tailgate horizontally if I choose)

They also have the swingout adapter, and compared to most other upright racks the ground clearance is usually 6+ inches higher and closer to the frame (definitely vs. any of the racks like velocirax that carry by the wheels)
  • 2 0
 @ppp9911: That design actually looks like it solves the issue - thanks for that.

It's the knuckle that the main mast pivot uses - this LOLO rack also rotates that knuckle down and out of the way, which North Shore and Rad4 racks don't do.
  • 2 1
 I had this same issue on my wrangler. I ended up ditching the lower piece and making my own hitch mount/hinge. Instead of coming up at a 45 degree angle, it shoots straight out the hitch, leaving room to open my tailgate even with a 37” spare tire.
  • 3 0
 So tire contact with the NSR will result in bike pushed out of cradle, what happens with the RAD? Does the wheel get crushed because the bike doesn’t give?
  • 1 0
 Interesting unintended benefit of the NSR... with small-ish bumps there is some give and will save wheels.

It's the large bumps that can push a bike right off, think I'd rather have a crushed wheel than a crushed bike Really on;y something you need to worry about if you're crossing water bars and such.

I have one... it's pretty obvious if you've set it up so that the bikes are riding too low. Lots of adjustability to set it up so that it rides very high.
  • 3 0
 Oh no, a whelk cradle will lose a bike just as easy as a fork or bar cradle; easier honestly.

Wheel cradles sound great until you watch a full suspension bike actively bouncing on a rack.

I bounced a bike out of a wheel cradle rack after hitting a cattle crossing on a paved road, the rear wheel stayed attached, so I ended up dragging the bike until I could stop.

The bars spun tearing all the lines out, shredding the brake lever, bars, and grips. I dumped that rack, I now use a NSR4.
  • 2 0
 @kingbike2 I take my time through waterbars and can usually spot if one of the bike wheels is about to drag. The difference with the Rad Rack is that the front wheel is strapped in so the bike won't suddenly pop out.

I've only seen or heard of bikes falling out and not wheels being crushed. I bet the straps would also give before the wheel crushed in the case where you weren't keeping an eye on the bikes.
  • 6 5
 1up or ride to the trailhead! Who wants an ugly piece of scaffolding like this hanging off the back of their truck? All the vertical racks look stupid without bikes on them. 1up is so clean looking when it's folded up.
  • 6 0
 Agreed. NSR is great for long transports on the highway. None of these racks are prefect.
  • 5 3
 I could care less about how it looks, I'm much more concerned about the security of bikes hanging off it. I regularly shuttle with friends, so being able to carry up to 6 bikes is a bonus.
Can youre aluminium folding scaffold carry 6 bikes?
  • 9 0
 4 bikes on a 1up has the bikes cantilevered out about 7 feet from the vehicle. This bad .
  • 5 0
 @onawalk: Hell no I cant carry 6 bikes thank god. Like I want five dirty dudes in my truck. 3 is enough.
  • 9 4
 So you buy the big dumb truck to carry shit, but then still need to buy a big ugly rack to carry a bicycle?

Am I missing something? Just buy a van already?
  • 2 0
 @L0rdTom: you can mount this rack on a van.
  • 3 0
 @onawalk: I don’t have five friends, so checkmate!
  • 2 2
 @L0rdTom: oh Jesus wept,
Vans aren’t the answer for everyone.
There’s nothing dumb about my truck, works great.
Works great with 6 people inside, and 6 bikes on the rack.
Easy peasy
  • 2 0
 Such a dumb comment and your vanity is truly astounding. You're the mountain biking industries wet dream consumer. Keep at it.

Have you ever shuttled with 5 or 6 riders? These types of racks are the way.
  • 2 1
 Just checked the Canadian Velocirax site.
The 4 bike rack (412) is $999 cdn.
So it’s $150 cheaper than the Rad rack, not $100 more.
Seems like a better deal, currently back ordered though.
  • 5 0
 One thing to mention about Velocirax, is that it's manufactured in Asia. NSR is 100% canadian manufactured, and it appears that Rad Racks are too. Probably matters to some, definitely not all.
  • 5 5
 @mammal: Manufactured in Canada from finest Chinese pig iron that rusts at the first sign of moisture.
  • 2 0
 @dude-brah: They certainly wouldn't be strong as they are, if they were using pig iron. And they certainly aren't claiming that it's made of stainless, so I'm not sure what kind of oxidization properties you're looking for when you're doing your structural steel shopping (hint - it all rusts).

By all means, hate on though.
  • 1 0
 @dude-brah: 5 years in, zero rust, looks new. They all rust/rot If you leave any rack out in the west coast elements all year round. I take mine off pretty regularly. That's one of the great things about the NSR, is how light, easy and quick it is to unattach and move. A Velocirax is 90 lbs vs the NSR at 50 lbs... plus it folds in half.
  • 4 0
 @mammal: My engineer dad: “It’s stainLESS, not stainNEVER.”
  • 2 0
 @dude-brah: I'd rather put a beer in the hand of a Canadian worker than the manager of a PRC slave factory.
  • 3 1
 Sooo, I can't help noticing the pick-up truck... You know, the utility vehicle designed to carry stuff in it's load bed. Do you not want to scratch it or something?
  • 4 2
 My truck bed works great and it came with the truck when I need to carry more bikes I use a tail gate pad
  • 3 1
 Con. 50 lb weight limit. Not that many full power e-bikes weight in under 50 lbs.
  • 10 0
 Okay, you convinced me! I'll never buy an ebike.
  • 2 0
 Deal breaker,4x60 pounds load capacity should be minimum for all serious racks.
  • 1 0
 @barp: You won't hurt my feelings.
  • 2 0
 Full power e bike doesn't need a shuttle anyways
  • 1 0
 Just put a 6 inch hitch extender on. Then you don't event need to fold the rack down to fully open the tailgate.
  • 2 0
 Pics are so low res it is hard to see detail (500x333)
  • 1 0
 The first photo (for example) is actually 1024 x 683 but the page formatting is shrinking it down. I opened it in its own tab to see it full size.
  • 5 2
 Just get a van
  • 5 1
 Mounting the rack on a van doesn’t change anything.
  • 2 0
 Ive been using my rad rack for over a year now. Love it
  • 2 1
 Lol

$1100 for a rack......by someone that owns a pickup truck?!
  • 2 0
 I felt the same way. Until the truck got a canopy (hauls more camping shit that way) and the kids want bikes when camping. So a nice recon rack was my investment. Use it a few times a year for those trips, and it stores bikes in garage (I mounted it to the foundation in the garage) when not in use.
  • 1 0
 @SQbiker: I mean I get it.....but the marketing pics would have made more sense then if they showed a Bronco or Suburban or Subaru.
  • 2 2
 @cmi85: ya, but marketing sucks now.

Remember marzocchi bomber girls?
  • 1 0
 @SQbiker: I don't think I was MTBing when the bomber was around
  • 1 0
 @SQbiker: Yes, yes I do.
  • 1 0
 Rack looks ok but I want a bike check on that Giga!
  • 1 0
 Mammoth racks for the win.
  • 1 0
 Photo #3 looks like a really expensive Tacoma wheelie bar.
  • 1 0
 3” tires….what about my fat bike
  • 2 1
 Nice Tacoma!
  • 1 3
 We should seriously stop normalising these prices nowadays, everything related to this sports is getting utterly ridiculous and it's not even funny at this point
  • 1 0
 Can always ride your bike to the trails. It's free. Or the bus bike rack only contacts your wheels. Public transportation is an option. (Seriously)
  • 1 0
 @woofer2609: yeah no not everybody wants to pedal 50 or 100km to a trailhead and back, oh and have you considered public transport in other countries aren't the same as what you are used to? hard to take anyone with such a narrow pov "seriously"
  • 1 0
 @stephenzkie: Choices. Move closer to trails. If you live 50 or 100k from a trailhead, your biggest expense is going to be fuel. Nobody is "normalising" prices, or forcing you to buy anything, and having fun is up to you. For $1000 you can buy a used bike and have fun for years.
Hope your day/week gets better, and you get out for a ride.
  • 1 0
 @woofer2609: just move closer to the trails, wow said it like it's so easy to move


Also "no one is forcing you to buy" it's not like we have a choice nowadays because we keep accepting price hikes. In a world where Frame prices has almost doubled the last 3 years where I live, sorry but I'll keep complaining about these ridiculous prices they keep shoving at us

If you want to upen up your bumhole to these brands then be my guest
  • 1 0
 @stephenzkie: Have you ever read Viktor Frankl? Hope your day gets better, keep the rubber side down!
  • 1 2
 Only hot girls, as well as me write to me ➤ u.to/mWPGHw
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