Cycle carrier

Kido250

I usually take my bike in the book of my Kia sportage MK3, but as I'm going away for a week with both the bike (possibly 2) and the dog I need more space in the car. I was thinking about getting a rear mounted bike rack and had decided on the Saris Bones EX3-BIKE rack and ordered it from Halfords along with fitting, along the lines that if I could see how it was done and took pictures of it up I'd be able to do it myself. However Halfords rang me back and told me it wasn't compatible with my car (even though their website states it is). They were suggesting a Thule clip on 9106 instead which was £50.00 dearer. I'm looking for something that's easy to fit onto the car and will hold my bikes secure. Does anyone use either or know which is better? I don't need a 3 bike rack. At the most I'll be carrying a road bike and a hybrid.

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The Thule gets good reviews, and secures the 'bikes wheels so the bikes can't move and whack into each other all the time. The Saris looks like the 'bikes can pivot back & forwards, damage the paint on the crossbar, and hit each other all the time.

I have a Thule 3 bike tow bar mounted rack, It works well for 2 bikes, but I can't see how I'd ever get 3 adult bikes on it. Two bikes face opposite ways, so the pedals & handlebars miss each other, I can't see how to fit the third.  It is still much easier to drop the front wheels and chuck two bikes in the boot with a carpet over one though than use the rack

neilmcl

Kido250 said:

However Halfords rang me back and told me it wasn't compatible with my car (even though their website states it is).

Who's website? There is no compatibility for any Saris carrier and the mk3 Sportage on the Saris website.

EDIT: Correction, The Saris EX3-BIKE is indeed compaitible for Kia sportage MY 2010 to 2015, which I assume is the mk3. Is the latest version Sportage the mk4?

molerat

What year is your car ?  Saris  lists the ex3 as fitting the mk3 2010-16.  And what is wrong with the Thule 9104, has bikes dangling the same as the Saris and is £100 cheaper than the 9106 where the bikes sit on a tray .

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molerat said:

And what is wrong with the Thule 9104, has bikes dangling the same as the Saris and is £100 cheaper than the 9106 where the bikes sit on a tray .

What stops them hitting each other if there is no tray? I wouldn't even consider one of those for fear of damaging the bikes, which is why I have what looks like a Rideon 3, although the Euroride 3 looks better as it holds the crossbars properly.

Kido250

My Sportage is a 2015 65 plate. MK3 I believe. The newer ones are MK4s.

molerat

Kido250 said:

My Sportage is a 2015 65 plate. MK3 I believe. The newer ones are MK4s.

So Saris state it fits.  You need to query this with Halfords.