Why You Should Choose a Thule Bicycle Rack – Quality, Design, Durability
With over 60 years of experience in the development and production of innovative transportation options on and around the car, Thule is one of the world's leading manufacturers in this segment. Decades of experience combined with a Swedish spirit of innovation mean that Thule bike racks are now regarded as the epitome of quality, functionality and stability. Thule offers bicycle transport options in different variants, so there is guaranteed to be a solution for your car. In addition to bike carriers that are rigidly mounted on the trailer hitch, folding models are also available. There are also bike carriers for the tailgate or roof of your car. Thule is also flexible when it comes to the number of bikes that can be transported. Depending on the bike carrier model, up to four bikes can be transported. Of course, there are also special carrier systems that are optimized for transporting heavy electric bikes.
With a Thule bike rack, you get an extremely high-quality product with a well thought-out and functional, yet modern design. User-friendliness is just as important to Thule as functionality. Thule bike carriers are designed to transport your bikes safely and comfortably from A to B.
Thule Bike Carriers – What Do the Different Models Weigh?
The weight of a Thule bike carrier is generally relatively light. The weight depends on the model and how many bikes can be transported. A Thule bike carrier for four bikes is of course heavier than a simple model for two bikes. In general, however, the weight of Thule bike carriers is between approx. 15 kilograms and 20 kilograms. This means that the carriers are easy to handle on their own and can be fitted effortlessly.
Where Are Thule Bike Carriers Manufactured?
Thule has several production sites in Europe, Brazil and the USA where the popular bike carriers are manufactured.
Which Thule Bike Carrier Is Expandable?
Do you need a new bike rack, but don't know whether the number of bikes you need to transport will increase? No problem, because some Thule bike carrier models can be retrofitted with a rail so that there is more space for a bike on the carrier. Models where this extension is possible are, for example, the Thule VeloSpace XT 2 or Thule VeloSpace XT 3. An extension is also possible for the Thule VeloCompact 3. Please note that the maximum load capacity of a carrier with an extension does not increase. The total weight of all bicycles must not exceed this.
How Fast Can I Drive With a Thule Bicycle Carrier on My Car?
In general, there is no legal regulation on how fast you can drive with a bike rack on your car. The type of carrier installation and the number of bikes to be transported also make no difference to the maximum speed. Nevertheless, Thule gives a recommendation for the maximum speed with a bike carrier. This recommendation is 130 km/h.
What Bike Carriers Are Available From Thule?
As the world market leader and innovation driver in the field of transport solutions for bike transport on cars, Thule offers a wide range of different carrier models for different areas of application. You will also find a large selection of bike carriers for two, three or four bikes in our BIKE24 online store. You are therefore guaranteed to find a suitable carrier for your car. Popular bike carriers include the Thule VeloSpace XT, Thule EasyFold or Thule VeloCompact models in their various designs.
In addition to the various bike carriers from Thule for the trailer hitch, car roof or tailgate, you can also find numerous accessories such as Thule loading ramps, bike adapters, bike arms, carrier bags and much more in the BIKE24 online store.
How Do I Mount a Thule Bike Car Rack?
The type of mounting depends on the model. In general, Thule carriers can be mounted on the trailer hitch, on the car roof or on the tailgate. The most common and most popular mounting method is the carrier on the trailer hitch. Proceed as follows:
- Open the lock on the locking handle/lever of the Thule bike carrier.
- Place the bike carrier on the trailer hitch and align it straight.
- Fold the locking handle/lever down so that the carrier is firmly fixed to the trailer hitch.
- Close the lock on the locking handle/lever of the Thule bike carrier.
- Connect the electrical cable of the carrier to the trailer socket on the car.
In general, it should be noted that mounting a Thule bike carrier is very easy and in most cases can be done without tools.
How Many Bikes Can I Transport With a Thule Bike Carrier?
Depending on the Thule bike carrier model, the number of bikes you can transport also differs. Most carriers offer space for 2-3 bikes. Some models can also be extended or are designed to accommodate four bikes on the carrier.
What Should You Look Out for in a Bike Carrier for Electric Bikes?
When transporting one or more electric bikes on a Thule bike carrier, there are a few important aspects to consider. The total weight of the electric bikes is particularly important here. To give you a quick overview, we have listed all the important facts for you:
- A bike carrier for the trailer hitch is best suited for transporting one or more electric bikes, as the sometimes heavy bikes do not have to be lifted so high. It is also possible to attach a Thule loading ramp to the bike carrier so that it can be easily pushed up.
- Thule bike carriers always have a specification for the maximum permissible total weight. This should not be exceeded under any circumstances. To select the right Thule carrier, you should therefore know the total weight of all bicycles to be transported. This must be added to the tare weight of the carrier to obtain the total transport weight.
- General rules for bike carriers on cars must also be observed when transporting electric bikes. For example, functional brake and rear lights as well as an official vehicle license plate must be fitted to the carrier. The wheels of the electric bikes or bicycles must also not protrude more than 20 cm on each side of the car.
Which Thule Bike Carriers Are Suitable for Two Electric Bikes?
Don't worry, most Thule bike carriers are suitable for transporting two electric bikes. It is important that the permissible total weight of the bike carrier is not exceeded. Make sure that the permissible total weight is made up of the weight of the transported bikes and the bike carrier itself. You can reduce the weight of your electric bike(s) by removing the rechargable battery and transporting it in the car. This way you can save 3-6 kilograms of weight with two electric bikes.
What Is the Thule One-key System?
With the Thule One-Key System, key chaos is a thing of the past. All Thule bike carriers can be retrofitted with the Thule One-Key System so that you only need a single key. To do this, simply replace the lock cylinders on your bike carrier and use those of the One-Key System.
What is a Thule AcuTight Knob and what is it useful for?
The Thule AcuTight Knob is a torque limiter knob that can replace the standard head of the Thule bike arms of the bike carrier. The torque limiter knob clicks as soon as the correct fastening force is reached. This prevents the mount from being tightened too loosely or too tightly. This is particularly important for carbon bicycle frames.