Thule, Yakima, or Saris?

[RickF]

It is time to get a new vehicle, and I will not be able to use my Thule Spare-Me rack on the new vehicle. I am considering the Thule T2, Yakima HookUp, or the Saris CycleOn. As far as I can tell, these are all very much alike and similarly priced. Is there any reason to choose one over another? Is there something else I should consider instead of one of these?

[JayC]

The CycleOn Pro would probably be my choice for a couple of reasons.

The Thule front hold down has to contact the front fork of the bike. The CycleOn doesnt.

The Cycleon Pro can be installed and removed without tools. The Thule can't.

Saris (Manufacturer of the CycleOn) has phenomenal customer service. That alone would make me choose the CycleOn even if it wasn't better.

Im not familiar enough with the Yakima to weigh in on it but between the Thule and the Saris, I'd go with the Saris.

[RickF]

Thanks, Jay, but the CycleOn Pro is $60 more than the CycleOn. The only differences I can find between the two is the "HasselFree Hitch and locking cable" on the CycleOn Pro, which is not on the CycleOn. I already have a locking cable, and I would could replace the clevis pin on the CycleOn with a 3/16" shackle lock for a lot less than $60.

[JayC]

The pin is threaded on the non-pro so you cant just replace it. The Thule and Saris both use threaded pins.

The tool-less installation is worth the money.. the Pro also comes with a locking pin as well as the locking cable

[TREKRALEIGH]

Hey Rick,
While I have not used the Thule T2, I have used the Yakima HookUp, and while I can get all three companies, I personal own a Cycle-on Pro. The Yakima for worked well, but the down fall was that the bike never really were off-set so I have problems putting bikes on that were close in size, handlebars and saddle would hit. On the Saris they have a noticable offset. I am sure you have seen Jays. Depending on what car or truck you get, maybe even the Saris Themla, while I know Jay had problems with that rack, Saris took care of it and up graded him, but we sell that all the time and have not had a problem yet. Also if you mtb, the cycle-on will work with 29er tires. I am sure the Yakima would too. I hope I help you with some information on the Yakima rack. Safe Riding.

Dave

[RickF]

I ended up getting a Honda Pilot. I kept going back and forth from the Fit to the CR-V to the Pilot, but I will pick up the Pilot (with a 2" class III hitch receiver) tomorrow. I wanted a Pilot, but 80% of the time, I only needed a Fit. The CR-V was a compromise, but there would be times that it would be too small. Honda was having a sale on Pilots, so I was able to get the Pilot for almost the same price as a CR-V. That made the choice much easier.

While the price of the Thelma is appealing, the design just does not appeal to me. Even before Jay's misadventure, I was concerned that most of the support was from the bottom half and on the inside of the wheels. An arm on the top outside portion of the wheel just seems to make more sense to me.

After I pick up the Pilot and am sure that the exhaust is not going to be directed at the bicycle tires with the CycleOn, I will probably go in that direction. The Pilot is big enough to put the bike inside in the short term, so I do not need to be in a hurry to decide on a carrier.