Yakima RaptorAero Wheel-On Mount Upright Bicycle Carrier

MikeMike: The biggest issue with this rack are the plastic clamps, that's what is holding the bike and rack to your car. I found the rack to be flimsy, my bike went back and forth easily and could hear the bike moving when taking corners just on a test drive. While this rack may have held up fine but seeing how much the bike rocked doesn't inspire much confidence and others in the reviews have had the clamps fail leaving their bike on the road. Yakima also uses this clamp design on the FrontLoader upright rack, something to be aware of.

The assembly of the rack is a bit tedious and time consuming. The instructions sort of jump around, my advice, should you decide to buy this rack anyway, read through the instructions so you can stay a step or two ahead so you're not having to disassemble the rack, changing things.

The other issue from some may be how it hold the bike. The rack grips the bike on the down tube and can damage carbon fiber bikes and scratch the paint/finish should you have cables running down along the down tube.

The security on this rack is laughable, you can lock the bike to the rack but the rack is held on by "thumb wheels." So someone...

United States on Sep 22, 2019

TlandryTlandry: It works pretty well.

Cons: the single wingnut holding the front plate on is not reliable, even with a lock nut it wobbles a little. Bike leans over a little, so you have to mount it, then re--straighten it again and re-tighten the red nut to get it truly vertical. The spring holding the jaws together isn't very springy - you have to wiggle and pry a little to get the jaws to release. Maybe some wear-in time needed?

Pros: solid build and everything you need, for any car, is in the box, factory, square, aero mounts all in there. Strap work with 2.3" BMX tires no issues. Will fit a 16" wheeled bmx too, if you move the front wheel strap between the cross bars. (in attached pic, black bike front wheel is not secured, but could move the front strap)

I used the A bones and the 2nd setting with the short bolts for the factory Mini bar which is quite chunky. No issues at hwy speeds.

I am happy enough to order another one for the kids bike.

Canada on Jun 19, 2017

Trevor Sowers photography: Works well and inexpensive. The frame clamp can interfere with a frame mounted bottle cage. Wheel straps too short for a fat bike.

Canada on Jan 02, 2017

Daren Montessori: This is a great roof bike rack that attaches to your car really easily. I drive a Subaru and it fits on the stock crossbars with and with the adjustable mounts I do not see why it wouldn't fit most factory crossbars. Placing the bike on it is simple as well and definitely holds your bike firmly. I have a Fuji Cross-Cycle which it a bit taller than your average road bike and this supports it really nicely. I have also been up to 80mph with my bike loaded and had no noticeable vibration of shifting of my bike. It does not come assembled so but you can easily look up a youtube how to if the instructions give you too much of a headache. I am about two purchase an additional one so I can carry two bikes on my car.

United States on Dec 01, 2016

Hoppy Burpday: I have to say that Yakima really make an excellent user setup manual. I have never seen such a well written, easy to follow instruction and very well thought out. It must have been written by a real human being rather than what I have encountered in the past where instruction and manual are translated using online translator and I was like wtf?

I installed a set of two on my 2011 Honda Pilot with a factory cross bar. I took two adult bike on 500 miles round trip with and it held up really nicely. I also use a cable lock to go around the two bike just in case. I read story where bike flying off due to either not install correctly or defect part causing accident to driver behind you. The cable lock also defer thieve.

I think the rail for the wheel is some what thin and somewhat flex. If it is a bit thicker I would rate this as a 5 stars.

United States on Jun 22, 2016

Anthony Petty: I looked at lots of different bike racks and this is the one I settled on. And I'm so glad that I did.

We have a 2010 Mazda 5 with factory cross bars. They are square and not moveable.

This rack comes with several kinds of connectors and attached perfectly and easily to my rack.

I leave it attached all the time (even through the winter) and it seems fine. We take it through the car wash all the time too, and nothing happens to it.

It holds my 26" Trek Hybrid perfectly, and it is fairly easy to get my bike up there. I do have to stand on the floor board of the car though, since I'm only 5'4".

There are a few things about this rack that I do not like:
1. The wheel straps buckles are cheap and seem like they are starting to break. They are hard to use. But, they havn't broken yet (I've had it a year), and once you learn the trick to use them, they aren't so bad. (To loosen, pull down on the strop, and then push in on the latch to get it to release.)
2. The red mechanism for connecting the arm to your bike is kind of a pain to use. It's not that it is hard to use - it is easy. But it just gets annoying after a while when you...

United States on Sep 02, 2013