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Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks – Buyers Guide 2022

Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks – Buyers Guide 2022

Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks Buyers Guide 2022Welcome to our ‘ Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks Buyers Guide 2022 ‘ Article

Where we hope to help find the best roof mounted bike rack for you and your car.  Predominately this website only covered rear mounted and hitch mounted bike racks. However now we will be taking a closer look at the top 5 roof mounted bike racks with easy to follow car specifics guides too. So let’s dive straight in;

As we are sure you are aware there are predominately three types of bike racks / bike carriers these are as follows:

  • Roof Mounted Bike Racks (Covered in this article)
  • Rear Mounted Bike Carriers
  • Hitch Mounted or Tow Bar Mounted Bike Racks

How to Choose the Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks

Choosing the correct bike rack can be a daunting task there are so many out there to choose from. The wrong choice for your vehicle could result in scratching or even damaging your vehicle.  
Check out our article – ‘ Will A Bike Rack Scratch Your Car ?

So which bike rack / carrier is right for you ? each have their own pros and cons. if you intend to use the bike rack daily then maybe a rear mounted or hitch mounted bike carrier would be your best for the ease of loading, however these can be obstructive to rear lights and number plates. Whereas with a roof mounted bike rack although more difficult to load you do have added security and safety features.  
For more on this check out our article – ‘ What type of bike rack do I need ?

Understanding your bike rack requirements:

  • How frequently will you use the bike rack / bike carrier ?
  • How many bikes do you need to carry ?
  • What is your budget
  • Where will you house your bike rack / bike carrier when not in use ?

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#1 Yakima FrontLoader Rooftop Bike Rack

PROS

  • Compatible with most bikes
  • No frame contact

CONS

  • Roof bars required
  • Lift bike to roof
  • CARRY ANY BIKE: Fits virtually any type of bike, including disc brakes, thru axles, and full suspension bikes; Fits 20″ to 29″ wheels and tires up to 3″
  • EASY LOADING: Load your bike fully assembled on this wheel-on mount; FrontLoader holds your bike upright as you secure it
  • ROOF RACK REQUIRED: Crossbar spread must be between 16″ and 48″; Fits Yakima round, square, factory or aerodynamic crossbars; Fully assembled out of the box and easy, tool-free installation
  • NO FRAME CONTACT: FrontLoader holds the bike by the front and rear wheel; No frame contact makes it a great option for carbon fiber and custom paint jobs
  • PROTECT YOUR GEAR: 2 SKS (Same Key System) locks (sold separately) can be added to lock your bike to the mount and the mount to the base rack.
  • One of the best roof mounted bike racks

#2 CyclingDeal Steel Car Roof Bike Bicycle Carrier Rack

PROS

  • Compatible with most bikes
  • No frame contact

CONS

  • Roof bars required
  • Quick release front wheel only
  • Lift bike to roof
  • FORK MOUNT: Bike roof top carrier; Steel powder coating; The fork holder is easily secured to the frame of the bicycle and holds it steadily in place.
  • COMPATIBILITY: Compatible with bikes with quick release front wheel ONLY. Thru-axle needs an adapter (NOT included).
  • CROSS BARS SPECS: Will fit the bars Max. height: 30 mm Max width: 80 mm; Fit square and aero crossbars brands: Thule, Rhino, Ralo, Prorack. Max loads: 15kg or 33 lbs.
  • QUALITY: Good solid steel construction. Another valuable option to carry bikes on the top of the car roof. Friendly reminder: please always remember there is a bike when you drive into an under cover car park or garage. Weight: 2.12kg = 4.65lbs.
  • One of the best roof mounted bike racks

#3 Yakima HighRoad Bike Mount

PROS

  • Compatible with most bikes
  • No frame contact

CONS

  • Roof bars required
  • Lift bike to roof
  • Carry any bike: Secure, sleek and simple to use; Carry almost any road or mountain bike; Fits 26″ to 29″ wheels and 23 mm to 4″ tires with no adjustment
  • Streamlined protection: Low profile tray minimizes hatch interference; No wheel removal and no contact with the bike frame (an ideal option for carbon fiber bikes and custom paint jobs)
  • Roof rack required: Crossbar spread must be between 18″ and 35″; Tool-free, universal mounting hardware fits most roof racks; T-Slot compatible with SmarT-Slot conversion kit (sold separately)
  • Easy to use: New integrated TorqueRight tightening knob is quick and easy to adjust and secures your bike with precision
  • One of the best roof mounted bike racks

#4 Yakima ForkLift Fork Mount Rooftop Bike Rack

PROS

  • Compatible with most bikes
  • No frame contact

CONS

  • Roof bars required
  • Lift bike to roof
  • FITS MOST DISC BRAKES: Fits bikes that use standard 100 mm x 9 mm quick release front hubs; other hubs (such as thru-axles) require adapters
  • ADJUSTABLE LENGTH: Sliding wheel tray is easy to adjust and allows for a wide range of bike lengths; Carries 1 bike up to 35 lbs.
  • ROOF RACK REQUIRED: Crossbar spread minimum of 16″ and maximum of 42″; Fits Yakima round, square, factory and aerodynamic bars; Simple tool-free installation and removal
  • NO FRAME CONTACT: ForkLift holds the bike by the front axle and the rear wheel; No frame contact means your bike’s paint doesn’t get scratched
  • One of the best roof mounted bike racks

PROS

  • Compatible with most bikes
  • No frame contact

CONS

  • Roof bars required
  • Lift bike to roof
  • VERSATILE: The ROAMER 84″ Cross Bars will fit most bike and water sports accessories. They can also be used to mount solar panels on a camper. The square steel crossbars accept most clamp-on carriers and accessories. Use them as a car top carrier to carry kayaks, or on an RV camper to perfectly haul your bikes.
  • EASY TO ASSEMBLE: Directions provided help guide through an easy installation. The roof rack crossbars come with provided bolt-down hardware and rubber pad mounts and are flawless for a generic installation on a flat surface. The cross bars can also be cut to fit your specific application.
  • One of the best roof mounted bike racks

Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks Buyers Guide 2022

Summary - Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks Buyers Guide

A roof mounted bike rack / carrier is an excellent accessory for your car and bike which allows you and your family to get into the great outdoors and explore cycle routes that wouldn’t be accessible without driving to them first.

Choosing the right car bike rack for you is essential in ensuring that you get the right fit for your vehicle, space for as many bikes as you need and something that won’t cause damage to your car.

We believe that these are some of the best roof mounted bike racks and each one offers its own set of advantages. Whether you need something lightweight and easy to install or something that will fit a larger number of bikes, your options are endless.

But it pays to look out for some of the more well-known names in the bike rack industry which will leave you feeling confident that you have a safe and durable product.

Finally please do not forget to pay a visit to our Gallery page containing lots of different Bike Racks for Cars, Vans, SUV’s, 4×4’s and VW  Camper Vans too.

Top 5 Best Roof Mounted Bike Racks Buyers Guide 2022