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This stylish and aerodynamic rack lets you carry 1 bike on your roof rack crossbars. The versatile rack works with 9-mm quick-release skewers and 15-mm and 20-mm thru-axle forks. Universal hardware mounts on most crossbars. Includes cable lock.
Features:
Specs:
The versatile, stylish Trio is built with a unique 3 Way fork mount that lets you carry 1 bike with a 9-mm quick-release skewer, a 15-mm thru-axle fork, or a 20-mm thru-axle fork on your vehicle's roof. The curved, aluminum wheel tray is sturdy yet lightweight, and it has a sliding rear-wheel strap that lets you carry bikes with different wheelbases. The Trio also includes universal mounting brackets and a built-in cable lock.
The Trio's 3 Way fork mount system lets you transport a bike with a 9-mm quick-release skewer, a 15-mm thru-axle fork, or a 20-mm thru-axle fork.
The rack includes a 9-mm quick-release skewer. To mount a bike using the skewer, simply open the orange quick-release lever, drop your bike's fork onto the skewer, tighten the nut, and close the lever.
To carry a bike with a 15-mm thru-axle fork, remove the Trio's 9-mm quick-release skewer and insert your bike's existing thru-axle skewer through the orange cylinder.
If your bike has a 20-mm thru-axle fork, simply remove the orange cylinder and replace it with the included black cylinder. To remove the cylinder, loosen the bolt in the nose of the rack with the included Allen key. Then slide the black cylinder into place and re-tighten the bolt. If you have a fat bike with a 15-mm or 20-mm thru-axle skewer, you will need an adapter (sold separately) to mount your bike to the rack.
The Trio's sliding rear-wheel cradle lets you transport bikes with a wide variety of wheelbases. The cradle slides freely along grooves in the wheel tray - just move the cradle into position underneath your bike's rear tire and tighten the included ratcheting strap. Release buttons on both sides enable you to free the rear wheel of your bike no matter what side of the vehicle the rack is mounted on. You can also reverse the strap so it's easier to use - just remove it and re-insert it with the finger loop on the side of the wheel cradle closest to the edge of your vehicle.
The Trio's built-in cable lock deploys from the rear of the rack, threads through your bike frame and rear wheel, and locks back on itself. The 1/4" thick braided steel cable has a thick nylon coating to protect your frame and rear wheel from scratches and scuffs. The lock stores inside the wheel tray when not in use.
The Trio's easy-to-use mounting hardware is designed to work with most crossbars - square, round, aero, elliptical, or factory. The head of the rack mounts to your crossbars with 2 U-bolts and 4 hex-head safety nuts. The U-bolts wrap around your crossbars and slide into holes in the bottom of the rack head. To secure the U-bolts in place, insert the hex-head safety nuts into the holes in the top of the rack and tighten them over the threaded ends of the U-bolts with the included Allen key. The U-bolts are coated with rubberized nylon to prevent them from scratching and scuffing your crossbars.
To attach the rear mounting bracket, thread it onto the wheel-tray mounting bolts until it's snug against the bottom of your crossbar and tighten it in place with hand knobs. This rear mounting assembly can be adjusted along a track in the bottom of the wheel tray to accommodate different roof rack crossbar spreads. The mounting bracket is coated with a thick layer of rubberized nylon to help absorb road shock and minimize vibration, and it helps to protect your crossbar from scratches and scuffs.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (47 Customer Reviews)
This stylish and aerodynamic rack lets you carry 1 bike on your roof rack crossbars. The versatile rack works with 9-mm quick-release skewers and 15-mm and 20-mm thru-axle forks. Universal hardware mounts on most crossbars. Includes cable lock.The 2016 JEEP Grand Cherokee factory roof rails are too far back creating a conflict between the bike carrier and an open lift gate. Resolved via custom "clamp" using factory KUAT U bolts and tamper proof nuts allowing the carrier to move forward on the cross members. This mounting also eliminates any side to side motion of the bike at freeway speeds. U bolt thread tension needs to be monitored long term to keep everything tight. Overall a great looking rack once final coatings are applied to the custom clamp. Underside of clamp has a thin rubber coating to protect Kuat's factory finish. Photos were taken on a day one test run.
I got this since the rack I originally ordered was no longer in production. I really like that this rack is not the plain old boring solid black like most out there. It was super easy to install. BUT, keeping in mind I am blonde and prone to daft moments (or few), I kind of had issues putting my bike on the rack at first. With some jiggling and jangling of the fork mount, I was able to figure out that you pull on the end that does not have the lever and to loosen up the rubber stopper that connects to the lever to make room for the fork to mount to the skewer. And then it was easy there after! Derr...
I drove in 20mph+ winds and on 70mph interstate with my bike on the rack and did not encounter issues, as well as through pouring rain. I did stop to check how secure my bike was mounted and it was fine. I tightened the fork mount a few times just for minor jiggling security's sake. I then drove on some rough-ish mountain roads to get to the trail head (yes, I know it says no off road, but c'mon, mountain bikers have to in order to get to the trails) and the bike remained secure the whole time.
In all, so far, I highly recommend this product. I drive a 2015 Subaru outback with the stock roof rack and it fit fine, even with hatch door open. My bike is a 29 hardtail Haro. It fit fine.
I was excited to use the Kuat Trio because it has taken a different approach to locking. With every other roof bike rack I have used there is no way to lock the rear wheel. Kuat solved this by using a cable lock that can wrap around the bike frame and rear wheel. A simple solution for protecting your rear wheel from theft. The rack is very easy to install, but not the easiest, with 4 allen bolts and 2 wing nuts. The racks with the speed link are just a bit quicker to get on your roof. The Trio will take maybe one or two extra minutes to set up. After getting the rack on my roof I found it to be exceptionally solid, no worries about putting my beloved bikes on it. I was a bit skeptical of the rear wheel strap having both sides connected in one piece. But after putting a bike on I understood why Kuat did it. When you slide the wheel strap into position the other side of the wheel strap is perfectly aligned, you don't have to reach underneath to find and position the opposite side. The on my road bike I have Zipp 404s and the strap did fit over it with about 3 clicks to spare. With wheels deeper than the 404 you will want to add the strap extender. The skewer for the front fork is a great design. Out of the box it works with quick release and thru axle forks, no adapters! The design on the rack makes it so that it looks the best to have the rack on the driver side of the car. There is a cutout section with the Kuat logo and the skewer handle closes nicely inside. The rack does work on the passenger side if you flip the skewer around, but it does not look as fancy and neat as when it is installed on the driver side. Also the handle part of the skewer is easy to operate. It is larger than on most racks so you have more leverage when opening and closing it on the fork. But the knob on the opposite side of the skewer is on the small side and can be a touch difficult to turn when you are fine tuning it to change bikes. Last but not least, it is easily the best looking roof bike rack available. Kuat has done a great job with making it interesting to look at as opposed to the typical black or silver tray.
I haven’t used this extensively, but I’ll go over what I love. It looks great on my car, fits my bike nicely (2019 Stumpjumper ST Expert size Medium), and seems very secure so far. Some people complained about it being difficult to get the bike on, but it wasn’t too bad. I’m just careful to hold the fork firmly so I don’t drop it on my car’s roof. There are implied pros and cons to a fork mount if you do the research. Overall, 5 stars for initial impressions! etrailer.com is legit!
It's a very clean, sturdy looking rack, but unfortunately the rack will not fit my mountain bike due to the bike's wheelbase is 53" and is too long for the rack. So I can't really comment on the product and it's performance with the exception of I had to order an additional fork mounting axle sleeve for 20mm axles (I then found out my bike wouldn't fit after ordering the part).
No where in the description does it spell out that you need this additional item, it just says it can fit the 20mm axle. Possibly the rack should state what the maximum wheelbase it can fit, as well as additional items that may be necessary, that would help.
Overall, I've always had great success ordering from etrailer, and feel the Kuat Tris is built very well, even though I never got to try it.
Overall, a beautifully made sturdy rack and excellent value of quality for price. My only wish is the front 4 Allen screw/ two u clamp mount design, while stable, could be redesigned with a quicker system of fastening. I switch these between two cars, and wish it were easier to dismount/mount on the crossbars. it holds the bikes securely and I like the look of them very much. if you don't move them on and off they will be 5 stars.
Installed on a 2017 4Runner factory roof rack, appears to be solid product and will work fine carrying all of my mountain bikes. Giving the Trio only three stars due to the way you have to attach the rear of the rack to your roof crossbars. The rear bolts are pretty long and it was difficult to thread with the minimal clearance you have between the factory cross bar and the roof of the 4Runner. It was pretty difficult to get your hand under there to twist the wing nuts to attach the rear load bar. If you are not very careful with placement you can very easily damage the paint on the roof.
Everyone raves about this fork mount rack option because it can handle old style skewer mounting and thru axles. I was excited to use this as I just purchased a mtb bike with a 110x15. I was sooooo excited. The rack is built well, the parts are of high quality but the actual thru axle design is awful! It is nearly impossible to balance the bike in a position that allows the thru axle to lineup with the actual holes on the fork. I guarantee that for those of us who's forks don't line up perfectly you WILL DROP THE BIKE ON YOUR CAR:S ROOF. I was so hopeful but ultimately so disappointed that I had to post this review since no one else seems to review the actual thru axle mounting situation.
Mike L.
8/14/2018
I spoke with my Kuat representative, who tells me your new mountain bike has a fork that is 110x15 but the 15mm axle adapter that comes with the Trio rack is 100x15. You would need to get the # TRFA15x110 axle adapter for your bike fork to fit properly on the rack.
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I’ve had this product for over a year now. It’s been used numerous times without issue. Very happy with the product and with etrailer.
This is an excellent roof rack! Installs easily, and very securely to the vehicle. I mounted this on my 2014 Subaru Outback, and realized that it’s just a little too long with the factory roof rack. The front mount (and factory bar) isn’t adjustable, so when I open the rear hatch on the car, it contacts the locking mechanism on the bike rack. Realized that AFTER I opened the hatch for the first time, oops. I cut a tennis ball and slipped it over the lock, no more scratches, but it does still contact the hatch.
Overall, this is a great roof rack. The fitment is my only issue. It works great on my Tahoe, no issues except that I’m short and struggle to reach the roof!
Well designed and beautifully crafted. Only 4 stars because I haven't installed it and used if yet. Love the integrated, retractable cable lock- big step up from using a seperate cable lock to secure bike to rack.(still wouldn't leave the bike on the car overnight most places)
The Trio roof rack by Kuat installed very easily. Love the flexibility for using either skewer Mount or thru axle adapters. Easy to put bike on the rack and once it secured its not coming off. The built in lock is a definite plus.
Best bike tray out there. Vastly superior in construction, materials, and amenities than anything Yakima or Thule puts out.
Overall the product is great. It’s simple and straightforward, secure, and looks clean on the roof. It’s definitely worth the money. But, after just one year the QR adapter rusted causing the spindle to lock up. Frustrating but I might be able to repair. Fortunately most of my bikes are thru-axles.
Was looking for a sturdy, stable and good looking fork mount to replace a Yakima Front Loader. So far, so good. The Kuat Trio seems to be all that plus well-constructed. etrailer had it for the best price I saw anywhere on the Kuat. AND, you get a free matching bottle opener key ring!
I love this rack for its functionality and looks. If you're also the type of person who likes having a brand that you don't see everyday then I would recommend this product. My bike mechanic recommended the Trio because he had them on his car. Because I'd never heard of Kuat I felt I needed to do my research before making what I considered an expensive purchase. Needless to say, I liked the company's philosophy, and it's American. Also, I will order from etrailer in the future, their customer service is outstanding.
Renee was extremely patient and with me. She informed me every step of the way. Kuat is the best product out there and but it does take while for it to arrive. That said, if you're not in a hurry, get it!
These racks are great. Still look like new. Hold thru axle or standard skewer. Love the lock feature. They sit in Florida sun and show no ware. Good purchase. Fast delivery.
This product does all that it claims to very easy to install and use I had a thule rack and I feel this is a better made and stronger product
Slim profile, easy installation and solid connection to rack and bike with fork skewer and rear wheel ratchet system
Amazing bike carrier. Love it that every piece can be replaced. Simply a beautiful design.
Looks sleek on the roof of the car. Easy to install and use.
Really easy to mount and the bicycles stayed secure on there for a two month road trip. Well worth the price. Very high quality. I'm very pleased with this product.
This is very well engineered and solid. I like it
Best price that I could find for this rack anywhere. Free shipping too. Can't complain. Thanks.
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Joel
3/13/2023
After a year, I now own two of these Kuat Trio bike racks, and they have both held up outstandingly well!