Bike Rack Recommendation for BMW 5-Series Carrying Cannondale Carbon Frame Road Bike

Updated 03/20/2014 | Published 03/18/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Thule OutWay Platform Trunk Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - Adjustable Trays

(15)

$599.95

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

(22)

$197.92

Question:

Hello I have a cannondale carbon frame road bike. Would this be a good bike rack to transport it without causing damage to the frame? Thanks

asked by: Virgilio S

Expert Reply:

A premium bicycle such as your Cannondale carbon frame road bike will indeed benefit from a bike rack that will not apply stress to its frame. A platform-type carrier that supports the bike at its wheels is one option and another is a wheel-mount type that suspends the bike from its wheels.

The other consideration for choosing a bike rack is your vehicle. You want to choose a bike carrying option that will not stress or damage your vehicle. Bike racks vary considerably in their weight, and although your bike is certainly fairly light, the combined trunk-mount carrier and bike weight could be too much for the sheet metal components on some vehicles. A trunk lid is not designed to bear weight, nor is the hinge that attaches it to the vehicle. The Thule OutWay 2 Platform-Style carrier you referenced, part # TH65JV, weighs roughly 28-lbs, and if your bike is for example the Synapse Carbon 3, that weighs about 17-lbs, then the combined weight of roughly 45-lbs could potentially deform the trunk lid on your 5-Series.

An option that avoids this entire issue is to install a hitch receiver and use a hitch-mount carrier. For example, if your 5-Series is a 2011-2014 model year 535 or 550 (excluding the diesel) we offer Curt hitch # C11381. Once installed this Class I hitch provides a 200-lb tongue weight capacity and a 1-1/4-inch receiver opening that can be used with Class I bike racks. The link provided will display various options in a 2-bike platform-style Class I wheel-mount rack that includes locks. (Another benefit of installing a hitch is that it can be used for other compatible accessories such as a cargo carrier.)

As an example, the Kuat NV aluminum carrier # N102 features exceptionally solid construction, includes locks for both the bikes and the rack itself, tilts away from the vehicle for trunk access even when loaded with bikes and carries a lifetime warranty from Kuat. The linked video will help illustrate this premium carriers features.

If you wish to provide the model year and specific version of your 5-Series I will be glad to make more specific hitch and rack recommendations. I have linked several helpful articles concerning bike racks that might be useful to you as you consider your options.

expert reply by: Adam R