TESTED: Yakima StageTwo Tray Bike Rack

Words and photos: Georgina von Marburg

A well-established player in the bike rack market, Yakima have an array of racks from roof-mounted to vertical hitch-mounted. Their StageTwo rack competes in the tray category, an excellent choice for those wanting to lift their bikes as minimally as possible. There were so many features to explore and test with this rack, the hallmark of a product which has been well thought out and designed for everyday use. 

Installation 

In my opinion, installing bike racks is never a fun job. There are parts everywhere, pages of instructions, mountains of packaging, and usually one or two very tedious steps. Those who feel my pain will be pleased to know the StageTwo installation process is surprisingly simple.

The instructions are clear and articulate, amounting to a total build and installation time of less than 30 minutes for me. 

The easiest part of the process was mounting the base of the rack into my Forester’s hitch. This is usually one of those very tedious steps. However, Yakima’s SpeedKnob hitch tightener means you simply insert the base and wind a knob until tight. The knob can then be locked into the car using a key. A very small safety pin also goes through the hitch, but it’s the SpeedKnob that acts as the ultimate connection to the car. When tightened, the knob expands a wedge within the base, occupying any space in the hitch. What does this ingenious device amount to? Absolutely zero play within the hitch mount. 

One frustration I did encounter during installation was inserting the bolts which attach the trays to the base. You do need to fiddle with each one before tightening, as the holes are not precise enough to guide the bolts; if your patience runs thin, the end result could be a stripped thread or two. For security purposes, the bolts can only be adjusted using the unique allen key supplied. Despite this, the instructions do note a torque setting, meaning some guess work was ultimately involved. 

Got eMTBs? Read our review on the Yakima OnRamp Bike Rack. 

Loading the bikes

The adjustable pivot arms on the StageTwo mean the loading process is relatively fast. I still found it slower than some vertical bike racks, but faster than the majority of frame-clamp systems.

The hook on the pivot arm clamps down over the front tyre, approximately an inch from the fork. Complete with a simple wheel strap for the rear, the StageTwo rack makes no contact with the bike’s frame. At first glance, this mechanism appeared questionable; how could a single claw pushing down on the front tyre secure a 15kg enduro bike? But my concerns were quelled as the StageTwo kept my precious cargo stationary over hours of driving on country roads and swinging through local roundabouts.  You can adjust exactly where the bikes sit, which helps for bar and saddle clearance, and keeping the bikes overall width within your wingmirrors (a Kia Picanto and a long gravity sled may be hard though).

A very practical feature for those urban and suburban warriors is the retractable bike locks integrated in the pivot arms. I was able to fit these around the bike forks – which should deter most opportunist thieves – but not around the chunky frames of modern mountain bikes. Of course, Yakima have a solution for this as well; an anchor point between the two trays will accommodate another lock of your choice, wrapped around the down tube. 

I initially installed the trays on their widest setting to allow for maximal handlebar clearance between bikes. However I did find this was too wide, resulting in my long Trek Slash protruding out the side of the vehicle. Once I reinstalled the trays on their most central setting, it resolved this issue while still maintaining enough clearance with lowered dropper posts. The bikes still protruded slightly but remained well within the legal limit. 

The trays on the StageTwo will take wheelbases up to 132cm (the vast majority of eMTBs and downhill bikes). For on-road use, the trays are rated to carry 27kg each. And while I haven’t tested it on properly rough fire roads, they’re each rated to 16kg for off-road use. 

Ground clearance tends to be the main problem with tray hitch bike racks, but Yakima have addressed this with their elevated structure. Users may still have trouble in sedans, but I never felt uneasy driving over speedbumps and creek crossings with my Forester. This “tiered architecture” also deals with bike spacing issues, meaning a game of Tetris isn’t required when loading the second bike. 

Boot access

One of my favourite features on the StageTwo is the adjustable tilt which allows the rack to be raised or lowered with one-step mechanism. Pulling a lever on the base of the rack will lower the rack for quick boot access when bikes are loaded; alternatively, you can raise the rack to a position neatly parallel to your car when the rack is not in use. A solid and reassuring ‘Click!’ indicates the rack is in one of its three positions. 

Conclusion

The Yakima StageTwo is a fierce player in the increasingly competitive bike rack market. I immensely appreciated its sleek design and ability to fold away, a plus for those who aren’t towing bikes 24/7. We tested the ‘Vapor’ colour, but the StageTwo is also available in ‘Anthracite’ black for those who wish to colour coordinate. 

Underneath all its aesthetics lies an incredibly practical product, with features to suit various bikes and sizes. All these features, from the SpeedKnob to the integrated cable locks, have a high-quality and durable feel to them. And for just over $1000, you’d hope so. If Yakima could just refine the bolt holes in the trays, the installation process would be a breeze. Otherwise, this is an excellent option for those looking for a clean, secure, and minimalist hitch tray rack. Bear in mind you will need a plate and light board for fully legal use just about anywhere in Australia. Yakima sell the LightMate ($129) which ticks both off.

RRP: $1099

From: yakima.com.au

Hits

• Adjustable tilt
• Tiered trays
• Integrated cable locks
• Clean aesthetics 
• Easy installation 

Misses 

• Tray mounting bolts were tedious to thread

Interested in vertical bike rack options? Read our vertical bike rack group test.