FIRST LOOK: Thule Helium Platform XT 2 bike rack

When it comes to getting your bike to the trail, there's a bunch of options and everyone will have their choice for what works for them. Whether you ride there, throw your bike over the tailgate of your ute, take wheels off to put it in your car, roll it into your van, load it onto your vertical bike rack or pop it on a tray style rack – there are lots of choices. And if it gets you to the trail to ride, then no matter the choice it's a good one. Thule are well-known for their roofracks and bike racks, and we were recently sent their new light weight Thule Helium Platform XT 2 bike rack to test.

The Helium Platform XT range comes in one and two bike models. They use a tray style design that supports both wheels. The wheels are clamped into place with arms that fold out of the way, so there is no part of the rack that contacts your bike. The arms can work with wheel sizes from 26-29" and tyre widths up to 3". It will work with bikes with a wheelbase upto 1320mm, which is quite generous.

The rack uses a hitch mount, with a locking mechanism that removes the need to fit and remove a hitch pin, making installation or removal quite quick. As the rack weighs 20.5kg, it's a very reasonable weight to fit and remove. Not as light as a rack like the Kuat Transfer V2, but nothing like fitting a vertical bike rack, which can easily weight 40kg.

Looking for other platform racks?
TESTED: Thule T2 Pro XT 2 bike rack
TESTED: Thule EasyFold XT 3 bike rack
TESTED: Yakima OnRamp 2 bike rack
TESTED: Thule VeloSpace XT 3 bike rack 

Additionally, Thule have a hitch expander to make the rack free from wobble in your hitch. This also locks on for security. Of note, the hitch can be setup for 1.25" or 2" hitches, all from the same box.

For additional security, there are built in cable locks on each tray, with provided lock barrels. This should add some extra assurance when your pride and joy is locked to the rack while you're stopped refuelling. It's still a cable lock and would be quick work for 30-40cm bolt cutters – so leaving this loaded and parked on the street overnight would be a big step in trust.

 The rack can take 41kg, or two 21.5kg bikes. So it's perfect for almost any gravity bike, but best suited for a mmid power eMTB like the Specialized Levo SL, Pivot Shuttle SL or the new Trek Fuel EXe, which are all under 20kg.

Loading the Thule Helium Platform XT 

Given there isn't far to lift a bike, this is a cinch. Lift both arms upwards to allow easy access to the trays, and then load the first bike in the position closer to the car. The distance between each tray isn't massive at 25cm, so what you should aim to do is to set one bike as far to one side as possible, with the other as far to the other side as possible. What you're aiming to do is to make sure the handlebars of one bike don't hit the seatpost of another. Depending on your dropper post drop and bike sizes it might not be an issue, but bikes that are a similar size with drops less than 125mm will likely need loading in this manner.

Obviously you need to be wary of how far the wheels extend beyond the sides of your vehicle, so use your common sense.

Getting the bikes secure requires decent pressure on the wheels from the locking arms. After snugging them up I was not happy with how secure they were, so you really want to push the rack into the tyre. Then it's absolutely bomber!

 

Releasing the cradles is as simple as pushing it in a little while depressing the inside of the handle. It's a very quick process for both loading and unloading. The only thing that slows it down is the fact the Thule Helium Platform XT does not have a light board and plate holder, which is required just about anywhere in Australia where you would be using it.

 

As the back of the rack doesn't present a flat area to easily attach a light and plate board, I needed to attach it to the outermost bike itself, with some padding on the back of the board. while it meant I could move the board if the rack was on and folded up, it added time to the loading and unloading on what is otherwise a very fast and simple bike rack to use.

 

There's a couple more trips to the trails and mountain bike destinations to properly road and trail test this one. As is, it's very well thought out and can easily fit a range of bikes. But the design is let down by the added time to fit and remove light and plate boards.

RRP: $1599
From: Thule