TESTED: Thule Helium Platform XT 2-bike

Words and photos: Mike Blewitt

A high quality bike rack that is easy to use can make a big difference in getting to the trails more often. There's near countless choices on the Australian market, and vertical bike racks are popular thanks to their capacity and fast loading unloading for 4-7 bikes. But for just a couple of bikes, a hitch mounted tray style rack tends to be easier to fit and remove from your vehicle due to a lower weight, and easier to store at home when not in use. We have tested a number of tray style hitch racks from Thule over the years, and their new Helium Platform XT is light, easy to use, lockable, and can fit bikes with wheelbases up to 1320mm.

The Helium Platform XT can carry two bikes, and it sells for $1599. There is no accounting for fitting lights or an accessory plate, so you will need to factor that in. Thule use a tray style design that supports both wheels on this rack. 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. Weighing 20.5kg, The Thule Helium Platform XT is 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.

Another step in a hassle free setup is the hitch expander that Thule use, 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. This is really handy if you'll be using the rack between vehicles, like a hatchback and an SUV, for example.

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 treat this as a minor deterrant as opposed to an impenetrable security solution.

Fully loaded, the Helium Platform XT can take 41kg, or two 21.5kg bikes. So it's perfect for almost any gravity bike, or a mid power eMTB like the Specialized Levo SL, Pivot Shuttle SL or the new Trek Fuel EXe, which are all under 20kg.

Thanks to a pivot that is accessed via the front of the rack, it can fold down to access the boot, or fold up against the boot when unloaded and not in use.

Loading and unloading

Like any tray type rack, top to tail is the best way to load the bikes. With both arms open on each tray, I opted to have the arm for the inner most bike already set inboard a little, to help stagger the bikes. It will depend on the bar height, dropper length and bike sizes you are loading, but the bikes do sit close together so you need to ensure they are offset a little to get the best clearance.

With one bike held by the rear wheel, compressing the front arm over the tyre will secure it. Once I had the second bike fitted, I would then applu a lot of pressure on each front wheel arm to really push the bike into the arm securing the rear wheel.

The arms have an easy quick release handle inside the arm, and pressing the arm in a little more makes releasing a cinch. Do be sure to put a lot of pressure onto the arms, as this is the clamping force you need. I found I wanted obvious compression on the tyres, otherwise there was more wiggle than I was comfortable with.

I used a Single Trail light and plate board to be road legal during testing, which I attached to the outer bike with the bungee cords. I did need to pad the back of the plate board. Given the prominance of the central beam that the rack's trays attach to, getting a light and plate board that sits flush at the tray level may take a little bit of hunting. The benefit of not having a fixed plate and light board is that when folded up, you just attach it to the underside of a wheel tray to still be road legal.

On the road

I used the Thule Helium Platform XT to travel to a couple of events, and to my local trails a few times. I liked that it was easy to fit and remove, and that I could lock it onto my car for security.

Being able to offset the bikes made a big difference to fitting a wide variety of bikes, especially when fitting bikes that are a very similar size and seup, which normally ends up with seats and controls getting in the way for loading. Unloading was very quick, sipley pushing the front wheel arm in a little with the lever compressed to pull out – and that normally means you can then pull it out of the rear cradle.

The catch here is the light and plate board – where is it mounted? If it's mounted on the outer most bike, it adds time removing it, maybe unplugging it, and putting it in the boot. Getting one that sits neatly onto the tray will stop this and be a huge saving every time you load and unload a bike. I would highly recommend doing that

The rack itself was stable at freeway speeds, and on dirt roads for event access. For a rack that's under 20kg, it really is very solid.

I liked how easily the rack folds up when not in use, and I barely took it off during the test period, as it was so snug and out of the way. The handle on the main beam is easy to actuate, whether it's to lower the rack down for boot access or to fold it up when unloaded.

Verdict

The Thule Helium Platform XT is a well-designed rack, with versatility across a lot of bike types and sizes. I can't carry fat bikes, but will carry road bikes, gravel bikes, and just about any mountain bike under 20.5kg.

As a rack for one or two people it's worth a good look. I found fitting the rack really easy thanks to the low weight, and securing the bikes is done when standing – there's no need to crouch to use straps at wheel cradles. Additionally, any adjustments for wheelbase length is done during the fitting and clamping, so the versatility is fast and doesn't need additional changes. Of course, the rack isn't plug and play, like the majority of imported bike racks. You need to bring a light and plate board to hit the road, and this is the catch. If you need to attach the light and plate board to a bike, it really slows things down. But if you can find one that sits nicely on the base, then this is a fast, stable and easy rack to use. The downside? It's one of the most premium tray style racks we have tested. But it's a simple design to use and a very versatile rack.

RRP: $1599
From: thule.com/en-au

Hits:

• Light weight for fitting
• Folds flat for storage
• Can fit upto 1320mm wheelbases
• Versatile bike fit

Misses:

• Needs a light and plate board
• No fat bikes or tiny kids' bikes