TESTED: Thule DoubleTrack 990XT Bike Rack

Thule are synonymous with two things: carrying bikes on cars, and questions about pronunciation. Their recent expansion into luggage, computer and phone cases, bike bags and even child seats might change the former, but chances are we will probably second guess the pronunciation for a while longer.

You can take the bikes to the mountain, but you can’t bring mountains to bikes. Therein lies the demand for smart ways to carry mountain bikes on cars. While some riders choose in the car, and some choose on top – others choose on the back.

The DoubleTrack 990XT is a new addition to the Thule range, carrying two bikes on the back of your car via a hitch mount, with either a 30, 40 or 50mm receiver. Fitting bikes onto the back of the car should improve fuel efficiency, and lessen the risk of totalling your bikes at a drive-thru, or when you finally arrive home and go to park in your garage or car port.

Fitting is straight-forward, the unit slides into the hitch and is secured with the receiver bolt and a spanner – the bolt has a hitch lock for security, although it’s worth locking your bikes to the rack too.. The rack can fold up vertically to be out of the way when unloaded, but doesn’t fold down to access your boot or hatch. Pack your boot first! Remember to make sure you have a number plate for the rack – chances are you’ll need to invest in the Thule 976 Lightboard ($139RRP) as well to be fully legal in your state or territory. It attaches to the outside bike.

The rack has two bars to support the wheelbase of your bikes. The cradles can take up to 3” tyres, and fit wheelbases 121cm long, which is about the length of a 6” travel 29er. Sliding the cradles along is tool free, so it’s easy to accommodate different bikes and to be sure the bikes are centred behind your vehicle. The wheels are held in place with the straps, you will need to remove the adaptor for tyres above 2.1”, but it helps hold narrower wheels more securely. The vertical bar clamps down with a padded hook on the top tube of each bike separately. They also lock in place one by one – get this order right to have full access to the locks.

The rack has a load limit of 32kg, which should be fine for trail bikes and all-mountain bikes too – but maybe not for two full niuse downhill bikes. Loaded with an XC bike and trail bike it had a bit of rocking. While I was certain it wasn’t going to go anywhere, and that it wasn’t overlaoded, it was a bit disconcerting seeing movement through the rear vision mirror at 110km/h. This is something you don’t normally see on a strap on rack, or on a roof system (unless you have a sun roof). I narrowed it down to the converter for the 40mm Subaru receiver. It’s an extra square sleeve over the 30mm unit, and reports from friends whose cars don’t require the extra sleeve state that it’s far more stable.

All told the rack is highly adaptable for different sized bikes, and different types, with needing feats of strength to get a bike on the roof, or needing to put bikes or wheels in your car. It also ran silently when on the freeway, which isn’t something all roof systems can claim.

While the rack is a budget offering at $499, with the addition of a $139 light board to be legal, the Thule 921 ($699) might be preferable, as it folds down for boot access and has a slightly higher load limit. You would be best to call Thule Australia and discuss your needs in terms of bike and car compatibility though, I’m certain they will have a rack to match.

Hits:

• Broad range of adjustment
• Lockable to secure the rack and the bikes
• Folds to a smaller size

Misses:

• Not a complete product for legal use

RRP: $499 ($29 adaptor required for 40mm)

From: thule.com.au