TESTED: Kuat Racks hitch mount bike racks
Kuat specialise in high quality, easy to use bike racks. We've tested 3 of their hitch racks and some accessories.
Küat are known for producing light and solid cargo carrying solutions, and we had three of their hitch mount racks on test. All have a limited lifetime warranty. And you say 'koo-at'. All of the racks we tested are available via FE Sports.
Küat NV 2.0
Weight: 24kg
RRP: $1259
Capacity: 27kg per bike
Wheelbase limit: 1270mm
More details: FE Sports
The NV 2.0 is the top model, with full length alloy tray bases and adjustable front wheel cradles. The compression arm pulls the bike onto the tray for zero frame contact, and it can fit 20-29” wheels, although an adaptor is needed for 20-24”. With straps that can take Plus tyres (or 5” fat tyres with an extra kit) this rack will carry just about any bike, as long as it's within the wheelbase limit.
The hitch mount uses a cam lock that compresses into the hitch with a hand dial and 8mm allen key. It makes for a rock solid fit with zero movement. Küat have a release mechanism to let the rack sit vertically against the back of your car if unloaded, or lean away for easy access to your boot. There are also inbuilt cable locks to lock your bikes to the rack, and the rack comes with a key lock hitch pin.
The wheel cradles can be set at 3 positions, which not only helps for length, but also when offsetting bars and saddles, for additional clearance. I found loading was easy, I put the heaviest bike inboard, and had no issues with bars and posts fouling, thanks to the cradle adjustments. You need an 8mm for it, but there's one held in the back of the rack. There's no option for a light and plates board, so bring your own for this rack.
Looking for a Vertical Bike Rack? You need to see our Vertical Bike Rack Group Test.
One of the coolest features is the built in workstand you can use when the rack is vertical. It's ideal for trailhead repairs or bike prep, and is a nice extra function. The NV Base model is the same rack, without the stand, and sells for $1099. This is a fully featured rack with great ground clearance, and it was foolproof for the whole test period. If you need a bombproof rack that can carry a wide range of bikes, this is well worth a look. Need to carry more? You can get a 2-bike add on for $539, although the maximum bike weight drops to 18kg each.
Küat Transfer V2
Weight: 17kg
RRP: $699
Capacity: 27kg per bike
Wheelbase limit: 1270mm
More details: FE Sports
The Küat Transfer V2 has just about all the same features as the NV 2.0, but with a more basic construction, which has a dramatic increase on the price, and overall weight for ease of fitting. The hitch still locks in via a cam, and the security 8mm means no one is likely to wander off with it.
You can use the Phat Strap kit for 5” tyres, and the rack suits 18-29” wheels. There is an included cable lock with a lock mechanism in the left base arm. Küat also do a 3-bike model for $829, and there is a 1-bike add on that sells for $239. The weight capacity drops to 17kg with the add on. There's no number plate mount or light options, so bring a light board and accessory plate
While the overall finish is simpler, fitting bikes was just as easy, as was removing them. I did find that with how the wheel cradles sit, the rear wheels hang a little lower than the front, so it doesn't quite have the ground clearance of the NV 2.0, but it means clearance with seats and bars is not an issue.
There's a foot pedal to release the rack to lean out for boot access, although it can need a bit of a stretch with two bikes on there. I did find this rack sits closer to the car, which is great, but it has less clearance for a boot opening even when tilted back. This will be wholly dependant on bar width.
Overall, The Küat Transfer V2 has to be a value winner for this type of rack. It's easy to fit, stable, has a high load rating and has security options. It packs away smaller than the Küat NV 2.0 and is lighter, so it's a great option for those who need to store, fit and remove a rack frequently.
Küat Beta
RRP: $399
Weight: 6.5kg
Capacity: 18kg per bike
Wheelbase limit: Nearly unlimited!
More details: FE Sports
The Küat Beta is a traditional hanging style hitch rack with plenty of modern features. It uses the same expanding cam hitch mount for a solid fit. This style of rack works best with frames with open main triangles, and the two rubberised mounts for each bike have 3 contact points. Two for the top tube, and one for around a seat tube or similar. That mount helps reduce the swaying in and out from the vehicle.
Thanks to two folding points with gated pins, the Küat Beta can fold flat, and fold down to access the rear of your car. Each pivot has compression screws to easily take away any movement, so this rack is as sturdy as the Transver V2 or NV 2.0.
We found it hard to fit more than one full-suspension bike, given how they needed to mount and then where a second bike may have bars hitting wheels or saddles. This is wholly dependant on frame design as to what will fit. Overall it's a best in class rack for a hanging style of rack, and primarily suits frames with more open front triangles. But thanks to the light weight, easy fitting and compact storage size it should be very popular.
Küat Pivot 2.0 Swing Away
Selling for $599, the Pivot 2.0 Swing Away lets you get your hitch mounted Küat rack 90 or 120 degrees away from your car, for full access to the back of your vehicle. Options for the passenger or driver side swing are available. It has a locking hitch pin for security, and uses the same expanding cam for a bomber fit. It does add extra overhang to any rack, and the total limit on the Pivot 2.0 is 114kg for bikes and rack.
In use it was as solid as the Küat racks, with only a little bit more movement due to having more material and moving parts on the back of your car. I really liked how it locked into place in each position, with an easy to release trigger.
Other accessories:
NV bike ramp – To help load heavy bikes onto the NV racks: $219.99
Hi-Lo – 5250mm long, 50mm drop/rise hitch extension with cam system: $179.99
RackDock – wall mounted storage:$134.99
Phat kit – longer straps for 5” tyres: $21-99
Get all the details at the FE Sports website.
