"Slant6" (slant-6)
06/04/2020 at 08:45 • Filed to: None
1
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"Slant6" (slant-6)
06/04/2020 at 08:45 • Filed to: None | 1
| 19 |
I know it sounds like a bad idea when you say it out loud, but I don’t think it’s that crazy. Bike racks are fairly simple devices. All they need to do is not fall apart. This rack seems to be built fine, welds are good, all the nuts are locking nuts, there are several cotter pins involved.
My main concern is how the bike goes onto the rack, since it’s a long cargo bike. Can’t just do the top tube, that would be horribly unbalanced. It looks pretty good going through the rear rack. This is a RadWagon 1 so it has a steel frame (steel is real) so I think it will be fine supporting the weight of the bike. It doesn’t line up with the current mounts on the rack, but I’m 3d printing a solution that should be ready to take the bike to my great Aunt’s house this weekend.
On my 15 mile test run last night things seemed ok. Got up to 65mph on the highway once and you can definitely feel it back there, but it didn't seem like it was going to fall off.
Overall I think it’s a good rack. It’s rated for 100lbs which I’m well under at 68ish. Bike from factory is 75lbs, minus the 7lbs battery and the running boards means it’s not that heavy of a bike. A lot of people recommend the wheel mounted racks for ebikes, but the ones that are cheap enough have low weight ratings, and I can’t justify spending $400 on a bike rack, that’s like more than half the cost of the bike. I’m no stranger to trailers, or mounting things to my cars, I feel like this is a safe setup.
Tripper
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 08:52 |
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+1 for cheap bike racks. My MTB does not fit properly on hitch racks either, hasn’t been a problem though
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Slant6
> Tripper
06/04/2020 at 08:54 |
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I recently became aware of top tube adapter bars for bikes without a straight top tube. Goes from stem to seat post. I actually ordered one but im going to return it. Probably fine for a 30 pound mountain bike but it didn't inspire confidence for the ebike.
Michael
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 08:57 |
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Using a $130 HF motorcycle rack to carry a $4000 motorcycle...
Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 08:58 |
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Justify Left.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 08:58 |
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For as much as that bike costs ( I’m assuming at least 3 grand) I’d spend the money on a legit rack. At least a Saris.
Went back and read the post. How’d you gag a e bike like that do cheap?
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Michael
> Michael
06/04/2020 at 08:59 |
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Just to say, don’t be afraid of stuff just because you bought it at HF. If you do your diligence and inspect the craftsmanship, it’s probably going to be OK
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 09:02 |
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One small bit of advice, which may help, push the bike as close to the back of the car as possible. Those closer you can get it, the less cantilevered it is, which will help with unloading the rear suspension, so you won’t feel it as much back there.
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Slant6
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/04/2020 at 09:09 |
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Well, it’s $1500 new, and I bought it for $700 used. Battery might need to be replaced in the next 2 years, just from regular use, but I have experience building battery packs.
RadPower is a pretty good value ebike company. I’d say they’re a few notches up on quality from a Walmart bike, maybe comparable with a low end trek, and they use branded cells and good motors. Kinda the company in value ebikes, direct to consumer model and pretty good domestic technical support.
I looked at used name brand racks and none of them really seemed worth it to me. Harbor freight rates it at 100lbs and that's good enough for me. I also knew I'd be making parts to make it work anyway so I might as well start with a cheap base instead of scrapping all the nice components on a nice rack. I plan on doing some redundant mounting for the interstate, mounting to the roof rack and the hitch itself. If something does go wrong hopefully those would allow me enough time to get off the road and not ruin someone's day.
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Slant6
> Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped
06/04/2020 at 09:10 |
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Or embiggen PDF.
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Slant6
> Michael
06/04/2020 at 09:13 |
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I actually thought of getting one of those for the bike, but didn't want to deal with a 1.25" adapter. I also don't have anywhere to keep a rack like that.
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Slant6
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/04/2020 at 09:15 |
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Thanks! They way it is in the picture is about as far as it would go, there's a little metal nub stopping it from going farther back. Although I think the main part I felt was the wind resistance from the bike hanging over the side, could definitely hear it.
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Michael
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 09:34 |
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Yeah they’re super clunky to have around and I wouldn’t use them on a 1.25", just showing that things can exceed your expectations. If you give your ebike a few good bounces and it seems stable, probably good enough
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Michael
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 09:36 |
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Seems fine
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 10:02 |
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If that one doesn’t inspire confidence, you might try one designed for a motorcycle.
The biggest drawback I’ve seen with cheap racks is cheap hardware and cheap paint. Expect to see rust within a year.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 10:32 |
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They build their bike racks like they build their jackstan ds: it's so simple it couldn't possibly go wrong!
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Slant6
> TheRealBicycleBuck
06/04/2020 at 10:49 |
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Yeah it’s already coming off in places.
I was about to get a motorcycle rack off nextdoor but I just don't want to use a 1.25" adapter, just seems like a poor choice.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 11:08 |
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I didn’t realize your receiver was 1.25". Is it a class I or II? if it’s just a Class I hitch, then it’s limited to 200 lbs anyway (maybe even less, depending on the vehicle’s limits).
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 11:10 |
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It seems like that contraption is fitting fine, I wouldn’t be to concerned, just do a close inspection at the connection points and welds on a regular basis. I can relate to the wind buffeting tho. I drove a solid 600 miles last fall with two mountain bikes on the back of my 2.5L outback on a hitch rack and it was dragging down the top end and fuel economy greatly.
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Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped
> Slant6
06/04/2020 at 15:37 |
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Didn’t know that one. now I do!