This rack is heavy, which is good and bad. Good because it is solid and holds the bikes very firmly. Bad because its a beast to lift on and off the car. And that is without the two bike extension.The hitch pin is unique and I have grown to like it very much. It is treaded half way and it screws into the part of the rack that goes into the hitch. This causes the rack to be pulled against one side of the hitch on the inside and the end result is that it is firmly attached to the car. With a standard hitch pin that is not threaded and uses a cotter pin the rack can rattle around in the hitch and this is eliminated with the new design.You do have to use a wrench though to mount the rack.I bought a wrench to keep in my car just for this purpose.
This rack is large for the number of bikes it holds. Again, this is good and bad. When I mount bikes on this rack none of them ever touch each other. Even better than that the only place the rack contacts the bike is on the rear rim (using a standard Yakima wheel strap) and the rubber surfaces of the tires. Very nice for people like me who are picky about their bikes and don't want them damaged on the rack.
I consider this rack to be expensive. At $359.10 for only two bikes it's up there. And then another $234.00 to add another two bikes! And I can only image how heavy it will be with the extension attached.
The cable lock that comes with the rack has a loop on one end and a lock on the other. The lock is meant to go and the hitch pin to lock the rack to the car and secure the bikes at the same time. The problem is that the lock is very hard to unlock once it is attached to the hitch pin on my 2008 Sequoia. The geometry is such that you have to insert the key into the cable's lock blind in a very small space. And of course the cable comes with a lock core and its not going to use the same key as the rest of your gear so buying a replacement matching lock core is another expense.
There is a separate lock pin provided on the rack which works nicely and is much easier to unlock the cable from but now the rack is not locked to you car. To solve this I bought Yakima's stand alone hitch pin lock straight from them and they were nice enough to load it with my standard lock core so I didn't have to buy even another core.
The cable that comes with the rack works nicely but is JUST long enough to lock two bikes to the rack if you go around all four wheels and both frames. Can't tell from Amazon's info if you get another cable lock if your buy the two bike addition for this rack. Even if you do there is another core to buy, if you're like me and you want all your gear to work with one key.
When I first received the hitch and put it together, which is very simple and easy, I did put the two bike trays on backwards. They worked like that but after using the rack like that I could tell it would be better if the two trays were reversed. I did that and the spacing worked much better. Its tough to tell for sure which way they should go from the manual so lay everything out and look at the pictures very carefully.
The Yakima website says that you can put a bike on this rack in 10 seconds or less. This may actually be possible if you are only including mounting the bike. I timed myself several time and it usually takes about 20 seconds working at a normal rate. This does not include getting the arms and straps ready or threading and attaching the locking cable. I would say that from a folded up position (the rack can fold up vertically when no bikes are mounted) to two bikes mounted and locked can easily be done in two minutes.
I have four Yakima LockJaw bike mounts (the old version of the type where you don't have to remove any wheels) that mount on top of a vehicle. Compared to heaving your bike over your head, climbing your running boards and rear wheel and then trying to mount it on top of a huge SUV this rack is a dream.
The only reason I did not give this rack five stars is the price. At $593.10 for four bikes, not including any extra cores or locks your may want, its getting pretty steep. For me though I feel it was money well spent for the two bikes and I fully inted to buy the extra two bike add on eventually.
EDIT 12/5/2008 - When I checked out my Amazon wish list today the two bike add on for this rack was priced at $145.34.This is a price drop of $88.66 from when I wrote this review a few days ago.Needless to say I hit the 1-Click button before it could go back up so I should have the add on to review in a few days.I'll add to my review once I've had a chance to try it out.The main thing I am worried about is stability.Its a pretty big contraption with the add on (there are pictures on the Yakima web site) but that's what keeps the bikes apart so I guess I can't complain.
EDIT 4/8/2009 - I have now used the two bike extension several times and it works great.Just understand that it extends a long way off the back of the car.The extension comes with a very nice red flag that bolts on to the back of the rack along with two battery operated red biking lights (the kind you put rear facing on your seat post that can flash or do other patterns) that you attach to the back of the rack for night driving.I can attach the first part and then the second part to my car myself but the whole thing put together is to big and to heavy to do by myself.The two bike extension attaches to the main part using a bolt that requires a wrench and it is not the same size as the hitch pin so a second wrench or socket is required.Overall I love this rack (now that paying for it is in the past).
Click Here to see more reviews about: Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack - 2 Inch
Product Description:
Fast and easynot compliments if you're a lady, but ideal when you're referring to the Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack.This platform-style rack fits into standard two-inch (2) hitch receivers, and secures two bikes using Yakima's patented, ratcheting StrongArm bars. The StrongArm system is favored by everyone from downhillers to road bikers for its speed (about ten seconds per bike) strength, and frame-friendly over-the-wheel grip. The HoldUp is fully adjustable to accommodate all bike sizes, folds up when not in use, and even has a bottle opener built in for post-ride refreshments. Need more space? Attach the Plus 2 Add On Kit (not included) and double your bike-hauling capacity.
Product Features
Compatibility: 2in Hitch mount
Max Load: 2 bicycles
Locks Included: Yes
Recommended Use:
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime
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