QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack Evaluation

My previous bike rack was beginning to get fairly beat up earlier than somebody backed their truck into it and drove off. I nonetheless used it for an additional 12 months after that (in all probability at nice legal responsibility), and it labored. Nevertheless it wasn’t superb. It was bent askew. It wobbled irrespective of how a lot I tightened it within the hitch; it creaked and groaned, and it slowly misplaced my confidence over time.

Then, I bought a message from a Colorado model based mostly simply an hour away from the place I dwell. It described a home made, modular, machined aluminum bike rack that would carry common bikes and e-bikes.

Greater than that, this rack supposedly wanted no instruments to assemble or connect to a automobile. It even used a brand new kind of hitch, which the model claimed was stronger and extra steady than conventional ball hitches.

The QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack seems quite a bit like different racks I’ve seen. Nonetheless, the model stated it has 14 new patents for this rack and spent 20 years designing it. And actually, I’d by no means heard of a rack with so many intelligent design options in-built. So, I known as one in, eliminated my bent-out-of-shape beat-up rack, and began testing QuikrStuff’s claims.

The QuikrStuff Bike Rack is 100% handmade in Grand Junction, Colo. It has a modular design that means that you can put as much as 4 bike trays in your rack. It requires no instruments to assemble, connect, or add on to. Its bombproof hand-machined metallic design is patented, which permits it to accommodate heavier bikes, like e-bikes.

This rack doesn’t wobble or bounce within the hitch in any respect. It has an e-bike ramp you should use to load bikes onto it. There’s even a built-in wheel lock system to maintain your bikes secure. With some minor design tweaks, it could possibly be safer and user-friendly.

In brief: That is the nicest bike rack I’ve ever seen, not to mention used. The standard of development, modular design, and stability blew me away. The truth that it’s handmade within the USA is only a cherry on prime.

For those who’re searching for bike racks, examine the QuikrStuff Mach 2 to these on GearJunkie’s information to the Finest Hitch Bike Racks.

QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack: Unboxing, Meeting, Set up

It didn’t take a lot analysis to appreciate why I assumed I had seen this type of bike rack earlier than. QuikrStuff began in 2020 when Bryan Wachs and JT Westcott licensed the bike rack designs and patents of Cal Phillips, the notorious outside gear inventor.

Phillips has 34 patents and designs, together with the 1Up Quik Rack, which seems an terrible lot just like the QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack I examined. (Quik versus Quikr — see what they did there?)

Nonetheless, the 1Up Quik Rack will not be suitable with all e-bikes; it requires a instrument for set up, makes use of a ball hitch, and can’t declare to be 100% made within the USA. The costs are completely different, too. The 1Up Quik Rack is $350, whereas the QuikrStuff Mach 2 is twice that value at $700.

Other than all that, although, it’s fairly clear the identical thoughts designed these two racks. They’re exceptionally related at first look.

Nonetheless, based on Wachs, who I spoke with earlier than I drove to QuikrStuff’s manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Grand Junction, Colo., the QuikrStuff racks have already got a type of cult following. There’s been a waitlist for these racks since they hit the market in 2020. A part of that’s because of the pandemic and all the availability practice points it triggered. Nevertheless it’s additionally as a result of the model’s clients are affected person and need a QuikrStuff Rack sufficient to attend.

What’s within the Field?

Every of the three primary elements of the QuikrStuff rack got here in its personal field. There was the principle hitch and bike tray, the extra bike tray, and the e-bike ramp. Each of the bike trays had been neatly folded and totally assembled. Each piece and part of this rack is produced from anodized aluminum.

QuikrStuff additionally consists of two-wheel straps, that are basically ski straps that give further peace of thoughts and maintain the bike wheels to the tray. It additionally comes with 4 wheel locks that connect to the arms of the rack and safe your bike to it.

Lastly, they throw in two tubular keys with the rack and two per add-on (I obtained six). The model notes that each one elements will be keyed the identical “now or sooner or later.” That manner, you don’t have completely different keys for various add-ons for those who purchase them individually.

Meeting Out of the Field

After I took the QuikrStuff rack out of the field, I didn’t know what to anticipate. I knew the meeting was “toolless.” However how a lot meeting was there? I didn’t know. I used to be fearful it might be like an grownup Lego set with in depth directions and plenty of separate items.

It wasn’t like that in any respect. The primary hitch and rack are only one piece. It comes with the wheel trays folded up. I slid the 2-inch hitch into place, pulled the hooked up locking pin again, and set it. I then tightened the hitch with the blue knob, and when it was comfortable, I used one of many included tubular keys to lock it in place. To take away the rack, you’d want a kind of keys.

Growth. The bike rack and tray primary had been on. Attaching the second tray to the primary was a easy matter of lining up grooved metallic elements and slotting them in. A second tubular lock means that you can lock the add-on tray in place. The rack’s set off bar, which lets you decrease or increase it on its hinge, attaches to the add-on virtually seamlessly.

That was it. I didn’t want a wrench, or a drill, or perhaps a single hex screw. My rack was on my automobile, assembled and able to trip.

Weight Capability & E-Bikes

One of many largest promoting factors of the QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack is that it’s suitable with e-bikes. With only one bike tray, the Mach 2 is rated to 120 kilos. With two bike trays, it’s rated to 240 kilos; with three trays, it’s 300 kilos; and with 4 trays, the total most weight capability is 385 kilos. E-bikes sometimes weigh between 45 and 60 kilos, so you could possibly safely stack this factor with 4 of them.

The e-bike ramp add-on attaches to the tip of the Mach 2 like an extra bike tray for storage. When it is advisable to use it, unlock it from the rack, take away it, and use the 2 hook arms on one finish to repair it to the sting of 1 bike tray. Then, merely roll your e-bike up the ramp and lock it on.

E-motos might probably match on this rack as effectively, however I’d be cautious of exceeding the utmost weight capability. An UBCO Journey Bike weighs 116 kilos, so you could possibly conceivably use this rack to hold one.

However it might be a disgrace to overload your QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack, have it break, and lose your e-moto with it. That will be an costly accident. We checked the web site and couldn’t discover any data on whether or not this rack was rated for e-motos.

Within the Subject: Testing the QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack

I discussed my previous bike rack was fairly beat up — absolutely anything would have been an improve from it. However the QuikrStuff Mach 2 is like the trendy Mercedes of motorcycle racks, and I used to be coming off a sputtering 1996 Pontiac minivan. The standard, degree of design, and execution of the QuikrStuff rack blew me away.

I’ve been utilizing this rack all summer season lengthy. I’ve taken it to the desert and pushed a whole lot of miles round Colorado with it. On each single trip this summer season, I used this rack to get my bike to the trailhead, and it was a pleasure to get acquainted with it.

No Wobble Hitch

Probably the most spectacular factor I seen proper out of the gate was its stability within the hitch. As an alternative of a normal ball hitch, which is used virtually ubiquitously, the QuikrStuff rack hitch makes use of two aluminum “pads.” These are stronger and smoother, and in contrast to ball hitches, the model stated these gained’t deform over time. It presents 2-inch and 1.25-inch hitch choices.

There was no play on this rack. I watched my previous one bounce round, wobble, and sway on the mildest dust roads. I drove over gnarly four-wheel-drive mountain passes, romping over rocks, and the QuikrStuff rack didn’t transfer in any respect.

The peace of thoughts that it gave me was large as a result of I used to be not involved my bikes would fly off the truck. It was additionally higher for the hitch, as there was much less torque from the unmoving Mach 2.

Loading & Locking Bikes

Getting the bikes on and off was a bit of cake. I lifted the pink handles on the sliding arms, which opened them. As soon as the bike was on the rack, I pressed the 2 tire arms towards one another, snugly locking the bike wheels in place. I often shook the bike to ensure there is no such thing as a slack.

In case your tires are larger or smaller, the spools will be adjusted up or down with the gold deal with on the skin. The tire spools are already large enough for fats tire bikes, so no adjustment package is critical.

The 2 included wheel straps go on the underside of the tray and safe the wheels in place. They provide added safety however weren’t completely obligatory for shorter drives. I’ve solely been utilizing them for longer street journeys and transportation. I’d use them extra typically in the event that they had been hooked up to the rack itself, however they’re separate items altogether, which made them type of a ache.

QuikrStuff additionally designed an anti-theft lock system that makes use of the identical tubular key and secures your bike to the rack. 4 aluminum pins with blue locking heads will be slotted by means of the arms that maintain the wheels.

With the press of a button, this latch prevents the arms from opening up and retains your bike bodily hooked up to the rack. Would-be thieves must take your entire body off and go away the wheels behind — which I wouldn’t put previous at present’s bike burglars. So, I sometimes nonetheless ran a cable lock by means of the frames if I left my bike in my automobile in a public place.

Decreasing & Elevating

The QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack has 4 positions: raised vertically, lowered 45 levels, degree for bike transport, and totally lowered.

Raised vertically, the rack could be very low profile and didn’t stand proud of the again of my truck very a lot in any respect. Lowered to 45 levels, I might open my truck tailgate simply sufficient to entry issues under my sleeping platform or pull issues out that had been too massive to be eliminated by means of the camper hatch (like a cooler).

With the hitch lowered all the best way, I might open my camper hatch totally. That was nice for automobile tenting as a result of I slept in my truck mattress and needed to maintain the tailgate down (I’m too tall to sleep with it up). I didn’t should take away the bikes from the rack to do that, which was not the case with my previous bike rack.

The a number of positions had been actually helpful. Simply be sure that the rack is totally locked within the place you need earlier than you begin driving away. A few occasions, the rack wasn’t securely located on the degree I’d set it at. If I hadn’t double-checked, it might have dropped from degree to degree as I used to be driving with the bikes.

Room for Enchancment

I couldn’t identify one other rack that’s higher designed or made with higher-quality supplies. That’s additionally what makes this one of the vital costly bike racks shoppers can at the moment buy.

The one bike tray rack is $700. The second bike tray add-on is $550. The e-bike ramp is $250. For the total setup I examined, it might value the patron $1,500.

Sure, it’s handmade and assembled within the USA. It’s produced from premium supplies. It’s extraordinarily well-made, high-quality, modular, and it’s e-bike-compatible. However nonetheless, that could be a excessive asking value for almost anybody.

My second gripe with this rack was all the unfastened elements that got here with it. The lock pins have two items every (for a complete of eight items). Then there’s the 2 wheel straps and the keys. I’ve been preserving all of it loosely saved in a ziplock bag. However there must be a greater answer.

Manufacturers like Küat have hooked up the wheel straps to the bike trays. And there could possibly be a strategy to supply storage for the locks on the rack if you aren’t utilizing them.

Lastly, this factor is heavy. After I needed to decrease or increase it with the bikes on, it took just a little little bit of muscle and a few versatile maneuvering. My companion doesn’t prefer to decrease it as a result of it’s too heavy for her. Meaning it’s as much as me each time we park to camp or simply shortly want one thing out of the again of the truck.

QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack Evaluation: The Remaining Phrase

There are a number of bike racks on the market in the marketplace. There’s even one that appears identical to the QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack. However no different product can boast that each single piece is hand-machined by one man in a manufacturing facility in Grand Junction, Colo. No different model can say its rack is modular, rated for e-bike weight capacities, and requires no instruments to assemble and set up.

I’ve additionally by no means seen a rack so steady within the hitch. Even when my earlier rack was model new, it wobbled just a little bit. All of my pals’ racks jostled considerably when driving to a trailhead, however this rack didn’t transfer in any respect. That impressed the hell out of me.

The QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack is a tough product to not love when you begin utilizing it. It’s very costly and heavy, and there could possibly be some design tweaks to scale back the variety of unfastened items. However total, I cherished the rack. At any time when I loaded or unloaded my bikes from it, I felt like a child excited to make use of a toy. This rack might simply final me the remainder of my life.

That’s, so long as somebody doesn’t again up into my truck once more …