QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack Overview

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 one more yr after that (in all probability at nice legal responsibility), and it labored. But it surely wasn’t very best. It was bent askew. It wobbled regardless of how a lot I tightened it within the hitch; it creaked and groaned, and it slowly misplaced my confidence over time.

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

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

The QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack seems to be so much like different racks I’ve seen. Nevertheless, the model mentioned it has 14 new patents for this rack and spent 20 years designing it. And really, I’d by no means heard of a rack with so many intelligent design options inbuilt. 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 steel 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 need to use to load bikes onto it. There may be 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.

Briefly: 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 high.

When you’re looking for bike racks, evaluate 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 understand why I believed I had seen this sort 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 out of doors gear inventor.

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

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

Except for all that, although, it’s fairly clear the identical thoughts designed these two racks. They’re exceptionally comparable at first look.

However, in line with 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 as a result of pandemic and all the provision prepare points it triggered. But it surely’s additionally as a result of the model’s clients are affected person and desire a QuikrStuff Rack sufficient to attend.

What’s within the Field?

Every of the three important elements of the QuikrStuff rack got here in its personal field. There was the primary 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. Every bit and element of this rack is made out of anodized aluminum.

QuikrStuff additionally contains two-wheel straps, that are primarily ski straps that give additional 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 acquired six). The model notes that each one elements may be keyed the identical “now or sooner or later.” That method, you don’t have totally different keys for various add-ons in the event you purchase them individually.

Meeting Out of the Field

Once 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 intensive directions and plenty of separate items.

It wasn’t like that in any respect. The principle 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 connected 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 type of keys.

Increase. The bike rack and tray primary had been on. Attaching the second tray to the primary was a easy matter of lining up grooved steel components 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 car, assembled and able to journey.

Weight Capability & E-Bikes

One of many greatest promoting factors of the QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack is that it’s appropriate 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 complete most weight capability is 385 kilos. E-bikes usually weigh between 45 and 60 kilos, so you can 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 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 doubtlessly 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 can 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 may be an costly accident. We checked the web site and couldn’t discover any information on whether or not this rack was rated for e-motos.

Within the Discipline: 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 fashionable Mercedes of motorbike 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 time lengthy. I’ve taken it to the desert and pushed a whole lot of miles round Colorado with it. On each single journey this summer time, I used this rack to get my bike to the trailhead, and it was a pleasure to get acquainted with it.

No Wobble Hitch

Essentially the most spectacular factor I observed 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 mentioned these received’t deform over time. It gives 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 chunk of cake. I lifted the purple 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 normally shook the bike to ensure there is no such thing as a slack.

In case your tires are larger or smaller, the spools may be adjusted up or down with the gold deal with on the skin. The tire spools are already sufficiently big for fats tire bikes, so no adjustment equipment is important.

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 might use them extra usually in the event that they had been connected 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 may be slotted via 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 connected to the rack. Would-be thieves must take your complete body off and go away the wheels behind — which I wouldn’t put previous at this time’s bike burglars. So, I usually nonetheless ran a cable lock via the frames if I left my bike in my automotive 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 may 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 via the camper hatch (like a cooler).

With the hitch lowered all the way in which, I might open my camper hatch totally. That was nice for automotive tenting as a result of I slept in my truck mattress and needed to hold 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 make certain 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 probably the most costly bike racks customers can at present buy.

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

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

My second gripe with this rack was the entire unfastened components 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 protecting all of it loosely saved in a ziplock bag. However there needs to be a greater resolution.

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

Lastly, this factor is heavy. Once I needed to decrease or increase it with the bikes on, it took a little bit little bit of muscle and a few versatile maneuvering. My companion doesn’t wish 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 rapidly want one thing out of the again of the truck.

QuikrStuff Mach 2 Bike Rack Overview: The Last Phrase

There are numerous bike racks on the market available on the market. 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 a little bit bit. All of my buddies’ 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 cut back the variety of unfastened items. However total, I beloved 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 …