Cool bike transport solution OR Stupid convertible trick?

Plasar · 07-28-2021, 12:14 PM

Hi ho fellow verters!
What do you think of this RockBros Suction Bike Rack solution as applied to a Camaro convertible - anyone else doing this?
I took it for the first test drive yesterday - I stayed on the secondary roads, smooth pavement, got up to about 45-50 mph max, seemed to work fine.
I checked the suction cups a few times - they held their suction the whole time to the original setting.
There are other similar products too - SeaSucker, Tree Frog.
I think it's a winner - but I'm still a bit scared to go on a highway.

Amazon - ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack

RockBros Bike Mount Review | Best Value for $150?

ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack

Gunkk · 07-28-2021, 12:26 PM

What do I think?

I think that looks like a great way to wreck a few pricy panels on a car and trash a fancy bike.

Sorry, but that's a big NOPE from me. If I need a bike hauler, I'll use my kid's Santa Fe.

Spaceme1117 · 07-28-2021, 12:56 PM

I would NEVER trust that. Much better to get a hitch and a hitch mounted bike rack.

BrandanK · 07-28-2021, 01:01 PM

You are more trusting than I am. It isn't worth it in my opinion.
Too many failure modes here that end in damaged to the car and/or bike.
My dad and I just spent the weekend in Ohio for a triathlon I competed in; bike fit perfectly on the Curt Hitch with a Swagman bike rack.

Mark114 · 07-28-2021, 01:12 PM

Maybe I would consider it on side streets at moderate speed for short distances but I wouldn’t trust it on the highway or interstate. Maybe that would work with an SUV roof where you could mount the bike parallel to the vehicle. Mounting the bike perpendicular to the car and airflow seems risky. Not to mention the air turbulence at the rear of the car. A strong crosswind or gust from passing a semi would put a lot of strain on everything. It’s your car, bike, and money but I would pass on that and get a trailer hitch and conventional bike rack myself.

Plasar · 07-28-2021, 02:19 PM

Yep, all good feedback, appreciate it.
I didn't want to do the trailer hitch and cut up my rear bumper.
I think I'll keep it on low speed back roads.
And yes, I need to find a biking partner with an SUV.
BTW, the bike is light carbon fiber - Trek Procaliber 9.5.

Gunkk · 07-28-2021, 02:55 PM

Another thing to think about is potential injury to others. It's one thing to lose a $2200 bike and do a couple grand more in damage to your car. But a loose bike could easily kill someone bouncing down a highway at 70+ MPH.

I can already hear the lawyer at the deposition ... "so Mr. Plasar, let me get this right. You deliberately installed the bike mount on your car sideways. Ignored the manufacturer's instructions. Because you didn't want to cut a small hole in the bottom of the diffuser on your car. Well my client's face got cut up pretty bad when your improperly installed bike mount let go and your Procaliber came crashing through my client's windshield..."

OK yeah so I'm being a bit hard on you. Sorry for that. But all choices have consequences... and I can't see any good consequences from the choice of using a suction cup mount sideways.

If you HAVE to use the ZL1, take both wheels off, put them in the back seat and/or trunk. Put a blanket over the passenger front seat and strap the frame down with the seatbelt. Please DO NOT mount that bike sideways like that.

sandm · 07-28-2021, 05:40 PM

NO way I would ever invest in that on any car at any speed. period.

way too much fail waiting to happen. I'm with gunkk. in the back seat and invest in a solid rear seat cover especially owning a 'vert.

Chutzpah · 07-28-2021, 06:32 PM

While I admire the effort…I just couldn’t see myself using that method.

Martinjlm · 07-28-2021, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandanK

You are more trusting than I am. It isn't worth it in my opinion.
Too many failure modes here that end in damaged to the car and/or bike.
My dad and I just spent the weekend in Ohio for a triathlon I competed in; bike fit perfectly on the Curt Hitch with a Swagman bike rack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plasar

Yep, all good feedback, appreciate it.
I didn't want to do the trailer hitch and cut up my rear bumper.
I think I'll keep it on low speed back roads.
And yes, I need to find a biking partner with an SUV.
BTW, the bike is light carbon fiber - Trek Procaliber 9.5.

I also have the Curt hitch. Dealer installed. There was no cutting of the bumper. There was a cutting of a panel that nobody sees without hoisting the car or climbing under it. Once in a blue moon somebody might notice “hey! That Camaro has a trailer hitch”. Never has anyone thought that the bumper was cut.

07-28-2021, 12:14 PM	#1
Plasar Drives: 2017 ZL1 Vert M6 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 477	Cool bike transport solution OR Stupid convertible trick? Hi ho fellow verters! What do you think of this RockBros Suction Bike Rack solution as applied to a Camaro convertible - anyone else doing this? I took it for the first test drive yesterday - I stayed on the secondary roads, smooth pavement, got up to about 45-50 mph max, seemed to work fine. I checked the suction cups a few times - they held their suction the whole time to the original setting. There are other similar products too - SeaSucker, Tree Frog. I think it's a winner - but I'm still a bit scared to go on a highway. Amazon - ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack RockBros Bike Mount Review \| Best Value for $150? ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack Attached Images Last edited by Plasar; 07-28-2021 at 02:16 PM.

07-28-2021, 12:26 PM	#2
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,973 View My Garage	I'd go with a trailer hitch solution if I had to but... What do I think? I think that looks like a great way to wreck a few pricy panels on a car and trash a fancy bike. Sorry, but that's a big NOPE from me. If I need a bike hauler, I'll use my kid's Santa Fe.

07-28-2021, 01:01 PM	#4
BrandanK Drives: 2021 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 255 View My Garage	You are more trusting than I am. It isn't worth it in my opinion. Too many failure modes here that end in damaged to the car and/or bike. My dad and I just spent the weekend in Ohio for a triathlon I competed in; bike fit perfectly on the Curt Hitch with a Swagman bike rack. Attached Images

07-28-2021, 02:19 PM	#6
Plasar Drives: 2017 ZL1 Vert M6 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 477	Yep, all good feedback, appreciate it. I didn't want to do the trailer hitch and cut up my rear bumper. I think I'll keep it on low speed back roads. And yes, I need to find a biking partner with an SUV. BTW, the bike is light carbon fiber - Trek Procaliber 9.5.

07-28-2021, 02:55 PM	#7
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,973 View My Garage	Another thing to think about is potential injury to others. It's one thing to lose a $2200 bike and do a couple grand more in damage to your car. But a loose bike could easily kill someone bouncing down a highway at 70+ MPH. I can already hear the lawyer at the deposition ... "so Mr. Plasar, let me get this right. You deliberately installed the bike mount on your car sideways. Ignored the manufacturer's instructions. Because you didn't want to cut a small hole in the bottom of the diffuser on your car. Well my client's face got cut up pretty bad when your improperly installed bike mount let go and your Procaliber came crashing through my client's windshield..." OK yeah so I'm being a bit hard on you. Sorry for that. But all choices have consequences... and I can't see any good consequences from the choice of using a suction cup mount sideways. If you HAVE to use the ZL1, take both wheels off, put them in the back seat and/or trunk. Put a blanket over the passenger front seat and strap the frame down with the seatbelt. Please DO NOT mount that bike sideways like that. Last edited by Gunkk; 07-28-2021 at 03:05 PM.

07-28-2021, 12:56 PM	#3
Spaceme1117 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS, 2011 Corvette GS Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erlanger, Kentucky 41018 Posts: 815	I would NEVER trust that. Much better to get a hitch and a hitch mounted bike rack.

07-28-2021, 01:12 PM	#5
Mark114 Drives: 2016 2SS Convertible Join Date: May 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,710 View My Garage	Maybe I would consider it on side streets at moderate speed for short distances but I wouldn’t trust it on the highway or interstate. Maybe that would work with an SUV roof where you could mount the bike parallel to the vehicle. Mounting the bike perpendicular to the car and airflow seems risky. Not to mention the air turbulence at the rear of the car. A strong crosswind or gust from passing a semi would put a lot of strain on everything. It’s your car, bike, and money but I would pass on that and get a trailer hitch and conventional bike rack myself.

07-28-2021, 05:40 PM	#8
sandm Drives: no more camaro :( Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: sin city Posts: 218	NO way I would ever invest in that on any car at any speed. period. way too much fail waiting to happen. I'm with gunkk. in the back seat and invest in a solid rear seat cover especially owning a 'vert.

07-28-2021, 06:32 PM	#9
Chutzpah Drives: Wild Cherry LT1 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,923	While I admire the effort…I just couldn’t see myself using that method.

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